In his 2014 autobiography, Sir Alex Ferguson confessed:
«I hope that before I die, someone will explain to me what the «West Ham style» is. What is it, really? They last won a trophy back in 1980.»
The legendary Scotsman said this in defence of his friend Sam Allardyce, whose direct, physical brand of football incited fierce debates among the regulars at Upton Park.
What Ferguson failed to account for was that five years prior to the publication of his book, Carlton Cole provided a vivid answer to that philosophical question.
While the Hammers' fortunes during Gianfranco Zola's reign (2008-2010) were as inconsistent as ever, the aesthetic of their game was rarely called into question by fans. In March 2009, during an away clash against Wigan Athletic, the Londoners showcased the true spirit of West Ham. Carlton Cole, who netted only 86 goals in 390 appearances throughout his career, delivered one of the Premier League's most exquisite and unjustly forgotten team goals.
The geometry of genius: eight touches and six passes
With the match at a standstill, the Hammers initiated an attack from the central circle, reminiscent of that famous Argentine side that cut through Serbia and Montenegro leading to Esteban Cambiasso’s goal at the 2006 World Cup.
A stray ball rolled towards the left flank, where a perfect example of football synergy unfolded involving Erit Ilunga, Mark Noble, Scott Parker, and David Di Michele:
- Ilunga on the left played centrally to Noble;
- Mark returned the ball to Parker with one touch—the only player to have two touches;
- Parker, looking up, sent a low ball forward to Di Michele;
- The Italian forward intricately flicked the ball back to the accelerating Noble;
- Noble immediately redirected the ball back to the open Di Michele, who found space;
- Di Michele sent a one-touch pass over the defenders into the box for Cole to pounce.
The finish in the style of Henry and three minutes to a red card
Finding himself between two Wigan defenders, Cole wasted no time in control. He elegantly opened his body and, in a Thierry Henry-esque move, curled his shot into the far corner—goalkeeper Chris Kirkland couldn’t even get a fingertip to it.
This goal marked Cole’s first in five weeks and ultimately secured a 1-0 victory for West Ham. However, the drama didn’t end there; just three minutes after this moment of brilliance, Cole was sent off for a second yellow card.
That day, only 14,169 spectators witnessed this slice of football magic in person. So, the next time someone dares to question the existence of West Ham's unique attacking style, simply show them the footage of this rapid springtime combination.
