Room at the Inn for Andy?
Posted on December 8th, 2009 | 76 Comments |
Specific details are yet to emerge about the England Under 21 internationals altercation on Sunday night, in the exotic backdrop of the Bigg Market’s Blu Bambu. However, what we do know, is that he has been bailed after being questioned on suspicion of ABH after being led away in handcuffs at 1.30 in the morning, while the ‘victim’ of the attack went to hospital with what were described as ‘non-life-threatening head injuries’.
Chris Hughton confirmed yesterday that he remains in the United squad for tomorrow’s trip to Coventry, although he may have doubts about his inclusion in getting him stripped. According to The Journal and The Mirror, Carroll was ‘given a dressing down in private by the Newcastle boss’, despite appearing to let the law decide on his guilt before acting.
And it would seem this unfortunate incident follows hot on the heels of a recent warning he’d already received about his conduct out and about on the tiles. He has already courted controversy with another early morning scuffle with a female back in the summer of last year, for which he was charged. And the reports coming back from Preston about his behaviour weren’t exactly glowing.
And of course there’s his spat with N’Zogbia, which saw him trade blows with the young Frenchmen. Now I’m not saying that I imagine you wouldn’t want to occasionally clip Le Sulk, but most of the lads seemed to be able to remain in control without chinning him, despite the tensions you get in training. So this is another one to add to a list of misdemeanours, and Hughton had this to say:
“At this moment, we’re not prepared to make any comment on Andy,”
“He is available for selection. He has trained and trained very well. It’s very much a club issue. As per normal when something happens, we of course always have to speak with the player, find out the facts and the normal stuff like that.”
“Until that’s been done, the only thing I can really say is no comment. I think the best way is always to deal with things in-house, always.”
“We do talk about the distractions that are out there, the most important thing after our games is recovery and doing things right off the pitch as well.”
‘Doing the right things off the pitch’ is something that a number of our players have struggled to do in their time in black and white, from the habitual offender that is Joey Barton, to the irritating and offensive Craig Bellamy and the ‘bling kings’ that were Jenas, Dyer et al. I think most of us were quite optimistic that the behaviour of the players was something we could start to rely on.
So on reflection, just at a time when the focus has been refreshingly on the pitch, our wayward striker has got involved in something that detracts from him. It’s unfair to hang him for an incident we don’t know much about. And young lads will make mistakes they can hopefully learn from, but the question has to be asked. With a questionable reputation and having become a young dad recently, and with a midweek game coming up, why not do yourself a favour and keep out of harm’s way?
Well tomorrow might let us know just how sympathetic and Hughton is to Carroll putting himself in that position, and Andy might have blown his good start to the season. Depending on the outcome of the investigations, that might be the least of his worries, and whilst young Andy has lots of maturing to do on the pitch, he’s going to have to grow up and grow wily quickly off it, even if he’s proven innocent on this occasion.
Eeeh Bowburn! Another slightly soft focus picture of a gadgie with nee shirt on! You’ll be accused of allsorts by urban sophisticates like hitman. Do ye gan to Rockshots like? :-)