Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has hailed West Ham striker Andy Carroll as ‘unplayable’, ahead of the meeting between the two sides at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.
Carroll has had an injury-ravaged career thus far but in January 2011, famously earned a big money move to Premier League giants Liverpool after an impressive four months of action up front for Newcastle United – where Pardew managed the England international.
Despite not playing much under Pardew due to being sold so soon after lighting up the Premier League, the former Newcastle boss had nothing but praise to say about his former forward – who he claims is an ‘outstanding number nine’.
Andy was playing long before I got to Newcastle and was a good player, but he’s an outstanding No9 and has only really been restricted by the injuries he’s suffered.
He gives you a powerful presence at the top of the pitch, and at set plays. His technical ability is underrated in my opinion, and I’ve always found him to be a real winner on the pitch.
When you have that kind of determination and aggression, there aren’t many strikers with the same aggression as him on crosses. He will slam into a centre-half to try and score: not in an illegal way, but he gets bumps and bruises and it’s his bravery that gets him into trouble at times. There aren’t many strikers who are completely unplayable, and he’s one of them. He carries a presence up there.
West Ham travel to Selhurst Park later today where they face Crystal Palace and with Andy Carroll fit and ready to get back amongst the action, he could prove to be more than a handful for Pardew and his side.
