Merson claimed the Liverpool striker should be ‘ashamed’ after not taking a penalty for England. Do you agree?
Writing in his column for the Daily Star, Paul Merson has this morning launched an astonishing attack on Andy Carroll.
Here is an excerpt: “It’s an absolute disgrace he doesn’t take a penalty for England. How he doesn’t take a penalty in front of Cole is disgusting. It winds me up so much. Even if Roy Hodgson had him down to take the fifth, that’s not an excuse.”
Harsh words, but our opinion is that while he has a logical point to some degree, that strikers should be stepping up and taking the penalties, it does not tell the full story.
Surely no England fan would rather Carroll took a penalty in front of Ashley Cole, a player whose record in penalty shoot outs is second to none.
Cole scored in shootouts at Euro 2004, the Champions League Final in 2008, and most recently the Champions League Final in 2012.
His record in high pressure situations has been superb, and it would have been a mistake for Hodgson to put Cole down at number five in the order.
Carroll has been through a tough time over the last 18 months, after joining Liverpool and suffering a crisis of confidence, he has rebuilt his reputation somewhat at Euro 2012.
The attack from Merson is the last thing he needs, not that he should let it bother him. He is not the first Liverpool man to have a run-in with the ex-Arsenal player, Glen Johnson previously called out the outspoken pundit on Twitter after he was scathing about his defending ability.
The issue of whether strikers should take penalties is a difficult one. Michael Owen criticised Luis Suarez for not taking one in Liverpool’s shootout win over Cardiff in the Carling Cup, but he had missed his last two.
Penalties in high pressure situations become less about ability and more about confidence. With Ashley Cole’s record, you can see why he would be full of it. Carroll has never taken one in that situation, and you can understand any trepidation.
Being critical of that is being overly harsh, and Merson is wrong to castigate Carroll for it.
Do you agree or disagree with Paul Merson’s comments?
image: © dannymol
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
