Liverpool

Liverpool: The brilliant signing that went under the radar

Joe Cole being strangled

Joe Cole has returned from a year in Lille which some would describe as exile, others as a pleasant and informative sabbatical, in which he got to play with the stupendous Eden Hazard. Whatever you want to call it, last year Cole was arguably out of form and out of favour, with then boss Kenny Dalglish.

In theory, and if he can avoid injury, he will fit much better into the Brendan Rodgers football philosophy. And in the light of an average summer in the transfer market, with limited finds available at Anfield, Cole could prove to be as good as a major signing for Liverpool this season.

He’s just returned to training at Liverpool after a hamstring injury and we think that he will get many more minutes on the pitch this season. As we all know, Cole at his best, is the archetypal modern footballer. Small, technically astute, good in front of goal but unselfish and excellent at creating for others. It is no coincidence that Cole’s time at Chelsea coincided with the London club’s most dominant period in the Premier League and, at 30 years of age, there is still much left in the tank for a player who has always looked after himself. He’s a great professional who has been unlucky with injuries through his career.

On top of the rare technique, you will struggle to find someone who loves playing the game more than Cole. If Rodgers can coax the best out of the Londoner, on a regular basis, then the affable Cole could soon become one of the first names on the team sheet at a new look Liverpool.

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16 Comments

16 Comments

  1. magnumopus

    Sep 12, 2012 at 8:34 am

    After numerous injuries over the years he is more than 1 step slow these days!

  2. LT

    Sep 12, 2012 at 8:36 am

    Sorry, but no. As a Liverpool fan I just cant see him getting near to the side. He looked past it when he started the season 2 seasons ago, never mind now.

  3. anteater

    Sep 12, 2012 at 8:39 am

    I think Cole is a poor man’s Benayoun.

  4. Fitz07

    Sep 12, 2012 at 8:40 am

    Who’s posting this bollix, his owld girl????

  5. nowthen

    Sep 12, 2012 at 8:54 am

    come on, he hasnt done anything for years. He had an average season at best with lille last year. The last time he played well consistently was when mourinho was managing chelsea.

  6. Ray

    Sep 12, 2012 at 9:09 am

    What a load of Bull Plop he was finished as a player years ago.

  7. Delano

    Sep 12, 2012 at 9:36 am

    Cole isn’t worth £100 pound a week,never mind £100,000 🙂 then you have Downing who is a joke 🙁 Henderson is just pathetic ? And he wont get better,because he’s Sh*te !!! Gerrard needs to be benched ? Give Morgan a go,because Borini is crap also !!!

    • mark

      Sep 12, 2012 at 11:01 am

      bit harsh to say borini is crap already hes played what 3 games , and really needs to put in the middle up front with suarez to the right of him , for the other 3 downing ,henderson and def joe cole are crap , its amazing that people in live in poverty
      and he gets 90 thousand a week to do nothing

    • Jamal

      Sep 12, 2012 at 5:37 pm

      Suarez,Gerro & Reina should be treated the same as Carra until they up their game.I see BR leaving on a mutual consent before November…..

      • Gaz

        Sep 13, 2012 at 5:40 am

        You think? The difference between BR and KD is KD was the fan’s choice, not the owner’s. BR however is the owner’s choice and they will give him the time he needs

  8. RAY

    Sep 12, 2012 at 11:28 am

    What was the name of that bloke who played ARTHUR DALY

  9. Matty K

    Sep 12, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    Only reason Chelski let Cole go was his decline in form. His speed is poor, confidence torn & is not the best at finding the net. Dont get this as a great signing. It didn’t go under the radar, simply as exciting as waking up with catshit on the carpet.

  10. DaG@ZzaMan

    Sep 13, 2012 at 4:29 am

    Well, wether you like him or not I can see him getting minutes this season (till January at least) as LFC are short on depth in the squad atm and BR really has no choice…The squad is only and injury or two from having Cole play week in week out and that’s the reality of it and he knows it (last chance saloon). Here’s hoping he can regain some form and fitness for the team

  11. Dave

    Sep 13, 2012 at 6:41 am

    “Always looked after himself”?

    He smokes like a chimney and is wrecked by the time he gets to the top of the tunnel.

    Phenomenally gifted footballer but it’s the fact he’s never looked after himself that means his day has been and gone long ago.

  12. Pault

    Sep 13, 2012 at 7:04 am

    If Cole had such a good season at Lille why did they not make his signing permanent, they were flush with money following the Hazard deal but still wouldn’t sign him!

    • Joe

      Sep 13, 2012 at 9:46 am

      The same reason no-one else signed him. His wages!!! (£5m a year)

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