What really has been the problem for Joe Cole at Liverpool?

The root cause of the problem between Cole and Liverpool must have a different source. It has to be either mental or tactical, and perhaps both. Kenny says himself he still applies himself 100% in training, so desire is not a problem, but perhaps it has something to do with a lack of belief. He hasn’t settled at Liverpool as much as he would like and moving away from his comfort zone in London may have been more of a problem for him than he let’s on. Injuries and suspensions certainly would not have helped matters either, and the lack of game time he has been afforded recently means we can’t really know for certain how well he is actually playing currently.

Two managers Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish have sidelined Cole to bench duties in quick succession now though, and so there must be something which he isn’t doing to convince either manager that he deserves a longer run in the first team. Tactical considerations will certainly come into play here. Under Roy, Liverpool had a rigid 4-4-2 system which required tremendous discipline; something that Hodsgon knew he wouldn’t get from Cole who prefers to play in a free role. Certainly when you not playing well as it is, what right would Joe have to demand a free role in the team anyway?

Under Dalglish, the problem has been slightly different. With Suarez and Carroll both fit, Kenny has opted to play a 4-4-2 with two holding midfield players, as well as two players in Raul Meireles and Dirk Kuyt who have been in good form under Dalglish, in wider roles. From Kenny’s point of view, none of these players deserve to be dislodged, and Cole would have to bide his team to get a chance:

“Joe’s dedication and application on the training pitch has been superb. This week Joe had a day off but he still came in to train.At the moment the lads are not doing too badly so it is difficult to give everybody a game, but if he’d been a defender he might have had a chance with the injuries we have had. But I think you insult the boy if you ask if he has the necessary desire.”

Time for him this season seems to be running out though, and there is growing speculation he will leave the club along with other misfits such as Christian Poulsen and Milan Jovanovic. It seems a shame it didn’t work out, but like some things in life, sometimes it just doesn’t.

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