Tom Carroll has been training with Derby County and started the preseason match against Salford City. The midfielder turned down a contract offer from Queens Park Rangers and is currently a free agent. Could a return to Pride Park be on the cards? We spoke with Loft for Words and Paul Finney from the QPR Podcast to find out about Carroll's time at Loftus Road and what he could bring to Derby.
Carroll made 22 appearances for QPR last season. How did he perform?
Loft for Words: Better than I expected. He's a funny one for a supporter Tom, because he doesn't score, doesn't assist, isn't particularly strong defensively, but managers who play a certain 'progressive' style like him in their midfield, recycling the ball, getting and giving, keeping it moving, linking the back and the front and so on. In his first loan spell supporters got a bit impatient with him, not really understanding or seeing what he was contributing, and there weren't many tears shed in Swansea when he left there, but actually he looked quite steady for us in the first half of the season and there was a fair bit of disappointment around when he got injured in January.
Paul Finney: Carroll did well at times but the team as a whole was struggling. I got Got the feeling he was always in need of a good run in the team to improve fitness and set pieces and so on. So in a word just before his injury he was doing ok and just as I say on that verge of better .
He signed a one year deal in 2020. Why did QPR not offer him a new one?
Loft for Words: He was offered another year and turned it down. As we've added Sam Field and Andre Dozzell in that position and with Stef Johansen now signed as well, I suspect the offer was very low basic terms.
Paul Finney: The deal we offered was one year and maybe based on his injury record, dirt on wages but yeah many thought he would stay and then he went.
How would you sum up his time with The R's?
Loft for Words: Okay.
Paul Finney: He had two spells with us. The first time was young and finding his feet and I always felt there was a good wee player there.
What type of midfielder is Tom Carroll?
Loft for Words: Like I say, he's one of these trendy modern midfielders that certain coaches absolutely love, but supporters watch and wonder what exactly he's there for. Perfect for Swansea basically, not sure how he fits into Wayne Rooney's Derby County, but then I guess beggars can't be choosers.
What are his strengths?
Loft for Words: Strengths, passing completion and accuracy, he simply never gives the ball away. He'll get it and give it all day, move you around the field, complete in the high 80s and low 90s.
Paul Finney: His strength is passing and he won’t duck a tackle. His freekicks and corners can be great, when it works.
What are his weaknesses?
Loft for Words: Weaknesses, he doesn't score, doesn't assist and can't defend. Whether you think 5 is a fair trade off for 6 really depends on where you are on the Steve Cooper/Graham Potter ------------ Sam Allardyce/Neil Harris line.
Paul Finney: His weakness is his injury record. Some would say height and stature but as I said he won’t duck anything.
What is he like in the dressing room?
Loft for Words: No idea.
Paul Finney: As for the dressing room when you spoke to other players he seemed popular and told he liked boxing as well and as I say very popular with teammates .
How can Derby get the best out of Carroll?
Loft for Words: Well you're going to have to pair him with midfielders who do the scoring, assisting and defending that he doesn't. He's not going to do a lot to solve your problem of overly relying on Krystian Bielik and him never being fit.
Paul Finney: To get the best out of him, Carroll needs a good run in the team and he needs to stay injury free. Give him the ball more and see what he can add. The lad as a hell of a pass.
What would you expect from him this season if he signs for Derby County?
Loft for Words: I suspect your social accounts that enjoy football through the medium of scatter graphs are going to be doing a lot of pointing at the outlying positions Little Tom tends to land on those. Meanwhile accounts that like to shout "sign a fucking striker" a lot are going to start bitching and moaning about what exactly it is that he does pretty quickly.
Paul Finney: I’m not sure what he will add to Derby as sadly you guys have some issues to sort out and god knows what team you will have . But with the right team and injury free you have a good player on your hands. And a good lad to boot as well.
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