JIMMY CARTER 1991
by Dave Usher
Date of Birth - 09/11/65
Nationality - English
Position - Winger
Games - 8
Goals - 0
Club Hons (Lpool) - None
Intnl Hons - None
Other Clubs - Crystal Palace, QPR, Millwall, Arsenal, Oxford, Portsmouth
The signing of Jimmy Carter was one of Kenny Dalglish's final, and strangest, signings as Liverpool boss. Carter had not exactly set the world alight at Millwall, but Dalglish saw something in the right winger which persuaded him to part with £800,000 to take him to Anfield in January 1991.
A player who relied considerably on his electric pace, he seemed completely out of his depth whenever he pulled on the red shirt. At Millwall he was known for being very fleet of foot and skillful, and his crossing was one of the Lions' main attacking weapons.
Yet Liverpool fans saw none of those qualities, as Carter struggled to adapt to the higher expectation levels at Anfield, and the subsequent pressure that brings with it. Lacking in confidence, Carter was the proverbial 'headless chicken.'
He was quick, but his strange running style hardly inspired confidence. When in full flow he resembled a duck with a rocket up its arse, and unfortunately he played like one.
Poor old Jimmy is most remembered for a game at Stamford Bridge when Graeme Souness' reign was in its infancy. Souness sent Carter on as a substitute, had a look at him for a few minutes, decided that he didn't like what he saw, and promptly hauled him off.
He wasn't seen again in a Liverpool shirt, and the reds were delighted to offload him to Arsenal for £500,000 in October. He barely featured for them either, which begs the question, how much cash did George Graham get from that deal!
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