The transfer window slammed shut (mind your fingers) at 11pm yesterday. 15 minutes before the deadline an announcement was made that Geordies all over the world weren't letting themselves believe. Andrew Thomas Carroll, local lad, brought up through the academy at Newcastle and wearer of the coveted number nine shirt had signed for Liverpool for £35 million pounds.
When the day started there couldn't have been many Newcastle fans who would have predicted the Carroll would be helicoptered down to Melwood to sign for Liverpool. Over the past fortnight Harry Redknapp (him of the twitchy face) seemed to be trying his best to unsettle Carroll, much to the disdain of the Newcastle forumites.
When the bids started coming in the roller coaster started. Emotions went up and down, not dissimilar to a penalty shootout as a £25 million bid from Tottenham was received. Harry Redknapp steps up to the penalty spot, took a run up and joy abounded! The shot was saved and the bid was rejected. Saggy face would not be happy at that. Then a bid was reported from Liverpool. £30 million. Nerves started jangling. Up stepped Kenny Dalglish, but the shot went wide over, Geordies celebrated. Then Kenny stepped up again, slammed his £35 million penalty shot at the goal, but it's rejected. The shot is saved! Again the Geordie faithful go wild. But what is this, the referee is signaling that the penalty needs to be taken again, Andy Carroll has turned in a transfer request, and it's been accepted, Kenny starts his run up and this time the £35 million bid is in the back of the net. Just like in many matches I've seen involving Newcastle, we are out of the game on penalties.
Immediately a blame game started. Mike Ashley, who has to be one of the most odious, despicable men in football, in my opinion, has just sold our golden chalice. However £35 million plus add ons is mental money for a 22 year old who has only had 6 months in the Premiership. The biggest problem, though, is the re-investment of the money into the team. Ashley has still to convince me that he gives two tosses about NUFC, and until I see money being spent to improve our team I will remain unconvinced.
Andy Carroll, though, has taken a lot of flack today. I am probably not the only person who cannot understand how a lad who was born only a couple of miles from St James Park, who is on, reportedly, £40,000 a week and who is wearing the number nine shirt at Newcastle could possibly want to move away. Especially a local lad who at the end of last year signed a new contract with Newcastle, and spoke about spending the rest of his life at the club.
Money talks. Liverpool have reputedly doubled his money. Ashley was not prepared to renegotiate a new contract with Carroll at this time, and why should he. Just a few months ago Carroll was offered, and accepted a lucrative new contract. Why should Ashley, who is trying to trim the wage bill, break the wage cap to keep a 22 year old happy?
Carroll has spoken to both the Newcastle and the Liverpool press today, and given different lines dependent on whether he is speaking to the North East fans or the North West fans, both of which I could have predicted before they were printed. To the Liverpool fans its all about how pleased he is to be there, how wonderful it is to have the Liverpool number nine shirt, how he wants to win things with Liverpool. To the Newcastle fans he is saying that he didn't want to leave, his arm was twisted, he was driven into a corner.
Well Andy, answer this, if you didn't want to leave why did you try and re-negotiate on a contract you signed just a short while ago? If you didn't want to leave why did you hand in a transfer request? If you didn't want to leave why did you agree personal terms with Liverpool? If you didn't want to leave why did you sign a contract with Liverpool? No-one forced you to, no-one held a gun to your head. You saw the cash on offer and you chose, like so many footballers do, to go where your bank balance would be fed better.
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