West Ham United clinched promotion back to the Premier League this weekend, but the time for celebration will soon stop, and turn to the serious business of staying up.
He may be revered by West Ham fans after taking a pay cut to stay with the club this season, but next year will be the biggest of his career.
In his last season in England’s top flight, in 2010/11 he was abysmal at times, especially when it came to the Hammers’ final relegation run-in.
His play-off final goal against Blackpool will have endeared him to his home fans, but a record of 15 goals in 41 appearances for West Ham is hardly a strike rate to be proud of, especially considering it is in the second tier.
Now 28, the former Chelsea trainee will no doubt reflect one day on his career’s ups and downs, his biggest stroke of bad luck was breaking into the first team squad at Stamford Bridge just as Roman Abramovich took over.
Big money signings pushed him aside and he never got his chance, while loan spells at Charlton and Aston Villa were particularly unproductive and saw his billing as one of England’s top talents fade away.
He signed for West Ham in 2006, with his best top flight season coming in 2008-09 when he scored 12 goals in all competitions.
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The experience in the Championship will have been a break from playing against some of the toughest defences in England, and it will have refreshed him.
His biggest problem is that the Hammers are likely to spend in the transfer market to ensure they are well equipped to avoid relegation next season.
To aid their promotion chase, West Ham owners Gold and Sullivan splashed out in January on two strikers, Nicky Maynard from Bristol City and Ricardo Vaz Te from Barnsley.
Vaz Te hit the winner at Wembley and will be a huge asset to the Hammers next season, who no longer have to worry about fending off summer bids for him from Premier League clubs.
Will the Hammers board go back into the transfer market to try and sign a more established striker to lead the line next season? You bet.
Even if Carlton Cole matches his Premier League personal best (10 goals) it is could be insufficient to keep the Hammers up, while for all Vaz Te’s unbelievable ability he remains an unknown quantity at the top level.
So you can rest assured the club will be going for a proven goalscorer this summer. Fans will hope that doesn’t mean injury prone Michael Owen, more former frontman Jermain Defoe instead.
The unpredictable Vaz Te will be a shoe-in to lead the line, he is the type of striker who can turn a game out of nothing, and who defences hate, because of his ability to do something special.
Cole on the other hand, should enjoy the club’s moment, but when it comes to a starting place in August, he’ll be left sweating on the Hammers’ moves in the transfer market.
Should West Ham start with Cole up front next season, or bring in a new striker?
image: © East Ham Bull
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