Carlton Cole signed for the Hammers back in July 2006 from Chelsea, but it was in the 08-09 season, under Gianfranco Zola, where Cole started to play to his real potential. He scored 12 goals in 32 games and helped the Hammers finish in 9th, on the same number of points as rivals Tottenham Hotspur. In the 09-10 season, the Hammers just avoided relegation. However Cole was impressive, and scored 10 goals in 32 games and earned his first England cap in a friendly defeat to Spain.
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At the beginning of this season, Cole stated that he would stay and fight to help the Hammers climb back into the Premier League despite reported interest from multiple Premier League clubs and
Galatasaray in Turkey. After coming off the bench in the first two league games, he started the next four, scoring four goals and at the Boxing Day fixture with Birmingham City, he scored his 50th West Ham goal, in a 1-1 draw. He has had a successful season at Upton Park this year, scoring a vital goal in the play-off final and leading the line for the Hammers despite competition from the likes of Nicky Maynard, Sam Baldock and John Carew. He has linked up very well with Ricardo Vaz Te, who is a more creative and versatile attacking player, who likes to feed off of Cole, looking for knock downs and layoffs and this has worked very well for the Hammers this season.
However, throughout this season, Cole has been subject to much scrutiny from the fans and many believe that he should not have a starting role in the side. Unfortunately for Cole, he is what is
known as a “confidence player”. When he is on form and scoring goals, he is one of the best English strikers around, when he is off form and is struggling and perhaps the fans and media are on his
back, then he starts to disappear in matches, which is a worry for fans but also for Allardyce, who if he is going to stabilise the Hammers in the Premier League, will need his best players on form and will need a striker to score consistently.
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One thing interesting about Cole is that at one stage in his career, Liverpool were interested in making a move for the striker, along with Stoke and numbers near the £8m mark were being thrown
around in the tabloids. Moreover, he has earned 7 caps for England and at one point, he looked as if he could be on the plane to the World Cup in 2010. Under Avram Grant however, Cole failed to flourish and was poor throughout the season. This season however, has been a different story. Although he has had a few low points this season and he did lose his place in the side to Vaz Te and Maynard where it looked as if Big Sam had lost faith in the big centre forward, Cole has been one of the best players in Claret and Blue. Although he comes under scrutiny, it is hard to find a fan that does not recognise the importance of some of his goals this season, not to mention his goal in the Play-off final win over Blackpool. However it is difficult to judge whether he will be a hit next season, as sometimes he is scoring goals for fun and the next minute, he is missing glorious chances. His lack of consistency has lead to a decline in people’s opinions of his footballing ability and he could struggle when back in the Premier League.
In my view however, it is time that Cole is shown some more credit. His form at the end of this season has helped us climb back into the Promised Land and without some of his vital goals, we
could have been spending another year in the Championship. Moreover, the dedication that Cole has shown to this club over the past few years has been exceptional. He has turned down transfers
to other clubs and he promised to stay at the club, during a time where he could have easily jumped ship. For this, he deserves to be treated better a certain number of fans and his 15 goals this season have been invaluable to the side. Moreover, in the news this week, Cole revealed that he took a 50% pay cut to stay at the Hammers this season. Although it’s not as if he was struggling to pay the rent, it still shows his dedication to this club.
Even though Cole has performed well this season, he is still on many fans lips as a player that they would like to get rid of, so what do you think? Will we see Cole leading the line next season? Does he deserve some credit? Tweet me @TollyCoburn
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Carlton Cole frustrates me so much, he can score fantastic goals & some of his play is blinding, but when he loses that ball 9 times out off 10 he’ll just stand there & watch as the defender disappears into distance. give him 10 chances of scoring he’ll put away one. that goal at wembley was taken superbly & he had a reasonable game.
you can’t knock him for his loyalty to the club, there’s not many england internationals who would take a 50% pay cut & drop a division, he held his hands up & said that the players let the club down & it was their job to get us back up again..top bloke.
An in form Cole will score a hat full, but is 15 goals in a near full championship season good enough? in my opinion NO
Do you go to games, because the ones I go to the supporters constantly sing his name, “everyone” do me a favour?
I agree he is a confidence player- it seems To be fans who don’t get to as many games as others whom dislike him and don’t rate Jon. Also take in the fact he has played most of the season with an injury that should have kept him off the pitch. A fully fit and confident cole will do well next year
In my opinion when he is the only striker playing with five midfielders why should he run around chasing the ball, this is up to the five sitting in midfield. At wembley the young lad next to me slated him the whole game even after his goal i questioned him & his reply is he is still shit. This is something carlton has had to deal with since he has been here & in my opinion has done the shirt proud.
Hammer 51
Too often at games last season, and generally home games, fans were criticising him before the game even kicked off! That’s just plain wrong. There’s always been a gallows humour at West Ham, but I’ve noticed really destructive negativity creeping in amongst some fans over the last 10 years. For example, the home game to Millwall saw Faubert having one of his best games in a West Ham shirt, yet there were a few fans in the Chicken Run still intent on slagging him off. Cole has shown great loyalty and should have everyone’s respect. He may not ever get more than 15 goals, but there’s more to his game than goals that often goes unnoticed.
Cole may be loyal but so is my dog, and he doesn’t score enough either! Nice bloke and all that is bollox, he’s paid to score goals and has failed miserably. God knows why so many people think he’s wonderful, his first touch is shite, rarely holds the ball up almost never wins a header. He’s not premier league quality, never will be. I’m a season ticket holder in the west stand so I have seen his inept performances .
You talk complete rubbish
Romford Region, what exactly is it in his game that goes unnoticed??? Maybe you could post a video or something! I would love to be shown just how good he is and I don’t just mean on the odd occasion.
I make you right, it’s about time everyone got off the lad’s back.
I know in the past we have seen cole make some reall blunders in front of goal, but it when weve needed him to show his best in the bigger games he has tood up and been counted. Remember all strikers need the service and a good partner to bounce off, and we have taken far too long to find a player like Vaz te..to assist cole.
I would stick with cole and vaz but sell baldock, he hasnt done a single noticeable thing this season, we need to spend big for a 2nd striker incase cole is having a bad day. In midfield we could do with either cole or snodgrass or both,put them two with what we have and theres a good side….
To finish we need a strong cb to cover reid or tompkins as good or strong as caragher….
Anyway get off Coles back you lot and start believing he can score once again but this time in the PREMIERSHIP…..COYI…
Hands up….I’ve been anti cole for 2/3 of the season but without him we wouldn’t be where we are today. The pay cut article speaks volumes for the kid, Defoe if you were half the man (actually you probably are) you would stand 6ft tall