Kieron Dyer: "We had a young exciting team, a fantastic team when you think about it.
"But there was a lot going on off the pitch as well.
"They called us the Brat Pack, and I suppose we were at the time.
"There was myself, Craig Bellamy, Jermaine Jenas, Titus Bramble, Carl Cort - we were young lads who had a lot of money, single, living away from home.
"We were enjoying life off the pitch and we got up to all sorts. But that is the problem you have in a city like Newcastle.
"We were doing well on the pitch and we were intent on enjoying ourselves off it, but we got into too many scrapes.
"We attracted the wrong sort of attention and there are things I did which I just can't believe when I look back.
"That is what happens when you turn young men into millionaires in a city where they receive so much adulation just for being footballers.
"There are so many dangers when that happens, so many pitfalls - I fell into a lot of them.
"I look at Andy Carroll and you can see the same problems.
"I hope he gets himself sorted out because he could become an excellent player."
Police are examining Carroll's burned-out car, a brand new chrome plated Range Rover, which was set ablaze as it stood on the drive of team-mate Kevin Nolan's country house.
Carroll, who was recently awarded a new five-year contract, is staying at the house of the Magpies' skipper as part of his bail conditions after being charged with the alleged assault of a teenager.
Nolan's garage door was also daubed with graffiti during the attack on Wednesday night.
Forensic experts combed the scene for evidence.
Northumbria Police spokesman: "The fire was extinguished by the fire and rescue service and no one was injured. The garage door of the property was also vandalised.
"Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them."
Carroll was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning after police were called to a house in Ponteland where an 18-year-old had suffered head injuries.
The Gateshead-born forward appeared before Hexham Magistrates' Court, where he told the bench he was currently living at Jesmond Dene House hotel, in Newcastle.
His case was adjourned until January 10 2011 with a condition of his bail that he lives with Nolan at Nolan's home.