Is there a way back for this rejuvenated figure?

For a player who had more promise than most others, the decline in Joe Cole’s career over the last couple of years has been both alarming and sad. As a youngster, to have Fergie chasing after you and then to be the stand out player in an otherwise awful season for West Ham, Joe Cole seemed to have it all.

Not only does the boy have a god given gift, he has a genuine want to play football and a love of the game. It was this that firstly took the player from Chelsea to Liverpool, being the first signing during the doomed tenure of Roy Hodgson, as Cole wanted to play football week in week out, and did not feel that he could achieve this at a Chelsea. On arriving in Merseyside, Captain Steven Gerrard hailed Cole as being ‘better than Messi’. Either Gerrard had been on the magic mushrooms or he has an IQ of roughly the same amount as his shirt number. Whilst a good player, Cole is not on the same stratosphere as Messi.

However, he will still have expected to make more of an impact at Liverpool, yet after what looked like a promising start, Kenny Dalglish never seemed to fully take to the player and Cole was subsequently shipped off on loan to defending French Champions Lille for the season.

It was this move to France that has really rejuvenated Cole, who after a couple of seasons blighted by both niggling injuries, lack of sleep due to a new baby and loss of form finally looks to be playing his way back into form. Cole has a smile on his face once again under a coach who he says is exactly what he needs and wants the team to play football ‘on the wavelength I feel it should be played.’

There can be a case made for Dalglish having given up on Cole too soon, especially given his recent performances in both the French league – the 3-1 victory over Lyon being a standout point for the player – and in the Champions League, yet King Kenny is an astute manager and let’s not forget sent Cole out on a season long loan, he did not sell him.

Continue Reading on Page 2 ...

WATCH CHELSEA V LIVERPOOL! 188BET are  offering the opportunity of winning VIP Box and match tickets for the match. Please click on the banner below to be in with a BIG chance of winning the massive prize!

–

–
–

[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]