I blogged before the game about my concerns over Sears and I'm afraid I saw nothing last night to suggest that the kid has what it takes to make it at Premiership level. Yes he ran around, yes he closed down West Brom defenders, yes he managed a shot but, be honest, did he ever look like scoring? It is a sobering thought that a whole year has now passed since his solitary goal in West Ham colours.
Where-as Collison and Tomkins have shown genuine, and in Collison's case remarkable, progress this season, Sears has gone backwards. The desperate amongst us are suggesting that Sears looked a better player alongside Ashton, but they were clearly not at the Macclesfield game when Sears huffed and puffed for sixty or so embarrassing minutes alongside Beano before Turds called time on his night and sent Cole on as a replacement. Immediately our attacking play had a new potency, just as with the arrival of Di Michele in the Cup game away to Boro. Now Macclesfield were bottom of the old Fourth Division at the time, winless, clueless and there for the taking. Sadly, poor Freddie looked out of his depth against even this most modest of opposition.
Last night there was a huge gap between Di Michele and Sears for most of the night. The Italian dropped deeper and deeper in search of possession and Sears hung the wrong side of the last defender, repeatedly being caught offside on the rare occasions we progressed ten or so yards inside West Brom's half. Again you do have to wonder about both the striking instincts of the lad and his intelligence when journey men defenders can catch him out so easily by stepping out.
The fact is, Sears has now been on the pitch for a total of 832 minutes (not counting injury time) without scoring a goal. Do the maths and that is nine full games plus some. Now that in itself isn't a disaster as Cole shows, but what really concerns me is that apart from one effort away to Sunderland, when he should have done better, he hasn't even looked like scoring. Yes Cole can be profligate when through one on one with the keeper but at least he gets into the position in the first place. Why is it that Cole, a target man who drops deep to link the play, can engineer openings in almost every game, yet Sears, an out and out striker who offers very little outside of the final third, has never once burst clear of the opposition back line since that debut goal?
Hopefully it is just confidence. I watched him during the warm up last night and was struck by the utter lack of conviction when taking warm up shots. There was an awkwardness, an embarrassment, a fear of missing in front of the watching thousands - and that was when it didn't matter. The kid needs a goal but we can't keep waiting and hoping. I called last night as make or break for Sears and unfortunately he looked broken. Maybe, just maybe, playing on the break at Blackburn will suit him better. But he really is in the last chance saloon now - and with his baby face there isn't even the prospect of drowning his sorrows!
Did anyone look like scoring last night?
ReplyDeleteNo so it's a bit unfair to single out a teenager who hasn't had an extended run in the first team.
How about Savio? He's already played 210 minutes without scoring, clearly not good enough either. Well I say Savio perhaps I should call him a stupid name like Turds or Beano.
You're not a West Ham fan, just someone who likes having a pop at the players.
Quite right mate, I'm not a West Ham fan as is obvious from my desire to see Sears succeed. Go to westhamfans.org, you will be welcomed with open arms. The Klan forbid any criticism!
ReplyDeleteAlso enjoyed your posts "A can of worms" and "West Ham for sale". I looked at WestHamFans.org, the antidote to the intelligent football fan, for their take on the compensation situation and what have they got? "Warnock is a C*nt" and "Warnock, shut your mouth" from their esteemed editor, Nixon of Dock Green who seems to be banning anyone who can write and think at the same time. No, hold that; anyone who can write, most of them can't think anyway. Why does he need to write Neville Nixon Editor at the end of each post, is it to remind everyone how important he is?
ReplyDeleteI take it you're not a contributor to that august publication then Brandon. Apparently the trades description people are on to them and they've been asked to change their name to MyWestHamHomophobicRacistSkinheadICFmates.org and the editor to come clean and sign himself Stalin.
ReplyDeleteI'm a long time "guest" user on the Org. and have followed you and el Martillo's contretemps with the Klan over many very amusing months. It is rather sad when people cannot maintain a decent dialogue without deteriorating into abuse and ultimately exclusion, so I am pleased to find you on News Now and wish you all the best. Excellent articles by the way, why on earth you were not welcome I do not know. You may have been a bit contentious and near the knuckle at times, but for god's sake it's supposed to be a football forum not a knitting circle. Didn't any of them ever stand in the chicken run?
ReplyDeleteCan I have my ball back. Neville Nixon. Playground Supervisor.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree on Sears and I am pleased to find another outlet for constructive criticism on the Hammers. I too am often slapped down on "Org" as being negative. For me following a team is not about blind faith but about considered, sensible comments that - oh, how dare we - actually question what's going on with our beloved club. And it's nice to read something where people can actually string a sentence together.
ReplyDeleteZola is a lovely guy, and you can understand the need to keep the players motivated. But sometimes I worry about his apparent blind optimism. One can only hope that, behind closed doors, he and Steve Clarke tell it like it is.
We are woeful in the striking department. With Bellamy going and Ashton out for the season, spending a club record fee on someone who may be promising, but won't stand a chance of getting to grips with the Premier League for another season or two, was insane. We needed to bring in an experienced - if not stunning - striker with Premier League stripes (perhaps even on loan) to fill the yawning gap.
And that brings me to what some people seem to think is THE ANSWER to our yawning gap. Step up, Mr Carlton Cole. Two years ago he was fifth choice striker. Now suddenly everyone panics if he is out for a game. All that says is how low we have stooped when it comes to strikers.
Sure, he has improved a little, but the Fleet Street football hacks, for whom usually I have no time whatsoever, got it completely right when they just laughed about Cole being called up for England.
Cole is not even a Premiership striker, let alone of international class. Yes he is powerful and makes a nuisance of himself for central defenders. But when he goes up for a high ball, neither he, nor anyone else watching knows which part of him the ball is going to hit. His first touch is usually awful (remember his "pass" to Spector that led to the Parker goal against Bolton? As the Telegraph rightly said, it was yet another Cole trap that turned into a pass). He is exceptinally clumsy and I just don't think he is in control of his body. despite what everyone says, the ref was right to send him off for that high foot against Wigan. What was the idiot doing lifting his foot to head height, having just got his first yellow card?
Worst of all, for evry goal he scores, he misses 10 chances. There are striker who instinctively know where the goal is and how to get the ball there. Ashton is one, when he is fit. Defoe is another. Most clubs have one. Cole is definitely not in this club. But even more worrying, neither are de Michele or Tristan. de Michele especially. He is good at linking up the play but his shooting ability is absolutely non-existent.
I could go on, but if anyone has stayed with me this far, they've probably had enough by now.
I stuck with you right to the end Winnie, something I rarely manage with Org. posts. A pleasure to read informed and well written opinion. I disagree to some extent about Cole, I think his contribution has been enormous, not only as a goalscorer but someone who brings others into the game and defensively for that matter. What I would say is that he shouldn't be the number one striker and there should be a pool of four strikers of his ability or better.
ReplyDeleteI think and indeed hope that Zola has learned how to "talk the talk" and that his public utterances are for the benefit of journalists and team spirit, whilst behind the scenes a pragmatic streak is getting on with the job that needs to be done. His dealings with Lucas Neill are perhaps a case in point, where he talks of new contracts and the man's important contribution whilst at the same time looks around for his replacement.
Well, maybe I am hard on Cole. But I feel this overwhelming need to counterbalance what I'm afraid I consider to be misplaced euphoria about his performances. You're right, he does bring others into the game, but lots of strikers do that who are also more prolific scorers - by far! I think it's the people who think he is some kind of messiah who are at fault, not Cole himself. He is what he is - hard working and powerful - and will never be anything more, I'm afraid. We got rid of Harewood - a similar sort of player - and there were many who thought he was a joke. And, although I was never a fan, he was easily a match for Cole.
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough Fanno thought you might be me, after I had my penny whistle confiscated and was ejected from the Orgestra some days ago! I can see why now, counterbalance is a word I like a lot! Are you a Wykehamist or a resident of the beautiful city?
ReplyDelete...just a resident tugged from my London roots some 18 years ago. It's nice... very nice...but I miss the "edge", the fumes and the noise.
ReplyDeleteWow guys, if I can get a chat link established, we will nail Nev to his cross within six months. See his "witty" comment above? It is contributions like that which will boost this site still further. Please note Nev, I could delete your post, I have that power but if you want to hang around, I'm happy to have you on board! As for the others, thanks for the contributions, it is refreshing to read considered, informed opinion rather than knee, no correction, complete jerk comments!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean Winnie, I miss the edge sometimes too: Usually after 5 or 6 pints and I end up in a crumpled heap on the pavement, poor old Curbs get's blamed for everything doesn't he!
ReplyDelete