http://bleacherreport.com/articles/445761-liverpool-fc-consider-hammers-carlton-cole-but-do-the-reds-need-himBy kaustav bose (Liverpool Featured Columnist) on August 29, 2010
Will Liverpool add Yet another Cole to Their Line-Up?
As per recent reports in skysports.com, Liverpool FC have desperately started to look for striking options within the transfer window and Carlton Cole from West Ham looks high on the priority list for the Reds boss Roy Hodgson.
Carlton Cole has been a pillar for the Hammers ever since he signed for them in 2006. A towering figure at 6'3'' Carlton Cole, however, has already impressed in the premier league and earned a lot of interest from a host of other premier league outfits although it must be said that the interest from Liverpool is not new for the England International.
Given the current state of affairs, the source reports that the current interest is as of now in very early stages and no further inferences can be drawn. Although, the recent Hammers manager is reported to have stated that he would not want Cole to leave West Ham and even Carlton himself pledged his loyalty to the club very recently.
Now considering the deal in the light of other reports, it seems that Carlton Cole may very well be Liverpool's last resort to solve the striker crisis, as reported talks like direct swap for Ryan Babel or even Lucas plus Cash is also being given a thought . Clearly, a desperate step to prize away one of Upton Park's brightest talents.
West Ham though have strengthened their strikers department ever since the last winter window, when they signed Benni Mc Carthy from Blackburn Rovers. To add to that Avram Grant has also added Fredric Piquionne who also played for his former club Portsmouth.
Very recently following the departure of Alessandro Diamanti to Brescia, the Hammers have also managed to lure the services of the highly rated Inter Milan striker Victor Obinna on loan.
Even though strong rumors are doing the rounds, it would be well worth it if we have a look as to whether, Carlton Cole is really someone whom the Reds desperately need.
Carlton Cole spent a majority of his youth at Chelsea and though very highly rated by the then Chelsea manager, Claudio Ranieri, Carlton really did spend the majority of his playing time on loan at Wolves, Charlton and Aston Villa before heading back to Chelsea, who sold him then to West Ham in 2006.
Now although West Ham are not really considered a top team in the premier league, a meagre 26 goals from 105 appearances for Cole means that he is basically a better target man at best rather than a player who drops back and forth. His inabilty to score in plenty could thus be attributed to scarcity of deliveries from the Hammers mid-field.
Now although a move to Liverpool should be an attractive option for Carlton Cole, it would be only possible if firstly Cole is promised regular first team football. Now to do that Roy Hodgson would need to play a more of 4-4-2 type of formation. A formation which could render Torres and Carlton Cole as partners upfront, thus altering his (Torres') present style of play as a lone forward.
Moreover if a fair analysis of the Liverpool FC versus WBA match is made, the striking feature should be the missing creativity from the Reds. None of the Liverpool FC players really looked good enough to dribble past the newly promoted Albion players, a really disappointing sight for any Reds fan.
Now even if Carlton Cole is considered in the mix does it really give a creative option for the Reds?
Clearly, the answer to all those is "No."
Ideally it is easy to understand that Liverpool needed more of a versatile striker who could play both a striker when needed or anyways had admirable ability to create link-up plays along with stunning pace to blaze through the length of the pitch to convert counter attacks.
The big advantage with Carlton Cole is not only his reach due to his height but also the fact that it is those type of players who have a record of excelling under Roy Hodgson.
Unfortunately, with just a day to go in the transfer window, too many options don't look viable for the Reds and even though a few qualities may be missing, Liverpool would still do great to at least a little pressure off Torres if they manage a striker like Carlton Cole.
