Sam Allardyce’s bizarre decision to give Carlton Cole an extended run as sub against Aston Villa whilst handing Andy Carroll five minutes at the end raised some annoyed eyebrows among top Irons insiders.
Carroll created havoc when appearing at the end of the game and could have scored twice as the Hammers threw everything at the midlanders with goal; deadlocked at 0-0.
And one top insider told ClaretandHugh: “Andy had more than five minutes action in him – that was obvious. It was an odd decision to put it mildly.
“A lot of us were very surprised when Carlton appeared off the bench with a quarter of an hour to go and it became quite irritating when we saw the impact Andy had in the short time he was on the field.
“Nobody can say we would have won the match had he been brought on earlier but it looked like an opportunity lost.”
Now you know this as coming but why the surprise with the genius in charge.it might he odd to pick on AC but all three sub’s had an element of why? Forget three points when you can respect the one! The leopard is not for changing,when will you learn?
Carroll did more in 4 minutes than Cole did in the 15 minutes he was on. Perhaps Cole has some kind of hold over BFS?
Although I can see the reasoning behind the article, this was just the game for the returning hero to come and win! Not fully fit but throws himself into the fray, scores the winning goal, is again the hero but is then out for three months injured!
this would have fallen into the old andy Carroll he’s our saviour trap that lead to a number of his injuries in the past.
Although tempting rushin oor andy back before he is fully fit it would not only pure folly but totally unnecessary as we now have the quality strikers to cope so we can now manage the big mans return properly. COYI!
If he can’t do 15 mins he has no reason to be on bench at all Phil
Yes another opportunity lost but more importantly the chance to cement position 4 on the table.With Arsenal and Man City seemingly struggling by their standards it was a chance to move clear of Swansea and Arsenal. Allardyce does come up with interesting substitutions at times much to the detriment of the Club.
Perhaps he though Carlton wouldn’t be expected to be chosen over AC so by putting him on he would get the best CC for 15 minutes knowing it may be a long time before he plays again. It does on the face of it appear an odd decision, he normally makes substitutions which improve the team on this one CC didn’t have the impact and it didn’t pan out.
I am not a CC fan. He is, at best, a journeyman footballer. However, he has had some success so far this season and his career history places him highly in terms of goals scored for us.
BFS is always cautionary first. So I can see why he did what he did. Carroll has now made a first team appearance and those will get longer at Cole’s expense. Once BFS is happy that Carroll can play at least 45mins, I can’t see Cole having a place on the bench.
Saturday was frustrating because we should have wrapped the game up well before either Cole, or Carroll appeared.
What a position to be in though: 4th in the Premiership, Carroll getting stronger and the fans expressing disappointment at only a point!
Happy times.