Joe Cole’s transfer to Liverpool this summer was widely seen as a positive step for Liverpool and Roy Hodgson. The Joe Cole transfer was impressive because it showed that Liverpool could still attract top names, as well as compete with Chelsea and Manchester United in terms of wages offered. However, following Joe Cole’s sending off against Arsenal on day one of the season, Liverpool have not seen the best of Cole. Injuries haven’t helped and Hodgson’s tactics have stifled Cole at times, but his general play has been below par.
Roy Hodgson’s comments were very strong, and maybe something that should have stayed in the changing room. The Liverpool boss claims that the player should have no complaints with where he has been positioned this season, and should get on with the job.
”I think he has got to do it on the field of play. With all the best will in the world, people can be in support or not in support, some will say he’s not doing it, and some will say he’s unlucky because he’s not playing in the right position.”
“But I don’t have any truck with that. Joe is a midfield player, and what’s the right position for a midfield player?”
”Joe has to come to terms with the fact that he has come here after an unsuccessful period at Chelsea with high hopes of taking Liverpool by storm and unfortunately it’s not happened. That’s life. He should be convincing me and everyone watching that this is a player who can help Liverpool win things. And I think you couldn’t say that has been the case so far.”
Joe Cole is a quality player, a player that can turn a game in a blink of an eye. He had a torrid last season at Chelsea but his quality should not be called into question. Chelsea have made a mistake by not keeping Joe Cole. After their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal last night, it is clear they are devoid of any craft, imagination or flair, something Joe Cole would have offered in abundance. Furthermore, Chelsea are starting to pay the price for allowing Joe Cole, Michael Ballack and Ricardo Carvalho to leave the club. Chelsea were wrong to turn their back on Joe Cole, Liverpool must not do the same. Joe Cole is a quality player and he will turn his form around. These comments from Hodgson will not help the situation.
Joe Cole will provide Liverpool with something different. If the team is playing well, Joe Cole will flourish. Cole is not Steven Gerrard – he will not inspire the team with grit and determination. However, when the team is playing with little fear, getting the ball to Cole early, he will show Liverpool fans his true ability. It can’t be easy to have the club you loved turn their back on you but Cole has to get to terms with it sooner rather than later. What happened at Chelsea is not pleasant for Joe Cole but he is playing at one of the most famous clubs in the world – what a chance he has to prove everyone in London wrong.
Hodgson’s comments were thoughtless and smacked of trying to find a scapegoat. These kind of things should be kept in the dressing room not thrown into the public forum. What morale boosting leader would offer such a strong attack on one of his own players – a player he signed not six months ago. Hodgson is trying to pin his lack of ability on Joe Cole, something most Liverpool fans must see. Joe Cole is a quality player, Roy Hodgson is not a quality manager. At a time when most managers would be offering an arm around a player, Hodgson has publicly attacked one of his. Would Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger destroy a players belief in this way? Of course not. Joe Cole is too good a player not to prove his doubters wrong. Sadly, it is another shameful excuse from Liverpool’s under fire boss.
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