Premier League winners and losers: Arsenal provide more schadenfreude
By Ty Finch
Loser: Andy Carroll
If you were a perpetually injured forward that barely saw the pitch, wouldn’t you try to stay there for as long as possible? Maybe gain some footing and play your way back into the team? If your name is Andy Carroll, you say poppycock to that notion.
Since West Ham signed Carroll 2012-13, the big man has never made more than 22 appearances for the club in a single season. Those 22 appearances came in his first season with the Hammers, too. He can’t seem to stay healthy for long enough to make a reasonable impact, and even when he is, he makes boneheaded decisions like he did on Sunday to wipe away any positives gained in his brief stints in good condition.
Carroll earned two yellow cards in the first 27 minutes against Burnley. His first yellow might’ve been a bit harsh, but his second card just two measly minutes after his first could’ve been a red on its own. Carroll darted towards a long ball from Joe Hart and recklessly elbowed the opposing defender in the jaw. West Ham were leading by a goal to nil at the time, and eventually gave up that lead after Burnley scored late.
Carroll has yet to score this season in 343 minutes played, and is more responsible for dropped points than goals created. West Ham’s fans are becoming increasingly upset with the forward, and who could blame them when he makes imbecilic decisions like he did Sunday? Luckily for those supporters, they won’t have to see him for at least another match.