Joe Cole - The Right Move?

OUT of all the clubs after the signature of Joe Cole, it may come to a surprise to many that the talented England midfielder has opted for the Europa Cup-bound Liverpool, reportedly turning down both Spurs and Arsenal in favour of moving up north. Manchester United’s weren’t particularly interested in attracting Cole, according to reports, despite many United fans feeling Cole would have added a creative spark to their squad, particularly as the free transfer wouldn’t have, for once, had the Glazer’s looking nervously at their bank balance.

As much as it was surprising that Chelsea wouldn’t give Cole the secure contract he wanted, it is also refreshing for a player like Cole to have made the move he has done. After seeing his World Cup game-time shrunk down into a handful of minutes after an injury-ravaged season, Cole has shown a willingness to move for first team football and to re-start his career, and perhaps more games to dive around or leave his foot in on opponents. Good for him. There’s definitely room for him at Anfield, as Arsenal seem to have an abundance of diminutive skilful players similar to Cole, and Spurs have plenty of wide players themselves. However, one still feels Cole could have offered Carlo Ancelotti an option on the right of their three-pronged attack. Nicolas Anelka currently occupies that role, but despite claiming he gets ‘as much joy creating goals as scoring them’, he plainly doesn’t like playing out wide, supplying Didier Drogba. It’s only a matter of time before Anelka protests and refuses to play anyway.

Cole thus, will find himself trying to appease a set of fans, who despite having built up a rivalry with Chelsea over recent years (mainly through Champions League fixtures), have shown their approval of the signing. They have every right to show approval too, as Cole can be an outstanding player on his day, and at 28 years old, still offers everything that a top European player should have. He can play on either flank, as a support striker, or even make up a three in midfield as he did in his West Ham days. He’ll have to hope his versatility doesn’t hinder him too much, as Liverpool and indeed England, need a settled, and more importantly improved Joe Cole.

Ex-Liverpool player Phil Thompson stuck his sizeable nose in again today on Sky Sports, and offered his opinion. “I’m absolutely delighted .We need that player, the catalyst between midfield and attack. It all adds up for me.” Such pressure was also laid on Robbie Keane when he arrived in 2008. In fact, upon signing Keane, ex-manager Roy Evans commented, "He will work in and around Torres which of course could free Steven Gerrard to play in more of a midfield position.” Expect a bagful of similar quotes to be thrown around lazily by ex-players over the next few days, as they hail the signing of Cole. Don’t be surprised if Cole goes the way of Keane and moves to Spurs in the January transfer window, although Cole is more likely to build up a rappore with the well-liked and respected Hodgson, than he would have done with the seemingly ice-cold Rafa Benitez.