This is a question many have so far pondered and any definite answers seem inconclusive. Whilst this article won’t go any further in answering it – it will bring some of these trains of thought together.
Whilst Carlton Cole (and indeed the entire West Ham strike force) has remained relatively ineffective in front of goal this campaign, there are many who would like to see the number 9 stay at Upton Park. Likewise, factions wouldn’t be too unhappy should Cole’s contract not be extended.
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Cole is now the club’s second longest player (behind Mark Noble) and despite various potential moves away has now been at the club for seven seasons (debatably the club’s most turbulent times).
A long lasting servant added with the fact Cole took a 50% wage cut at the start of the 2011-2012 campaign to stay at the club illustrate a loyalty which most fans appreciate.
Despite this obvious affection for the club, it hasn’t always been able to redeem his often profligacy nature. A lack of real consistency and development has often irritated Hammers fans. His scoring record is particularly poor averaging just one goal every 4 games.
|
Season |
Appearances |
Goals |
Goals per appearance |
|
06-07 |
5 |
2 |
0.40 |
|
07-08 |
21 |
4 |
0.19 |
|
08-09 |
26 |
10 |
0.38 |
|
09-10 |
26 |
10 |
0.38 |
|
10-11 |
21 |
5 |
0.23 |
|
11-12 |
31 |
15 |
0.48 |
Despite this, last season did offer some promise and was in fact his most prolific averaging a career high of 0.48 goals per appearance, finishing as top goal scorer in the process. Some may argue this is due to the less competitive nature of the championship.
It could be thought Cole would flourish under a Big Sam system on account of his height and strength but despite these obvious advantages, the majority of his goals are scored on the deck and to label him an out and out target man may be an injustice to Cole who has represented his country on seven occasions and arguably played his best under Zola’ tutorledge and footballing philosophies.
It is for this reason he is not Big Sam’s preferred striking option and is second choice to Andy Carroll who does cause more of an aerial threat and is able to capitalise on his height advantage in West Ham’s direct style of play.
Cole has shown glimpses of real quality during his time with the club but all too infrequently and is unlikely to develop much more at the age of 29 (as it is thought strikers peak at 28) and if the club want to progress beyond mid-table mediocrity next season, a more dangerous prospect in a similar mould should be deployed (Carroll).
So to conclude, should Carlton Cole be offered a new contract? I personally don’t think so if Big Sam is to continue with the tactics he’s currently implementing (which I don’t envisage him moving away from anytime soon).
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Based on that, to offer him a new contract at the age of 29 whilst he continues to look out of any long term first team plans would be naïve despite the respect he has earned from fans.
Cole has served up some great memories during his seven seasons at the club. Those that spring to mind include those goal of the season contenders against Wigan and Tottenham and a highly memorable brace against Manchester United in the League Cup quarter final and it would be sad to see him leave, however to deny him first team opportunities at this age when I don’t believe he’ll be a preferred attacking option would be unfair on a man that currently ranks 23rd (joint) top goal scorer in the history books.
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I really like Carlton Cole and it’s obvious he has a deep affection for the club. There are not many footballers that would take a 50% pay cut to stay at a relegated club.
I do think though that it is time we brought in a younger, more prolific goal scorer than Carlton Cole. I like the look of Remy at QPR and should they get relegated, he’s definitely worth looking at.
As for Carroll, we should ship him back to Liverpool the moment the season comes to an end. Talk of £17m transfer fees and £80k a week wages for someone like him would be money wasted in my opinion. It’s looking like the owners have come to the same conclusion regarding Andy Carroll. There are far better players out there at a fraction of the price he somehow commands.
If we stay up, which I think we will, this summer’s transfer activities will be interesting.
I like Carlton Goal as person… he matured with West Ham from his days at Chelsea but he just doesnt put enough in the back of the net
Think you are a bit off James to get Remy I think would cost far too much his wages at qpr are $75k apparently and QPR paid 10mil for him with a 4 and a half year contract even if QPR went down Remy is not some unknown he is a french interntational and there would be plenty of clubs sniffing around.
But I agree Carroll has to do something pretty amazing the last 10 games to even get close to warranting his price tag.
It doesnt matter who you play up front because our pattern of play and set up means we have such a limited supply of ball into the front men..and by that I mean decent supply, not a 50 yard clump where the poor bugger has to fight for it before bringing it down and using it..that good chances are few and far between. If you analyse the actual number of clear cut chances we have had this season, its just not enough, and its not the strikers fault either. Just look at those teams with clever little play makers creating space and slipping little balls into the box for their front men and compare it with our route one stuff…no wonder our goals for record is so poor. Its more to do with style of play than player failings.
Spence is spot on. Carroll’s hasn’t exactly been prolific but the truth is he hasn’t missed loads of clear cut chances either. He will never be a poacher type but then again thats not really his job since in our system he is more a creator of chances then a scorer. And he creates plenty for his team-mates. If that is worth the money asked for him or not it is for the board to decide…all i know is that we have looked better with him on the field then without him.
I agree we look better with Carroll than with out I would prefer Zamora back and keep cole we really need a game changer in the middle of the park and most of all we need to keep diame
I didnt mean we should let Cole go. In fact i think he is a decent squad player and good as an aerial alternative…especially if we opt not to buy Carroll. I wouldnt like Zamora back though…too old for me.
If we want an aerial presence up front i would look at PSV’s Toivonen to play behind the main striker (Nolan’s spot) as he has a good long shot and offers the same aerial threat Carroll does. And he is much better with the ball at his feet then say Nolan, has good distribution and scores from free kicks as a bonus. A bit on the controversial side as a person as he tends to be a bit dirty at times which often results in his opponents getting booked…so i dont know…just a thought i guess.
That would also free up the striker slot for someone like Maiga who we know can score with his feet from his time in France (and the few goals he scored for us) and who we paid around 5mil for if i recall…for some odd reason he’s only been played on the wing though.
Meh…i dunno. Just thinking “out loud” i guess.
Agree with the article, Carlton seems a genuinely nice guy, and there aint many of those in the Prem League! But he just hasn’t cut it in the Prem, scores some crackers but misses some sitters and appears to switch off at times, one in four isn’t good enough for a striker. Perhaps he needs to go somewhere else and resurrect his career. Good luck Carlton wherever you go. BTW anyone see Paulista scored AGAIN for the dev side but still no place for him in BFS’s side, waste of a loan move if he isnt gonna play in.
Love the guy. He holds the ball well. … but there is no one to pass on to. That’s our problem. There is hardly any support for any of our front men. We play an awful system. We always appear to defend too deep against rubbish teams even and therefore fail to capitalise with our reasonable midfield and front line. Cole should stay. The question is, should BS stay?
Partly agree. I think it’s the negative approach rather then the system itself which seems to work for other teams. But yeah…like i said above, I agree Cole should stay. As for Sam…him too probably…at least for another year or two. We are in a tricky situation where either keeping Sam or letting him go is equally risky. We’ll see at the end of the season i guess…
Agree completely, negative approach means no support for CC whatsoever, can’t be expected to do everything alone, play CC and AC up top together for one game! That would scare defences and CC could feed off the balls won by AC.
Sorry Coles time is up. Never questioned the effort he puts in, but has never done what Strikers are supposed to Score Goals! Maybe a change would benefit him also. As for the System, he has played in several of those in his time at Upton Park. and has never been able to Capitalise in any of them.
We can do better. Thanks for your service Carlton and best of luck in the future.
Having seen all games this season, the one thing that sticks out for me is the lack of DECENT chances created for the strike force. So, I have just done some research homework and had it confirmed on the OPTA website..West ham have the third worst chances created rate in the Premiership…14 clear cut chances all season. Who would WANT to play up front with a supply like that ???