Carroll plays down De Gea row

Andy Carroll played down his clash with Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea which infuriated Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson felt Carroll deserved a red card for his robust aerial challenge on De Gea from a West Ham corner right on the stroke of half-time.



Carroll escaped punishment for the foul on De Gea and the big striker insists there was nothing he could to stop himself colliding with the keeper as he challenged for the ball.

"I just went for the ball and obviously went through De Gea, but I just went for the ball and that's all it was," Carroll told



"I was running straight in trying to get the ball and couldn't stop at that moment, obviously the keeper has come and won it and I couldn't stop when I was flying through the air."



Carroll had a running battle with the United defence and also clashed with England team-mate Wayne Rooney in the build-up to the De Gea clash and he admitted he enjoyed the physical challenges in the game.



"It was great, a tough battle, I enjoyed every minute and getting stuck in, getting a few elbows and giving a few. It's all part of the game," added Carroll.



On his clash with Rooney he added: "It was a bit of friendly banter with me and Wazza,



Carroll admits he has enjoyed his loan spell at West Ham from Liverpool, but remains unsure where his long-term future lies this summer.



"I've loved every minute and the lads have been great, the fans have been excellent and I am just carrying on going until the end of the season," continued Carroll.



"We will just have to wait and see what happens."

Carroll open to permanent West Ham move

Andy Carroll has admitted that he would be happy to make his loan move from Liverpool to West Ham United a permanent one this summer.

Carroll moved to Anfield from Chelsea in January 2011 for £35m, but he struggled to settle and find form before leaving on loan.



The England striker has since rediscovered his form in Sam Allardyce's side, scoring six goals. Now the former Newcastle United forward has revealed that he would sign for the Hammers, but doesn't know what the situation is currently.



"I have just got to wait and see, really. We'll see what happens at the end of the season," said Carroll.



"Obviously I don't know what is happening so we will just have to wait and see. It has been great here and every minute has been fantastic. The lads have been great, the gaffer has been great and the fans are unbelievable.



"We will have to wait and see. It is obviously a great club and I do not see why not."



Carroll signed a season-long loan deal in August.

Wayne Rooney fears Carroll threat

Wayne Rooney has urged Manchester United to pay special attention to Andy Carroll on Wednesday night.



Carroll is bound to get a frosty reception from the Old Trafford faithful when West Ham travel north. As a Liverpool player with an enormous price tag, it is hard to imagine the United fans will not single him out.



However, after working alongside the 23-year-old at close quarters during Euro 2012, Rooney knows the reality of Carroll's performances is nowhere near the perception many have of him.



The burly forward will travel north with confidence high following his first goal of the season at Tottenham on Sunday. And Rooney has warned his United team-mates to be on their guard.



"Andy Carroll is a handful," said the striker. "I am sure if you ask any defender, they find it difficult to play against someone like that who is good in the air and on the floor.



"He is physical and makes it hard for opponents. That type of player doesn't always get all the goals but they can cause trouble up front and create problems. I am sure that is what Sam Allardyce wants him to do."

Carroll targets more West Ham goals

Andy Carroll hopes he can follow up his long awaited first West Ham goal by finding the net against Manchester United and Chelsea.



Carroll headed home Joey O'Brien's cross in Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham to end his 1,062-minute Barclays Premier League goal drought.



The £35million man had been brought in on loan to provide the firepower for the Hammers, but manager Sam Allardyce has instead had to rely on Kevin Nolan for his goals this season.



Carroll was relieved to finally get off the mark for his new club and now hopes he can repeat the feat against top-flight heavyweights Manchester United and Chelsea on Wednesday and Saturday respectively.



"It was about time (I scored), to be honest," Carroll said. "I'm just grateful to have got off the mark and hopefully there will be more to come this week.



"I think I've put myself about and been involved in our goals in previous matches. "I think I've been doing well so it was about time one went in.



"It was a great ball in by Joey O'Brien and I just had to get up and head it across the keeper. That's what I did and thankfully it went in."



Despite Carroll's failure to find the net, West Ham have exceeded all expectations so far this season and currently sit eighth in the table.



But they were easily outclassed by a rampant Spurs side, who coasted to victory thanks to a Gareth Bale strike and a brace from former Hammer Jermain Defoe.



Defoe was allowed to open the scoring in a marvellous solo effort that saw him go unchallenged from near the half-way line. West Ham's defence then backed off Clint Dempsey, which allowed him to tee up Bale for Spurs' second.



Defoe wrapped up the win by tapping home into an empty net following a swift counter-attack that started after West Ham were dispossessed on the halfway line.



Carroll was unhappy with how his team wilted but insisted they should not dwell too much on the defeat.



"It was disappointing as we made mistakes for all three of their goals, really," Carroll told the club's website. "We should have done better, but they have taken their chances and obviously beat us.



"We have got a tough week with Manchester United and then Chelsea and Liverpool coming up. It'll be tough so we just have to put this behind us now and focus on Wednesday.



"This game is all gone now so we're going to have to concentrate 100% on Wednesday, which is going to be another tough game."



Defender James Tomkins echoed Carroll's sentiments, adding: "We didn't play at our best but we need to put it behind us quite quickly because we have another big game at Manchester United in a couple of days' time and the games are coming thick and fast.



"We don't need to dwell on the result because we have the points on the board and it's vital we go to Old Trafford with our confidence intact.



"We have to make sure we go to Manchester United 100% mentally."

Andy Carroll Is No Better Than An 8-YEAR-OLD

Poland legend Zbigniew Boniek last night taunted England by claiming: My eight-year-old grandson is better than Andy Carroll.



Boniek, Poland’s greatest-ever player, says his young grandson Mateo outshines West Ham striker Carroll.



His comments have gone down a storm in Warsaw as the Poles prepare to cut down Roy Hodgson’s men in the crucial World Cup qualifying game.



Former Juventus and Roma star Boniek said: “My grandson Mateo moves better on the pitch than Andy Carroll. He has better co-ordination. He is very good at golf and tennis.”



Not that the Poland players need any motivation with skipper Martin Wasilewski saying his men are pumped up and raring to go.



Wailewski said: “We know Carroll is tall and well built – he does alright in the air, with the fights and physical stuff.



“He plays the ball with his head well, this is how he scores a lot. He can be quite dangerous but we are ready for them.



“We are extremely motivated. I don’t think we are feeling in any way the same as the players felt 15 years ago.



“I don’t think we should even talk about it. We are all so motivated I think you will be able to see it on the pitch.



“It’s difficult to measure how big this confidence is. I’m sure it is big and strong, it’s a sense of believing in what we do.”



Poland manager Waldemir Fornalik said: “When I took over the position, I was aware of the fact I would have very little time – that this match was coming up in the calendar.



“The motivation is so very high before this game.



“This indeed is quite an event this year in Polish football. This match is also a big event. Poland versus England has always been of big importance and this is how we see this match as well.



“The two teams are fighting for the three points.



“We are aware of the high class of our opponents but we also know what we are worth and we can be victorious.”

Carroll out of England squad

Andy Carroll has pulled out of England's opening World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine.



The West Ham loan signing suffered a hamstring injury during an impressive debut in his side's 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.



Manager Sam Allardyce said after the game it was unlikely Carroll would be able to join up with the England squad.



The FA have confirmed that, although no decision will be made about replacements until after Sunday's three Premier League games have been played.



"West Ham United forward Andy Carroll has withdrawn from the England squad to face Moldova and Ukraine," said the FA in a statement.



"After picking up an injury in the match against Fulham, Carroll will not be part of the squad for England's opening FIFA World Cup qualifying matches next week.



"Any decision on whether to call additional players into the squad will not be made until after the three fixtures on Sunday have been completed."

Andy Carroll makes loan move

Liverpool and England striker Andy Carroll has joined West Ham on a season-long loan, the clubs have confirmed.



Carroll's position at Anfield has been the subject of considerable speculation since new manager Brendan Rodgers took charge earlier in the summer.



The 23-year-old had also been linked with a return to former club Newcastle but the Hammers have now acquired his services for the 2012-13 season.



A brief statement from Liverpool read: "Liverpool Football Club can confirm that Andy Carroll has joined West Ham United on a season-long loan.



"The striker will spend the whole of 2012-13 with Sam Allardyce's team."



Carroll joined the Reds in a club record £35million deadline day deal in January 2011 but has failed to establish himself on Merseyside.



Reports that he was poised to move to Upton Park grew during the evening and he was conspicuous by his absence as Liverpool faced Hearts in a Europa League qualifier tonight.



Carroll scored nine goals for the Reds last season but did not command a regular starting place.



He began to impress towards the end of the campaign and shone at Euro 2012 with England but he still did not appear to feature in Rodgers' plans.



Carroll told West Ham's official website: "It's great to be here at West Ham and all signed up - I just can't wait to get started now.



"I want to be playing games and obviously hoping to score some goals. I know the manager well and some of the lads, so it is nice for me to come to a place where I know people.



"I'm hoping to add a lot of goals and create a few chances. I know Sam from Newcastle and he was a massive reason for me coming. When I worked with him at Newcastle it was great so it was a no-brainer really."



Allardyce added: "I think for all parties this is a great signing. Andy is an all-round footballer, but because he is 6ft 3in and one of his strengths is his aerial power, everybody dismisses the ability he possesses on the floor.



"Hopefully he can score goals for us and we will be in a very good position at the end of the year in the Premier League."

Liverpool eager to offload duo

Liverpool are ready to sell Andy Carroll to West Ham United and Charlie Adam to Stoke in a bid to finance one last push to sign Arsenal forward Theo Walcott.



West Ham have indicated they are still interested in a last-minute deal for Carroll, even though he has made it clear he does not want to leave Anfield.



The two clubs, though, have agreed a £20 million package should the England striker be convinced to change his mind.



That deal would see West Ham take Carroll on a season-long loan initially, paying his £80,000-a-week wages in full, and then sign him permanently for £17 million if they avoid relegation.



The 23-year-old has been told by manager Brendan Rodgers that he will only be a squad player if he stays at Anfield.



Rodgers has given the same message to midfielder Adam, with Stoke understood to have made a bid of around £4 million on Wednesday.



Liverpool's tight financial constraints mean that Rodgers has to sell before he can buy.



"I don't think we are in a position to have £35 million players as third choice strikers," Rodgers said in reference to Carroll's situation.



"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Andy has been a cover player for us in the opening two games."



Walcott had looked likely to leave Arsenal after rejecting a new contract with only a year to run on his current deal but the forward has since held private discussions with manager Arsene Wenger over his future.



But Liverpool, who have asked to be kept informed of Walcott's potential availability, are still considering a late bid.



Asked if the club could afford to buy without selling first, Rodgers said: "No. Not at this stage. Obviously, I have seen a lot of the links and it is great that those players would want to come here.



"But the reality is that we are not in a position to do those sorts of deals."