The former midfielder says the Hammers need to play to the striker’s strengths.
Midfielder-turned-pundit Danny Murphy has written for the London Evening Standard that Andy Carroll needs fast wingers at West Ham in order to succeed.
Carroll has been an important player for West Ham since his arrival from Liverpool in 2012, but injuries have limited him to just 96 appearances in four-and-a-half years in East London.
After scoring nine times in his most successful season at the Hammers to date last term, his injury problems have limited him to just five league appearances o far this campaign.
Since returning from a lay-off his importance to the club has been evident on the pitch.
However, Murphy believes that there are still big restrictions upon Carroll at West Ham, none more so that the lack of genuine wingers at the club.
The former midfielder wrote for the Standard: “How do West Ham bring the best out of Andy Carroll?
“Here is the problem they have. To be effective, Carroll needs pacey wingers delivering crosses. When I look at the West Ham side, I don’t see much speed.
“Andre Ayew is not especially quick. Dimitri Payet is a fantastic player but he, too, lacks extreme pace. Manuel Lanzini likes to play through the middle. Michail Antonio is quick enough but prefers to be on the end of crosses, rather than delivering them.
“So, if West Ham are to make the most of having Carroll, who do they play wide? I don’t see anyone in the squad who can do the job.”
That is a conundrum for West Ham and Slaven Bilic. Do they change their entire style of play and shift the balance of their squad in January to play to Carroll’s aerial strengths?
Carroll’s goal-to-game ratio at the Irons is one in four, and while that is nothing to be sniffed at, he and the club would be hoping for something slightly more prolific if he is to remain their number one striker.
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