Lambert Or Carroll? Who Should Be Off To Brazil?

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In just over a months time Roy Hodgson will have to announce his England squad that he’ll take to Brazil for this summers World Cup. The race to get on the plane is starting to hot up, especially in the strikers positions.

Many have already started to second guess the England manager’s squad plans. Obviously, injuries permitting, Wayne Rooney will lead the line. Then it seems almost certain that Roy will take young guns Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck.

Now there is a debate on whether or not Hodgson will take four or five forwards to the tournament.

For me in this day and age you don’t need as many as five strikers for a months international competition. Certain teams, like world champions Spain, might only take three frontmen!

After watching Jay Rodriguez writhe around the Etihad turf in excruciating pain, the ‘Saints’ man will not be fit for June. The MLS move for Jermain Defoe has seen him fall off the radar somewhat as he no longer features in the English press and their columns.

So in my opinion the last spot is going to go to either Southampton’s Rickie Lambert or West Ham United’s Andy Carroll.

RickieLambert

Many eyebrows were raised when Rickie Lambert was selected in the squad to face Scotland back in August. He was seen as a bit of a journeyman forward that had spent most of his career in the English lower leagues.

But he impressed in his first season in England’s top flight scoring 15 league goals. He would also impress in that international debut against the Scots, where he grabbed the winner with a bulleted header (his first touch in international football). He followed that with a goal against Moldova in the World Cup Qualifier in Wembley. All this done at the age of 31!

The striker is a strong, solid forward that isn’t scared to put it about a bit. The target-man offers great hold up play and he can also link up well with those around him.

This season has seen the ‘Saints’ striker gain 11 league strikes. He is also famed for his excellent penalty record and that could give him the nod for the World Cup as England always seem to fall apart at shoot-outs.

AndyCarroll

West Ham’s Andy Carroll has missed a huge chunk of the season due to a persistent heel injury.

But the lanky strongman has returned in 2014 and has quite literally muscled his way back into Roy Hodgson’s World Cup plans. The 6ft plus striker is almost unplayable when he’s at the top of his game. He pummels centre-backs into submission much like Duncan Ferguson used to do in his era.

The forward isn’t as prolific as you’d like but his mere presence in the box means that those around him pick up the pieces due to mass confusion the hitman creates in opposition defences. In his nine EPL appearances this calendar year, Carroll has scored twice and also had a hand in creating four assists for others in his team. West Ham have also improved dramatically in form since Andy came back into the team.

For England the Gateshead lad has grabbed two goals in nine caps.

The 25 year old also impressed when Roy took him to the Euros in 2012.

Now for me I would usually always go for the player that has played all season. So Lambert would usually get the plane ticket. He also hasn’t put a foot wrong with the national team and has that fantastic record from spot kicks.

But I think Andy Carroll might just edge it. His brute strength and raw ability is so hard to play against and even top international defenders struggle to cope with him. He just has a bit more about him in my opinion. That said he has to play on for the rest of the season and keep playing extremely well.

Roy will be happy that he has this dilemma and it will be interesting to see who he decides is the best player for his squad.

5 Responses to “Lambert Or Carroll? Who Should Be Off To Brazil?”

  1. Lambert over Carrol everytime..

  2. Carroll without a shadow of doubt. He is a handful to play against and opposing teams will be distracted from preparation/playing as they will have to spend too much time worrying about him. Also, Carroll and others being younger need the experience of a World Cup and Carroll will probably be there in 4 years ( Euros in 2 years) and Lambert will not. Carroll will be fresh as he has not played a full season, additional plus !

  3. Carroll..on his day simply.unplayable !! A far better player on the deck than given credit for and he would frighten foreign defenders to death.

  4. Clearly Lambert. Quite apart from the above he is a major provider of chances for others. Ask the unfortunate Rodriguez or even Wellbeck. There is no question he is a better all round player and even at international level outscores Carroll.

  5. Both are good but Lambert is the better player, people who say otherwise are bias, yes Andy is younger but is not even fully fit by his own managers words and is not as good of footballer as Lambert, he looks on his own up front and even Newcastle season ticket fans admit he hasnt been at his best this season and not looked great up front, true lambert has not had a fantastic season either but I watched the game on TV the other day against everton and his link up play and hold up play was fantastic and his assist should have led to a goal plus good free kicks and penalty ability and seeing his goal vs scotland for england he looks good in the air too!

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