It's not time to panic yet, but the rumours of Cole joining Stoke have resurfaced. Apparently, he was in Stoke today, signing the contract, with the price rumoured to be £12m.
Of course, there were rumours last January that Carlton was in Sunderland, signing a contract to join the Black Cats. What is it with Cole and Red Stripes I wonder?
I have always scoffed at the idea that Cole would take such a backward step and I am still very dubious. But just in case it is true, I will put on record that it would be a very bad move for Cole, West Ham and England. And oddly, I think it would be a bad deal for Stoke too. Carlton finished the season low on confidence and the weight of expectation of a big transfer fee will hang heavy on him. This really would be a lose lose lose lose deal in my opinion.
So, fingers crossed it is bull.
13 comments:
Spot on all the way around, HF. In some ways, if he did choose Stoke, it would tell us quite a lot about his ambitions. Or lack thereof. No knock on Stoke or Tony Pulis, who is a top drawer manager in my opinion. But stylistically they don't look right for Cole.
12 million. where's my keys. ill drive him their.
Disagree HF.For £12 million we have more in the coffers towards bringing in better quality.I am not saying COLE is rubbish but we need higher workrate,goal poaching forwards,in the mold of TEVEZ.
tevez? have you forgotten the trouble we had with him last time? With all due respect he got us out of the bad patch we were in and single handedly saved us, but i think we have firmly established that argies and west ham don't go well together, plus he'd not be wanting to go back with the hammers now.
Tevez would cost £35m so I cannot understand how any comparison is relevant. Talking about Tevez is ludicrous. Who could we get for £12m if we sold Cole for that figure?
Klose?
Kloser to retirement you mean?
I did not say we should sign TEVEZ,but someone like him who plays that style.
Trouble is mate, Tevez is a one off. Who could you get who is "like him"? How much would that mystery man cost? Cole is a proven Prem striker. He isn't brilliant but he is pretty good. I'd keep him unless somebody bids £15m plus.
It's TEVEZ workrate that impresses me.He comes deep to get the ball and joins in the build up play and his movement is excellent.He is very hard to mark which is why he is such a prolific scorer.
Common sense would suggest it's just a rumour! It's a no-brainer in my opinion..and a NO SALE!
Cole is only 26 and has the potential for much more improvement to come! There is no question he improved under Zola and I'm sure Grant will follow suit!
Claudio Ranieri was quoted (when managing Chelsea) as saying that Carlton was THE best young player he'd ever coached! High praise indeed from a much respected figure in the game! He was always an understudy at Chelsea and the loan spells to Wolves, Charlton and Villa respectively didn't benefit him at all, and his career, as well as his development, simply stalled as a result!
He's been referred to by both Avram and DS as part of 'the spine of the team', so I can't see them turning turtle and selling the family silver just yet!?
If he stays injury free, Cole will hit at least 15 goals this season! Come on You Irons!!
Yep, World Class Essex mate, but how does that move us forward in the debate? Cole comes deep, too deep sometimes given the failure of our midfield to break beyond him. Strangely, the player we really missed last season was Di Michelle. Comparisons with Tevez would be absurd, but he operated "in the hole" and was very mobile, dropping into midfield, pulling wide left and running in to the space beyond Cole. That was how Diamanti SHOULD have been used / played last season and it was the role Jimenez was laughably earmarked for. Maybe, just maybe, Grant will get Diamanti playing that way this season. We would still need Cole up top however.
would cole really leave west ham to go to stoke. i would doubt it somehow.
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