David Moyes defends West Ham's Andy Carroll over his style of play: 'If every time he raises his arms it's a foul then he's better off playing basketball'
- David Moyes' West Ham host Leicester at the London Stadium on Friday evening
- Andy Carroll has been booked in four of his last six appearances for West Ham
- Moyes pointed out Carroll is also on the receiving end of some robust challenges
- Marko Arnautovic and Andre Ayew are fit again after recovering from injuries
David Moyes insists he will stand by Andy Carroll as West Ham host Leicester this evening and warned old-fashioned target men may be better suited to basketball if referees continue to clamp down on Carroll's physicality.
Moyes was forced to substitute Carroll in the 65th minute of the 2-0 defeat at Watford on Sunday with the striker on a yellow card.
Carroll has been booked on four of his last six appearances and he was sent off for an elbow on Burnley's Ben Mee last month.
David Moyes said target man Andy Carroll has been getting 'zero protection' from referees
On Sunday, he landed a blow inside six seconds on Watford’s Marvin Zeegelaar, although he escaped sanction. Carroll was, however, subsequently booked and also received a final warning from the referee Andre Marriner before half-time.
Moyes defended his frontman by highlighting instances where Carroll himself was the recipient of the robust challenges. ‘In the 27th minute when he was booked, he was scythed by two people. So if that had been anyone else out there from outside this country then they would have gone down and taken a free kick. Andy didn’t.
‘We are a country who want to rule out simulation which is 100 per cent correct. He stays up and is hit by two people and he gets zero protection.
‘Are you telling me Andy Gray, Joe Jordan, Duncan Ferguson jumped without using their hands for leverage? Anyone who says that has never played the game. I’m telling you, you can only jump with your arms for leverage. It is my specialist subject...I was a centre half so I needed to use my arms for protection. If we are now saying you can’t use your arms for leverage, that isn’t in the rules of football.
Moyes highlighted a number of instances where Carroll was the recipient of robust challenges
Moyes was forced to substitute off Carroll after he picked up a yellow card against Watford
‘From minute one every time Andy Carroll plays... is everyone going to say “that’s a foul by Andy Carroll?” If we do, we’ve got to say now that if you’re 6 ft 4 you better go to basketball and stop being a centre-forward.’
Carroll is expected to start for West Ham this evening as Moyes looks forward to his first home game as the club seek to rise out of the relegation zone.
Marko Arnautovic has recovered from a swollen thumb and Andre Ayew returns from illness but Javier Hernandez and Michail Antonio remain injured.
Carroll caught Watford's Marvin Zeegelaar inside the opening six seconds last time out
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