West Ham United Squad

Carlton Cole

 

Date of Birth : 12th November 1983

Place of Birth : Surrey

Signed : July 2006 (Chelsea)

Position : Centre-Forward

Height : 6.3

Weight : 12.13

Appearances: 32

Goals : 6

International Appearances : 0

 

 

Team KB HM ST SE SM OB DM GU TM HD SK DE AVE
                           
Reading (01/9)
6
6
7
7
6
8
6
6
4
-
7
6
5.3
6
7
7
6
5
7
6
-
6
-
7
7
6.4
-
5
-
-
-
-
5
6
4
-
7
6
5.3
Aston Villa (6/10)
6
6
6
7
-
4
-
-
4
-
5
5
5.4
Sunderland (14/10)
-
7
-
-
-
-
6
6
6
7
7
6
6.3
Portsmouth (27/10)
-
7
6
6
5
8
8
7
8
-
6
8
6.9
Bolton (4/11)
6
6
-
-
-
-
7
6
6
7
6
6
6.2
Derby (10/11)
8
8
8
8
8
9
7
7
7
-
7
7
7.7
Spurs (25/11)
-
6
-
-
-
-
7
8
-
8
8
8
7.3
Chelsea (1/12)
7
7
6
7
6
8
6
7
6
8
5
8
6.9
Blackburn (9/12)
-
6
-
-
-
-
7
5
6
7
6
6
6.3
Everton (15/12)
5
5
5
5
5
6
5
6
6
-
5
6
5.4
Reading (26/12)
-
5
-
-
-
-
5
3
-
5
5
-
4.3
7
7
8
6
6
7
7
7
8
9
7
8
7.3
Arsenal (1/1/2008)
7
7
-
-
-
-
6
7
-
-
7
-
6.4
Fulham (12/1/2008)
6
6
5
6
5
7
6
6
4
7
7
6
5.9
Manchester City (21/1/2008)
-
7
-
-
-
-
7
7
6
8
8
7
7.2
Liverpool (30/1)
6
7
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
9
6
6.8
Wigan (2/2)
5
6
5
5
4
6
4
5
6
-
5
4
5.0
5
5
7
7
7
4
6
6
6
-
6
6
5.9
Fulham (23/2)
6
6
7
6
6
6
7
7
6
-
6
7
6.3
Chelsea (1/3)
5
5
6
5
6
5
7
6
6
8
6
5
5.8
Liverpool (5/3)
-
6
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
6
-
6.0
Sunderland (29/3)
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
5
-
6
6
5.9
Portsmouth (8/4)
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
6.0
Bolton (12/4)
-
5
5
6
5
5
5
-
-
5
6
5
5.2
Derby (19/4)
6
-
-
6
7
-
-
-
-
-
7
6
6.4
6
5
-
6
5
6
6
-
5
7
7
6
5.9
               
Average Rating
6.1

KB: KUMB; HM Hammers Mad; ST Sunday Times; SE Sunday Express; SM Sunday Mirror; OB Observer;
DM Daily Mirror; GU Guardian; TM Times; HD Hammers Diary; SK Sky; DE Daily Express

 

 

Sunday Mirror: Upton Park has become the byword this year for impatient fans and yesterday they booed off Alan Curbishley and his players - even though they'd won. The Hammers boss had already had a chorus of "you don't know what you're doing" when he took off 18-year-old striker Freddie Sears with 17 minutes left. And even though his replacement Carlton Cole hit the winning goal less than 200 seconds after coming on to prove the West Ham manager did know what he was doing it didn't spare Curbishley from more stick off the fans. "I'm disappointed by the crowd's reaction to be honest," admitted a bewildered Curbishley. "I know it's the trend. Last week I heard Gary Megson getting the same chants from Bolton fans and he's just won two games on the trot. I can't remember a time when one of my teams has been booed off for winning before but I'm sure it must have happened. I understand that if this crowd isn't happy they will let you know. It's happened to previous managers and it will happen to whoever comes after me. The flipside is if you can start winning games and playing some decent football they will be just as ferocious in their support.We saw that last season. But I just don't know why they don't recognise the depth of the problems we've had with injuries, and how well we've done to have got the results that we have." (Ralph Ellis, 20th April 2008)

Sunday Times: Alan Curbishley, West Ham’s manager, had the unpleasant experience of being booed off the field at the end by his own supporters. He was, he admitted, philosophically “a bit disappointed” but pointed out the significant fact that no fewer than 14 of his first team squad were injured. Of these, such major figures as Craig Bellamy, Matthew Etherington and Lee Bowyer were long-term casualties. On Friday, he learned that three more of his first-choice men, among them his centre-forward Dean Ashton, were for one reason or another unfit to play. This led inevitably to a patched-up side that included two teenagers in the centre-back James Tomkins, with whom Curbishley was pleased, and the striker Freddie Sears. It was somewhat ironic that the crowd should chant: “You don’t know what’re doing!” at Curbishley when he substituted Cole for Sears 28 minutes into the second half, since Cole it was who eventually scored the deciding goal. In retrospect, you did wonder why he, with his experience and physical power, had not been on from the beginning.

KUMB: With 73 minutes on the clock came the first substitution with Sears going off to be replaced by Cole. This prompted chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing.” This seemed a tad unfair to me under the circumstances. Sears had struggled to make much of an impact and was clearly tiring. On the other hand Zamora’s touch had been poor throughout and my own preference would normally be for a little and large combination up front so I wouldn’t have been too surprised to see Zamora being the one to go. Either way the front pairing needed freshening up so the change had merit. The move paid dividends within a few minutes. In one of the few examples of decent football of the game, Noble played a lovely return pass inside the full-back to Ljungberg whose cross across goal was turned into the roof of the net from close range by Cole. A couple of minutes after the goal Solano came on to replace Faubert. Solano got a few interesting looking crosses in over the remaining ten minutes or so but at the end it was the visitors who had a couple of chances to equalise, a Savage free header going harmlessly over as the three minutes of stoppage time started. At this point Boa Morte replaced Ljungberg to a chorus of boos. Now I understand the principle that states you have a right to boo a player because you’ve shelled out your hard-earned to watch a match but booing someone before they’ve actually stepped onto the pitch seems stupid to me... On the bright side, Tomkins continued to show promise which, given the number of defenders we have on the treatment table, is no bad thing. (Gordon Thrower, 21st April 2008)

The Times: West Ham, though, stole the points when Carlton Cole, who took the field to jeers after replacing Freddie Sears, converted Ljungberg’s cross from close range three minutes later. Cole is one of the players who has had increased first-team opportunities thanks to the many bumps and bruises in the East End, not that the locals have been impressed. The owners, too, have hinted that Alan Curbishley’s squad may have to be trimmed in the summer and Cole knows that he and others face a more strenuous battle for their futures at the club, let alone for playing time. “Do we have to fight for our futures? Definitely,” Cole said. “We have to fight all the time. We’ve had a lot of injuries and a few of the players have not played much. They’re going to want to get in the team next season. There’s going to be a lot of competition in terms of who’s going to stay and who’s going to go. There could be a few worried people this summer. But that’s how football is.”

BBC Sport: In the first half, Cole saw three scoring opportunities go begging. First, the striker's dipping shot was saved by Niemi. Then Boa Morte, under pressure from Brede Hangeland, put Cole clear through, but his right-footed shot was diverted to safety by Paul Konchesky. Cole conjured another chance, meeting Julien Faubert's cross in the air and firing the ball towards the goal, only for it to clip over the bar. Boa Morte wasted another decent chance for the visitors when his header from close range looped over the woodwork.

Daily Telegraph: Only two players, one on each side, emerged from this mishmash with any real credit. Jimmy Bullard, gaining in confidence with every game since he came back from his long injury lay-off, prompted Fulham's attack assiduously without being able to produce the final pass that would have brought a shot at goal, which his team did not have until the 38th minute. But Bullard was matched, particularly in the second half, by Mark Noble, who drove West Ham on at every opportunity. If Carlton Cole had responded more clinically to the service he received from Noble and others, he might have had a hat-trick. Cole's worst miss was a header straight at Niemi from a Freddie Ljungberg cross midway through the second half. (Colin Malam, 25th February, 2008)

Sky Sports: West Ham controlled much of the opening exchanges and it came as no surprise when they took the lead inside seven minutes. George McCartney's long throw from the left was flicked on by Carlton Cole and Freddie Ljungberg ghosted in at the back post to bundle the ball home from close range.

BBC Sport: The Londoners looked bright and inventive while the Blues appeared sluggish and defensively disorganised, and it was no surprise when the home side took the lead. Cole showed great strength at the front post to flick on George McCartney's long throw and Ljungberg reacted quickly to fire the ball into the roof of the net. It was no more than West Ham deserved, and they had chances to extend their lead.

Daily Mirror: For West Ham, a point on their travels may be considered reasonable given they still have a game in hand. Yet they will know all too well they wasted a glorious chance of victory... even if they did manage to score against their jinx side. There seemed little danger even after the usually immaculate Richard Dunne played a howler of a pass out of defence straight to Mark Noble. A swift exchange and Freddie Ljungberg delivered his cross to Carlton Cole, heavily marked, and back to goal. Even worse the ball jumped on him as it arrived, but the West Ham striker launched a wonderful overhead kick that squirmed into the corner of the net. It was a thing of beauty that transcended everything that had gone before it. (David Maddock, 21st January, 2008)

Daily Telegraph: In the aftermath of a game salvaged by two superlative saves from Joe Hart, one with his boots from Mark Noble, the other a stoppage time tip-over from Carlton Cole, Dietmar Hamann stood, hands on his hips, admitting that a point was all Manchester City could have hoped for. "We didn't play well. In the second half we could not create anything and West Ham always looked dangerous," the midfielder said. "We cannot complain about a point. There have been a few sloppy performances in the last few weeks and we have got away with it. The defence has kept our position in the League but we have got to be better going forward." (Tim Rich, 21st January, 2008)

Sky Sports: Ljungberg's pinpoint delivery picked out Ashton, who had escaped Hughes on an angled run towards the near post and the England prospect glanced his header past Niemi. The goal injected some confidence into the West Ham side and after Carlton Cole escaped the Fulham defence to earn a corner Niemi needed to be alert to hold onto Ferdinand's header. West Ham had their tails up and controlled the last 15 minutes of the first half - but found Niemi in inspirational form. The Finn produced a spectacular save from Ashton, whose left-foot volley from 15-yards seemed a certain goal until it was deflected up and onto the bar. Cole's flick then found Ashton who checked, cut back inside and curled a left-foot strike which forced Niemi into an acrobatic one-handed stop. Cole worked a golden chance for himself, holding off Hughes to find himself one-on-one with Niemi but only managed to poke his shot straight at the keeper.

The Observer: Sadly for Hodgson, Fulham still have a predilection to lose leads and it was no surprise when in the 28th minute Dean Ashton brilliantly glanced in Freddie Ljungberg's cross past Antti Niemi. And, but for the Finn, Ashton could have had a hat-trick and Carlton Cole two. (Philip Dorward, 13th December, 2008)

KUMB: A clever header from Cole saw Ashton bring Etherington into play. Matty’s first low cross was low and blocked. His second effort found Ashton who had the time and space to chest the ball down and volley goalwards only for him to find Niemi in fine form, the ‘keeper’s tip onto the bar being well worth the generous applause it got from all four sides of the ground. Damn him! We started to play fairly well and, for once, we were actually looking to use the flanks and both Etheringon and Ljungberg were getting involved. Cole & Ashton were beginning to link well as well. A Cole flick on sent Ashton wide of the goal. There didn’t seem to be too much danger as Ashton manoeuvred himself back to the corner of the box but suddenly he found the space to send a curling effort that brought another fine save from Niemi who tipped the goalbound shot over the bar. Damn him! The resulting corner from Noble caused a few problems but Fulham scrambled clear. (Gordon Thrower, 14th December, 2008)

The Guardian: The match changed before that; the cross swung in from the right by Freddie Ljungberg, from which Dean Ashton equalised, was by some way the best thing any West Ham player did in an abject opening half-hour. Suddenly, something clicked. For Ljungberg it might have been a familiar feeling, his recent hamstring troubles ending only after a masseur took extreme action on his back. "There was a massive crack," he said. "That did the trick." The only massive cracks from then on were in the Fulham defence. Twice Antti Niemi saved well from Ashton while Carlton Cole wasted a wonderful chance from Ljungberg's pass. In the second half Paul Konchesky cleared Cole's header off the line before Mark Noble slid in a low cross and Ferdinand shot into the roof of the net. "He's probably the best finisher at the club," said Cole, who certainly is not. (Simon Burnton, 14th December, 2008)

Sunday Times: West Ham, who played with five in midfield and the excellent Carlton Cole as a lone striker, played the neater and more industrious football. Cole has been a revelation this season, his confidence boosted by a prolonged run in the side, his strength a constant threat to Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at the centre of an unusually hesitant United defence. (Andrew Longmore, 30th December, 2007)

The Times: Rarely have United been so tormented and looked so lifeless. West Ham’s five-man midfield was so effective that Ferguson was forced to reshape his formation midway through the first half. The rangy Carlton Cole gave Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, pillars of the meanest defence in the Premiership, more trouble than they could handle, while Carlos Tévez could deliver no hammer blows on his emotional homecoming after his exploits for West Ham last season. (Gary Jacob, 31st December, 2007)

Hammers Diary: I am sure I am not alone when I say how proud I was of our performance against Chelsea. We deserved at least a point, and defensively we were awesome. It givesd me real hope for the future if we continue to play with that level of total commitment and skill. We were never going to have a huge number of goalscoring opportunities, and so it proved, but again, Carlton Cole worked his dogs bits off and Luis Boa Morte had his best game in a Hammers shirt. Scott Parker was terrific in midfield, with Upson the star of a superb back four. I really cannot praise them too highly. Let’s hope this kind of form is carried forward into the two Everton matches and beyond. (Iain Dale, 2nd December, 2007)

Daily Telegraph: Following the stirring examples set by Danny Gabbidon and Carlton Cole at either end of the field, West Ham ruffled some famous feathers and tried the patience of their hosts to near breaking point. (Clive Tyldesley, 3rd December, 2007)

Sky Sports: West Ham's frustration was their inability to build on an encouraging first half, sparked early when the hapless Younes Kaboul dawdled in possession then had his clearance charged down by Luis Boa Morte. The Portuguese slipped an over-lapping Nolberto Solano free down the right with the Peruvian's unselfish centre tapped into an unguarded net by a rejuvenated Carlton Cole. The striker was excellent, with this a workaholic display of strength to suggest potential is at last being realised, though he was not victorious... Cole has been much maligned, but worked tirelessly here to unsettle the visitors' back line. His late shot from outside the area, saved by Robinson, might have yielded a win. Despite a bright start from Spurs, Alan Curbishley's men took the initiative on 20 minutes when Luis Boa Morte capitalised on a Younes Kaboul error to release Nolberto Solano who crossed for Cole tap home. (25th November, 2007)

Daily Telegraph: Kaboul's casual defending was a liability right up until the moment he was replaced soon after the interval, and when Luis Boa Morte charged down his attempted clearance, Tottenham were undone. Nolberto Solano arrived at Boa Morte's shoulder to square the ball for Carlton Cole to side-foot into the empty net. Cole was outstanding throughout, troubling Spurs both upstairs and downstairs with his heading and running ability. (Clive Tyldesley, 26th November, 2007)

Daily Mirror: Kaboul has endured a nightmare since arriving from Marseille for £7.8million in the summer after being billed as one of the best defensive prospects in Europe. The bungling centre-back was caught in possession as Luis Boa Morte charged down his attempted clearance, then played a clever reverse pass to Nobby Solano and his cross was fired into an empty net by Carlton Cole... Carlton Cole is equal top in assists this season. The striker has laid on six goals, the same as Cesc Fabregas. (John Cross, 26th November, 2007)

The Guardian: West Ham's frustration was their inability to build on an encouraging first half, sparked early when the hapless Younes Kaboul dawdled in possession then had his clearance charged down by Luis Boa Morte. The Portuguese slipped an over-lapping Nolberto Solano free down the right with the Peruvian's unselfish centre tapped into an unguarded net by a rejuvenated Carlton Cole. The striker was excellent, with this a workaholic display of strength to suggest potential is at last being realised, though he was not victorious... Cole has been much maligned, but worked tirelessly here to unsettle the visitors' back line. His late shot from outside the area, saved by Robinson, might have yielded a win. (Dominic Fifield, 26th November, 2007)

Sky Sports: Luis Boa Morte went close to opening the scoring, bursting clear down the right side and leaving Marc Edworthy - making his first appearance of the season - on the deck in the area. The Portuguese's left-foot finish was blocked but only to Carlton Cole, whose follow up was saved by Stephen Bywater. West Ham were looking increasingly threatening as the half wore on, their best move of the match almost releasing Cole but still resulting in a free-kick inches outside the box. It looked too close for a direct strike but Solano did his best to prove otherwise with a delightful effort against the crossbar. With half-time approaching, the visitors finally took the lead they deserved. Solano's cross found Cole in the box and his nod down allowed the criminally unmarked Bowyer to sweep the ball through Bywater's legs and into the net.

Hammers Mad: Nolberto Solano had hit the bar with a superb 20-yard free-kick before man-of-the-match Lee Bowyer gave West Ham the lead they richly deserved. Solano's cross was headed down by Carlton Cole and Bowyer ran unmarked into the box to slide the ball home. The opening minutes of the second half was a nightmare for Derby as West Ham created chances at will. Luis Boa Morte was unlucky not to score in the 46th minute and from the resulting corner Matthew Upson rattled the Derby woodwork. Then three goals in just eight minutes put the game beyond doubt. Kenny Miller had missed Derby's best chance, squandering a free header, before West Ham put the matter beyond doubt. John Paintsil found Matthew Etherington in the box and after a clever one-two with Bowyer, Etherington swept the ball home. A minute later Jonathon Spector saw his goalbound shot carried over the line by the unfortunate Eddie Lewis for an own goal. Bowyer then ran through unmarked on the hour to score number four after Solano played in Cole, who neatly crossed into the midfielder's path. With the game won West Ham indulged in some passing football as Derby desperately tried to salvage some pride. But there was worst to come on 68 minutes when Solano curled another delightful free-kick into the net, beating both the wall and the keeper from 20 yards out.

Sunday Times: Having flirted with a solitary striker in recent weeks, Curbishley introduced Jonathan Spector into the centre of midfield for the first time in his career, started with Luis Boa Morte alongside Carlton Cole and reverted to the ever-trusty 4-4-2. Derby, who used three different attacking combinations at Villa Park last week, chanced a fourth, with Giles Barnes deployed just behind Kenny Miller. They were still getting to grips with their formation five minutes in when Spector ploughed through a defence so uncertain of just who should pick him up, that nobody did, setting a template for the afternoon. With Matthew Etherington unmarked in the penalty area and screaming for a simple pass, the American selfishly shot wide. The early skirmishes were full-blooded but whenever West Ham strolled over the halfway line, panic coursed through the home ranks. Soon Cole’s cute headed flick was enabling Boa Morte to charge through on Edworthy. The makeshift centre-half promptly fell over. Boa Morte’s shot was blocked and erstwhile Hammer Stephen Bywater expertly pawed aside Cole’s follow-up. (John Aizlewood, 11th November, 2007)

Sunday Mirror: Solano thought he had opened the scoring when his beautifully struck free-kick curled around the wall, but it hit the underside of the crossbar. The inevitable opener came just before half-time. Luis Boa Morte found Solano, whose chip was headed down by Cole to the unmarked Bowyer. He took his time before slotting the ball through Bywater's legs. Soon after the restart Matthew Upson met a corner with a first-time half-volley which crashed against the bar. But West Ham's' second was not long in coming. When Boa Morte played the ball in, Etherington exchanged passes with Bowyer before sliding it past the sprawling Bywater. It was 3-0 when Derby failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Jonathan Spector, whose shot deflected in off Lewis. The farcical defending got worse as Solano put Cole through and his first-time cross was slid in by an unmarked Bowyer. Solano then struck home a 25-yard free-kick to complete Derby's misery. (Anthony Clavane, 11th November, 2007)

KUMB: The ineffectual Miller was taken off on 74 minutes for Fagan, and the latter did make a good run and shot a couple of minutes later which Green held well down low. The rest of the half was really uneventful apart from Fagan fouling Matty and Neill and getting away with it. The match fizzled out with the travelling fans taunting Billy Davies with a chorus of “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. It took a time to get out and we saw a few West Ham players do their ‘warm-down’. Limping along in slow motion was a spent Nobby Solano who had played a highly influential role in the game along with the tireless Carlton Cole. I now ask all those who were berating this player just a few weeks ago to send in their apologies c/o Chadwell Heath. You know who you are. (East End Martin, 11th November, 2007)

The Observer: he match had been slumbering when Carlton Cole came close to winning it. His swivel and shot unluckily hit the bar in the 65th minute. This presented Solano with the easier of his chances, though the rebound that came to him at speed. Still, the Peruvian will hate to see replays of his insipid stooping header. An earlier opportunity for West Ham's full debutant came in the 24th minute. Again the improving Cole was the provider. Playing in the middle off Craig Bellamy - who went off at half time with a groin strain - and Solano, the big striker dribbled expertly down the left. His cross came back and this time Cole found Solano, who had drifted superbly from his central midfield position into the area. But the header again was just too weak.

Daily Express: The point West Ham clawed from the fortress of Fratton Park was as much a tribute to Carlton Cole as it was to goalkeeper Robert Green. The unstinting workload Cole took on in the new system Alan Curbishley tried out was matched only by Green's last-minute penalty save. And it could yet see Cole finally accepted by the demanding Upton Park fans who have never really taken to the England Under-21 striker. At times they have made his life a misery, come close to driving him out of the club and even left him wondering if he had any future in the game. But asked to play the lone role up front, Cole was immense and while Green was rightly garlanded with praise for his spot-kick heroics, with Portsmouth failing to score for the first time in six matches, the Hammers showed again they are well equipped to be successful away from home. Curbishley has often debated the best way to utilise Cole's talents and at last appears to have found the way to satisfy the young striker, too. Cole said: "I finished the match exhausted, I was in a different role doing the hold-up play with two wide men linking. It put Portsmouth under pressure and I know I gave Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin plenty to think about. "The manager asked a lot of me and I'd like to think I gave two central defenders as good as them a hard time. It meant putting myself about and I enjoyed it. Perhaps I have done enough now to stay in because I've never really had a run of games in any side in my entire career. I've always been under pressure to come in and make an instant impact instead of trying to establish myself as a proper player." (Nigel Clarke, 29th October, 2007)

The Times: Carlton Cole tries the patience of West Ham United fans, but he is also trying his hardest. For the critics on internet messageboards such as these and those in the stands who have jeered him, trying is not enough. Cole knows it and it torments him. “They have been on my back,” the striker said. “I got booed a lot. It hurts. It’s in my hands to try to get them on my side. I know when I get on I try my utmost. In the past, I’ve never been match fit and I’m trying to do something special. And if it didn’t work out I got stick. But I’m trying to establish myself as a proper player.” Cole, nearly 24, began his career at Chelsea and scored in only his second match, in April 2002. But he went on loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic and Aston Villa before signing permanently for West Ham in the summer of 2006. Since then he has made only 12 appearances. “I’ve had people around me off the pitch. I train well,” he said. “I have got a sports psychologist. He is with me every day. He talks to me; he does a lot – mental things you don’t think about as a footballer. Some people have it naturally, some don’t.” Given a chance because of his club’s injury problems, Cole scored against Sunderland last week and impressed against Portsmouth on Saturday, hitting the bar and leading the line with effort and strength. ITom Dart, 29th October, 2007)

The Guardian: West Ham had the two best chances from open play. In the 24th and 65th minutes Nolberto Solano missed open headers from inside the box after good work on both occasions from Carlton Cole. Cole has endured a difficult time since his arrival to West Ham last year. But he put in a mature performance against Portsmouth's robust central defensive partnership of Distin and Sol Campbell which suggests the 23-year-old will soon add to his one goal this season. He will certainly have to take on more goalscoring responsibilities after Craig Bellamy joined Dean Ashton on West Ham's injured list. The Welshman had to be substituted at half-time with a persistent groin injury. "Carlton Cole was excellent today," said Curbishley. "He's hopefully won over a few people, including West Ham fans." (Sachin Nakrani, 29th October, 2007)

Daily Mirror: Hammers boss Alan Curbishley's Icelandic paymasters are unlikely to be appeased by mid-table consolidation, and he was grateful for the reassurance of Carlton Cole's first goal since January. Former Sunderland defender George McCartney's deep cross, from near the left corner flag, took a deflection and Cole headed firmly beyond Craig Gordon after just eight minutes.... West Ham's back four were adrift in their own post code again when Leadbitter's rising left foot shot was brilliantly tipped against the woodwork by Robert Green. Both managers highlighted Green's save as a turning point, with Keane conceding: "Sometimes you can be critical of your own strikers when they miss chances, but you have to take your hat off the to keeper, it was an unbelievable save." (Mike Walters, 15th October, 2007)

Sky Sports: West Ham then enjoyed the majority of possession and were unfortunate not to be awarded a second half penalty when Zat Knight hauled down Carlton Cole in the 18-yard box, but they looked blunt in attack and failed to muster an equaliser... Another member of McClaren's latest England squad, Dean Ashton, had a quiet afternoon and picked up a knee injury which could rule him out of the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers with Estonia and Russia... The first decent opening fell to the home side after five minutes when Young turned past Gabbidon and sent over an inviting low cross, but Luke Moore failed to connect with a volley. West Ham tried to retaliate and Freddie Ljungberg ran at full tilt to meet a deep centre by Matthew Etherington but his flying header was well saved by Carson who was perfectly positioned... Villa, though, almost gifted West Ham an equaliser after 55 minutes when a poor clearing header by Mellberg went straight to Cole just outside the six-yard box, but he failed to make proper contact and Carson was able to save. (6th October, 2007)

BBC Sport: Young, showing flashes of inspiration, was prominent as Villa continued to create and waste chances. The winger had shouts for a penalty before sending in a cross that Agbonlahor could only head straight at Robert Green. But their pressure paid off on 23 minutes. Gabbidon tripped Agbonlahor 20 yards out and paid the ultimate price as it was his deflection that sent Gardner's free kick past Green... West Ham's chances were sporadic, but Cole should have done better when the ball fell to him 10 yards out after a weak clearance in the 56th minute. Villa had shouts for a penalty turned down on 75 minutes as Young tormented the defence once more. His cross after cutting in from the left appeared to brush Neill's arm, but referee Steve Tanner was unmoved. Temporarily awoken from their slumber, West Ham briefly threatened as Cole volleyed narrowly over from 15 yards. But the chance failed to spark any concerted pressure and even the introduction of Mark Noble and Luis Boa Morte failed to lift the disjointed Hammers. (6th October, 2007)

Hammers Mad: Within 20 seconds of the restart, man-of-the-match Hayden Mullins found Cole, who picked out Bowyer with the perfect pass. The midfielder, who had scored his first-ever Hammers goal in the previous home game against Wigan Athletic, got the better of his former Leeds United team-mate, Jonathan Woodgate, before rifling a low 18-yarder past the groping left arm of Mark Schwarzer to break the deadlock. Cole was in creative mood five minutes later, too, when he sent an unplayable cross into the heart of the Boro defence, only for the sliding Luke Young to divert the ball beyond the helpless Schwarzer to double the deficit. Having taken that commanding lead, the Eastenders almost paid for their complacency at the back, where Tuncay was twice foiled by Green's brilliant point-blank stops and, when Fabio Rochemback sent the Turkish star racing clear, his chip over the advancing Hammers' keeper bounced agonisingly onto the crossbar. A Boro goal would have set up a nervous ending but, on the hour mark, the red-booted Ashton steadied the nerves when he beat Andrew Taylor at the far post and slid Matthew Etherington's telling, deep, low left-wing cross into the net, to seal what proved to be an emphatic Hammers victory. (15th September, 2007)

KUMB: Little had been going right for sub Cole though he did have a part to play in one of our better chances of the half. Noble played the ball out left where Cole gathered. His cross was poor really – Boro’ had the choice of two defenders and the ‘keeper to deal with it. Schwarzer’s call was loudest but, instead of catching the ball which is something he seemed to have time and space to do with ease, he elected to do a rather girly flap which found Noble on the edge of the box. The youngster should have made a better effort of the shot which went a yard or so wide with Schwarzer stranded. That was effectively the last action of the half.... We needed a sharper, more incisive start to the second half – and, thankfully we got it. Within 30 seconds. Bowyer started the move with a nod-down to Mullins who fed Cole. Cole’s subsequent pass was as good as his first half efforts had been poor and he played a smashing little ball into Bowyer who had continued his run from deep to bury a first time volley home inside the post. It was a fine goal – good build-up and an excellent finish that reminded one of how Bowyer had played back in the days when he had been playing European football for teams like Leeds. It was also probably the first bit of direct and pacy football that we’d seen from the home side all match. It was a lesson well-learned. We only had to wait another five minutes for the lead to be doubled and Cole again was involved. The move started deep in home territory with Collins feeding Neill whose ball inside to Mullins looked a bit risky in all honesty. However, Mullins found Matty who played the ball wide right to Cole. There seemed little danger at first as Cole had no support out on the right but the Boro’ challenges were week bordering on the non-existent as Cole was able to advance to the edge of the box. His attempted pass to the unmarked Mullins found Luke Young in the “Corridor of Uncertainty” and the full-back could only divert the ball past the stranded ‘keeper'.... Much better was his contribution to the move that should have seen us go four up. Combining well on the break as Boro’ pushed forward in search of consolation, Freddie found Cole totally unmarked with just the keeper to beat only for him to screw the ball wide when he ought to have scored. It was a similar miss to that performed by Darren Bent for Spurs against Arsenal with the possible consolation for us that ours had been about £14m cheaper. It was a shame as Cole had had a poor first half but had got into the game in the second period through sheer bloody-mindedness and, on the whole, had probably deserved a goal for his efforts. (Gordon Thrower, 17th September, 2007)

The Guardian: Goals change games and can sometimes change minds. By half-time, after a routine mix of the bright and the banal, West Ham United supporters had clearly got it in for Carlton Cole but within half a minute of the second half his was the inspired touch that had the place rejoicing. For the fickle fan Cole is a natural fall guy. Lanky, loping footballers are obvious targets when things go awry. Chelsea were forever loaning him out - to Wolves, Charlton and Aston Villa - and since joining West Ham he has still seemed to be living on borrowed time. His arrival against Middlesbrough was precipitated by the loss of Craig Bellamy, who departed midway through the first half with a sore groin, and for a while he did play as if he was wearing the wrong feet. Maybe West Ham are employing a half-time hypnotist. The first-time ball that Cole played through to Lee Bowyer, who completed a sweet movement which saw West Ham take the lead after 23 seconds of the restart, would not have disgraced Pele. Five minutes later Cole, easily riding a half-hearted challenge from Stewart Downing, spotted Hayden Mullins unmarked beyond the far post and tried to find him with a low cross which he mishit, only for Luke Young to divert the ball into his own net. Cole could now do no wrong, although the hypnosis appeared to have worn off in the closing minutes when he put the ball wide with only Mark Schwarzer to beat. (David Lacey, 17th September, 2007)

BBC News: According to the News of the World the Turkish club Besiktas have lodged a £3m bid for West Ham misfit Carlton Cole. (15th July, 2007)

 

 

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