After much speculation that the Liverpool striker Andy Carroll would be heading back home to Newcastle, the story took a surprise twist today with the news that he will be instead pulling on a West Ham shirt for 2012/1 season. The Hammers have signed Carroll on loan for the season for a reported £2, and could sign him permanently if they stay in the Premiership.
Carroll, on the other hand, has been reported as saying that he want to go home to the Toon, and that he also wants to stay in Liverpool, so where he really wants to play is anyone’s guess. Liverpool have already apparently rejected an offer from Newcastle, who sold Carroll in January 2011 for a Liverpool club record of £35. After being the darling of St James’, he has struggled at Anfield scoring only 11 goals in his 56 appearances.
When Carroll left the north east for the north west, a social media campaign branding him a ‘Judas’ swept across the nation, and many posters displaying his face with the word Judas beneath it were waved at matches. The fickleness of sport, however, is evident as in recent weeks, staunch Toon supporters have said they would welcome the 23 year old’s return to a team looking to further improve on the top 5 finish they enjoyed last season.
Ex Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce is the man in charge at Upton Park, and has spoken of welcoming Carroll into his squad. Allardyce was just one of many managers Newcastle went through in a very short period while they tried to settle into a routine of winning ways. Alan Pardew is the man at the helm now, and he is credited with turning the club around and once again making them a team to be reckoned with