Giles: Carroll price a huge gamble

JOHN GILES says he was surprised that Liverpool broke their club record to sign Andy Carroll and has branded the €41 million transfer a gamble for the Merseyside club.

Carroll’s move to Anfield and Fernando Torres’ departure for Chelsea were the big stories of transfer deadline day and, of the two strikers, Giles believes that the ex-Newcastle number nine has the most to prove.

“Whatever about Chelsea paying €58 million for Torres, €41m for Carroll was a bit of surprise to me because he’s still learning,” says Giles. “For €41m you’d want the finished article. You don’t know if Torres will go on to do it at Chelsea but he has proven he can do it at Liverpool. Carroll is a good player and he could be a bargain. He has good qualities, he is big, strong and brave but whether he goes out and looks after himself as he should remains to be seen.”

The RTÉ pundit has mixed feelings about the contrasting fortunes of Irish players Robbie Keane and Shay Given, with the former heading to West Ham while the goalkeeper remains on the Man City bench.

“Robbie has gone on loan to West Ham and that was always on the cards,” says Giles. “At least he’ll be playing again. From Ireland’s point of view, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a loan or on a permanent basis, the fact is he’s going to get matches. But I don’t know what Shay can do (at Man City). From (Roberto) Mancini’s point of view, I wouldn’t let Shay go because he’s a top class goalkeeper. Managers are not really interested in international teams. In fact they hate them because they take their players away.. I wouldn’t blame any manager for keeping good players. Even if Shay asked for a transfer, they wouldn’t have to let him go. But if the likes of Torres does that they have to let him go. That’s just the way it is.”

Giles admits he’s astonished by the money being paid in transfer fees in the modern game.

“I think it’s been going mad for a while. But nobody forces the clubs to pay the money that they’re paying. I’m 70 now and I find it difficult to relate to because I’m old enough to remember Albert Quixall coming to Old Trafford for £45,000. And that was a record. When Trevor Francis became the first million pound player people were shocked. When Tommy Lawton moved all those years ago £20,000, they said it would never go higher than that!”

Giles is busy engaging in some fundraising of his own just now but the purpose is to help grassroots football not the elite.

At the Aviva Stadium yesterday, the John Giles Foundation, in association with 3 and supported by the FAI, launched the ‘Walk Of Dreams’ which will take place in 14 locations nationwide on Sunday March 27 at 3pm. The John Giles Foundation was founded to help provide funding for football in clubs, schools and community centres around Ireland.

For further information log on to www.johngilesfoundation.com.