For as long as it was only Stoke who were interested in Carlton Cole, I was confident we would keep him. Why would a player in the England squad choose to join Stoke City?
However, the opportunity to join Liverpool would be a much more enticing prospect for Carlton, especially with Woy as manager. The Pulis approach would not work with Carlton, but as Woy proved with Zamora, he has a knack for nursing and developing players with a fragile temperament. If I was Cole, I might look at the transformation of Zamora and think, "I'll have a bit of that!"
Much has been made of Zola's development of Cole, but it is as of nothing in comparison to the magic wand that Woy waved over Zammo. Cole always had the raw material to be a top player; Zammo, on the other hand, always looked like a Championship player straining every fibre and tissue to keep his head above water in the Prem. He was lovable because he was such a battler, but England quality? There were times when you would have picked 'Arry's wife before you picked Zammo. And indeed, 'Arry's wife's understudy, Darren Bent, was selected ahead of Zamora.
But Woy apart, would the move be good for Carlton? I don't think so. I fancy Woy's reign will be short lived. There will probably be new owners at some point and they will want success today, not success tomorrow. Patience will be short with a manager appointed by the previous regime. If the Yanks keep control, Woy will be starved of transfer cash and that Liverpool squad isn't good enough, with or without Cole, to pull up any trees. Should Cole join, he could find himself playing reserve team football by Christmas, or being the target of supporter abuse because he is not Fernando Torres. Carlton should look at Heskey and think, do I want to be hounded out of Anfield like Emile?
So, if I was Carlton I would stay at West Ham. But if Liverpool firm up their bid, I expect Cole to go. As for Liverpool, they would then have plenty of Coles, but without a fully fit Torres, they would still lack the spark to ignite them!
I believe that Cole would be a good foil for Torres up front for us but I would think that when we are taken over and money is there....would Cole be the first player you thought of?probably not and I wouldn't want a good English striker to be wasted,when our national team is in dire need for a natural striker like Cole, as the expectations of a player coming to Liverpool is massive Heskey an example!.
ReplyDeleteCole who I rate as a very good player who would fit in nicely at Liverpool, so I can see your point when you say about moving to stoke, as a player you want to make a step up not sideways no offence to Stoke or West Ham.
Whatever happens Cole will choose where he plays for football reasons, I think the lure of playing with Gerrard,Torres and Cole maybe an opportunity too good to turn down!
At 12 mil he has to go surely. Although he has banged a couple in pre-season, any honest hammer knows that he will never be a predatory out and out scorer, and with everyone scared to have a pop at goal last season, when it came down to chances taken by cole, it nearly cost us dearly. You will always get a great reception Carlton for your graft and determination, but football sense is needed here and we need a goalscorer to keep the (pardon the pun) wolves from the door. COYI Craig the Hammer
ReplyDeleteWho could you get for £12m to replace him Craig? I can think of lots of replacements for Parker should we sell him for £12m - Behrami, Prince-Boateng, Reo-Coker being three - but nobody to replace Cole who is a proven scorer in the Prem.
ReplyDeleteI thought Zamora showed flashed of real brilliance at times for us and scored some cracking goals, v the owls and Birmingham spring to mind. I think sayingb he struggled so much is a bit unfair but he's certainly got better.
ReplyDeletegot to agree, losing cole would be a massive kick in the teeth. He is also one fo the home grown contingent we would need. and rumours of us replacing him with Yakubu scares the shit out of me. I know who I'd have in any team any day. if sp*rs quoted Liverpool 15 mill for crouch why aren't we sayin soemthing like 18 mill for Cole. Cole has a better all round package than Crouch. And he doesn't cheat on his misses with a teenage hooker.
ReplyDeleteHave to agree. Cole is proven, and he is one of the 8 home grown contingent we have. Also I have heard that we woudl be wantign to replace him with Yakubu. Please no thanks. That scares me at what must be goign through the heads at West Ham if it is true. Also I hear Liverpool turned to him after being quoted 15 mill by Liverpool, surely that means Cole is worth 18 mill at least he has a better all round package than Crouch. And he doesn't cheat on his misses with a teenage hooker. Be a shame to see Coley go.
ReplyDelete1123, and against Villa and Arsenal. I loved Zammo but, be honest, we never thought he was an England player did we? We loved him, and yes there were flashes of brilliance, but Spector went on some marauding runs last season and Harewood looked superb in flashes!
ReplyDeletewell he was no ashton i'll give you that and i suppose i never thought he'd light up the international stage. I agree that consistency is the key but i just thought that zammo would come good as i believed he was getting better during his time with us and that this good form would always show up. defoe banged em in in the lower leagues too and his time came so maybe there are comparisons there. as for heskey n spector? that's just harsh on the Z man ; )
ReplyDeletesorry heskey shouldve read harewood - freudian slap
ReplyDeleteKevin in manchester writes
ReplyDeleteHF appro pro of nothing you run a fine blog which I look forward to readng everyday .. As to Cole; he may go, he may stay we'll see. It is an english disease to expend more energy speculating about what may happen rather than analysing what has happened. BTW have you looked at jeremy the west ham dj's blog - he's promised no criticism of the club,players or manager ! that'll be compelling then
Cheers Kevin. Re Jeremy, What's the point of ANOTHER WHTID? I will not be looking in there in a hurry!
ReplyDelete2nd Para: [If I was Cole, I might look at the transformation of Zamora and think, "I'll have a bit of that!"]
ReplyDeleteLast Para: [So, if I was Carlton I would stay at West Ham.]
I hate to be pedantic but slightly contradictory that HF?! Yes, I know in the first instance you say 'might', but the inference is still that CC's fortunes would be better served at Liverpool.
Personally, I can think of numerous reasons why Cole to Liverpool is a non-starter straight out of the EPL random rumour generator, but the two most obvious are....
Grant has already clearly stated that Cole is an asset to him and will not be leaving.
Cole is a 'home-grown', so his sale would affect the squad 'options'.
Basically, Cole is going nowhere and will now relish ditching his old No.12 shirt and wearing his new No.9 whilst banging in the goals for West Ham! COYI!
You clarify the distinction yourself Shaun. If I was Cole I might consider working with Woy, but weighing everything up, I would reject the move! Simples no?
ReplyDeleteI don't expect hhim to reject the move by the way, if he is given the opportunity to go.
I agree that we would be stupid to sell him but the rumours persist. I would sell Parker before I would sell Cole!
Hammersfan, ask yourself if Cole is really a proven goalscorer at any level. I am a fan of Cole but a proven goalscorer he isnt. When you talk of proven goalscores you must be using the names of Torres, Defoe, Van Nistelrooy, Rooney, Anelka. Although these are not or have never been in the price bracket of cole, these are still "proven" goalscorers in the prem. I would have more confidence in Tim Cahill scoring goals for me from midfield and set plays, than Cole bagging most games for us. Personally, I would love to see us keep Cole personally and add someone like Robbie keane alongside him, but for 12 mil hammerfan, I am sure Grant could scour the european market and find a player capable of 12 goals a season. Bear in mind, for all the heart on sleave commitment we get from Cole, we lose in scoring instinct and aerial ability. My biggest gripe is that off set pieces he doesnt attack the ball like A duncan ferguson, or a kevin campell. For his size, he has to become a threat at set pieces and crosses, but I fear this will never materialise regardless of whoever coaches him. Run ning yourself into the ground for the team wins supporters, but not matches unfortunately. Carlton is a last half hour player to put pressure on those tiring centre backs as a sub, then he may well find himself on the scoresheet more consistently. COYI Craig the Hammer
ReplyDeleteWe have to retain Home Grown players mate. We cannot keep bringing in foreigners as I explain in the 25 man squad thread. Cole is scoring at a rate of one goal every two point five games over the last two seasons and that isn't bad. Yes he can improve, and you are right to highlight set pieces and his heading in general, but his moovement is good and he can use both right and left feet. He has pace and is strong. THAT is a rare combination!
ReplyDeleteThe only way we will conclude this debate is if grant fends off the media speculation and keeps cole grounded for another season. What you say HF about his pace and power is correct and hopefully as a first choice forward with support this season, he may well introduce the aerial aspect into his game now that we have outright wingers who can cross in the squad. One thing for sure is that cole is a confidence player, and as a result of pre-season his confidence must be sky high. Great blogs HF, keep up the good work. COYI Craig the Hammer
ReplyDeleteCheers Craig.
ReplyDelete