As we know in football things, all things must come to an end. Sometimes farewells can be bitter and sometimes sweet. In the case of this farewell, and others, they are a bit of both. As of Wednesday afternoon, the West Ham United Football Club sent out a list of players that will not be returning next season and one of them, our beloved Andrew Thomas Carroll.
With the news of Carroll leaving, how will it affect this minds of fans? It’s a well-known fact that all of us at GSH, or most, had a love affair for Andy Carroll. The rest of the West Ham community shared somewhat indifferent opinions in the matter. He was loved by some and hated by others but not one fan couldn’t say that on his day, he was a West Ham player to remember.
When Carroll came on loan to West Ham in 2012 and then on a permanent deal in 2013 from Liverpool, there was a lot of hype for the English international and his ability in the box. His first season he was able to rack up 7 goals and 4 assists in just 26 matches for the club. However, there was a more looming concern incoming.
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Carroll who had not really been injury prone before coming to West Ham was starting to get injured more on the regular, a common theme as we would come to know. In his 7 seasons with the Hammers, he was injured in 153 matches in all completions and only playing in 142 matches in all competitions. On the sweet side of things, it might be nice that the Hammers could get in a center forward that can stay healthy for more than half of the season.
When Carroll was on the pitch, however, it was a different story. His grace wasn’t always on key, but that’s not who West Ham hired him to be. He would continually get back on defense to help and was always a common threat in the box that would either lead to chances or free up someone else.
In his time at West Ham, he put away 35 goals and assisted in 17 more. But for me, it wasn’t the number of times he helped contribute goals of assists. It was his love for the game, his passion for West Ham, and his fight he had for every play. Seeing a bloodied Carroll running around would only help boost the fight of the players and fans alike.
Anytime there was a solid cross into the box he would make you feel excited knowing there might be a chance and who can forget his hat trick against Arsenal in 2016 or his best striker ever with that amazing bicycle goal against Palace in 2017.
For me, as previously stated, it’s bittersweet for me and might’ve been for him as well. The times for Andy Carroll haven’t always been the best but his moments and folklore at the club will be remembered, at least by me, forever.