The summer signing of the Liverpool and England International striker Andy Carroll provoked much good feeling around Upton Park.
As a player that fits Sam Allardyce’s preferred style of direct football and a man who wasn’t going to get any action at Liverpool, it seemed as if Mr Carroll was the perfect fit for the number 9 (well technically 8) role.
I for one waited in anticipation for Carroll’s arrival and the signing did install a somewhat confidence within me looking onto the new season. 9 games into his Hammers career and Carroll has so far scored only one goal, coming in the 3-1 defeat away at Tottenham Hotspur. Although for the majority of games Carroll has had a striking impact with his aerial threat and link up platy with captain Kevin Nolan, 1 goal for a man we are prepared to pay 17 million pounds for isn’t what I’d call enough, in a highly important season for the team.
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Following promotion to the top flight many Hammers felt that we did lack something in front of goal, especially after the departure of Nicky Maynard and Sam Baldock, two players we paid decent money for.
Now I know I am almost literally the only Cartlon Cole fan amongst the West Ham faithful, but I think the amount of admiration for a player who did in fact turn us down at one point is slightly over the top. I’m not exaggerating when I say that fans on Twitter have said that “the game is lost” or “so we want to lose now” when Cole has been introduced to the pitch this season.
West Ham’s official number 9 took a sizeable pay cut last season to stay with the team he loves, he could have left with numerous offers on the table, but he chose to stay and help us gain promotion to the Premier League with 17 goals and six assists, including that wonderful goal in the Play Off final at Wembley.
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However, I’m not saying that Cole is the answer to the prayers up front, I’m not saying that he’s the best option and I’m not asking you to like him. All I’m saying is that as a fanbase we need to get behind every player. Not just one man who could walk away at the end of the season and go somewhere else.
For all we know (we won’t because Sam doesn’t do things with 2 upfront) Cole and Carroll could be a potent strike force, something we have lacked for some time now. Too much hope is being pinned on a player who is regarded by most as “overrated”, while Cole himself even knows that people do not like him. So, I’m asking for people to get behind the team, ALL of the team. Not just a temporary fix who has played 9 games in the claret and blue.
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