I liked Clapton's playing with Cream, but I think it's just another case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, like most bands from that era. Can't take any of his stuff after Cream, especially his inane lyrics.
I liked a lot about Cream, even 'Toad'. I even like the Blind Faith album (it wasn't a bad record, just not the super-stellar thing people were expecting - drags are bad, m'kay?)