Comments on: Poll Result: HOTY & Player Ratings So Far This Season

By: David the Yank

David the Yank — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:10:55 +0000

Sadly, the ranking for Mark Noble is simply way too high. He was a very good player last year. He has played poorly in many games this year, including his last, where he could not even get a free kick or corner past the defense.

Cole is still one of the worst strikers, if not the worst, in the Premier League. He has finally scored a couple, but still misses *at leat* 3 “must scores” for every one he converts. This won’t be enough to keep this team up. So he either converts his chances more regularly or Bellamy or others must play and score.

I think the reason LBM is so enamored by his managers is that this guy plays hard and always gets himself into scoring position. He made a beautiful pass to Bellamy last week. He simply cannot finish. Incapable. No killer instinct. (See his “shot” at the goal line vs. Stoke or his breakaway earlier this season.) Otherwise he could be a very strong Premier League Player.

I think Upson is actually a candidate for best player in the Premier League this year! Please tell me who has played better. (Not Vidic or Terry this year.)

By: FrannyZola

FrannyZola — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:53:23 +0000

What you say is fact wellsie but if this is all we have surely we should support him right? When people boo it just doesn’t make sense. Ok criticize after the game and say what you like but when a player is on the pitch are we helping anybody by booing?

He’s just going to play even worse then….while the player is on the pitch we should support – simple. Off the pitch we can criticize fairly and constructively but not while he is working and has the chance to correct his mistakes.

I still think he doesn’t get enough credit for his support play. It is no coincidence that we did not do that well in the games he was recently suspended in. I know his finishing is rubbish but finishing is all about confidence which unfortunately, Carlton is not getting from some sections of our support who are not clever enough to realize this. We should respect the fact that he will never be prolific and give him credit for his team play.

By: jpt

jpt — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:56:12 +0000

Sears 5.76 – a bit low?

By: Goatygav

Goatygav — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:57:38 +0000

I didn’t think Carlton Cole had it in him to be a Premier League quality striker. I hope I was wrong. If he continues to improve his finishing then I’ll change my mind but it’s going to take another 10-12 games of good performances, and most importantly GOALS during those games, to do that. Maybe I’ll always have my doubts but he seems to be on the up.

He was in the right place at the right time for the Pompey goal and buried instinctively vs Stoke. This would suggest he’s best when he doesn’t have time to think about it. Perhaps Zola can continue to work with him to be a cooler and deadlier finisher.

By: wellsie

wellsie — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:02:41 +0000

I understand FrannyZola standing up for Carlton Cole however, i think most of the negative comments on this site regarding Cole are caused by frustration. He battles well and gives he’s all but his conversion rate to chances ratio is very low. His goal against Pompey was unmissable even by his standards and his goal against Stoke was well put away after an initial bad bit of control. We have to play with him upfront as we have no other option which is the cause of the frustration. A fit Ashton and Bellamy would be most Hammers first choice with a choice of Sears or Cole on the bench. The lack of a viable option brings out all the negative comments.

By: Gaz

Gaz — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:59:39 +0000

Think E1 has it right. We need to be looking at present not past. It’s the first time i’ve heard it mentioned, but Ashton – is he worth the wages he’s being paid for so few appearances. think not, sad to say.
Great to see Collison settle so well. Cole does do a lot for the team, hopefully his scoring touch will improve as his confidence improves (I did say hopefully!!)
Need to sell players like Ashton, Etherington, Faubert, Boa Morte, and the like.
£12 million supposedly offered for Bellamy from Tottenham. We might like to keep him, but much higher and we should let him go, provided the money is reinvested back in the team (as long as it isnt to tottenham).

By: wine red

wine red — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:09:48 +0000

SOZ….HOTY I mean….we need to keep him!!!!

By: wine red

wine red — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:06:09 +0000

upson….say no more

By: DevoDevo

DevoDevo — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:56:50 +0000

Top seems about right, but disagree with Cole, LBM, both of whom should rate higher.

Collison – 7.5

By: E1

E1 — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:08:00 +0000

No way ethrington is better this season than cole !!!!! Mullins is higher in my opinion again this season than noble .
davenport should be closer to collins and ilunga. I would rather see ethrington go than davenport but who would want him ? to many of us are holding on to PAST performances and not looking at the current situation and recent perfomances. Still say we only have 19 maybe twenty out of the 32 worth keeping and ethrington and ashton aint one of them in real time only keep them if your living in yesteryear. wake up lads we have to forget setiment and get real.