Wednesday 1 December 2010

What do we do with Carlton now?

Just when we thought the Cole conundrum had been solved - sell him to Liverpool - Carlton pops up and throws a bloody great spanner in the works. His two second half goals - the first time he has scored twice in the same game for EIGHT YEARS - has suddenly put the cat amongst the pigeons. He didn't just look good, he looked brilliant!

Now we mustn't get carried away of course, because the first 45 minutes did not showcase Cole's talents quite so well. In fact, there was one classic Cole moment when he dummied the ball out for a Man Utd throw, stepping over the ball to let it run ahead of him, only to realise too late that he was straddling the touch line! On another occasion, Cole was very much second to a dangerous cross into the box, being out jumped and out thought by a United defender. He looked laboured to me first half and the ball was still not sticking to him. Obinna looked ten times better!

But what a change a goal brought. The header was deliciously good and the run across the front of his defender to meet Obinna's cross was superb. And Cole's second was one of the best centre forward goals you will ever see. Cole showed strength, great control and speed of thought in rolling his marker, and finished brilliantly. I said last night that Pele would be proud of that goal and I stand by that!

And there, in a nutshell, is a the frustrating enigma that is Carlton Cole. When his confidence is high, he is as good as anybody: he scores with his right foot, his left foot and his head; he has great strength and wonderful pace; and possesses surprisingly good close control for a big man. It was Ranieri, I think, who described him as the most talented young player he ever worked with, and last night, in the second half, we saw what looked like the real deal. £10m for one of the most naturally gifted strikers in the game? Not enough surely?

Cole's detractors will point to the understrength United team last night, and use this too as a way to belittle the achievement of Grant in conjuring up that performance. They will overlook the fact that United came to Upton Park last season WITHOUT a defence and still thumped Zola's misfits 4-0. The Mancs' back four read Fletcher, Neville, Brown and Evra, and Neville was replaced by Carrick after half an hour. Cole didn't play in that one. Had he done, the score might have been different!

So what do we do with Carlton now? Do we sell him? I wouldn't. Does he play against Sunderland? Logic says yes, but that would mean leaving out either Obinna or Piquionne unless Grant fancies cutting his own throat by reverting to 4-3-3 again!

The Cole conundrum continues.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sell him!! His good performances are way too few and far between, and if any club are willing to offer in the region of £10m for him, we should bite their hands off. Piquionne has completely outclassed cole this season, and we got him for peanuts!

Stani Army said...

Cole and Hines for me, with Victor behind 'em. That will cause any defence problems.

Anonymous said...

"Cole's detractors will point to the understrength United team last night" You are one of his biggest detractors!!

Hammersfan said...

Nonsense. I have been one of Cole's staunchest defenders. Get your facts right!

H4MM3R said...

It's not easy to pick a line up against Sunderland. Freddie did great the season so far but yesterday Coley was just terrific. I think I would start with yesterday's team line up and change Kovac => Parker; Faubert => Jacobsen. You could also play Obinna on Barreras right flank and put Freddie up front with Cole.

California HF said...

If we sell Cole we officially begin our bid for relegation and rebuilding. Cole may look like waste, but HE is our best chance at keeping us alive. We are already losing Upson in a month, do we really want to sell our souls to the devil? I GUARANTEE Noble and Parker will request out. I dont care if Parker just signed a deal. Cole can't be traded, Cole can't be released. If this happens, this mean Grant wasn't big enough to get over Cole's actions a week and a half ago, which means Grants weak and not appropriate to coach a EPL team.

Hammersfan said...

Why waste Obinna's talent by playing him out of position H4MM3R?

H4MM3R said...

As I wrote my personal choice would be yesterday's line up with swapping Kovac => Parker & Faubert => Jacobsen.
I just wanted to add another possibility how Freddie could be involved because I don't think he'll be on the bench on saturday. There is also the chance to play Freddie on Barreras position for example.

spanishhammer said...

Reading your comments is very worrying one game and Cole suddenly becomes worthy of becoming our salvation he is the most overated and lazy forward I have seen playing for us for many a year he sulks around blaming everyone else for his short comings at 6 foot 4 he should be bossing defenders freddy every day for me

Anonymous said...

sell him one game a season does not make

Anonymous said...

"One of Cole's staunchest defenders" ?!?!?!?! ahahahaha what a wag you are!

Essexhammer said...

I know its stating the obvious but the only reason COLE would be sold is if a better player replaces him.You can do a lot with £10-12million.

Hammersfan said...

Can you though mate? You can buy a £12m replacement but would a £12m man join a relegation threatened team? Or you could buy six McBennis, or an infinite number of Midos, or a stack of Ilans on loan, God knows how many Jimenezes, an orgy of Di Micheles...

T.I.S said...

You could buy three solid players in positions we need. And can I just clarify that, to his credit, HF has backed Cole for a while now.

Anonymous said...

Do not like for a moment the suggestion of playing Cole and Piquonni together! We have tried that. It failed miserably!! Both are Centre Forwards. Both thrive on being the main striker with somebody coming in from wider ala Obinna. Who would I play? Up till now its been a no brainer. Piquonni has been by far the most impressive. Now? Im going for Cole on Sun with Piquonni breathing down his neck desperate to play. Result would be Cole responding ala 2nd half on Tue. Then getting the best out of Piquonni when he comes on desperate to impress. Cole has shown WHAT HE CAN DO. What he must do now is DO IT CONSISTANTLY. Thats week in...week out. Not 1 good game in 10. Not 1 good game in 5. ITS EVERY GAME HE PLAYS!! The statistic flagged up of that being the 1st time he has scored 2 goals in a game for 8 years is frankly embarrassing!! He showed he can play (and score). Lets hope he shows the same desire in every game now!!

Hammersfan said...

Spot on mate!

Anonymous said...

Cole is useless flog him and get decent money. Piq and Vic are far better. Get a decent price for cole and i will drive him to his new club