OK, he wasn't Carlos Tevez nor Paolo Di Canio, but Carlton Cole always gave 100% for West Ham. At one stage he was linked with an unlikely £12m move to Inter Milan and, of course, he was called up for England - and not many West Ham players have worn the three lions in recent years.
A forward who can't score isn't ideal, but Carlton led the line with courage, commitment and skill. All too often he was left isolated, but he did his best to keep three defenders occupied single handedly, running the channels, dropping deep and chasing down every single over hit lost cause.
Only rarely did he complain and when we were relegated, he took a 50% pay cut and shunned the opportunity to prolong his Premiership career by moving to Stoke City.
His exclusion from the party against Reading was both sad and shameful. Carlton deserved better and should not have been ushered out of the door without the opportunity of a proper farewell. He has worn the Claret and Blue in more than 240 games and scored 59 goals.
His high point was probably the play off final goal against Blackpool, which people forget was just as important as Vaz Te's. But his match winning performance against Chelsea this season will live long in the memory, as will his cracking goals against Wigan and Newcastle under Zola. And, of course there was that Cup thumping of Man Utd when he and Spector shared our four goals between them.
Cole has played under Pardew, Curbishley, Zola, Grant and Allardyce. None of them really fancied him - though Zola loved him - but Carlton outstayed them all except Doctor Evil.
He will be missed, especially by barn doors on Green Street who saw him as their benefactor! Along with them, I would like to thank Carlton for the memories.
22 comments:
Fair comment, I did think the same, he rarely complained always gave 100% evan when the crowd was on his case. Fairwell and goodluck Carlton.
Seconded, HF. Well said.
I was there when he came on for his debut and scored within 17 seconds! If only he'd kept up that rate....
But I agree - a great servant for the club and a smashing guy.
Millionaire footballer who gives a flying crap. Bang average player. Loyal yes because he had no better offers and his knee is shot
hf a good article i think we should have kept him as dr evils tactics seem built around a big target centre forward if carroll signs carlton would have been cover for him and maybe we could take league and facup ties a bit more serious as we are over due a good cup run under dr evil
Anony-mouse says,
Hi HF. I agree with much that you say. I'm going to miss old Overchuffed, a decent footballer and fantastic ambassador for this club. The stick he took from a percentage of the UP 'faithful' was sadly Chelsea like in its ignorance.
One thing though- he wasn't excluded from the Reading game- he was ruled out by tonsilitis.
Why don't your fellow supporters comment very often on your blogs about things west ham?
Great write up, HF. I knew this day would come, but it's still sad. As an American supporter since 2007, I've seen Carlton (and Noble) in the claret and blue more than anyone other player. He really embodied what was to be a West Ham supporter these past six years, for better and for worse. Moments of brilliance, agonizing defeat, claustrophobic mediocrity...but above all it's been the consistent passion and unwavering support. Thanks for the memories, Carlton.
brilliant carlton cole i love him great person loved westham i would say that he deserved applaud more than parker the day u go down they want to leave shit and u call them westham legand
carlton cole great loved westham we will miss him
great player and overall great guy loved westham
22:28 blimey life must have dealt you a bad hand to become so bitter and twisted.... let's hope no one shoots your knee.
Very sorry to see him go. Good honest pro who gave his all.......surely room for him in our squad.................
A very shabby way to treat such a great servant for your club.
Now that your pornographer owners have agreed to shell out 15 Mill for the overrated Carroll, I can see little money left in the coffers to improve this below par squad.
Looking like another season with the shadow of the drop hanging over the Sad Hammers
Good luck Carlton where ever you end up playing not many like you anymore loyal to the club & West Ham should give you a testimonial thanks again for some great goals esp the 1 at Wembley
Don't forget he was offered a contract. He just wanted more than what Big Sam and the owner's thought he was worth.
09:17
Shadow of the drop? Overrated Carroll?
You sound like a bitter, disappointed spud, beaten again to your holy grail by the superior Arsenal and desperate to make yourself feel better by trolling
Pornography makes more than Hollywood, so who cares if that is the business our owners were once in? It obviously pays well as they own a premier league football club and you don't. Although to be fair, you probably do deserve a reasonable shareholding seeing you have spent so much on porn in your tragic little lifetime
True, he never complained, but 40k/wk to wander around aimlessly for 90+ mins/wk is a deal I'd have taken.... Where're ya going CC, I'll drive ya....
This whole Andy Carroll saga is actually quite embarrassing to be honest. When will the guy learn he is only destined to play for a club in the bottom 6? Just like last summer he will spend the whole of it stating that West Ham aren't big enough only to find that no other sod wants him. 7 goals in a struggling provincial side is an absolutely diabolical return. You need players who want to play for you. What's even more pathetic is you guys actually look up to him!
Im sorry since when was 10th place and safe all season struggling and bottom 6? If you watched carroll play then you would know he could easily make it in to any team outside the top 4. Stop being a moron and go die under a rock from which you crawled from.
09:17, I have no regard for Tottenham so your assumption and rant about them is all part of your delusion.
I am a proud Leeds United supporter who was addressing the author of this blog in the same manner he uses to make his inane comments about my team ad nausiam.
Pornography? I couldn't care less either. Mr HF refers to my Team's owners as Arabs.
Also just as you are clueless about the Team I follow, don't assume I have a sad life stooped in Porographic literature. The difference between us is only one of us needs to back up his argument with cheap personal insults.
LOL Fred, it's 1829 here. Thanks for cheering me up mate :). No need to be sorry for him though its not your fault he couldn't hit a barn door!
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