Don't Boo Andy Carroll, Thank Him

Alan Pardew says Newcastle United still loves Andy Carroll. Carroll says he still loves Newcastle United and won't celebrate if he scores Sunday in his return to St. James' Park.

And I suggest Newcastle fans join in on this lovefest, although I know full well that plenty will boo Carroll and call him Judas when he walks out wearing the red of Liverpool. I understood why people were upset when Carroll was sold. He was the hometown boy who partied hard and played harder. He was the No. 9 who battered center backs. He was easy for fans to identify with.

What I can't understand is the continued vitriol toward him. We'll probably never truly know how Carroll felt about his move to Liverpool. Maybe he was forced out. Maybe he forced his way out. I don't really care. Carroll landed Newcastle £35 million, a ridiculous sum that has allowed the club to greatly accelerate its rebuilding process.

Had Carroll stayed, Newcastle might have been tempted to build around him and persist with the sort of gritty team that it had last season. Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton might have stayed because they fit that mold. And Newcastle would have been worse for it.

Instead, Newcastle has a young skillful team that is on the rise and has in large part been funded by that £35 million. And for that, we should all thank - not boo - Andy Carroll.

Comments

[Robert]

I certainly won't be booing. The lad never gave less than 100% in a Newcastle shirt.

[Football fans are soft]

Of course we have to boo. It's nothing personal so stop the I don't get it malarkey. The supporters (not fan boys) job is to help gain your team an advantage, and if that means booing carroll, enrique or the referee then that's what is needed, and I'm going to on Sunday. So I'd prefer someone who's not going to not suggest to the supporters who are going what to do, let them make their mind up. Thank you

And Robert, I bet you'll boo if he scores!

[styxtoo]

ahhh.. the 'ol if you don't go to the games, you're not a true "supporter" and shouldn't have an opinion post.

[Stewpot]

Booing andy carroll will only motivate him even more, and we defo dont wanna get him all fired up, on the other hand there's jose enrique, the very same jose enrique that couldnt wait to get out of toon, the same jose enrique that said newcastle cant an wont compete at the top end of the league, he's the one gonna be on the end of my boo's

[Rich]

Whatever we do, we have to make it louder at St James than it ever has been. It's gonna be hard enuff with with just Williamson an Perch as our CB's. So lets make it as uncomfortable as we can for the Liverpool boys.

[IanMJ]

If you can boo, you can also cheer and sing loudly for the Toon. That's needed infinitely more than petty booing of an ex-player whose departure funded our current team.