What is going on across the Tyne? We know that Andy Carroll the footballer has a physical presence and has made an impact this season with 10 goals. But as Fox Soccer pundits said last night, £35M is a lot of money for potential! I suppose one could say that yesterday was all driven by a domino effect known as the Champions League. Chelsea decided that they need Torres to have any chance of winning the trophy this year, and that set off a series of related events, ending up with Newc**tle apparently pushing Carroll out of the door. Soccernet.com and other media reports suggest that he did not want to leave Newcastle. The striker told the Evening Chronicle: I didn't want to leave. Make sure the fans know I didn't want to leave. But the next moment he suddenly became the 8th most expensive striker in history!

Not a sign of a well run club, and more evidence that a certain fat shopkeeper across the Tyne wants the money. To quote Carroll The owner then made it clear to me that I was not wanted at the club, saying that his own helicopter is waiting for me to go down to talk to them. Magpies boss Alan Pardew conceded he asked Carroll, 22, to put in a transfer request but said he was not forced out.

He told the Shields Gazette: We had a conversation about him wanting a new contract and [Carroll said] if he did not get that contract he wanted to go. In December, Pardew had said that Carroll, who signed a new deal in October was not for sale.

And Newcastle rejected an initial approach for the England striker on transfer deadline day but, after receiving a second, accepted it when, according to Pardew, Carroll asked to leave if he was not given a new contract. Managing director Derek Llambias asked me to hand in a transfer request, so I was pushed into a corner and had no choice, explained Carroll. I wasn't wanted by them and they made it clear they wanted the money. Then I flew down in owner Mike Ashley's helicopter. I didn't want to leave. I'm gutted that I wasn't wanted at my home team after everything I have done and the progress I have made.

Carroll's comments support what was reported in Tuesday's Daily Star, that he sent texts to Steve Wraith, editor of the Toon Talk fanzine, claiming he felt he had being forced out of the club. However, Pardew maintained: We turned down a big offer, and they came back with a second big offer. We were having a discussion about what we were going to do with that offer when Andy requested to see me. I went to see Andy face to face. I asked him what he wanted, and I went to the board. We had a discussion about what the ramifications would be for the whole club. We took the view, with him signing a contract in October, that this would cause us all sorts of problems. We decided that we needed the conversation confirmed, and that he put in a transfer request, which he did. He spoke to his agent, and between them they put the request in. We decided with the size of the offer, and what it meant to us, that we would accept. But no club is about one player. We're absolutely gutted that he's gone. It's disappointing, but we're not in a financial position like Liverpool. In effect, Pardew is denying his star striker was forced out, but his club may still yet get embroiled in a relegation battle.

To me, and not just as a Sunderland fan, this tells its own story. I want there to be 3 successful NE clubs in the world's best league, but is there a plan at Newc**tle to make them a force again at the upper end of the Premiership? I suppose the Magpies' form without AC has been decent in recent weeks, but the young England striker won the game for them at the Emirates, and scored a screamer at St. James’ versus Liverpool.

I fear though for someone who may repeat the mistakes of Gazza, who went to Tottenham when too young, and look where he is now, it seems his self-destructive streak is still prominent. Let us hope Carroll settles in to the Liverpool family. At least he has joined a much-admired club with a legendary manager.

As darkness fell on transfer deadline day, I still could not believe that Carroll is worth £35M! Darren Bent now looks a bargain for Villa at under £24M, he stayed fit, had a phenomenal scoring record for Sunderland, and was a model professional who was never ordered to stay with his club captain: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/oct/18/andy-carroll-assault-charge
©Lars J.S. Knutsen

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