Handy Andy keeps knocking on Glenn's door
The North-East media circus turned up in great numbers at the Riverside last night expecting to see Michael Owen defy talk that he wouldn't be continuing his comeback against Middlesbrough but Saint Michael wasn't around.
That wasn't a big surprise and we now know that there has been no setback in his comeback bid either.
Yet that didn't stop big Andy Carroll shining like a beacon at the Riverside against a team that are supposed to contain some of the most talented youngsters in the North-East, not to mention former La Liga star Gaizka Mendieta.
And even the former Barcelona and Valencia ace must have been opened mouthed by the glittering display from Carroll that was probably worthy of the Nou Camp!
His Toon coaches and the people around him won't let this kind of talk get to him but looking at Carroll last night it seems nothing or nobody will get him, he is hungry and a like a man possessed when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net in a Toon shirt.
During these often painful times on Tyneside this has to be a breath of fresh air.
Shola Ameobi, also on the comeback trail last night, was also impressed by the treble strike from Carroll during the 5-1 rout.
The Geordie does not seem fazed by the attention he's getting and after helping set up James Milner to win a penalty on Saturday at Portsmouth, a chance against Chelsea could yet beckon for Carroll.
The youngster seems destined to bag a first team goal before the season is out and that's saying something with just four games left and Ameobi and Owen ready to return too,
Is it time to unleash the 18-year-old Carroll against a Chelsea side who won't have a clue who he is?
Or worse still in their case, just how much damage could he cause to their title hopes.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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It was the only highlight from the Portsmouth game - Carroll's ball to Milner and the way he punched the air on the subsequent penalty award. We have nothing to play for now, so why not let him play with Martins Sunday and get the crowd behind him? He might even embarrass and thus shake up the rest of the team - they need it!
Ryder's reply: The Carroll punching the air celebration is becoming a bit of a trademark, for example we saw it three times last night at Boro.
It reminded me of Duncan Ferguson in his pomp, but this kid is both capable of keeping in the straight and narrow and banging the goals in.
I like the way the lad gets involved in games when he comes on as a sub, that is a sign of someone who can read the game as well as being motivated.
Our woeful forwards could well do with a dose of Andy to shake them out of their lethargy. What do we have to loose?
Good luck to the lad.
Newcastle lineup =
Harper
Solano Taylor Gooch Carr
Butt
Dyer Parker Emre
Sibierski Martins
Or
Harper
Solano Taylor Gooch Carr
Butt
Dyer Parker Emre Milner
Martins
should start against chelsea
i say stick him(Andy Carroll) up top with oba and lets see what effect it has on the rest of those overpaid under talented fat cats behind him if he scores against the champions...i also think we should give steven taylor the armband he seems to be the most hungry player in the side with passion boiling over...free transfers for CARR,BABAYARO,MOORE,BRAMBLE,BERNARD,
and let the yank home to belgium....howay the lads
Are you kidding? Carr in the starting line-up? He should be sold on a free. We dont need polayers like im at NUFC. Give Edgar a go.
why not try for leighton baines sami hyppia get rid of carr not worthy of the toon shirt cmon the toon fulham down
why not try for leighton baines sami hyppia get rid of carr not worthy of the toon shirt cmon the toon fulham down
ANDY CARROLL is sooo lush
i think he shud cum bak off loan and play every match :)
hes lyk well tha fittest on newcastle
lv u andy !!
xx