If you believe the rumours, we have bid £13m for Remy and are considering a £14m bid from Stoke for Carlton Cole. But in Avram's shoes, would you trade Carlton for Loic?
I'm not really able to give an informed opinion because I have never seen Remy play. He has been called the new Thierry Henry but then Joe Bugner was the new Henry Cooper, Hick the new Bradman, Kevin Lock the new Bobby Moore and Diamanti the new Paolo Di Canio! History is littered with new Messiahs who never quite live up to their billing. Remy represents a gamble. He is French to start with and has never played in the Prem. If he is really the new Henry, why wasn't he in South Africa and why hasn't Wenger snapped him up?
But what about Cole? The interest in him from the likes of Liverpool, Juve and Tottenham has evaporated. If Stoke are the only club who want him, what does that say about Carlton? I am a long time admirer but even I had to admit that he looked very ordinary over the last quarter of the season. Was his knee still troubling him? That seemed the most probable explanation to me but maybe he is just...well ordinary.
So would you go with Remy or Cole and why? And please, don't refer us to YouTube - I remember the Ilan and Faubert videos!
8 comments:
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Cole. I admit he was poor second half of last season, BUT prior to his injury he'd been mint for a couple of years. 26 years old, with pace, power, control, strength, there's got to be a good chance he'll have an awesome few seasons now.
What we dont know is who else will move on so funding for Remy might come from other activities.
However if there is doubt over Coles knees then 14m is to good to turn down.
It's Remy for me. Why? Like you I haven't seen him playing but I have seen Cole play. He is very good at what he does (hold up play and as a target man) but he is not and probably will never be a prolific goal scorer. Moreover, he is suited to the type of new team gather is being built by Avram Grant. One with speed on the wings and and a creative midfield. This type of team does need to play with a target forward. It is a different approach (more like Arsenal if you like and less like Bolton or Stoke). I would therefore trade Cole for Remy while I can still do it and before he is grabbed from us by Liverpool or Arsenal or God forbid Harry!
Cole.
I say this because the way Remy is being spoken of, it does seem that if he comes to us, his personal progression will be faster than our club's, hence he will end up being bought by a bigger club and will not remain long term. Yes we will get money for this but it's no way to build a consistent squad. Cole will stay and we can build around him. If it doesn't work out with Cole, no matter, we haven't wasted £13m. We know what we have with Cole.
I also have concerns about our method of payment. We have offered to stagger it, but I do remember Sullivan in particular, making his concerns in regards to Portsmouth's dire situation public when he bought us out. This staggered form of payment was one of the main things that ended up getting Pompey into trouble. I think it's high risk because you're banking on certain things to happen. If these things don't happen then you're in trouble.
Are you being serious Fanno? Do you think Piquionne and Cole would be a mobile enough partnership for us, and could really play together. Bringing Remy in will give our team a new dimension and offer us a real threat in the last 3rd. He is lightening quick, and has a real touch of class about him. He is still young, so does need to improve in areas of his game, but easily a better partner for Piquionne than Cole. Personally i would prefer Cole and Remy, but with the signing of Piquionne on big wages, I cannot see him warming the bench, so I expect Cole to be sold.
Cole, for the exact reasons highlighted by Stani. I haven't seem Remy play but cant really see it doing us any good in the long term. If he is good, he will be off and we will be without a striker. If he isnt, we will have another Savio on the squad.
Cole is a proven confidence player. He plays much better when the crowd is behind him and when he is frequently scoring. He is having a good pre-season so far and i think he will take that form into the start of the prem campaign. However, how long it will last is anyones guess.
Yeah..why not...Cole AND Remy?!! If Remy is as 'lightning quick' as people are making out, he would surely compliment Cole's hold-up strength and aerial ability?!
Cole is proven in the Premiership, whereas it seems that DutchHammer is the only one who has seen Remy kick a ball?!
Cole has stated that he wants to play his part in West Ham's future under Grant and has been given the Captain's armband in Germany. Remy has made it quite clear his options are open and is aware of the 'big' interest and what goes with it! Nice have allegedly now been offered the FULL £13m by Sullivan, yet still they hold out in the hope that Liverpool, Arsenal or even Spuds will come calling and bump up the 'auction' price! Liverpool are only prepared to offer 2 squad players in exchange!
Should Remy see West Ham as a stepping stone, then contractually, he should be tied to that 'stone' for more than just one season! Should both Remy AND Barrera 'hop' off' their stepping stones, and Cole has been sold, then where would we be?!
Piquionne is fully aware that he is by no means 'top dog'....Cole IS! FP has already underlined this by saying he is prepared to 'fight for his place'! The same applies to McCarthy.
Does anyone honestly think that Cole wants to be stood in red and white stripes, with his back to goal, week in week out, with Delap shouting 'get on the end of this Coley!' as he chucks yet another exocet in his general direction?!! No, nor me!
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