Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: David_Nab on June 09, 2014, 08:55:09 PM
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Having Medical tonight according to Daily Mail reporter
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Sold his body to medical science?
Anyway, Keane, Senderos, Joe Cole...has Paul Lambert bought a time machine?
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I hope not. I really hope not. I really, really hope not.
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Crikey.
Who next? Robbie Fowler?
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Hopefully it's a pay as you play deal.
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Nice one...still just 32 as well. An improvement on what we've got.
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Mentioned on SSN as well. Good player 10 years ago, injury prone and lacking hunger for the game now. We are certainly setting our stall out now as trading in the nearly new and used seconds department.
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Senderos and now Joe Cole, this isn't plan B, this is plan Z
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Can this summer get any more depressing? Senderos and now Joe Cole. I can't wait till Lerner goes.
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It really is a very good team for around 2003.
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Darren Anderton.
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What. The . Fuck.
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I like him
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blimey...didn't he struggle in the end to get into West Ham's team? I don't know what he's got left but you can see how all of this is playing out. It's like last season's policy never happened and we have taken a complete 180 turn. Crazy
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Robert Pires redux
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Well, you can't claim you saw this coming. Is Keane aware of this madness?
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If he plays it will be to the benefit of us. That's a big if.
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What's David Batty up to these days?
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Yet another famous player we've signed a good 3 years too late and are getting them as they head into semi retirement.....Ginola, Schemichel, Robbie Keane, Pires etc.
He hardly played for West Ham last season, it's fair to say he's past it at this level but needs must I'm afraid.
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Who is running the club at the moment the fucking Grace Brothers- "I'm free".
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blimey...didn't he struggle in the end to get into West Ham's team? I don't know what he's got left but you can see how all of this is playing out. It's like last season's policy never happened and we have taken a complete 180 turn. Crazy
yes that is a bit worrying,
but if there is one manager about who wouldn't appreciate what Cole offers its Allardyce
well that's the best I can come up with for now
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Villa are turning into the MLS of the Premier League.
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He made over 30 appearances for West Ham last season according to wikipedia. Bit of a strange one really.
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He didn't set the world alight on his return to WHU, I hope he proves the doubters wrong.
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Joe what? Frickin'ell.
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We need that kind of player. But when's the last time he did anything of note?
I guess this makes hoolahan unlikely
I haven't checked, but how are those who are certain we've got a takeover done and dusted spinning these signings?
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It's all starting to make sense now. Roy Keane wasn't for the assistant managers job it was to anchor the midfield.
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Let's just be grateful that it isn't Carlton or Ashley.
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he's the creative midfielder everyones been raging on about in every match thread last season
what did we expect, we are up for sale no money will be invested short term, Lambert is trying to put together a team with a bit more experience on a shoestring budget, Coles as good as we are going to get in the present circumstances
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I'll stick my neck out and say this will be a shit signing.
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Let's just be grateful that it isn't Carlton or Ashley.
Or Nat King.
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blimey...didn't he struggle in the end to get into West Ham's team? I don't know what he's got left but you can see how all of this is playing out. It's like last season's policy never happened and we have taken a complete 180 turn. Crazy
yes that is a bit worrying,
but if there is one manager about who wouldn't appreciate what Cole offers its Allardyce
well that's the best I can come up with for now
How's this - Hoolahan struggled to get into the Norwich team but he was pretty good when he played so maybe it'll be the same with Joe Cole.
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or Old King/Nat King
Beat me to it Perce.
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When he went on loan to Lille he played pretty well according to the French media. It could work and considering we don't have a penny to spend and a club without an owner in some ways, I don't think it's a bad bit of business.
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That's got me scrabbling to renew...
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Blows out of his arse after 5 minutes hasn't been fit for a good few years.
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Let's just be grateful that it isn't Carlton or Ashley.
I'm happy he's not playing for England because they have other options and I don't like him, but if Villa signed Ashley Cole I'd be ecstatic.
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Feel a little faint .
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I read all this about Robbie Keene and turned out ok
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Next Kieron Dyer?
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Let's just be grateful that it isn't Carlton or Ashley.
I'm happy he's not playing for England because they have other options and I don't like him, but if Villa signed Ashley Cole I'd be ecstatic.
Indeed. Joe Cole....
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Let's just be grateful that it isn't Carlton or Ashley.
I'm happy he's not playing for England because they have other options and I don't like him, but if Villa signed Ashley Cole I'd be ecstatic.
Too right.
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And another new signing gets slated on here before the ink dries. What a nice welcome. Spent all last season moaning there was no experience in the squad, now there is and still moaning. Couple of free transfers,whats the problem?
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On SSN he's signed a one year deal. Welcome Joe.
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When he went on loan to Lille he played pretty well according to the French media. It could work and considering we don't have a penny to spend and a club without an owner in some ways, I don't think it's a bad bit of business.
He did in fairness but then the French league is pretty slow and obviously doesn't have the overall quality of the prem.
I think he struggles with the pace nowadays as he didn't do much at Liverpool or West Ham and that's the last 4 years of his prem career so not encouraging to me.
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Yep. Young and youngry seems to have become bus pass and world weary.
A year ago we were being told that transfer fees weren't the problem and that money was available, it was wages that wa sthe issue. That seems to be on its head too.
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Ashley Cole would be an incredible signing.
Joe Cole - position we need someone in - yes, talented - certainly. I loved him as a player 2 years ago and thought he was hard done by at Liverpool, and hardly a big shock he has struggled at West Ham under Allardyce, but as we are even more long ball,.... hmmm.
I am going to stick my neck the other way, I reckon he will be effective in the way Berger was for us, and that will do for me. Time will tell, but I think it is a good signing.
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Welcome Joe. I hope you are as magic as Merson.
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Not reported anywhere else yet. If true, it's an unusual direction for our signing policy. If the lad wants to play and can keep fit he'll be a great addition. He's a really good player with good experience and would be a good link with Delph. If the lad is coming to Villa to top up his retirement nest egg, well then it's going to be another stick to beat the manager with. Would like to see Cole play for us, he's better than we have at the mo.
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Yea true, but of you take the bottom tier of the league, the group we tend to struggle against, then he could be the cog that was missing in a lot of games over the last 3-4 seasons.
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He has more creative talent than our other midfielders. That might not say much, but it is at least an improvement.
And I wouldn't judge him too much on his WHam performances. The only attacking midfielder who flourishes under Allardyce is Kevin sodding Nolan.
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As a one year deal it makes sense until a takeover happens. Quite a practical signing under the circumstances.
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Didn't he do a little punditry on ITV? So Cole, maybe Keane....Dixon next.
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He's actually got a footballing Brain unlike the rest of the horse shit we have on our midfield
(With the obs exception)
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When he went on loan to Lille he played pretty well according to the French media. It could work and considering we don't have a penny to spend and a club without an owner in some ways, I don't think it's a bad bit of business.
He did in fairness but then the French league is pretty slow and obviously doesn't have the overall quality of the prem.
I think he struggles with the pace nowadays as he didn't do much at Liverpool or West Ham and that's the last 4 years of his prem career so not encouraging to me.
Think you are being kind to the French league, it is awful. Joey nietzsche was well able to hold his own in midfield for Marseilles in that league. Cole hasnt been any use since 07/08. He was the most overrated player of his generation, some accolade when you consider the cast that made up Golden Generation. Billed as a superstar by the London media since he was a kid but aside from a couple of seasons under Mourinho was nearly always the first man taken off no matter who the manager was. Was reasonably ok at international level where the pace was a bit slower. Never rated him and was a laughing stock at West Ham second time around and Liverpool. Senderos and Joe Cole, who next a return for Habib Beye to cover right back?
If we arent bought before the end of the transfer window, we will be bottom at Xmas.
Anyway, back to the World Cup
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Bastards are now saying it's a medical tomorrow despite it being on their news feed that he'd signed. Apologies all.
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Should have signed Cheryl Cole. That would have shifted some ST's
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If we can secure Lescott now I will be chuffed with the summers transfer dealings. That's Aaron Lescott of course.
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Fuck a duck.
What a bunch of fucking clowns we have running the club. Just ridiculous
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I don't know about anyone else but to me this and Senderos don't feel like 'Lambert' signings. It's a bit odd.
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When he went on loan to Lille he played pretty well according to the French media. It could work and considering we don't have a penny to spend and a club without an owner in some ways, I don't think it's a bad bit of business.
Thing is, that was three years ago.
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Wow, embarrassing signing number 2. We are having an outrageously bad summer so far, laughable really. Senderos... seriously? Joe Cole.... is he still playing? Keeping Lambert... WHAT?
I've now got to a point where I wouldn't go next season even if they paid me.
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Add Barry and Lescott to Senderos and Cole and I reckon we would have a bloody decent season you know.
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Give him a chance,I would imagine on or two of the current squad will be moved out so it's worth a shot.
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Add Barry and Lescott to Senderos and Cole and I reckon we would have a bloody decent season you know.
I think we'll discover that it is Senderos and Cole instead of Barry and Lescott, to be honest.
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We can't have our cake both ways. People have been crying out for experience and he has that.
I'm not saying I'm jumping up for joy about it, but some of you moaning about him better not be the same ones that were asking for experience - someone will find your quotes :)
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Add Barry and Lescott to Senderos and Cole and I reckon we would have a bloody decent season you know.
I think we'll discover that it is Senderos and Cole instead of Barry and Lescott, to be honest.
Agree. That's the sorry state of affairs.
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Add Barry and Lescott to Senderos and Cole and I reckon we would have a bloody decent season you know.
That would make us a good enough team. Benteke fit, Kozak playing, Delph picking up where last season finished, N'Zog making an effort, Okore fit in defense with Vlaar. All wishful thinking......
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We can't have our cake both ways. People have been crying out for experience and he has that.
I'm not saying I'm jumping up for joy about it, but some of you moaning about him better not be the same ones that were asking for experience - someone will find your quotes :)
Yes, but I think when people said they wanted experience, it was not *just* experience! -I think the being able to contribute on the pitch thing was kind of taken as a given.
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Expect him to be injured 50% of the season. Woeful.
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Let's just be grateful that it isn't Carlton or Ashley.
Or George
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He's here now. He's a talented player, and if used sparingly maybe he can provide the right influence to the the squad and younger players. As long as he still has the enthusiasm then it will be a bonus. Anyway, welcome Joe, good luck.
He's now at the original club with claret and blue which I have no doubt influenced his decision.
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Renewing seemed such a good idea at the time
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I got this one and the Senderos one first on here :)
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Steve Bull also having a medical.
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Verily, our cup runneth over.
Good times.
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Know what? I fancy Cole to break into the England squad...for SoccerAid 2016.
If we are restricted to free transfers, why on earth don't we go for Tom Ince? At least with him there's a resale value...a no lose gamble from where I see it. Or am I missing something??
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Know what? I fancy Cole to break into the England squad...for SoccerAid 2016.
If we are restricted to free transfers, why on earth don't we go for Tom Ince? At least with him there's a resale value...a no lose gamble from where I see it. Or am I missing something??
He'll want too much in his pay packet.
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"Joe's what I like to call a 'number 10'. I've been tracking him for some time."
Shudder.
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What will we be paying Cole ? £50k a week ? That would be another £2.5m spectacularly wasted . Will this club and it's owners ever learn !?
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I don't think he would though Paulie, I think he would be a no brainer for us at the moment.
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Know what? I fancy Cole to break into the England squad...for SoccerAid 2016.
Next in: Ralph Little and Jonathan Wilkes
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Know what? I fancy Cole to break into the England squad...for SoccerAid 2016.
If we are restricted to free transfers, why on earth don't we go for Tom Ince? At least with him there's a resale value...a no lose gamble from where I see it. Or am I missing something??
He'll want too much in his pay packet.
Which we'd recoup when he moves on. Cole's wages are money down the drain.
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blimey...didn't he struggle in the end to get into West Ham's team? I don't know what he's got left but you can see how all of this is playing out. It's like last season's policy never happened and we have taken a complete 180 turn. Crazy
yes that is a bit worrying,
but if there is one manager about who wouldn't appreciate what Cole offers its Allardyce
well that's the best I can come up with for now
How's this - Hoolahan struggled to get into the Norwich team but he was pretty good when he played so maybe it'll be the same with Joe Cole.
Both Cole and Hoolahan are similar aged players, both can't get in the first team of their last clubs but one's good enough for us and the other isn't?
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We can't have our cake both ways. People have been crying out for experience and he has that.
I'm not saying I'm jumping up for joy about it, but some of you moaning about him better not be the same ones that were asking for experience - someone will find your quotes :)
This is a fair comment, but like others I think this signing is coming two years too late. He should be an improvement on most of what we have, but I can't see him playing enough to make too much of a difference. Also he doesn't have the biggest of personalities which could have been good to have to make up for his lack of minutes on the pitch. But wait and see it may still prove a great buy.
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Know what? I fancy Cole to break into the England squad...for SoccerAid 2016.
If we are restricted to free transfers, why on earth don't we go for Tom Ince? At least with him there's a resale value...a no lose gamble from where I see it. Or am I missing something??
He'll want too much in his pay packet.
Which we'd recoup when he moves on. Cole's wages are money down the drain.
I don't disagree, just expect that will be the way our glorious leaders will see it.
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2 year deal big pay cut according to Matt Kendrick
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Good grief this is very weird.
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blimey...didn't he struggle in the end to get into West Ham's team? I don't know what he's got left but you can see how all of this is playing out. It's like last season's policy never happened and we have taken a complete 180 turn. Crazy
yes that is a bit worrying,
but if there is one manager about who wouldn't appreciate what Cole offers its Allardyce
well that's the best I can come up with for now
How's this - Hoolahan struggled to get into the Norwich team but he was pretty good when he played so maybe it'll be the same with Joe Cole.
Both Cole and Hoolahan are similar aged players, both can't get in the first team of their last clubs but one's good enough for us and the other isn't?
Yes, that's about right.
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If we can keep him fit, it's a decent signing. Albeit it's a massive IF
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Welcome Joe. Well we needed experienced players and the last two do have that on their side. Someone mentioned these do not seem like Lambert signings, I agree they don't do they?
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2 year deal big pay cut according to Matt Kendrick
Two years? Fucking hell.
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"Joe's what I like to call a 'number 10'. I've been tracking him for some time."
Shudder.
No Hoolahan then, I suppose, now that he has his #10.
Of course, #10 used to be the really cheap Players #6 IIRC. Sums it up.
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Surely this isn't as bad as everyone is making out... Perhaps not quite in his prime but he's no Pires and he's got to be a level up from Grant bloody Holt.
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Madness: Albrighton goes, and we sign someone nearly 10 years older! Well done Randy - clueless idiot!
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blimey...didn't he struggle in the end to get into West Ham's team? I don't know what he's got left but you can see how all of this is playing out. It's like last season's policy never happened and we have taken a complete 180 turn. Crazy
yes that is a bit worrying,
but if there is one manager about who wouldn't appreciate what Cole offers its Allardyce
well that's the best I can come up with for now
How's this - Hoolahan struggled to get into the Norwich team but he was pretty good when he played so maybe it'll be the same with Joe Cole.
Both Cole and Hoolahan are similar aged players, both can't get in the first team of their last clubs but one's good enough for us and the other isn't?
Yes, that's about right.
Well after seasons midfield spectacle I reckon both Hoolahan and Cole would be a improvement to our team.
If he's taken a pay cut maybe he's just hungry to play football again and finish his career the way he started it.
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What will we be paying Cole ? £50k a week ? That would be another £2.5m spectacularly wasted . Will this club and it's owners ever learn !?
This. I mean most on here agreed that paying Albrighton 35k a week was too much and now this.
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2 years ! Absolute joke if true
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Looks at the list of released Premier League players.
Sighs, draws a deep breath and mutters, 'expect to see Marouane Chamakh next into B6.'
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I'm starting to get a bad feeling that Bellamy is next.
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I'd have preferred John Cole -rest his soul
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I'm starting to get a bad feeling that Bellamy is next.
Hard to tell now if that's a joke or some ITK info.
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I'm starting to get a bad feeling that Bellamy is next.
Two words. Kieron Dyer.
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I'm really not sure what to think about this. Is he better than the current midfielders.... yes... but that isn't saying a lot...
How much are we paying him? £30k? £20K a week? Is that really the budget well spent?
The club just lurches from one extreme to the other at the moment. Still, the away kit is good...
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Looks at the list of released Premier League players.
Sighs, draws a deep breath and mutters, 'expect to see Marouane Chamakh next into B6.'
Bendter, Ince, Wright Phillips, Ashley Cole, Lambert, Lescott, Barry one the shelf... predict the next one in at B6...
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Thinking about it if we can get him fit, then he's the sort of player our midfield needs. Good luck Joe.
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Steve Bull also having a medical.
I would be raging if Bull signed.
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Steve Bull also having a medical.
I would be raging if Bull signed.
He was bloody good once upon a time. Really decent bloke too.
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Cheap experienced players to add to the pool of young uns we have. This is about trying to keep us up until someone buys the club
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I wish to offer my services to the VILLA for 2 years Free of Charge...no add on's or anything just a pie before the match and a cup of tea for half time....Will just need a quick swig of Jack Daniels just before i reappear for the 2nd half...Willing to play anywhere.
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Cheap experienced players to add to the pool of young uns we have. This is about trying to keep us up until someone buys the club
Which I 100% approve of. A really helpful signing.
Looking good, well better anyway.
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Let's hope JC can resurrect his career at Villa,and it's not to be his Calgary
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The length of contract is the revealing thing: one year. Senderos signed for just two.
Because we're in ownership limbo, we're signing the players nobody else wants, the sort who have no choice but to accept a short term deal.
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2 year deal big pay cut according to Matt Kendrick
Sure I've seen somewhere that it's only 12 months
What will we be paying Cole ? £50k a week ? That would be another £2.5m spectacularly wasted . Will this club and it's owners ever learn !?
Where's that figure from?
Personally, whilst finding this far from ideal, it shows that a problem's been identified, and a fix attempted. A step in the right direction. How big a one, well, let's see, give the bloke a chance. Joe, welcome, and I wish you well.
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This is the first I've heard of this.
My first thoughts are that Lerner and Lambert are just taking the piss.
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I'm really worried that Carlton Palmer is next.
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Well it's obvious Randy isn't willing to spend any transfer fees at the moment, I hope we get Barry and Lescott and we would have a better team/squad than last years.
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Well if we didnt know they hadnt a clue what they were doing ,we do now. I hope that makes sence but nothing to do with Villa makes any sence at the moment. :-\
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We can't have our cake both ways. People have been crying out for experience and he has that.
I'm not saying I'm jumping up for joy about it, but some of you moaning about him better not be the same ones that were asking for experience - someone will find your quotes :)
Yes, but I think when people said they wanted experience, it was not *just* experience! -I think the being able to contribute on the pitch thing was kind of taken as a given.
Aye, I know. But look at what we are, we are a club that pays lower salaries and next to nothing in transfer fees. That gets you either Westwood/Lowton or Senderos/Cole. It is what it is.
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It's going to be a tough old season again, although at least Joe Cole is the style of player we need.
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Cheap experienced players to add to the pool of young uns we have. This is about trying to keep us up until someone buys the club
Which I 100% approve of. A really helpful signing.
Looking good, well better anyway.
I agree. It's not Lambert's fault we've got no money - he's done the young and hungry route and has a core of players that may improve. He's now trying to add cheap older players around them. What else can he do?
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If he stays fit this could be a masterstroke of a signing. Of course he might just be injured all the time and it'll be big pile of shit. Time will tell.
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I reckon he'll work well with Dion up front and could form a good understanding with little Lee Hendrie and Juan Pablo.......oh bollocks just realised it was 2014 not 2004 he'll be shit.
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Merson MK2?
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It could be worse, imagine the shit storm if we'd just signed Nat King Cole, or even worse Old King Cole.
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Old king cole would cover back a bit more....
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Right.... It's taken me about 2 hours but I've finally found a positive sided to this...ready...?;
I think he could potentially be a really good influence on Jack Grealish in training.
You're all welcome.
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Positive: If he stays fit and can get anywhere close to previous form then he is what we've been needing for a few years. A player who can open up a defence with a single pass. And we did want an experienced playmaker......
Negative: He could be another Berger, signed years too late and rarely plays as nearly always injured.
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Thing is, I would sooner have Joe Cole and Senderos, in the squad than not in comparison to the side at the end of last season whcih was devoid of experience and quality as soon as anyone got injured. Potentially we now have N'Zogbia and Cole who are at least creative over last season. Throw in Kozak fit for the season, Benteke back earlier than we feared and Gabby playing for a contract next season, we could actually be a lot better off.
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Thing is, I would sooner have Joe Cole and Senderos, in the squad than not in comparison to the side at the end of last season whcih was devoid of experience and quality as soon as anyone got injured. Potentially we now have N'Zogbia and Cole who are at least creative over last season. Throw in Kozak fit for the season, Benteke back earlier than we feared and Gabby playing for a contract next season, we could actually be a lot better off.
I'd agree. I'm hoping we have a little bit of money to make a more significant signing or two as well.
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He'll be able to play for us in future Masters 5 a sides and I see him as a really useful player in this respect
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The only players moving are the frees at the moment (R Lambert & maybe Costa aside) so getting a couple of experienced frees is no bad thing....the key is whether we have the usual circa 15m budget & that it is spent on a couple of better first XI players not spread out out on 5/6 Jonny Average players.
As for Joe Cole as a twenty minute impact sub playing behind the strikers he has ability to help break down sides...he had just spent a year watching everything wing over his head under parasite Sam so hopefully he will get his wish to get a ball to pass & we will not see so much hoofball.
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The only players moving are the frees at the moment (R Lambert & maybe Costa aside) so getting a couple of experienced frees is no bad thing....the key is whether we have the usual circa 15m budget & that it is spent on a couple of better first XI players not spread out out on 5/6 Jonny Average players.
As for Joe Cole as a twenty minute impact sub playing behind the strikers he has ability to help break down sides...he had just spent a year watching everything wing over his head under parasite Sam so hopefully he will get his wish to get a ball to pass & we will not see so much hoofball.
I'd go along with that.
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To continue the possible Berger analogy, he's managed in 12/13 17 league games (7 starts, subbed in most), 13/14 13 league games (started 6, subbed in most).
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Hope it works out and it should do if he stays fit.
Above all else no fcuking about with formations. Just let him stand in the middle of pitch and pass the ball. That's all we need.
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The only players moving are the frees at the moment (R Lambert & maybe Costa aside) so getting a couple of experienced frees is no bad thing....the key is whether we have the usual circa 15m budget & that it is spent on a couple of better first XI players not spread out out on 5/6 Jonny Average players.
As for Joe Cole as a twenty minute impact sub playing behind the strikers he has ability to help break down sides...he had just spent a year watching everything wing over his head under parasite Sam so hopefully he will get his wish to get a ball to pass & we will not see so much hoofball.
I'd go along with that.
I'm praying for that.
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Lambert does act quick in the transfer windows, I'll give him that.
We're already stronger now than last season, we have removed the evil step sisters from the coaching team and now we have at least one nice looking shirt. Oh it's quite easy being positive when we're not playing and getting thumped by four every game.
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I hope that's the case.
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I like getting pissed off at things more than anyone, but can people please stop getting pissed off at a wage no one knows he's getting?
This is purely a wait and see signing for me. Aslong as he is played through the middle unlike a lot of managers have done with him I think he'll be just 'alright'. I do think it makes us 'stronger' even if it's just 0.25kg we have added to our bench press.
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How much was "The Fonz" earning last year.
If we have spent his salary on Cole and he can make a difference in maybe half a dozen games which earn us points we otherwise would not have got it could well be money well spent
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5 years ago he'd have been exactly what we're currently missing. Cole was one of the most technically gifted English footballers since Gascoigne. He's well past his best.
That said, his poor form at West Ham could be argued as being down to being totally and utterly, NOT an Allardyce player. I mean lets face it, a number 10 kind of player won't do much when he's watching the ball rocket over his head to the 6ft10 CF.
Of course whether Lambert can set out a team to get the best out of Cole, if indeed he's still got anything left in his locker.
The optimist and one time Joe Cole fan in me hopes that he could surprise us. He got written off after Liverpool but then did well at Lille. I dunno. He's never relied on pace. What he will offer is a bit of skill and a bit of composure and technique in midfield.
If we were to get J. Cole and then Hoolahan too, that would leave our attacking mid options fairly sewn up.
Still...better than nothing I suppose. He'll come with almost zero expectation, it's on a free, probably a short term deal. He can only really match or vastly exceed our expectations to be honest.
Anyway...off to bed and dream that Joe manages to recapture his better form with us. If he does, he's a quality player...sadly, he probably won't.
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I'm a bit worried. I'm a fan worried about Villa future. Like everyone else I suppose.
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We're in danger of assembling a Pro Evo 2009 dream team at this rate. Cole, Zogbia, Bent. Even Senderos probably wasn't too shabby on Pro Evo.
We can but dream.
Lets get Barry next.
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Given the state we're in, I'll take it and he'll have something to prove. Better than Carlton. Had a horrible feeling I'd spot Lambert scouting at Socceraid last night and we'd end up with Jamie Theakston, also out of work.
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This is just getting more bizarre by the week. Senderos, Keane as assistant and now Joe Cole!! Goodness knows who will be next.
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Sold his body to medical science?
Anyway, Keane, Senderos, Joe Cole...has Paul Lambert bought a time machine?
It's a remake of Young and Hungry titled Released and Retired.
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Hopefully he'll be more Merson than Pires.
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What is most depressing is the creeping suspicion that we are not even going to bother pretending to have any ambition any more.
What would the likes of Faulkner say if he was asked what we were aspiring to?
It's all very well, the "he improves us" line, but we have a huge amount of improving to do before we get anywhere near an acceptable level, so let's hope we see some seriously decent signings this summer, or we are done for, I think.
I just think the prospect of another Cole-like signing and a few from the "young and hungry" pool of mediocrity, another season of bobbing around at the arse end of the table, of Lambert's sad face as he goes on and on about the wage bill is too depressing for words.
Lerner can hold his hands up and say "I'm trying to sell, what do you expect?" and this could quite easily drag on for years.
I might be wrong, so let's see what kind of business we do, but we need to spend a significant amount of money on some good players this summer if the above scenario is not going to happen.
I just can't see it.
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The last two signings and the injuries to Kozak and Benteke could suggest that Lambert going back in for Holt might be on the cards. It wouldn't surprise me to see Holt back for another season. We do seem intent on raising the average age of the squad.
Hopefully he'll just settle for Bent being enough, but Helenius is probably leaving too. We probably will need another striker. If that's the case, I suspect it might be Holt. Wigan would let him go for peanuts probably. Or perhaps a loan.
Not very inspiring at the moment...
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We're slowly building the Premier League's finest collection of has-beens and never-wases. Plus Benteke and Guzan.
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We're slowly building the Premier League's finest collection of has-beens and never-wases. Plus Benteke and Guzan.
I'm afraid so. Stumbling from one ill thought out plan to another.
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Sold his body to medical science?
Anyway, Keane, Senderos, Joe Cole...has Paul Lambert bought a time machine?
It's a remake of Young and Hungry titled Released and Retired.
Old and greedy.
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Just for reference, can anyone tell me the bracket in which the player is 'experienced' that most were clamouring for last year and the point in which they become over the hill?!! Just because of an indifferent season at West Ham does not remove that class we have see him supply over the years....just for an outrageously obscene statement with regards to his age, he's three years younger than Andre Pirlo (referencing age there...not skill)
Fuck me im starting to think O'dreary was right and 5 minutes on this site quantifies his statement...we truly are fickle!
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Just for reference, can anyone tell me the bracket in which the player is 'experienced' that most were clamouring for last year and the point in which they become over the hill?!! Just because of an indifferent season at West Ham does not remove that class we have see him supply over the years....just for an outrageously obscene statement with regards to his age, he's three years younger than Andre Pirlo (referencing age there...not skill)
Fuck me im starting to think O'dreary was right and 5 minutes on this site quantifies his statement...we truly are fickle!
No you're right. I distinctly remember everyone saying at the end of last season that we're crying out for Joe Cole and Phillipe Senderos.
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There's that F word again. If you don't accept something as the right thing to do, you're fickle.
I think most Villa fans would settle for average at the moment. But here's the problem; we're not even getting that.
In fairness, I might have been glad of Cole in January when we desperately needed something else in midfield. But this is early in the close season and really, I think we should be aiming a little higher.
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Using magic beans?
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If we did use magic beans we'd find most of the giants had already been signed by Stoke.
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This looks like we are trying to survive next season without spending, doesn't auger well for a quick sale.
Senderos and Cole will probably lose the club another few hundred season ticket holders.
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Get in an experienced left back and holding midfielder to add to Given, Hutton, Senderos, Cole and Bent and we have old heads as cover/alternatives in all areas of the park.
We're clearly going for the two team approach that's enabled Man City and Chelsea to challenge in all competitions!
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This looks like we are trying to survive next season without spending, doesn't auger well for a quick sale.
Senderos and Cole will probably lose the club another few hundred season ticket holders.
I don't get the last bit. Why would these signings lose us season ticket holders? It might not get us any new ones, I'll buy that but why would some people who sat through last season consider these signings as the last straw and turn in their tickets?
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Joe Cole oh dear.
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Last season you would have had a hard time convincing me we would have had even less money to spend this transfer window. Fucking hell.
Anyway, no issue with Joe. Good deal considering our new apparent financial backing (ie: bugger all)
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The only thing I might ask is that at this early stage who has actually spent any money? If these deals are made in August with us having done nothing prior I'd be really concerned. However, it's not and to get a couple of experienced players in even if they are both short term isn't the end of the world.
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Some on here need a reality check.
Were skint untill new owners come in. Lambert is doing what he can with limited funds.
A little bit respect for the new signings would be nice. Lets start next season with a fresh start for all old and new players.
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I'm not overly fussed about signing Joe Cole, tbh. He might be just what we are needing if he can stay fit.
I appreciate that's is early doors in the transfer window but the main issue for me is it's another released free transfer signing which makes the cynical in me believe that we are only looking at free agents where no fees are involved. Quite frankly, with Randys weird world of running a football club this wouldn't surprise me at all and add to the theory of recalling the bomb squad in from the cold.
If the transfer budget is effectively zero plus wages and signing on fees then I'm afraid we're donald ducked. We need investment not a total spend freeze.
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The only thing I might ask is that at this early stage who has actually spent any money? If these deals are made in August with us having done nothing prior I'd be really concerned. However, it's not and to get a couple of experienced players in even if they are both short term isn't the end of the world.
Good point. Cheers me up a tad.
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I think how Lambert will play the loan market will be vital.
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This looks like we are trying to survive next season without spending, doesn't auger well for a quick sale.
Senderos and Cole will probably lose the club another few hundred season ticket holders.
I don't get the last bit. Why would these signings lose us season ticket holders? It might not get us any new ones, I'll buy that but why would some people who sat through last season consider these signings as the last straw and turn in their tickets?
I would imagine that there are many that were holding off hopeful of a new owner, by signing what can only be termed as cast offs would signify that there will be no new owner in the short term and some will weigh things up and decide not to bother.
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Some on here need a reality check.
Were skint untill new owners come in. Lambert is doing what he can with limited funds.
A little bit respect for the new signings would be nice. Lets start next season with a fresh start for all old and new players.
This.
UTV
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With one event, namely Randy coming out and washing his hands of the club, the whole philosophy of the pursuit of young and hungry cheap players we have been force fed for the last two years has been stood on its head. This is a backs to the wall strategy of zero budget aimed at hanging on to what evere place in the premiership we can until a buyer can be found. It would be more bearable if we could believe that better quality signings will be made later in the window but I think it is very unlikely. This is just finger in the dyke stuff entirely consistent with the paucity of good well thought out forward planning which engulfed the club after the O'Neill debacle. Monty summed it up perfectly for me. We are the cartoon rabbit that has walked off the edge of the cliff and does not know it.
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Yep pretty uninspiring stuff, part of me does think at least we're signing players but I think that's just being optimistic. Realistically Cole is well past his best and I thought he's retired. But he's still probably more creative than the rest of our current midfield.
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12 pages of mainly negativity. Look it may or may not work out, and for me if he can contribute to 50% of our games then it's an improvement on what we already have. Without trawling through the archives the thread when we signed N'Zogbia would be good to look at. Lots of excitement, posters even changing their usernames to celebrate the signing of a £9.5 million winger on big money. Well, what do we know eh? I say welcome to Cole and he deserves a chance to shine. The current squad is in my humble opinion the worst group of players we have had in the 25 (ish) years I have been a supporter. I find it hard to believe a 31 yr old England international with plenty of winners medals from his time at Chelsea isn't going to be an improvement.
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Not ideal but he's here now so let's just get behind him. Is Nick Barmby still playing ? Or Andy Sinton ? Could add some guile and width
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Cole's 32 and deemed not good enough for the porn stars, and whatever way you dress it up, he's years past his best and I'm not sure spending another 25k a week on an elder statesman cheerleader is a smart use of scare resource. It looks like we won't actually pay a fee for a player - even Hooligan - without selling first so you can't blame people for feeling a little down.
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32, but other than that I agree QB. For a free and not a big wage for a player who could give us a spark, I'm all for it.
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Welcome Joe Cole.
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I've always found the negativity on here strange but I've got used to it! It's all about opinion and just some people have a different definition of the words 'Fan' and 'Supporter' than I have. Which is fine, life would be boring etc etc.
Is Lambert supposed to just do nothing then? We clearly don't have a large spending budget but have obvious deficiencies in certain positions. We've addressed three of those with the two signings and the swap of Albrighton for the now fit N'Zogbia. So we're a stronger team for it.
All good then surely.
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I always like players that have good skills. Joe Cole has excellent skills. Assuming he is not a drinker and keeps himself fit this could be a very welcome signing. He is only 32 and could have taken the route to the States but obviously he thinks he still has a bit left in his tank. He must know Roy Keane is coming and that doesn't appear to worry him. So good luck to the bloke, I for one will be very pleased to see him in a Villa shirt.
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32 then my mistake,apologies. As for him not being good enough for West Ham, well football has plenty of stories of players discarded by one club going on to do well elsewhere so time will prove whether it's a good move or not. With the popular opinion on here about Allardyce being less than complimentary I can't see why that's even an issue to be honest. If Senderos and Cole are the only signings we make then yes, it's not good enough. However, It's the 10th of June and we don't know what else is going to happen as yet. Whilst neither signing has exactly inspired me they have for me improved the squad. That has to be a positive.
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Given the state we're in, I'll take it and he'll have something to prove. Better than Carlton. Had a horrible feeling I'd spot Lambert scouting at Socceraid last night and we'd end up with Jamie Theakston, also out of work.
and unfit!....mind you Jaap Stam still looked good and Edgar Davids covered every blade of the pitch.
Get them in as well!
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I think its a great move. With the club in limbo we have to cut our cloth accordingly. I'm happy with Cole and Senderos who maybe past their best (we'll see about that) but whose experience will do nothing but good.
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I'll add another positive, this new approach does suggest that Lambert realises that his previous approach isn't working as it should and that he needs to try something different.
That may seem very obvious to us, but if McLeish or O'Neill were still here then I've no doubt that they would still be smashing their heads into the same brick wall as before, assuming that something would just change.
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I've always had a soft spot for him. Think he will do well for us.
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At least he is making all the the right noises, it's "not about finances", and he just "wants to play football and compete".
On his day a gifted footballer capable of the sublime, the only question being whether we will see many of those days, file under Ginola.
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IF (with caps) they can integrate the likes of Cole/Senderos/Nzog and even Bent in with the youngsters and getting them playing anywhere near a decent level it must make us a better proposition than last season? With Benteke, Okore and Kozak back we no longer look as much of a Championship team as we did. We would even have a bit of depth. I just hope that we give the youngsters a chance to - Robinson, Grealish etc as they could be the future.
I've actually typed myself into feeling a bit better about next season now!
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Really hope it works out. Really had a soft spot for him over the years. Bold move.
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Really hope it works out. Really had a soft spot for him over the years. Bold move.
I agree, Holte L2, it is a pretty bold signing.
Most of these comments could have also applied to the 2 alcoholics on their last legs who signed for us, Messrs McGrath and Merson.
They didn't turn out that bad.
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Given the state we're in, I'll take it and he'll have something to prove. Better than Carlton. Had a horrible feeling I'd spot Lambert scouting at Socceraid last night and we'd end up with Jamie Theakston, also out of work.
and unfit!....mind you Jaap Stam still looked good and Edgar Davids covered every blade of the pitch.
Get them in as well!
I know you were only joking but David's and stam are 41,and retired
Cole is near on 10 years younger, there are a few players in the World Cup squad who are older,
Prilo for instance is 35 and we are all shitting bricks about him, so your jokey comparison is irrelevant
I've always like joe cole and think if we use him correctly could be worth watching and you can't say that about many of the others
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I am sorry but any comparison between Pirlo and Joe Cole, regardless of age should stop now.
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Really? Fuck me.
So happy I haven't renewed.
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Didn't he struggle to get in a shit West Ham side who couldn't score any goals?
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I like Cole as long as he can stay fit and that is the issue.
I think the thing we need to realise is that anyone of this sort of age bracket that is still considered to be worth a punt will not be coming to Villa Park this summer. In that bracket I place Barry, Lescott etc. So this is the choice we are left with. At the moment.
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Never really rated him in the past.
BUT, in the current circumstances, its a decent enough move.
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Lambert has probably come out of this with his reputation in tact but i still can't fathom Lerners decision making in all this, as he got anything right? including the decision to buy us in the first place.
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I can't work out why the 32 year old Joe Cole is past it and a bad signing whereas the 33 year old Gareth Barry would apparently be ideal.
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I am sorry but any comparison between Pirlo and Joe Cole, regardless of age should stop now.
I'm only comparing his age, where Pirlo is the much older man
This is after you compared cole to a couple of 40 year olds who have both retired from the game
You might think your a smart arse with that quip, so be it
But 32 is not all that old for a footballer there are plenty about far older doing pretty decent jobs,
Whether Cole is good enough is another question, but his age is not all that bad,
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I can't work out why the 32 year old Joe Cole is past it and a bad signing whereas the 33 year old Gareth Barry would apparently be ideal.
This is a fair point, but, my main worry is his injury record. I think he is a better quality player, but not good on the treatment table.
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I can't work out why the 32 year old Joe Cole is past it and a bad signing whereas the 33 year old Gareth Barry would apparently be ideal.
For me, its because Barry isnt a crock. And Barry is just a better player all-round. Cole has the tricks but when does he use them. Seldom.
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I'm a bit surprised at some of the negativity around Joe Cole. Unfortunately with the position we're in at the moment then these are surely the sort of signings we need to be looking for. Most of us have complained about the lower league/untried signings, so isn't Cole more the sort of signing we need? Granted his injury record is a worry but we need to be realistic in the short term and at least give the guy a chance. Go Joe!
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The Villa have a very long history of taking older players on who have proved a remarkable success in their day and become favourites of the discriminating fan who appreciates quality football. Andy Lochhead, Peter Broadbent, Derek Dougan, Ron Wylie to name but a few and put me firmly in the discounted ticket bracket.
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If we were at the start of August and Joe Cole was the fifth signing of the summer I think the reaction on here would be more positive. These free agent deals get done quicker and i'm sure there are more signings to come. Anyone who says he is a West Ham reject, then please also state what you think of Sam Allardyce as he is the manager who is getting rid. Players divide opinions. The fact Allardyce doesn't rate him doesn't automatically mean he is shit.
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I think its a great move. With the club in limbo we have to cut our cloth accordingly. I'm happy with Cole and Senderos who maybe past their best (we'll see about that) but whose experience will do nothing but good.
This is how I see it, and the same goes for Keane too.
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I think its a great move. With the club in limbo we have to cut our cloth accordingly. I'm happy with Cole and Senderos who maybe past their best (we'll see about that) but whose experience will do nothing but good.
This is how I see it, and the same goes for Keane too.
I was just about to post the same reply LeeB
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Didn't Liverpool pay a fortune for him?
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I can't work out why the 32 year old Joe Cole is past it and a bad signing whereas the 33 year old Gareth Barry would apparently be ideal.
Probably because Barry has just had another very good season and Cole hasn't.
Personally though I think it's a gamble worth taking - if he'd gone elsewhere on a freebie and turned in a few good performances we'd all be on here asking why we never go for a player like him.
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Didn't Liverpool pay a fortune for him?
I think they had him on a free but it was (allegedly) about £90k a week
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ny
I can't work out why the 32 year old Joe Cole is past it and a bad signing whereas the 33 year old Gareth Barry would apparently be ideal.
For me, its because Barry isnt a crock. And Barry is just a better player all-round. Cole has the tricks but when does he use them. Seldom.
exactly . Gareth BArry in the West Ham team would look class above everyone else , Joe Cole did not.
but good luck to him anyway . I just wish lambert had bought some experience in ages ago , shows he isnt good enough but its where we are at.
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We have all been banging on about how much we need more creativity in the side. With Joe Cole in the side we'll have a better chance of seeing some.
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I think what this and the Senderos signing shows is that we are in the market for Free Transfers only.
The free transfers we are looking at are also low down on the quality list. Im sure we went for Lescott but we cant afford his wages so we get Senderos.
Cole is the playmaker link man etc - but to me he is way past his best and he is so injury prone. Yes he might have a good few performances but it certainly strikes me of a desperation signing.
I guess both players give us experience which we have been crying out for but neither make our first team any better at all.
What worries me is our strategy first year young british youth players , second year foreign youngsters now experienced free transfers. It all smacks of desperation and a lack of direction.
However this league after the top six or seven is nothing special and Lambert needs to realise that and start trying to play with some forward movement, work on set pieces etc and play with a greater positivity.
The fans need to seriously lower their expectations to bottom six and maybe when we have we maybe surprised instead of always being disapointed.
Season ticket sales must be at an all time low!!!!
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I can't work out why the 32 year old Joe Cole is past it and a bad signing whereas the 33 year old Gareth Barry would apparently be ideal.
For me, its because Barry isnt a crock. And Barry is just a better player all-round. Cole has the tricks but when does he use them. Seldom.
Exactly.
Barry and Hoolahan have both done the business very recently. Cole has looked past it for a long while now.
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I can't work out why the 32 year old Joe Cole is past it and a bad signing whereas the 33 year old Gareth Barry would apparently be ideal.
Fitness is the key. If Cole stays fit it could be a good piece of business - at least we haven't paid a transfer fee. An upgrade on Hoolahan who is around the same age.
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Didn't Liverpool pay a fortune for him?
I think they had him on a free but it was (allegedly) about £90k a week
That's probably what i'm thinking of. I'm not sure what to make of it really. Like I suggested yesterday, it does kind of feel as if somebody else has come in and is making these signings. It's the complete opposite to what Lambert has done so far.
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I can't work out why the 32 year old Joe Cole is past it and a bad signing whereas the 33 year old Gareth Barry would apparently be ideal.
I am not sure if Cole is or isn't past it. There is little proof he is effective at the top level anymore
Barry certainly isn't past it as he proved last season.
Age is a somewhat irrelevant in this context.
Maldini was still exceptional at 37 whereas Michael Owen was practically a moribund duck at 27.
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I can't work out why the 32 year old Joe Cole is past it and a bad signing whereas the 33 year old Gareth Barry would apparently be ideal.
Fitness is the key. If Cole stays fit it could be a good piece of business - at least we haven't paid a transfer fee. An upgrade on Hoolahan who is around the same age.
That's a bit of a different viewpoint from yesterday calling Randy a 'clueless idiot'.
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If he is fit and if he is focused then it may well turn into a good signing. Time will tell.
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I am sorry but any comparison between Pirlo and Joe Cole, regardless of age should stop now.
I'm only comparing his age, where Pirlo is the much older man
This is after you compared cole to a couple of 40 year olds who have both retired from the game
You might think your a smart arse with that quip, so be it
But 32 is not all that old for a footballer there are plenty about far older doing pretty decent jobs,
Whether Cole is good enough is another question, but his age is not all that bad,
Not at all, I'm merely stating that Joe Cole is not and nor has ever been, nor will he ever be as good as Pirlo.
His age isn't a problem, his fitness, form and attitude may well be.
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Age is a somewhat irrelevant in this context.
Maldini was still exceptional at 37 whereas Michael Owen was practically a moribund duck at 27.
is the correct answer.
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Maybe I'm too easily hopeful, but so far this summer I'm happy with all business done or nearly done.
Senderos - improves the squad
Cole - improves the squad
Keane - improves the management/coaching team
Albrighton to Leicester - improves the squad
Was very downhearted as last season drew to a feeble close, but glad I've renewed ST.
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Jonathon Wilkes currently having a medical.
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Really hope it works out. Really had a soft spot for him over the years. Bold move.
I agree, Holte L2, it is a pretty bold signing.
Most of these comments could have also applied to the 2 alcoholics on their last legs who signed for us, Messrs McGrath and Merson.
They didn't turn out that bad.
Exactly. If we can keep him fit it could prove to be a masterstroke. Pretty imaginative under the circumstances. If he's taking a massive pay cut it's hardly a big gamble.
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Maybe I'm too easily hopeful, but so far this summer I'm happy with all business done or nearly done.
Senderos - improves the squad
Cole - improves the squad
Keane - improves the management/coaching team
Albrighton to Leicester - improves the squad
Was very downhearted as last season drew to a feeble close, but glad I've renewed ST.
I'm always glad to renew. Sometimes we dont realise how lucky we are to be in a position where we can afford to watch our team on a weekly basis.
Profound statement over.
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I can live with Cole, he's free and I think in a midfield 3 playing slightly ahed of Westy and Delph it would be an improvement. My main concern is that the current transfer policy is heading towards signing Shola Ameobi who is also available for free.
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We'd be pretty unfortunate if between Cole and N'Zogbia we can't go some way to improving our creativity this season.
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If this is a bit of experienced cover for the first team and we still have a bit of money to spend, I can live with it.
Why do people keep saying "glad I didn't renew" like it's some sort of badge of honour?
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If this is a bit of experienced cover for the first team and we still have a bit of money to spend, I can live with it.
Why do people keep saying "glad I didn't renew" like it's some sort of badge of honour?
I don't understand that mentality either, either you're a fan or you're not! I don't go down that often now because I have a new baby and I cannot afford it but I love to go down
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I think this signing really hammers home the message that we're not going to surrender our place in the FA CUp until at least that the 5th round this season.
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This kind of reminds me of the time we were signing Schmeichel etc. We were kind of excited but we weren't at the same time.
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but I love to go down
Snigger.
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At least we don't have to worry about other teams coming along and cherry-picking our best players as they come to the end of their contracts!
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but I love to go down
Snigger.
Also snigger
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Funny how we can all be Villa fans but hold totally opposing views. Everything we have done with the For Sale sign hanging in the window fills me with despair. Showing Marc the door, bringing in Keane, Senderos and Cole leaves me convinced it is damage limitation time at Villa Park. To me it all smacks of us throwing out the notion of attractive football and doing whatever we can with frees and loan signings. Hoofball may well be on the menu again next season. In the meantime dream of Qatari billionaires.
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but I love to go down
Snigger.
Child lol, When I go down it's like a breath of fresh air
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Funny how we can all be Villa fans but hold totally opposing views. Everything we have done with the For Sale sign hanging in the window fills me with despair. Showing Marc the door, bringing in Keane, Senderos and Cole leaves me convinced it is damage limitation time at Villa Park. To me it all smacks of us throwing out the notion of attractive football and doing whatever we can with frees and loan signings. Hoofball may well be on the menu again next season. In the meantime dream of Qatari billionaires.
Without a massive investment we are looking at a fifth successive season of merely trying to avoid relegation. Now whilst Cole isn't the player he once was at least with him in the side you'd expect to see the ball on the deck more.
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but I love to go down
Snigger.
Child lol, When I go down it's like a breath of fresh air
I'd compare it more to walking into a greenhouse on a hot day
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but I love to go down
Snigger.
Child lol, When I go down it's like a breath of fresh air
I'd compare it more to walking into a greenhouse on a hot day
*applause*
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If this is a bit of experienced cover for the first team and we still have a bit of money to spend, I can live with it.
Why do people keep saying "glad I didn't renew" like it's some sort of badge of honour?
We keep saying it because things like this keep coming up, reminding us of why we didn't renew. It'd be nice to be able to say "oh, shit, why didn't I renew???", but nothing has happened for anyone to say that.
The end of last season was a reason not to renew. The last 4 seasons was enough not to renew. Signing Senderos shows no ambition and a reason why we're happy we didn't renew. And now Joe Cole. We'll keep saying it as long as shit things keep happening.
It's nothing to be proud of, just a sign of how things are.
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Showing Marc the door, bringing in Keane, Senderos and Cole leaves me convinced it is damage limitation time at Villa Park. To me it all smacks of us throwing out the notion of attractive football and doing whatever we can with frees and loan signings. Hoofball may well be on the menu again next season.
Well, we're certainly doing whatever we can with frees and loan signings, but whatever else Joe Cole might be, he isn't a hoofball signing.
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Stan not impressed, I see.
(http://i.imgur.com/c7hqmh2.png)
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I can't work out why the 32 year old Joe Cole is past it and a bad signing whereas the 33 year old Gareth Barry would apparently be ideal.
For me, its because Barry isnt a crock. And Barry is just a better player all-round. Cole has the tricks but when does he use them. Seldom.
Exactly.
Barry and Hoolahan have both done the business very recently. Cole has looked past it for a long while now.
He had a good spell at Lille and yes didn't impress in his recent spell back at West Ham. However, is that partly down to the anti-football tactics of his previous manager and does Cole signing for us suggest a change from the anti-football tactics of ours?
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Stan not impressed, I see.
(http://i.imgur.com/c7hqmh2.png)
Ohhhh that's what Brian Doogan does.
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At least we don't have to worry about other teams coming along and cherry-picking our best players as they come to the end of their contracts!
What's the latest on Delph's contract??
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I can't work out why the 32 year old Joe Cole is past it and a bad signing whereas the 33 year old Gareth Barry would apparently be ideal.
For me, its because Barry isnt a crock. And Barry is just a better player all-round. Cole has the tricks but when does he use them. Seldom.
Exactly.
Barry and Hoolahan have both done the business very recently. Cole has looked past it for a long while now.
He had a good spell at Lille and yes didn't impress in his recent spell back at West Ham. However, is that partly down to the anti-football tactics of his previous manager and does Cole signing for us suggest a change from the anti-football tactics of ours?
It suggests no change in our wages and transfer policy, and not much change in the grey matter if we've given a 2 year contract. How much do they think we'll be getting out of a 35 year old Joe Cole in the last half season of his deal?
He was at Lille 3 seasons ago. That's a long time when you're 32. Since then, he's played at a team totally based on passing the ball, and looked past it. He's then gone to his boyhood club for two seasons, and looked past it there, too.
I have no problem with signing 32 year olds. Hoolahan, for example, has proven he can still do it recently. So has Gareth Barry. Joe Cole has not shown he can do it in the premier league for years.
When was his last good season in the Premier League?
I suspect the reason we're signing him and not Hoolahan is that Hoolahan has a year on his contract and will involve a fee, whereas Cole does not.
It strikes me as a nuts move in almost all senses.
I'll wait and see if we make an attempt to improve on any of our starting players, but I am far from convinced that'll happen, and every laughable signing we make like this just makes me more sceptical.
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However, is that partly down to the anti-football tactics of his previous manager and does Cole signing for us suggest a change from the anti-football tactics of ours?
Jay Jay Okocha seemed to cope with it alright.
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"Cole joined Liverpool on a free transfer after signing a four-year deal in July 2010. He was manager Roy Hodgson's first signing at the club and was given the number 10 shirt. Cole was to receive £90,000-a-week wages and was advertised as a major coup by the club. Club captain Steven Gerrard even claimed Cole was a better player than Lionel Messi."
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"Cole joined Liverpool on a free transfer after signing a four-year deal in July 2010. He was manager Roy Hodgson's first signing at the club and was given the number 10 shirt. Cole was to receive £90,000-a-week wages and was advertised as a major coup by the club. Club captain Steven Gerrard even claimed Cole was a better player than Lionel Messi."
Alex Ferguson claimed McLeish was a good appointment for Villa.
Has a similar hollow ring to it, IMO
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I can't work out why the 32 year old Joe Cole is past it and a bad signing whereas the 33 year old Gareth Barry would apparently be ideal.
For me, its because Barry isnt a crock. And Barry is just a better player all-round. Cole has the tricks but when does he use them. Seldom.
Exactly.
Barry and Hoolahan have both done the business very recently. Cole has looked past it for a long while now.
He had a good spell at Lille and yes didn't impress in his recent spell back at West Ham. However, is that partly down to the anti-football tactics of his previous manager and does Cole signing for us suggest a change from the anti-football tactics of ours?
It suggests no change in our wages and transfer policy, and not much change in the grey matter if we've given a 2 year contract. How much do they think we'll be getting out of a 35 year old Joe Cole in the last half season of his deal?
He was at Lille 3 seasons ago. That's a long time when you're 32. Since then, he's played at a team totally based on passing the ball, and looked past it. He's then gone to his boyhood club for two seasons, and looked past it there, too.
I have no problem with signing 32 year olds. Hoolahan, for example, has proven he can still do it recently. So has Gareth Barry. Joe Cole has not shown he can do it in the premier league for years.
When was his last good season in the Premier League?
I suspect the reason we're signing him and not Hoolahan is that Hoolahan has a year on his contract and will involve a fee, whereas Cole does not.
It strikes me as a nuts move in almost all senses.
I'll wait and see if we make an attempt to improve on any of our starting players, but I am far from convinced that'll happen, and every laughable signing we make like this just makes me more sceptical.
I'm not taking the position that this is the end of our transfer dealings. Rather just an opportunity to add some depth on a limited budget. I've said before that if this is it we're in trouble and like everyone I am hoping the sale goes through so we can invest appropriately prior to the deadline. Lambert himself has said we need to invest so I cannot imagine this is what he imagined that investment to be. I'm not edging any closer to the cliff in early June, but come late July with a couple more of these types of deals I might be a lot closer.
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imo there are only two scenarios that will see us pay for a player this summer; if we are sold, and secondly, if we sell first. Maybe the restaurant meet was to give Randy the chance to personally deliver bad news budget wise to Lambert and try and sweeten it a little with the personal touch and a nice dessert. Lambert certainly looked pissed off on the flight home according to people who saw him, but I suppose that could just have been the shrimp and grits. Cole and the other chap are where we are now; in the freebie bin.
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imo there are only two scenarios that will see us pay for a player this summer; if we are sold, and secondly, if we sell first. Maybe the restaurant meet was to give Randy the chance to personally deliver bad news budget wise to Lambert and try and sweeten it a little with the personal touch and a nice dessert. Lambert certainly looked pissed off on the flight home according to people who saw him, but I suppose that could just have been the shrimp and grits. Cole and the other chap are where we are now; in the freebie bin.
It's a step up from the bin we were rummaging through when we signed Sylla and Holt.
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imo there are only two scenarios that will see us pay for a player this summer; if we are sold, and secondly, if we sell first. Maybe the restaurant meet was to give Randy the chance to personally deliver bad news budget wise to Lambert and try and sweeten it a little with the personal touch and a nice dessert. Lambert certainly looked pissed off on the flight home according to people who saw him, but I suppose that could just have been the shrimp and grits. Cole and the other chap are where we are now; in the freebie bin.
It's a step up from the bin we were rummaging through when we signed Sylla and Holt.
The problem is, we need to stop rummaging around bins, full stop. Or at least move from the bins area towards the restaurant entrance. Perhaps infringe on the car park.
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imo there are only two scenarios that will see us pay for a player this summer; if we are sold, and secondly, if we sell first. Maybe the restaurant meet was to give Randy the chance to personally deliver bad news budget wise to Lambert and try and sweeten it a little with the personal touch and a nice dessert. Lambert certainly looked pissed off on the flight home according to people who saw him, but I suppose that could just have been the shrimp and grits. Cole and the other chap are where we are now; in the freebie bin.
It's a step up from the bin we were rummaging through when we signed Sylla and Holt.
The problem is, we need to stop rummaging around bins, full stop. Or at least move from the bins area towards the restaurant entrance. Perhaps infringe on the car park.
We need to move swiftly to the reduced-to-clear shelf, find an eclair with slight pastry damage.
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I'm not taking the position that this is the end of our transfer dealings. Rather just an opportunity to add some depth on a limited budget. I've said before that if this is it we're in trouble and like everyone I am hoping the sale goes through so we can invest appropriately prior to the deadline. Lambert himself has said we need to invest so I cannot imagine this is what he imagined that investment to be. I'm not edging any closer to the cliff in early June, but come late July with a couple more of these types of deals I might be a lot closer.
I think my problem is that I just don't trust them - our leaders - any more. I don't trust them to even agree there is a need for significantly better players, let alone provide the cash to buy them. I am starting to suspect that that "OK, I'm selling, blah blah blah something about Shampoonites blah blah" statement is going to be seen as an excuse to not bother even pretending to give a shit any more.
I am aware this is extremely cynical of me, and I hate being like this, I really do, but this is the way they've made me.
I find myself looking, for example, at the likes of Delph and Vlaar with a year left on their contracts, and feeling almost resigned to the fact they won't get extended, and we'll lose them - because they'll cost too much money.
I genuinely can not believe my opinion of them has fallen so low. I was one of those who'd endlessly stick up for Randy against the likes of Risso and other arch sceptics until a few seasons ago, it's not like I've always had it in for them, but they've really, honestly lost me.
I used to think they were well intentioned, but I'm not even sure about that any more. I think they don't understand the risk the club has been at for three years, and will continue to be at unless something changes, and I don't think they care for anything but survival at the lowest cost.
It just seems that every season, the commitment tails off a bit more, the level of expectation gets set even lower, the risks we take get higher. You can not exist like that for very long, because you'll get punished for it.
What happens, say, if there's no takeover in the next few seasons? There's no guarantee there will be. Does this go on for years? This undisguised lack of ambition? Is this it?
The problem with our recent transfer activity has not been the players we have bought, it has been the players we haven't bought. Plenty of filler and almost zero actual improvements. How many players, and of what level, do people think we need to improve as much as we need to (honestly, 15th or 16th isn't just unacceptable, it's nothing like it)?
I'll wait and see like everyone else what happens - we have no choice in it - but my faith in them to firstly recognise what needs to be done, and then to do it, is zero.
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imo there are only two scenarios that will see us pay for a player this summer; if we are sold, and secondly, if we sell first. Maybe the restaurant meet was to give Randy the chance to personally deliver bad news budget wise to Lambert and try and sweeten it a little with the personal touch and a nice dessert. Lambert certainly looked pissed off on the flight home according to people who saw him, but I suppose that could just have been the shrimp and grits. Cole and the other chap are where we are now; in the freebie bin.
It's a step up from the bin we were rummaging through when we signed Sylla and Holt.
The problem is, we need to stop rummaging around bins, full stop. Or at least move from the bins area towards the restaurant entrance. Perhaps infringe on the car park.
We need to move swiftly to the reduced-to-clear shelf, find an eclair with slight pastry damage.
Waiting eagerly for the about-to-pass-sell-by-date marked down flapjacks to make an appearance.
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imo there are only two scenarios that will see us pay for a player this summer; if we are sold, and secondly, if we sell first. Maybe the restaurant meet was to give Randy the chance to personally deliver bad news budget wise to Lambert and try and sweeten it a little with the personal touch and a nice dessert. Lambert certainly looked pissed off on the flight home according to people who saw him, but I suppose that could just have been the shrimp and grits. Cole and the other chap are where we are now; in the freebie bin.
It's a step up from the bin we were rummaging through when we signed Sylla and Holt.
The problem is, we need to stop rummaging around bins, full stop. Or at least move from the bins area towards the restaurant entrance. Perhaps infringe on the car park.
We need to move swiftly to the reduced-to-clear shelf, find an eclair with slight pastry damage.
Waiting eagerly for the about-to-pass-sell-by-date marked down flapjacks to make an appearance.
Keane's come in thanks to his close contacts with the bakery staff, he gets tipped the wink when they get marked down. This is what modern football is all about, contacts.
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imo there are only two scenarios that will see us pay for a player this summer; if we are sold, and secondly, if we sell first. Maybe the restaurant meet was to give Randy the chance to personally deliver bad news budget wise to Lambert and try and sweeten it a little with the personal touch and a nice dessert. Lambert certainly looked pissed off on the flight home according to people who saw him, but I suppose that could just have been the shrimp and grits. Cole and the other chap are where we are now; in the freebie bin.
It's a step up from the bin we were rummaging through when we signed Sylla and Holt.
The problem is, we need to stop rummaging around bins, full stop. Or at least move from the bins area towards the restaurant entrance. Perhaps infringe on the car park.
We need to move swiftly to the reduced-to-clear shelf, find an eclair with slight pastry damage.
Waiting eagerly for the about-to-pass-sell-by-date marked down flapjacks to make an appearance.
Keane's come in thanks to his close contacts with the bakery staff, he gets tipped the wink when they get marked down. This is what modern football is all about, contacts.
Keano: "Are the eclairs marked down yet?"
Staff member: "No, not yet"
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpNEJIgIEAA3Q34.jpg)
Staff member: "Here, take them all, we want no trouble"
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imo there are only two scenarios that will see us pay for a player this summer; if we are sold, and secondly, if we sell first. Maybe the restaurant meet was to give Randy the chance to personally deliver bad news budget wise to Lambert and try and sweeten it a little with the personal touch and a nice dessert. Lambert certainly looked pissed off on the flight home according to people who saw him, but I suppose that could just have been the shrimp and grits. Cole and the other chap are where we are now; in the freebie bin.
It's a step up from the bin we were rummaging through when we signed Sylla and Holt.
The problem is, we need to stop rummaging around bins, full stop. Or at least move from the bins area towards the restaurant entrance. Perhaps infringe on the car park.
We need to move swiftly to the reduced-to-clear shelf, find an eclair with slight pastry damage.
Waiting eagerly for the about-to-pass-sell-by-date marked down flapjacks to make an appearance.
We're just shopping for Whoopsies really.
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I agree with all the above. I think Lambert is morphing himself into Tony Pulis to - if not save his job - get something on his CV to get him a job post take over. The young, progressive, talented spotter of young players with potential is a busted flush. It now has to be no nonsense, straight talking, player revitalizing cheap operating manager who can take points off other shit clubs.
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Lambert has probably come out of this with his reputation in tact but i still can't fathom Lerners decision making in all this, as he got anything right? including the decision to buy us in the first place.
Lerner purchased us as part of a mid life crisis . Most of us buy a crass 2 sweater convertible sports car.
He bought a football club, a new $50m plane and got divorced.
3 years into ownership I think he realised what a silly decision it was .
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I can't afford two sweaters on their own, never mind as well as a sports car.
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We'd be pretty unfortunate if between Cole and N'Zogbia we can't go some way to improving our creativity this season.
Even at his best was Joe Cole really considered as some sort of midfield playmaker who can split defences with a killer ball, or keep hold of it and play the right ball?
Perhaps I'm misjudging him, but I always thought he was a tricksy show pony who could occasionally pull off spectacular goals, and maybe beat a few defenders through pure talent and skill, but not consistent, hard working or clever enough to make a difference over a season.
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I think we should be snapping up Brian Éclair. He might have just passed his best before date, but at least he's Scottish.
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I've not seen enough of him over the last few years to make a judgement. I have no doubt the Allardyce style didn't suit him. If we are lucky he may have the similar type of composure and calmness we saw from Robbie Keane when he was loaned to us? Someone whose movement is good, actually wants the ball and doesn't give it straight back to the opposition. Or he might be cack. Who knows.
I'm not sure his style of play suits the quick counter attack we have favoured the last couple of years so maybe this signals a change in direction, more time for players like Cole and Grealish (if what I have heard about him is correct) with Delph etc playing a slightly different way? 2 year deal at £25k per week is relatively cheap these days so it's potentially a gamble worth taking (although I reserve the right to strop about it should he be cack).
Not happy, not outraged, just curious to see what he brings.
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Joe "F*cking" Cole. That is all.
I lied. He now has a nice message for us: vine.co/v/Mjqzdau3l7v (http://vine.co/v/Mjqzdau3l7v)
Bless.
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My clutching at straws hope is that he comes to is in a Zola to Chelsea kind of way.
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I think its clear to see that Lerner/Faulkner/Lambert vision of success with youngster has not worked out!!! Thats why the likes of Bent/Nzogbia and Hutton have been brought back into the fold along with the signings of Senderos and Cole. They have realised that they need experience in the side. Both Senderos and Cole are Free so we are only paying wages (hopefully pay as you play but cant see it!!) Bent/Hutton/Nzog are all still being paid so ultimately we havent lost anything. Lets get them in the side and see what they can do!! UTV
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Signed.
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We are just like the squeezed middle class! Can't afford to shop at Waitrose or Sainsbury's any more so having to go to Lidl or Aldi for our shopping!
ps Welcome Joe
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I just want to join in with a few !!!!!
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one good thing I like about Joe Cole at least
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb411/lemsta007/carly-cole3_zps2cc92ded.jpg) (http://s1204.photobucket.com/user/lemsta007/media/carly-cole3_zps2cc92ded.jpg.html)
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It's worth waiting for the other transfers before assessing this one, I think. It looks a bit desperate, the two year deal, but if he really is on something like £20-30k then I suppose the other side of the compromise was another year on the contract, and the rest of the summer will tell us how significant Cole's contribution is expected to be. Nothing is moving right now apart from freebies and the Champions League clubs, so I'll wait a bit before deciding how I feel about this one.
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one good thing I like about Joe Cole at least
(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb411/lemsta007/carly-cole3_zps2cc92ded.jpg) (http://s1204.photobucket.com/user/lemsta007/media/carly-cole3_zps2cc92ded.jpg.html)
Longer hair suits him.
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We'd be pretty unfortunate if between Cole and N'Zogbia we can't go some way to improving our creativity this season.
Even at his best was Joe Cole really considered as some sort of midfield playmaker who can split defences with a killer ball, or keep hold of it and play the right ball?
Perhaps I'm misjudging him, but I always thought he was a tricksy show pony who could occasionally pull off spectacular goals, and maybe beat a few defenders through pure talent and skill, but not consistent, hard working or clever enough to make a difference over a season.
I'd agree he never particularly found a great deal of consistency, even at his best for West Ham (first time) and Chelsea, but he's that sort of mercurial player that isn't going to pull it out the bag every game. Of course that he doesn't really do any of the mucking in can often make him stand out negatively.
That said, I've always been a fan because when he's on it, he's a joy to watch.
Right now we've got a side packed with willing running and hard work. What we could probably do with is a little bit of potential brilliance somewhere in there. Zogbia can provide that. Cole can provide that. Benteke of course can but we'll miss him for half a season. If you want technical brilliance with consistency, the price is unfortunately well. well beyond us.
As we're shopping in the bins, we're left with a player like Joe Cole. Get him anywhere close to back to his best and he'll prove good value. I hope so.
Of course it never works out like this in football but it'd be nice that when Cole isn't producing, that Zogbia is and vice versa. We might just scrape through the season and get treated to some more inspiring stuff (certainly at Villa park).
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He's going to "Supply the Bullets"!!
UTV
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-sign-joe-cole-7244800
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"I spoke to the gaffer and we have similar views on football. He didn’t need to sell the club but he explained what the view is for the future and, like I said, that was the main thing. When I spoke to the manager I knew I’d be signing.”
That definitely doesn't sound like we are going to be taken over any time soon.
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After a few transfer windows of asking "who?" We have moved onto to "why?". This is progress.
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After a few transfer windows of asking "who?" We have moved onto to "why?". This is progress.
I think we may have the odd "what!??!" soon.
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He is creative and can pass the ball, but he is also 32 and prone to injury.
I think this is the best we can hope for at the moment and he may give us a year or two and make a diffrence in the midfield.
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He can cut out that "gaffer" shit straight away. What does he think this is, a tenant farm?
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He makes a hell of youtube vid it must be said.
He's been told he'll get played in his favoured position, which he never really got at West Ham. I hope that means we'll see him produce some quality, and I also hope it means that Lambert will re-adjust our style now that we have a number 10 on our books.
You don't lose skill and ability. It's still there with Cole. Hopefully his fitness holds up enough to get a decent amount of games out of him, and hopefully he can help add a bit of class and composure in the final third.
Worth a punt I think. But I've always been a Joe Cole fan, so I'm gonna say that.
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If he stays fit he will be a good player for us welcome to Villa Joe.
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Fundamentally he is better than we already had, so it's a positive signing in my opinion. Yes he isn't as good as he was, but if he was he wouldn't be signing for us. Could have gone abroad for more money but has joined because he wants to play, that has to be good.
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Fingers crossed, it could go one of 2 ways. Intrigued by the playing in CM comment, maybe a shift of system too? Whatever, I am not prepared to write him off without a chance.
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Could be a good punt, we got loads of pace up front with Weinmann, Gabby, Benteke but no won who can play the ball in to space.
We not a player like that since Merson..
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Shirt stretching time. Welcome Joe and good luck.
(http://www.avfc.co.uk/javaImages/5/c4/0,,10265~12895237,00.jpg)
(http://www.avfc.co.uk/javaImages/7/c4/0,,10265~12895239,00.jpg)
(http://www.avfc.co.uk/javaImages/ff/c3/0,,10265~12895231,00.jpg)
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Grealish can learn a lot from Joe Cole I see the sense in this signing .
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Fundamentally he is better than we already had, so it's a positive signing in my opinion. Yes he isn't as good as he was, but if he was he wouldn't be signing for us. Could have gone abroad for more money but has joined because he wants to play, that has to be good.
That last part is the positive aspect of this, for me. We're paying him peanuts compared to what he's had in the past, and what he probably could still get playing overseas. He could have happily semi-retired for big bucks in the MLS or another big money league abroad. He'd have been a superstar in the MLS with his box of tricks.
I think that he's still got some Premier League ambition is good. Seems like he wants to prove he's still got it. Hopefully he will.
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Perhaps he's got family, kids settled at school here etc.
Moving to the US is a big ordeal in this scenario especially if it's only for a couple of years.
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Perhaps he's got family, kids settled at school here etc.
Moving to the US is a big ordeal in this scenario especially if it's only for a couple of years.
According to wiki, he has 2 young children. Although in some ways, if you're going to move abroad i'd have thought it's better when they are very young rather than a few years later when they will have settled into schools and have friends etc.
Then again I have no kids so am just guessing.
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First we approach Rio then this. Any chance of Nige coming back? Or Marlon?
I feel so West Ham now.
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My optimism fairy was gaily skipping along singing "another McGrath / Merson" when my pessimism fairy kicked him in the nads and scrawled "Pires / Ginola" on his forehead in permanent marker while he was rolling around the floor in agony. And then he pissed on him.
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Cole in, Bowery out. Fine with me.
That he has been told he will play centrally, sounds goods.
Free transfer of the season ;-)
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A depressing signing that just indicates what a state the club is in.
And a 2 year contract? What evidence is there that he can perform at this level at all, never mind for 2 years? Bonkers.
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A depressing signing that just indicates what a state the club is in.
And a 2 year contract? What evidence is there that he can perform at this level at all, never mind for 2 years? Bonkers.
It's not depressing if you were already sufficiently depressed before it happened.
And to be fair, he has a fair body of work at this level, which we haven't said for one of our signings for a while.
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He does make the new home shirt look a bit West Hamish doesn't he?
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Seems like he scored 5 goals in 31 appearances for the Spammers. So that makes him way more prolific than else anyone in our midfield.
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I'm going to stick my neck out and say he'll a better signing for us than Stephen Fucking Ireland.
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*sigh* welcome Joe. You have the ability in spades. Here's hoping you can stay away from the treatment table long enough to make a difference. Gods know we've had shit luck with injuries lately.
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A depressing signing that just indicates what a state the club is in.
And a 2 year contract? What evidence is there that he can perform at this level at all, never mind for 2 years? Bonkers.
It's not depressing if you were already sufficiently depressed before it happened.
And to be fair, he has a fair body of work at this level, which we haven't said for one of our signings for a while.
I guess its depressing because it suggests that no one at the club expects a takeover to happen before the start of the season.
If there was even a slight chance wouldn't we have waited to sign Cole & Senderos? I can't believe there was a stampede for either signature.
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Grealish can learn a lot from Joe Cole I see the sense in this signing .
That's my view on it as well, if that's all he brings to the club then so be it. For me Grealish has the potential to be a great player and the club should be doing what it can to make the most of that potential.
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My optimism fairy was gaily skipping along singing "another McGrath / Merson" when my pessimism fairy kicked him in the nads and scrawled "Pires / Ginola" on his forehead in permanent marker while he was rolling around the floor in agony. And then he pissed on him.
Pires - Shudder.
We nicked him from under the noses of Crawley Town.
Houllier - Everyone needs to live near Birmignham
Dissenter(s) - What about him (Pires)?
Houllier - Except for him.
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First we approach Rio then this. Any chance of Nige coming back? Or Marlon?
I feel so West Ham now.
I hear Geoff Hurst is available on a free transfer, and he won't cost much in wages.
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First we approach Rio then this. Any chance of Nige coming back? Or Marlon?
I feel so West Ham now.
'...it was a goal. Otherwise Roger Hunt the goal poacher would have followed up......'
Has Billy Bonds retired yet? We could nick him. Bring a bit of steel to our defence.
I hear Geoff Hurst is available on a free transfer, and he won't cost much in wages.
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Probably less injury prone than Marc Albrighton and will have more impact than Weimann.
I imagine Darren Bent will get some service off him next season.
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A 2 year contract seems too long unless its a pay as you play.
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Hope he does well for us and manages to stay clear of injury. Still think we need some more steel in midfield though.
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I'm quite happy with Senderos, Cole and Keene if he comes, because my expectation level is low
I never exected Milner, Lescot, Barry so I reckon Lamberts done as good a job as he can on the free transfer players, and with the return of Kozac and Okore we should be in better shape than we finished the season, assuming we don't lose one of our 3 or 4 better players
the target for next season is to remain in the prem, that's it,
I know that's not what we want and Aston Villa shouldn't have sank that low and everthing, but that's where we are
I also think anyone expecting any proper signings will be disappointed, we might get a couple more of the same ilk, but this is it, the mythical 15mill is just that a myth, imo
Randy wont be spending or investing significant money into a club he's selling,
so I think we have to get used to this being the norm for a bit and hope we have enough to escape relegation again
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I'm quite happy with Senderos, Cole and Keene if he comes, because my expectation level is low
I never exected Milner, Lescot, Barry so I reckon Lamberts done as good a job as he can on the free transfer players, and with the return of Kozac and Okore we should be in better shape than we finished the season, assuming we don't lose one of our 3 or 4 better players
the target for next season is to remain in the prem, that's it,
I know that's not what we want and Aston Villa shouldn't have sank that low and everthing, but that's where we are
I also think anyone expecting any proper signings will be disappointed, we might get a couple more of the same ilk, but this is it, the mythical 15mill is just that a myth, imo
Randy wont be spending or investing significant money into a club he's selling,
so I think we have to get used to this being the norm for a bit and hope we have enough to escape relegation again
And hope that the academy does deliver a few pearls.
I could suffer that for a season or two if it showed steady improvement.
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Sun dream team tweet.....
Dream Team ✔ @dreamteamfc
Philippe Senderos and now Joe Cole - Aston Villa making their intentions clear to get relegated before the World Cup has even started.
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I'm quite happy with Senderos, Cole and Keene if he comes, because my expectation level is low
I never exected Milner, Lescot, Barry so I reckon Lamberts done as good a job as he can on the free transfer players, and with the return of Kozac and Okore we should be in better shape than we finished the season, assuming we don't lose one of our 3 or 4 better players
the target for next season is to remain in the prem, that's it,
I know that's not what we want and Aston Villa shouldn't have sank that low and everthing, but that's where we are
I also think anyone expecting any proper signings will be disappointed, we might get a couple more of the same ilk, but this is it, the mythical 15mill is just that a myth, imo
Randy wont be spending or investing significant money into a club he's selling,
so I think we have to get used to this being the norm for a bit and hope we have enough to escape relegation again
And hope that the academy does deliver a few pearls.
I could suffer that for a season or two if it showed steady improvement.
I think we'll stay around the bottom half in the current regime. I think however we should have enough about us, if we're re-instating bomb squad players and have more luck with injuries, that we shouldn't be cutting it nearly as fine as we did the last 3 seasons. I would hope we'll have a good enough group to take us safely over 40 points. We still need 2-3 more in, but I hope we won't struggle as badly again.
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I'm quite happy with Senderos, Cole and Keene if he comes, because my expectation level is low
I never exected Milner, Lescot, Barry so I reckon Lamberts done as good a job as he can on the free transfer players, and with the return of Kozac and Okore we should be in better shape than we finished the season, assuming we don't lose one of our 3 or 4 better players
the target for next season is to remain in the prem, that's it,
I know that's not what we want and Aston Villa shouldn't have sank that low and everthing, but that's where we are
I also think anyone expecting any proper signings will be disappointed, we might get a couple more of the same ilk, but this is it, the mythical 15mill is just that a myth, imo
Randy wont be spending or investing significant money into a club he's selling,
so I think we have to get used to this being the norm for a bit and hope we have enough to escape relegation again
If the quotes about us being break-even that came along with the accounts (and were used by Faulkner in at least 1 fan meeting) are accurate then with the money from the TV deal Randy doesn't have to put money in to the club for us to spend anything, the money is already there. We might not spend it, for a number of reasons but to say we're spending nothing because Randy wants out and won't put his own money in is just not true, but has been repeated on this site hundreds of times now.
If we don't spend, and that decision is a purely financial one by Lerner, it's because he wants to sell the clubs with money in the bank and on course for a clear operating profit, the result is the same, in that we didn't spend money, but the reasoning is totally different.
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ST sales must be appalling
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ST sales must be appalling
Why?
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ST sales must be appalling
Probably, though that's probably more down to 4 years of utter shite than Joe Cole.
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ST sales must be appalling
Why?
Because everything is shit.
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"I spoke to the gaffer and we have similar views on football. He didn’t need to sell the club but he explained what the view is for the future and, like I said, that was the main thing. When I spoke to the manager I knew I’d be signing.”
That definitely doesn't sound like we are going to be taken over any time soon.
My first thought, My second thought shit he's going to hoof it
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ST sales must be appalling
Why?
We don't seem to be investing. We are going backwards I'd say. It's worrying and people may hedge before spending big money on a ticket especially with all the uncertainty over ownership.
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Joking aside, good luck Joe
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Joking aside, good luck Joe
Good luck joke hole.
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ST sales must be appalling
Why?
We don't seem to be investing. We are going backwards I'd say. It's worrying and people may hedge before spending big money on a ticket especially with all the uncertainty over ownership.
There's a difference between slow and appalling.
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ST sales must be appalling
Why?
We don't seem to be investing. We are going backwards I'd say. It's worrying and people may hedge before spending big money on a ticket especially with all the uncertainty over ownership.
There's a difference between slow and appalling.
See Baker, N
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I'm all for this. He's got talent, if he stays fit (which he can), he's a valuable midfield asset. We lacked a link between midfield and attack who could unlock defences - he's exactly that.
Budget version of that, but still that.
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I haven't been this excited since we signed Jermaine Jenas.
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Seems like he scored 5 goals in 31 appearances for the Spammers. So that makes him way more prolific than else anyone in our midfield.
and weimann and gabby
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will Joe Cole mean we can put Barton rumours to bed ?
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will Joe Cole mean we can put Barton rumours to bed ?
Joey? Maybe. Warren, I'd still be worried about.
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Weren't the Barton 'rumours' just something somebody made up on here?
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Exactly what we need, a creative midfielder with much experience.
Welcome to the biggest club in the world Joe.
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I am glad that we have signed Joe Cole to play the No.10 role as there isn't much else out there in terms of free transfers for that role. I just hope he stays injury free and finds some decent form playing in his favourite position..
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Cole is not exactly 'building for the future' more a case of saving us from the drop next season! Senderos same.
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I remember when the great Peter Broadbent came to us at the end of his career in the middle sixties. He still had the skills to show up the dross we had then. I suspect Joe Cole will look a class far above the likes of Weimann and a few others who think they have made it.
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It's not so long ago an over-the-hill Robbie Keane turned up for two months and lit the bloody place up.
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I haven't been this excited since we signed Jermaine Jenas.
Have you forgotten the excitement when we got Simon Dawkins? Head and shoulders above Jenas on the orgasmatron for me
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It's not so long ago an over-the-hill Robbie Keane turned up for two months and lit the bloody place up.
Keane never looked fucked after 5 minutes Cole does.
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It's not so long ago an over-the-hill Robbie Keane turned up for two months and lit the bloody place up.
Keane never looked fucked after 5 minutes Cole does.
Carlton Cole?
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Cole is not exactly 'building for the future' more a case of saving us from the drop next season! Senderos same.
Exactly right, we're not going to be paying transfer fees because Randy won't get the money back. The plan is obviously to maintain premier league status with as little outlay as possible.
Honestly, I think the new additions improve the squad, I expect more of the same or perhaps a couple of loan signings. I just hope that the club will resist the urge to sell some of our better players.
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Former England midfielder Joe Cole admits he cannot wait to get started after agreeing a two-year deal to join Aston Villa.
The 32-year-old was available on a free transfer after being released by West Ham United at the end of last season.
Cole, who has also played for Chelsea, Liverpool and Lille, is relishing the chance to play for his fourth Premier League club.
"I've signed a two-year deal and I am very excited about it, coming to a massive club. I'm very excited about it and can't wait to get going," he said.
"I've signed a two-year deal and I am very excited about it, coming to a massive club. I'm very excited about it and can't wait to get going."
Joe Cole
"I spoke to the gaffer and we agree on a lot of things in football and playing in a central midfield role sold it for me.
"I'll be coming here and I'll be learning too. Obviously I'll bring my experience to the squad but you still learn every day and I want to learn.
"I know I'll learn from the manager, I'll learn from other players here and going forward together we want to get the best results for the club.
"It will be exciting to play with the young players here. I'll be trying to keep hold of the ball, make some goals and score some goals. It'a a great challenge. I can't wait to get started."
Cole, who won 56 caps for England, won three Premier League titles during a successful seven-year spell with Chelsea but a succession of injuries disrupted his career.
A move to Liverpool in 2010 failed to reignite his career but he enjoyed a successful loan spell with Lille before returning to Upton Park last year.
Cole becomes Villa's second signing of the summer - former Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos joining last week.
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I was disappointed at first, but we all know there is a quality player there on his day. The more I think about it under the circumstances there aren't many better free transfers out there - especially in a position we have no one else as good. Even if its just 20 minutes from the bench to try to unlock defences.
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ST sales must be appalling
Why?
We don't seem to be investing. We are going backwards I'd say. It's worrying and people may hedge before spending big money on a ticket especially with all the uncertainty over ownership.
There's a difference between slow and appalling.
See Baker, N
Love it
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It says something when a Bury fan comes into work and the first thing he does is take the piss out of a Villa signing... >:(
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It says something when a Bury fan comes into work and the first thing he does is take the piss out of a Villa signing... >:(
remind him that he's a Bury fan
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It says something when a Bury fan comes into work and the first thing he does is take the piss out of a Villa signing... >:(
remind him that he's a Bury fan
The thing is he totally accepts his club's position in the football pecking order; whereas I can't accept this latest lurch in recruitment policy by my club to now being the nursing home for under-achievers and has-beens.
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It says something when a Bury fan comes into work and the first thing he does is take the piss out of a Villa signing... >:(
My lad moved to Bury last year, absolutely loves it up there
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It says something when a Bury fan comes into work and the first thing he does is take the piss out of a Villa signing... >:(
The thing is though its not like some of the signings us and others have made over the years with Free Transfers, he's accepted a pretty modest wage. I reckon that says he's here to play football and not sit back and take a salary. It's a good move I reckon.
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"playing in a central midfield role sold it for me"
Perhaps he'll just stand there majestically, stroking the ball to left and right, forward and through the oppo defence, while Westwood and Delph do all the running for him?
The great minds that are Lambert and Cole...and I, think alike!!!???
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It says something when a Bury fan comes into work and the first thing he does is take the piss out of a Villa signing... >:(
The thing is though its not like some of the signings us and others have made over the years with Free Transfers, he's accepted a pretty modest wage. I reckon that says he's here to play football and not sit back and take a salary. It's a good move I reckon.
More likely 'any port in storm' situation. He is not exactly likely to be offered similar wages to his current package anywhere.
I hope he comes in and helps the team pick up a few extra points. However it's Villa so I guess he will have the same impact as Mr Ireland.
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After the intial surprise, I had started to come round to the idea of signing Joe Cole (could offer us something different in a position which we have struggled to find someone). Then I read that he has signed a two-year deal and I'm left wondering when we are ever going to learn. He probably wouldn't have signed for anything less, but that in itself should have been a clue.
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It says something when a Bury fan comes into work and the first thing he does is take the piss out of a Villa signing... >:(
The thing is though its not like some of the signings us and others have made over the years with Free Transfers, he's accepted a pretty modest wage. I reckon that says he's here to play football and not sit back and take a salary. It's a good move I reckon.
More likely 'any port in storm' situation. He is not exactly likely to be offered similar wages to his current package anywhere.
I hope he comes in and helps the team pick up a few extra points. However it's Villa so I guess he will have the same impact as Mr Ireland.
I disagree I actually think Cole likes and wants to play football where as Ireland stated in that interview that football is a job and a good income to pay for a expensive lifestyle. Cole probably could have got offers elsewhere too, it's very early days in yet for teams to be shopping for players.
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It says something when a Bury fan comes into work and the first thing he does is take the piss out of a Villa signing... >:(
Quite simply, your colleague is a dick. At 32 and on a free transfer this may be a really effective signing. He either enjoys winding you up or has missed the number of mature (older than Cole) players who are still major players in the Premier League and for their countries.
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I'm sure he could've earned far more in the States and rode his career out like Defoe and Beckham did. If he is used wisely could be a good addition, with what's been going on the last few weeks and months you gotta try and see the positive i suppose.
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Good luck Joe, hope you can offer us something we're missing.
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I'm sure he could've earned far more in the States and rode his career out like Defoe and Beckham did. If he is used wisely could be a good addition, with what's been going on the last few weeks and months you gotta try and see the positive i suppose.
Hopefully he'll feel like he's got something to prove... old & hungry if you will.
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Whether he turns out to be a success will depend on (a) his attitude and (b) playing to his strengths. Belting the ball from defence into space up front will be of absolutely no use with Cole or anybody else that is there at the present for that matter.
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Whether he turns out to be a success will depend on (a) his attitude and (b) playing to his strengths. Belting the ball from defence into space up front will be of absolutely no use with Cole or anybody else that is there at the present for that matter.
...and whether he can stay fit for any length of time.
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Just got around to reading today's Fiver:
"Any lingering hopes Randy Lerner had of selling Aston Villa have been spectacularly torpedoed by Ambitious Paul’s signing of former footballer Joe Cole, who joins Philippe Senderos among the Villa Park debris."
Quite kind for The Fiver I thought.
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Just got around to reading today's Fiver:
"Any lingering hopes Randy Lerner had of selling Aston Villa have been spectacularly torpedoed by Ambitious Paul’s signing of former footballer Joe Cole, who joins Philippe Senderos among the Villa Park debris."
Quite kind for The Fiver I thought.
Definately a funny way of putting it but i hope (and wouldn't be overly surprised) if at least one of them make them eat their words.
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Just got around to reading today's Fiver:
"Any lingering hopes Randy Lerner had of selling Aston Villa have been spectacularly torpedoed by Ambitious Paul’s signing of former footballer Joe Cole, who joins Philippe Senderos among the Villa Park debris."
Quite kind for The Fiver I thought.
Very clever in a "Have I got news for you" way. However, the witty person from The Guardian who wrote it misses the point that the ins and outs at VP have improved the squad. We all know that we're in a mess, but the picture is better now than in May.
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Joe Cole will be able to control the ball from a throw-in. For that alone, he'll improve things immeasurably.
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Well he's been told he'll play in centre mid.
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If it means the end of KEA in the middle then it's a positive .
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Haven't been on here for a while since leaving early at White Hart Lane for the last game, however had to laugh yesterday when hearing the news of Joe Cole signing.
Wtf is this all about. If he'd have signed for Brentford or Charlton I wouldn't have been surprised but with us being the shambles that we are I just laughed. Shit season, shit players! Why not sign some really old extra shit ones to go with them.
Nearly as funny as the folk on here talking up his signing "England International Joe Cole" it proclaims on the avfc.co.uk site. Ha, brilliant. 10 years ago possibly, but now he wouldn't get into my Monday night 7 a side team, then again, neither would most of the shite we have currently. Ah well, I'm off to Brazil on Sunday so who cares. Lets see if we've signed Shaun Derry and any other grey haired pensioner by the time I get back.
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Fair play, he sounds genuinely excited about it on Talksport just, and very keen to play that number 10 role. Get anything like form from him he will very quickly become a favourite.
It was also pretty clear that Roy Keane is coming in.
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Fair play, he sounds genuinely excited about it on Talksport just, and very keen to play that number 10 role. Get anything like form from him he will very quickly become a favourite.
It was also pretty clear that Roy Keane is coming in.
To play alongside him?
Lets give Tony Cascarino a call as well and see if he fancies a run.
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Fair play, he sounds genuinely excited about it on Talksport just, and very keen to play that number 10 role. Get anything like form from him he will very quickly become a favourite.
It was also pretty clear that Roy Keane is coming in.
To play alongside him?
Lets give Tony Cascarino a call as well and see if he fancies a run.
Yes the aged jokes are hilarious. As I am 32 in 5 days, writing off a player at 32 makes me feel like reaching for the pistol!
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Fair play, he sounds genuinely excited about it on Talksport just, and very keen to play that number 10 role. Get anything like form from him he will very quickly become a favourite.
It was also pretty clear that Roy Keane is coming in.
To play alongside him?
Lets give Tony Cascarino a call as well and see if he fancies a run.
Yes the aged jokes are hilarious. As I am 32 in 5 days, writing off a player at 32 makes me feel like reaching for the pistol!
Chill, I'm 46 and still harbour ambitions of playing for Villa. Cole's signing reignites my chances...
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Fair play, he sounds genuinely excited about it on Talksport just, and very keen to play that number 10 role. Get anything like form from him he will very quickly become a favourite.
It was also pretty clear that Roy Keane is coming in.
To play alongside him?
Lets give Tony Cascarino a call as well and see if he fancies a run.
Yes the aged jokes are hilarious. As I am 32 in 5 days, writing off a player at 32 makes me feel like reaching for the pistol!
Singing Phoney Cascarino in the air, in the air
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West Ham fans on KUMB don't seem to be heartbroken at his departure, and West Ham as a side aren't much cop, lets face it.
I've read in a few different places that Sam Allthepies' attritional approach to football didn't suit Cole. Not sure that joining a team with the record for the most long balls last season will improve matters for him in that regard. The closest thing we had to a playmaker was Guzan.
I hope this comes off, or that at the very least, he provides a modicum of entertainment. Ginola was past his best when he joined us, but there were still glimpses of quality.
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Welcome to The Home of Football, Joe. My Bluenosed ex-girlfriend who stole thousands of pounds from me used to really fancy you. That's enough reason for me to hope you're successful, just to piss the Heathen, Villa-hating, bitch off.
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Haven't been on here for a while since leaving early at White Hart Lane for the last game, however had to laugh yesterday when hearing the news of Joe Cole signing.
Wtf is this all about. If he'd have signed for Brentford or Charlton I wouldn't have been surprised but with us being the shambles that we are I just laughed. Shit season, shit players! Why not sign some really old extra shit ones to go with them.
Nearly as funny as the folk on here.....Ah well, I'm off to Brazil on Sunday so who cares.
Yep.
I recommend having a piss in the Amazon.
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Welcome to The Home of Football, Joe. My Bluenosed ex-girlfriend who stole thousands of pounds from me used to really fancy you. That's enough reason for me to hope you're successful, just to piss the Heathen, Villa-hating, bitch off.
Now this post has raised a smile from me!
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It's not so long ago an over-the-hill Robbie Keane turned up for two months and lit the bloody place up.
True that. How I laughed, how I mocked Robbie Keane when the loan was announced. How he made me eat my words. I will be forever grateful to him.
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Bluenose girlfriend stealing thousands from a Villa boyfriend. Surely not.
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Fat Sam has always played the way he has, Lamberts side have not. This hoof ball we have adopted is more down to the players not having the confidence and also the ability to play football for 90 minutes. They can do we have seen it. As a team we make too many silly mistakes then we panic and resort to lumping up the pitch.
Players like Cole will help to change this.
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On the age thing, I gave up hope of playing for the sacred claret and blue colours last year. I'm 59 ! ;)
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In the shirt and on the pitch is where I'll judge JC.... and if he can reproduce and of the form from his earlier career, then he'll be a good addition.
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Fat Sam has always played the way he has, Lamberts side have not. This hoof ball we have adopted is more down to the players not having the confidence and also the ability to play football for 90 minutes. They can do we have seen it. As a team we make too many silly mistakes then we panic and resort to lumping up the pitch.
Players like Cole will help to change this.
Pretty much hits the nail on the head, Ian.
I always felt that we started games passing the ball well. Then when a couple of mistakes crept in many of the crowd got restless.
You could feel the atmosphere changing.
When AMcL was here people were going on about the passing game of other teams, Swansea kept being mentioned, and how they wished we kept the ball like they did, I posted on this site at the time that I didn't think that many Villa fans are patient enough for this passing the ball around, aka Swansea, Barca etc.
We saw what the team is capable of over the past two seasons, unfortunately this was all to infrequent.
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Haven't been on here for a while since leaving early at White Hart Lane for the last game, however had to laugh yesterday when hearing the news of Joe Cole signing.
Wtf is this all about. If he'd have signed for Brentford or Charlton I wouldn't have been surprised but with us being the shambles that we are I just laughed. Shit season, shit players! Why not sign some really old extra shit ones to go with them.
Nearly as funny as the folk on here talking up his signing "England International Joe Cole" it proclaims on the avfc.co.uk site. Ha, brilliant. 10 years ago possibly, but now he wouldn't get into my Monday night 7 a side team, then again, neither would most of the shite we have currently. Ah well, I'm off to Brazil on Sunday so who cares. Lets see if we've signed Shaun Derry and any other grey haired pensioner by the time I get back.
What on earth are you blathering on about, he's 32 not 42
Hope you have a good trip to Brazil btw
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He's past his prime yes but still could be a good addition to the squad although it seems "The Gaffer" has gauranteed him a starting place. Lets get off his back before he's played a single minute for us and get behind him and the rest of the players! UTV
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If he is fit for half the games that will be 19 games where we have a player who can control a ball, pass further than 10 yards, cross a ball (maybe take a corner) and take a decent free kick. That's more than we have now (sad as it is).
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I'm getting the feeling Cole and Senderos for free will be masterstrokes. Save the few pennies we might have for a decent holding midfielder with a prescence and we could surprise ourselves by not being utterly shit next season.
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Will he move to the Mids or is it a Pires job ?
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I'd guess the latter - when he was at Lille he used to get the Eurostar each day for training.
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I'd guess the latter - when he was at Lille he used to get the Eurostar each day for training.
Wait till Mrs Lowton gets wind of this. There will be hell to pay in the twittersphere.
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I'm getting the feeling Cole and Senderos for free will be masterstrokes. Save the few pennies we might have for a decent holding midfielder with a prescence and we could surprise ourselves by not being utterly shit next season.
I'd add a decent left back to that as well, but other than that I agree. At the very least signing Joe Cole shows that Lambert might want to improve the style of football on offer.
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I'd guess the latter - when he was at Lille he used to get the Eurostar each day for training.
I know it's sometimes hard if you have kids (I don't know if he does), but that's really quite sad. The opportunity to play abroad and instead of shifting out there for a few months, you opt to Eurostar it from Laahndaahn every day.
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I'd guess the latter - when he was at Lille he used to get the Eurostar each day for training.
I know it's sometimes hard if you have kids (I don't know if he does), but that's really quite sad. The opportunity to play abroad and instead of shifting out there for a few months, you opt to Eurostar it from Laahndaahn every day.
I thought he only took the Eurostar at the beginning of his stay, before he was joined by his family. Could easily be wrong though.
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I'd guess the latter - when he was at Lille he used to get the Eurostar each day for training.
I know it's sometimes hard if you have kids (I don't know if he does), but that's really quite sad. The opportunity to play abroad and instead of shifting out there for a few months, you opt to Eurostar it from Laahndaahn every day.
I thought he only took the Eurostar at the beginning of his stay, before he was joined by his family. Could easily be wrong though.
I'm sure I saw a report on his time in France and he lived there with his family..
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Seen plenty of comments about him being past his best. Well at his best he was playing in the CL, representing England and trousering the best part of £100k a week. Not wishing to be disrepectful to our club, but if he wasn't past his best we'd have absolutely feck all chance of signing him. He isn't as good as he was but he is better than what we already have because if you haven't noticed we've been shit for the past four years.
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Seen plenty of comments about him being past his best. Well at his best he was playing in the CL, representing England and trousering the best part of £100k a week. Not wishing to be disrepectful to our club, but if he wasn't past his best we'd have absolutely feck all chance of signing him. He isn't as good as he was but he is better than what we already have because if you haven't noticed we've been shit for the past four years.
Sadly, spot on
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I'd guess the latter - when he was at Lille he used to get the Eurostar each day for training.
The Sky Sports Documentary "Joe Cole, a year in France" shown at the time must have been a smokescreen then.
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Seen plenty of comments about him being past his best. Well at his best he was playing in the CL, representing England and trousering the best part of £100k a week. Not wishing to be disrepectful to our club, but if he wasn't past his best we'd have absolutely feck all chance of signing him. He isn't as good as he was but he is better than what we already have because if you haven't noticed we've been shit for the past four years.
There's always the option of signing players who haven't peaked yet, of course. Meaning ones who are further along the line than the dross we've bought in recent seasons.
My problem with Cole isn't his age, it's the fact he's done nothing in the PL for years now. Hoolahan and Barry are the same age, but have done it recently. Either of those would be a better signing IMO. I suspect it will be something to do with cash, though.
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Considering the funds we have, I think it's a decent move. The short term question has got to be "does this signing improve our squad?" and I think Cole does. There are always negatives, age and injury concerns, but he is a midfielder who can pass the ball, keep the ball and play a killer pass. There isn't anybody else in our squad who you could describe like that.
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Hoolahan only started 3 games this year in a side that we beat twice & got relegated
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Talk about extremes , we've gone from buying young cheap prospects to now buying over the hill free rejects . Our last 3 signings - Grant Holt, Philipp Senderos and Joe Cole.
I'm not sure the club knows what it's doing .
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Talk about extremes , we've gone from buying young cheap prospects to now buying over the hill free rejects . Our last 3 signings - Grant Holt, Philipp Senderos and Joe Cole.
I'm not sure the club knows what it's doing .
Please tell me Holt was only on loan and has now returned to the Land of Pies?
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Hoolahan only started 3 games this year in a side that we beat twice & got relegated
Hoolahan started more than 3 games last season
If you're talking about this calendar year, then it's worth noting that Joe Cole started 2.
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I'd guess the latter - when he was at Lille he used to get the Eurostar each day for training.
Don't know how long the train takes to Lille (EDIT *1 hr 20 min*), so it probably took less time doing that than crossing London :)
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To drive from say Stratford to White City id say 3 to 4 hours.
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Talk about extremes , we've gone from buying young cheap prospects to now buying over the hill free rejects . Our last 3 signings - Grant Holt, Philipp Senderos and Joe Cole.
I'm not sure the club knows what it's doing .
Absolving themselves of any blame from the fans? I can see a sentiment similar to "we buy young, inexperienced players and they moan. We buy older, experienced players and they moan. There is just no pleasing this lot" being trotted out at some point this season. That sentiment of course missing the point that the fans just want to see good, committed players no matter what their age.
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Seen plenty of comments about him being past his best. Well at his best he was playing in the CL, representing England and trousering the best part of £100k a week. Not wishing to be disrepectful to our club, but if he wasn't past his best we'd have absolutely feck all chance of signing him. He isn't as good as he was but he is better than what we already have because if you haven't noticed we've been shit for the past four years.
There's always the option of signing players who haven't peaked yet, of course. Meaning ones who are further along the line than the dross we've bought in recent seasons.
We did that in previous seasons with Young £9.5m, Milner £12m and Downing £12m. Haven't been able to afford that since so it's been bigger gambles on Lowton,Westwood etc. I'm hoping with the signing of Cole the likes of Westwood can progress and whilst I doubt they'll become £20m players like Young and co they will benefit from having a player alongside them who has been at the very top. We've had too many players in the side over the past two seasons in particular who haven't peaked yet so my thinking on it is a blend of experience will be beneficial to both the present and the near future.
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
Not having a go at you, cannock villa, but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
Not having a go at you, cannock villa, but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.
Well we're all pundits. If you go back through these pages there'll be posters heralding the signings of N'Zogbia and Ireland and slamming the spunking of £7million on some unknown Belgian kid. Time will tell with Cole as with every other signing whether it was a good move or not.
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
Not having a go at you, cannock villa, but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.
Perhaps they do (though I can't say I've seen it). That doesn't make the point any less valid.
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
Not having a go at you, cannock villa, but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.
Perhaps they do (though I can't say I've seen it). That doesn't make the point any less valid.
new one on me too, and valid
can't see the problem with signing Cole, nothing to lose and lots to gain. May well be 6 years too late but he is still the best midfielder on our books at the moment
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I'd prefer taking the punt on 32 year old Joe Cole as opposed to 32 year old Hoolahan (who'd have cost a fee too). At the top of their respective games, Cole is a much better player. Hoolahan couldn't get in the Norwich side under 2 different managers last season. He's also had form and fitness issues as Cole has.
Granted, Hoolahan has performed better in more recent history, but even so, he's probably had a solid 18 months at Premiership level (without really standing out that much), where-as Cole has played at the highest level all his career. He's played a lot in Europe, and in 3 World Cups too.
I'd much rather take the gamble on Joe Cole getting close to his best form, than Hoolahan. It may have been a more assured bet on Hoolahan. But I prefer gambling on a potentially very good player, over a potentially okay player.
Lambert at least has previous using a number 10 style player in Hoolahan. That position isn't alien to his style, so I would hope he can get the best out of what Cole has left now.
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
Not having a go at you, cannock villa, but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.
Well we're all pundits. If you go back through these pages there'll be posters heralding the signings of N'Zogbia and Ireland and slamming the spunking of £7million on some unknown Belgian kid. Time will tell with Cole as with every other signing whether it was a good move or not.
I hope not too much time, he hasn't got that much left!
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
Not having a go at you, cannock villa, but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.
Well we're all pundits. If you go back through these pages there'll be posters heralding the signings of N'Zogbia and Ireland and slamming the spunking of £7million on some unknown Belgian kid. Time will tell with Cole as with every other signing whether it was a good move or not.
I hope not too much time, he hasn't got that much left!
True, I thought Helenius was going to be the next best thing this time last year
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
Not having a go at you, cannock villa, but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.
Well we're all pundits. If you go back through these pages there'll be posters heralding the signings of N'Zogbia and Ireland and slamming the spunking of £7million on some unknown Belgian kid. Time will tell with Cole as with every other signing whether it was a good move or not.
True. For all the "we should never have signed him without a manager" stuff we heard about Ireland the last couple of years for example, look at his signing thread, the majority were delighted with him and thought we had mugged Man City.
I also thought Beye would be a useful signing. Experienced in the league, decent ability, could play anywhere at the back = good addition. Oooops.
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Sounds to me like we will be building a team around Cole. Could be interesting .
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What do we do in the 20 games he misses through injury?
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
Not having a go at you, cannock villa, but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.
Well we're all pundits. If you go back through these pages there'll be posters heralding the signings of N'Zogbia and Ireland and slamming the spunking of £7million on some unknown Belgian kid. Time will tell with Cole as with every other signing whether it was a good move or not.
I didn't mean that we get things wrong, so much that those two signings get rolled out - the implication being that sometimes signings which look highly unlikely to work out, do work out very well.
Given that the first of them was 35 years ago, and the second 25 years ago, two examples in that sort of time frame renders it a pretty meaningless comparison.
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What do we do in the 20 games he misses through injury?
Hope it coincides with the 15-20 when NZogbia isn't?
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What do we do in the 20 games he misses through injury?
Exactly, whether or not he does well for us when he plays, his injury record suggests it'd be a bit nuts to base our team around him. Look what happened when Benteke got injured - another player our style of play was largely built around.
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What do we do in the 20 games he misses through injury?
Play Grealish ?
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I think he's a solid option to play every so often, come of the bench at times and offer something very different to what we have at the club at the moment. To consider building around him is a bit nuts, but we should be looking for a younger version of Cole that we can build around and have Cole mentor him. At his best Cole was very good, so we need to be wise in how we utilize him.
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If Lambert is still here in August then all I hope Cole represents is a willingness to change how we play. I can't stand what we became and I hope Lambert felt the same way and is doing whatever he can to change that. We showed on occasion that when we try to pass and move we can. This long ball bollocks has to stop.
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joe cole brings something new on, and off, the pitch. a football brain and some priceless experience. he could have gone elsewhere for bigger wages, he wants to play for aston villa.
we've got an owner trying to flog the club but no-one wants to see us sold hastily to any old tyrant, we've got a manager a lot of fans wanted to see the back off. we've got a very small pot to piss in.
back the manager and back the players who want to play for us. they'll need us next season because we're up against it, from the off.
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If Lambert is still here in August then all I hope Cole represents is a willingness to change how we play. I can't stand what we became and I hope Lambert felt the same way and is doing whatever he can to change that. We showed on occasion that when we try to pass and move we can. This long ball bollocks has to stop.
I think this is a good point - the way Cole plays for us may ultimately represent Lambert's abilities as much as his own. Two people with a lot to prove, but evidence of the ability to do it in the past.
I'm hoping the "re" word we see associated with Villa next year is "resurgent" and not "relegation"
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I want it to be 'resplendent' and 'rejoicing'
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relieved will do me.
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
Not having a go at you, cannock villa, but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.
Well we're all pundits. If you go back through these pages there'll be posters heralding the signings of N'Zogbia and Ireland and slamming the spunking of £7million on some unknown Belgian kid. Time will tell with Cole as with every other signing whether it was a good move or not.
I didn't mean that we get things wrong, so much that those two signings get rolled out - the implication being that sometimes signings which look highly unlikely to work out, do work out very well.
Given that the first of them was 35 years ago, and the second 25 years ago, two examples in that sort of time frame renders it a pretty meaningless comparison.
It's all very well and good saying '...but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.' paulie. And you are right.
But as long as people judge a player on his previous history, before he's even kicked a ball for us, this will always happen.
Joe Cole could turn out to be another Paul Merson, Philippe Senderos could be a Martin Lausen, then again they might not.
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I'm hoping for rampant.
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It is noticeable that last season the complaint was 'no more of the young and hungry approach, we need proven PL experience'. We get that experience and all of a sudden 32 is past it.
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People keep bringing up comparisons to Merson.
Merson was already rejuvenated at Middlesborough when we bought him. The only shadow over Laursen was his injury record, not his form.
The last time Joe Cole was on his top form was over 5 years ago. He may turn out really useful, and I hope so because otherwise the cupboard looks a bit bare, but watching him play (on those odd occasions when he did) he was not much of anything. Not bad, but not great either.
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It is noticeable that last season the complaint was 'no more of the young and hungry approach, we need proven PL experience'. We get that experience and all of a sudden 32 is past it.
I've no issues with Cole's age, just a big question mark on his fitness for a whole season. I hope it works out.
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I hope the Cole signing works out well, I won't be judging him before he has even had chance to kick a ball for us.
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And before anyone asks, yes I am suffering flashbacks from 1967. And none of the good bits.
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People keep bringing up comparisons to Merson.
Merson was already rejuvenated at Middlesborough when we bought him. The only shadow over Laursen was his injury record, not his form.
The last time Joe Cole was on his top form was over 5 years ago. He may turn out really useful, and I hope so because otherwise the cupboard looks a bit bare, but watching him play (on those odd occasions when he did) he was not much of anything. Not bad, but not great either.
Merson wasn't rejuvenated at 'Boro. He didn't like them, they didn't like him.
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I'm hoping the "re" word we see associated with Villa next year is "resurgent" and not "relegation"
I'm expecting it to be that we've just signed Neil Redfearn.
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But his form had been good. He got better under Gregory, better than we expected, but he'd still done the business at Boro.
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I'm hoping for rampant.
So am I. It's my birthday today.
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It is noticeable that last season the complaint was 'no more of the young and hungry approach, we need proven PL experience'. We get that experience and all of a sudden 32 is past it.
The complaint isn't just about his age, that's totally misleading, as I suspect you know, Chris.
It is that he hasn't managed to do much in the last several years.
Nobody would be moaning about Barry who is the same age. Why? Because he proved as recently as last season that he still had it.
People weren't just asking for "age" or "experience" last season - I'd have thought it was a given that any player with those attributes would still be able to offer something on the pitch.
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
Not having a go at you, cannock villa, but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.
Well we're all pundits. If you go back through these pages there'll be posters heralding the signings of N'Zogbia and Ireland and slamming the spunking of £7million on some unknown Belgian kid. Time will tell with Cole as with every other signing whether it was a good move or not.
I didn't mean that we get things wrong, so much that those two signings get rolled out - the implication being that sometimes signings which look highly unlikely to work out, do work out very well.
Given that the first of them was 35 years ago, and the second 25 years ago, two examples in that sort of time frame renders it a pretty meaningless comparison.
It's all very well and good saying '...but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.' paulie. And you are right.
But as long as people judge a player on his previous history, before he's even kicked a ball for us, this will always happen.
Joe Cole could turn out to be another Paul Merson, Philippe Senderos could be a Martin Lausen, then again they might not.
Which was exactly my point.
Rolling out examples of players who did work out is of absolutely no relevance. They might work out, they might not.
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This could be a good signing He was definitely a class act. But to use the fact that he didn't break into the West Ham team suggests that "Big Sam" knows a good player which he clearly dosnt
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People keep bringing up comparisons to Merson.
Merson was already rejuvenated at Middlesborough when we bought him. The only shadow over Laursen was his injury record, not his form.
The last time Joe Cole was on his top form was over 5 years ago. He may turn out really useful, and I hope so because otherwise the cupboard looks a bit bare, but watching him play (on those odd occasions when he did) he was not much of anything. Not bad, but not great either.
So a definite improvement on most of what our midfield served up last season then.
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People keep bringing up comparisons to Merson.
Merson was already rejuvenated at Middlesborough when we bought him. The only shadow over Laursen was his injury record, not his form.
The last time Joe Cole was on his top form was over 5 years ago. He may turn out really useful, and I hope so because otherwise the cupboard looks a bit bare, but watching him play (on those odd occasions when he did) he was not much of anything. Not bad, but not great either.
So a definite improvement on most of what our midfield served up last season then.
A win on points!
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The thing is last season we had zero attacking threat from the midfield for the most part, so frankly Cole is better than that.
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For those criticising the Cole signing, if the criteria is something like who can give us a little bit extra in the final third, has experience, preferably of the PL, and is free, can you come up with a better name than Joe Cole? I can't myself, so find it hard to be critical of this.
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I'm hoping for rampant.
So am I. It's my birthday today.
Happy birthday Steve.
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For those criticising the Cole signing, if the criteria is something like who can give us a little bit extra in the final third, has experience, preferably of the PL, and is free, can you come up with a better name than Joe Cole? I can't myself, so find it hard to be critical of this.
Gareth Barry. Wes Hoolahan (almost free).
The lack of agreement is over the "who can give us a little bit extra in the final third" part. He can only do that if he's still up to it.
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It is noticeable that last season the complaint was 'no more of the young and hungry approach, we need proven PL experience'. We get that experience and all of a sudden 32 is past it.
I would imagine concerns aren't about age, but these stats. He's completed a full league game 2 or 3 times in 2 years. I defy anyone not to find that a potential issue.
To continue the possible Berger analogy, he's managed in 12/13 17 league games (7 starts, subbed in most), 13/14 13 league games (started 6, subbed in most).
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For those criticising the Cole signing, if the criteria is something like who can give us a little bit extra in the final third, has experience, preferably of the PL, and is free, can you come up with a better name than Joe Cole? I can't myself, so find it hard to be critical of this.
Gareth Barry. Wes Hoolahan (almost free).
The lack of agreement is over the "who can give us a little bit extra in the final third" part. He can only do that if he's still up to it.
Hoolahan is a possibility, but probably not to us given Norwich's ridiculous stance in January. Barry is a totally different type of player and cost wise would want a lot more than Cole's reported £25k a week.
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Barry should still be our number 1 target
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Yep. Him sitting and Cole getting forward, with Delph going box to box would be an excellent combination.
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It's a gamble for sure but one worth taking if I was Lambert...one last throw of the dice!
I hope it works and it's a masterstroke signing but also I hope that is not the end of our signings.
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Barry should still be our number 1 target
Yes. Totally different style of player and as proved last season, very good at this level. We should be trying to get him and hope he can come in and do the job Westwood isn't quite managing, and furthermore help Westwood himself develop too.
Unfortunately in the case of Barry, he'll have a lot of options in the Premiership willing to pay him more than us. If Everton don't retain him I would be very surprised indeed.
I would just hope given his time here, Barry might feel a magnetic pull to return to the Villa.
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Barry should still be our number 1 target
Yes. Totally different style of player and as proved last season, very good at this level. We should be trying to get him and hope he can come in and do the job Westwood isn't quite managing, and furthermore help Westwood himself develop too.
Unfortunately in the case of Barry, he'll have a lot of options in the Premiership willing to pay him more than us. If Everton don't retain him I would be very surprised indeed.
I would just hope given his time here, Barry might feel a magnetic pull to return to the Villa.
I wonder if that pull would see him take a modest wage with us for a couple of years? It would be worth asking.
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I'm hoping for rampant.
So am I. It's my birthday today.
Happy birthday Steve.
And many happy returns.
I 'll be pleased with reigning as champions, by the end of the season.
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Happy Birthday Steve.
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Barry should still be our number 1 target
Yes. Totally different style of player and as proved last season, very good at this level. We should be trying to get him and hope he can come in and do the job Westwood isn't quite managing, and furthermore help Westwood himself develop too.
Unfortunately in the case of Barry, he'll have a lot of options in the Premiership willing to pay him more than us. If Everton don't retain him I would be very surprised indeed.
I would just hope given his time here, Barry might feel a magnetic pull to return to the Villa.
I wonder if that pull would see him take a modest wage with us for a couple of years? It would be worth asking.
I would imagine we could probably offer him up to around 50k a week still. We managed to get Cole and Senderos for very reasonable money, the general reports being 25k a week each. We've shipped off Albrighton, Fonzie and Bowery which is around 50k and covers Cole and Senderos, and we also lost Ireland in January which accounted for around 60k a week, maybe more. We'll be shedding another 4-5 players this summer too I'd imagine.
I think if we had to, we could still flash a big wage in front of someone like Barry. Minus a transfer fee too, which allows us to be a little bit more generous with the wage I suppose. In theory we should be able to offer as much as Everton whilst still keeping in line with our modest budget. It's just whether we want to pay around 50k a week for someone like Barry, or pay 25k a week for another couple of players of the more risky ilk like Cole. I hope it's the former because Barry is a fairly sure bet. Personally I'd bring him in, slap him straight in the side and give him the armband again.
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It is noticeable that last season the complaint was 'no more of the young and hungry approach, we need proven PL experience'. We get that experience and all of a sudden 32 is past it.
The complaint isn't just about his age, that's totally misleading, as I suspect you know, Chris.
It is that he hasn't managed to do much in the last several years.
Nobody would be moaning about Barry who is the same age. Why? Because he proved as recently as last season that he still had it.
People weren't just asking for "age" or "experience" last season - I'd have thought it was a given that any player with those attributes would still be able to offer something on the pitch.
Of course 'some' people are making a thing of his age. The same as 'some' people criticised the buying younger players or foreign players or home grown players. In other words, for a few people whatever the club do is the opposite of what they should do.
Like everyone else I have no idea how Cole will turn out but he is the type of player we have missed for a while and at the same time adds much needed experience. Fingers crossed that he delivers.
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Beginning to think we are getting outside advice from somewhere now.
Keane, slenderos, cole. None of this is lambert work
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I'd love us to sign Barry, he'd make a massive difference.
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I'd love us to sign Barry, he'd make a massive difference.
For starters there'll be XL kit to buy in the white tent next summer. Which is a bonus for us bigger sods.
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
Not having a go at you, cannock villa, but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.
Well we're all pundits. If you go back through these pages there'll be posters heralding the signings of N'Zogbia and Ireland and slamming the spunking of £7million on some unknown Belgian kid. Time will tell with Cole as with every other signing whether it was a good move or not.
I didn't mean that we get things wrong, so much that those two signings get rolled out - the implication being that sometimes signings which look highly unlikely to work out, do work out very well.
Given that the first of them was 35 years ago, and the second 25 years ago, two examples in that sort of time frame renders it a pretty meaningless comparison.
It's all very well and good saying '...but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.' paulie. And you are right.
But as long as people judge a player on his previous history, before he's even kicked a ball for us, this will always happen.
Joe Cole could turn out to be another Paul Merson, Philippe Senderos could be a Martin Lausen, then again they might not.
Which was exactly my point.
Rolling out examples of players who did work out is of absolutely no relevance. They might work out, they might not.
If you agree that the signings might work out why are you so negative about them?
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Thank you Olaf, Louzie, PWS.
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Joe Cole in the middle of the park for 20 games next season will be an improvement on any player we had last season in that role.
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He definitely has something to offer and a point to prove so I'm all for it, his injury record does worry me though. I never really saw him working out at West Ham with Allardyce there, didn't really seem like his kind of player. What's interesting is they didn't want fuck all for him.
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Beginning to think we are getting outside advice from somewhere now.
Keane, slenderos, cole. None of this is lambert work
It's not that clever, they were both on frees
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Beginning to think we are getting outside advice from somewhere now.
Keane, slenderos, cole. None of this is lambert work
thought the same last night listening to Joe Cole,who is advising ?
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happy Harry Redknapp's dibbs is all over this one, I'll be bound.
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Imagine if we'd have the internet years ago. Post from 1980- Can't believe we sold fans favourite and prolific goal scorer last year Andy Gray, and now we've bought that journey man Peter Withe, sack Saunders.
Post from 1989- Can't believe we've bought that cripple from Man United Paul McGrath, past his best and will never be fit enough, sack Taylor.
Not having a go at you, cannock villa, but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.
Well we're all pundits. If you go back through these pages there'll be posters heralding the signings of N'Zogbia and Ireland and slamming the spunking of £7million on some unknown Belgian kid. Time will tell with Cole as with every other signing whether it was a good move or not.
I didn't mean that we get things wrong, so much that those two signings get rolled out - the implication being that sometimes signings which look highly unlikely to work out, do work out very well.
Given that the first of them was 35 years ago, and the second 25 years ago, two examples in that sort of time frame renders it a pretty meaningless comparison.
It's all very well and good saying '...but every single time there is a contentious signing, someone rolls that one out.' paulie. And you are right.
But as long as people judge a player on his previous history, before he's even kicked a ball for us, this will always happen.
Joe Cole could turn out to be another Paul Merson, Philippe Senderos could be a Martin Lausen, then again they might not.
Which was exactly my point.
Rolling out examples of players who did work out is of absolutely no relevance. They might work out, they might not.
But it is relevant, mate.
At the time these players mentioned were thought to be past their best.
Surely the fact we now know they worked out is irrelevant, as at the time of signing we didn't know what was to come.
Senderos and Cole fall into this category.
The point cannock villa (and I also posted something similar, too) is making is, if this forum, and others, had been around back then what would the fans have been saying?
Andy Gray was my hero, and when he was sold I was devastated. His replacement, Peter effing Withe, ex blues reject!!
How chuffing wrong was I? That's why Ron Saunders is a better judge than me ;D
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And the very reasonable point Paulie made earlier is having to dredge the dark recesses of time to cite examples like Withe and McGrath shows how much of a gamble it is.
I'm sure 99.9% of us on here want the deal to work out. I can't understand why any Villa fan wouldn't want that. But his age and injury record mean the odds are stacked against it.
It was interesting to see his comments after leaving Liverpool too. Essentially, he said he never should have signed for the club as he never really wanted to be there and never had a connection with the club or fans.
On joining, he said he was joining a bigger club than Chelsea, and his best years were ahead of him.
We all know players say that kind of guff when they join, so I'm not going to be swayed by what he said yesterday (as good as it was to hear a player talking us up, rather than the likes of Dunne and Ireland talking about joining a 'nice family club').
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And the very reasonable point Paulie made earlier is having to dredge the dark recesses of time to cite examples like Withe and McGrath shows how much of a gamble it is.
I'm sure 99.9% of us on here want the deal to work out. I can't understand why any Villa fan wouldn't want that. But his age and injury record mean the odds are stacked against it.
It was interesting to see his comments after leaving Liverpool too. Essentially, he said he never should have signed for the club as he never really wanted to be there and never had a connection with the club or fans.
On joining, he said he was joining a bigger club than Chelsea, and his best years were ahead of him.
We all know players say that kind of guff when they join, so I'm not going to be swayed by what he said yesterday (as good as it was to hear a player talking us up, rather than the likes of Dunne and Ireland talking about joining a 'nice family club').
Maybe it comes down to this: do you want to look for reasons to be positive or look for reasons to be negative? They be the choices.
I'd say you're gunning for reasons to be negative! He might work out or he might not, but personally I am convinced he's a better option (even from the bench) than what we had last season. He'd be a better option even if he was in a wheelchair, and I think it's reasonable to say we'll never have to worry about that. In light of where we're at as a club, this all positive for me.
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And the very reasonable point Paulie made earlier is having to dredge the dark recesses of time to cite examples like Withe and McGrath shows how much of a gamble it is.
I'm sure 99.9% of us on here want the deal to work out. I can't understand why any Villa fan wouldn't want that. But his age and injury record mean the odds are stacked against it.
It was interesting to see his comments after leaving Liverpool too. Essentially, he said he never should have signed for the club as he never really wanted to be there and never had a connection with the club or fans.
On joining, he said he was joining a bigger club than Chelsea, and his best years were ahead of him.
We all know players say that kind of guff when they join, so I'm not going to be swayed by what he said yesterday (as good as it was to hear a player talking us up, rather than the likes of Dunne and Ireland talking about joining a 'nice family club').
Citing the examples of the player who scored the goals that won us the league and European Cup and the player widely regarded as the club's best post war centre back is hardly "dredging the dark recesses of time". These are stand out signings who were enjoyed by many on this site, they do not have to be dredged for. We may easily add the example of Merson and all 3 were felt to be signings of players who had had their day.
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If he keeps fit, he could be useful. And that's a very big if.
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All I'll say is he probably could have taken a better pay day elsewhere, so fair play to him and good luck.
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And the very reasonable point Paulie made earlier is having to dredge the dark recesses of time to cite examples like Withe and McGrath shows how much of a gamble it is.
I'm sure 99.9% of us on here want the deal to work out. I can't understand why any Villa fan wouldn't want that. But his age and injury record mean the odds are stacked against it.
It was interesting to see his comments after leaving Liverpool too. Essentially, he said he never should have signed for the club as he never really wanted to be there and never had a connection with the club or fans.
On joining, he said he was joining a bigger club than Chelsea, and his best years were ahead of him.
We all know players say that kind of guff when they join, so I'm not going to be swayed by what he said yesterday (as good as it was to hear a player talking us up, rather than the likes of Dunne and Ireland talking about joining a 'nice family club').
I agree it is a reasonable point, I'm not saying it's not.
All I mean't by my comment was that fans shouldn't judge players before they've kicked a ball for us, regardless of past history.
This also happens to be a reasonable point.
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so were McGrath, an unknown Platt, des bremner, Kenny Swain, Allan Evans etc etc some people don't like certain signings and think they'll be shit but they turn out to ge good signings. Likewise some 'good' signings become poor.
Let's just wait and see where we are at the start of the season and at the end of the transfer deadline day.
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I can guarantee you that at the start of the season we'll be in 2nd place before a ball has even been kicked.
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Actually we'll be joint first.
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Actually we'll be joint first.
*Obligatory Brummie reply*
Or joint last.
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I care little for what newly signed players say anymore as they will say anything to endear themselves to their latest club. I'd actually prefer it if they said nothing at all and just got on with it by showing us what they can do and bring to the club. I know that in this era that doesn't wash, we have to have their quotes once they've stretched the shirt and we then have to decipher every word and scrutinize the detail. In Joe Cole's case it's the best offer he's had or is likely to get at this level and that's it. If he does deliver consistently I'll take a bit of notice if he has something to say from there on.
I think he will add much needed experience to the side and some creativity, maybe a few goals as well. Most of all, I hope he can control a ball from a throw in and then pass it to one of our own.
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Well, its a fair old gamble by Lambert as I see it, but I do think it shows that we are not exactly flush with money at this point, so if you're looking for Premier League experience, and older head, and someone with the ability to create something in the attacking third of the pitch…..and for free, then Joe Cole is probably the best bet you're going to find.
I'm just pleased that Lambert seems to be doing something about the way we played last season. If Cole is able to stay fit and play, then we're surely going to look to pass the ball on the ground a bit.
I wonder which is the smarter option at this point? Throw in a promising but untested Grealish, or a proven but long in the tooth Cole?
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Actually we'll be joint first.
*Obligatory Brummie reply*
Or joint last.
I'll go for joint 16th.
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I don't think even the most pessimistic of us thought the answer to our problems was Joe bloody Cole. Honestly it depresses me to think he'll be playing for us next season.
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It doesn't depress me as much as the thought that that's the extent of our build. It's early, so maybe better to come.
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All I mean't by my comment was that fans shouldn't judge players before they've kicked a ball for us, regardless of past history.
This also happens to be a reasonable point.
I don't think it makes sense, to be honest.
Of course you have to judge players on what they have done before.
When Lambert signed Cole, he was judging him on what he'd done before, as well, so why shouldn't the rest of us? Surely the vast majority of transfers in of players anywhere are done at least partly on the basis of what the player has done before?
Why are Hull trying to sign Lescott? On the basis of what he's done before.
Just because they are footballers doesn't mean they start every new job with a totally clean slate.
I absolutely hope Cole turns out to be a marvellous signing, but I am not about to ignore the fact that he has looked past it for at least three years now.
I also can't help but notice the depressing trend of our signings towards the cheaper end of the market. I hope that changes soon, and will wait to see if it does, but I am not massively hopeful about it.
First two signings, Senderos and Cole. How many of us would have been pleased to read that had we known a few weeks ago?
Incidentally, Cole is on a two year deal. We need to be thinking about how much we reckon a 35 year old Joe Cole is going to be offering us during the last 2/3s of a season of the spell he's with us.
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32 plus 2 equals 34. Where does 35 come from?
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32 plus 2 equals 34. Where does 35 come from?
Playing for Villa ages players quicker.
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32 plus 2 equals 34. Where does 35 come from?
He turns 33 in November so his contract will finish about 5-6months before he turns 35.
Aside from that, if what he offers in 18months is experienced backup on the bench for Grealish who's tearing the league apart then I'm all for it. If everyone else is allowed to predict the future then I want in as well.
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32 plus 2 equals 34. Where does 35 come from?
Playing for Villa ages players quicker.
Not just the players, fans too
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32 plus 2 equals 34. Where does 35 come from?
Playing for Villa ages players quicker.
Not just the players, fans too
Applause.
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32 plus 2 equals 34. Where does 35 come from?
It's the next number up from 34. 34,35,36...........
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All I mean't by my comment was that fans shouldn't judge players before they've kicked a ball for us, regardless of past history.
This also happens to be a reasonable point.
I don't think it makes sense, to be honest.
Of course you have to judge players on what they have done before.
When Lambert signed Cole, he was judging him on what he'd done before, as well, so why shouldn't the rest of us? Surely the vast majority of transfers in of players anywhere are done at least partly on the basis of what the player has done before?
Why are Hull trying to sign Lescott? On the basis of what he's done before.
Just because they are footballers doesn't mean they start every new job with a totally clean slate.
I absolutely hope Cole turns out to be a marvellous signing, but I am not about to ignore the fact that he has looked past it for at least three years now.
I also can't help but notice the depressing trend of our signings towards the cheaper end of the market. I hope that changes soon, and will wait to see if it does, but I am not massively hopeful about it.
First two signings, Senderos and Cole. How many of us would have been pleased to read that had we known a few weeks ago?
Incidentally, Cole is on a two year deal. We need to be thinking about how much we reckon a 35 year old Joe Cole is going to be offering us during the last 2/3s of a season of the spell he's with us.
You could always just try not to worry about it.
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All I mean't by my comment was that fans shouldn't judge players before they've kicked a ball for us, regardless of past history.
This also happens to be a reasonable point.
I don't think it makes sense, to be honest.
Of course you have to judge players on what they have done before.
When Lambert signed Cole, he was judging him on what he'd done before, as well, so why shouldn't the rest of us? Surely the vast majority of transfers in of players anywhere are done at least partly on the basis of what the player has done before?
Why are Hull trying to sign Lescott? On the basis of what he's done before.
Just because they are footballers doesn't mean they start every new job with a totally clean slate.
I absolutely hope Cole turns out to be a marvellous signing, but I am not about to ignore the fact that he has looked past it for at least three years now.
I also can't help but notice the depressing trend of our signings towards the cheaper end of the market. I hope that changes soon, and will wait to see if it does, but I am not massively hopeful about it.
First two signings, Senderos and Cole. How many of us would have been pleased to read that had we known a few weeks ago?
Incidentally, Cole is on a two year deal. We need to be thinking about how much we reckon a 35 year old Joe Cole is going to be offering us during the last 2/3s of a season of the spell he's with us.
You could always just try not to worry about it.
I would hope a 34 year old Cole will be offering us, for essentially a similar wage, a lot more than Delfouneso was, for example. I have always liked him, and as a West Ham fan said to me yesterday, at home if you want to play in an attacking way he still finds balls and plays passes that no one else in their side can but there has been no movement from forwards around him apart from when they have been chasing games. He is what he is, and I agree we should be in for players who have been quality more recently that are available on frees this summer too, but we don't know if we are or are not yet. Plus I think a couple of loans or more will land too before the summer is out.
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32 plus 2 equals 34. Where does 35 come from?
It's the next number up from 34. 34,35,36...........
Thanks Carole.
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Interesting point about Cole still having the ability but not having forwards moving for him at West Ham. Despite a lack of goals at times last season a lot of teh criticism, a lot, was because of the lack of creativity. If Cole can give us what the West Ham fan said that he offered down there then in the words of Lamert, we'll be fine. One thing our forwards have is plenty of movement. Benteke, and here's a thing, Weimann, will be given plenty of opportunities if Cole does what he has been brought in to do. Shame Sendo hasn't been on here to give us his impressions of him.
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Sorry can't 'modify' at work. I don't want him to mimic Cole so I guess it's impressions 'on' him. Some pedant will tell me.
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I thought we'd signed an experienced 32 year old international player the other day on a free.
Reading back here, it sounds like we've spent a fortune on a rapidly ageing has been.
By the start of the season I reckon he'll be in his mid forties and in a wheelchair.
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All I mean't by my comment was that fans shouldn't judge players before they've kicked a ball for us, regardless of past history.
This also happens to be a reasonable point.
I don't think it makes sense, to be honest.
Of course you have to judge players on what they have done before.
When Lambert signed Cole, he was judging him on what he'd done before, as well, so why shouldn't the rest of us? Surely the vast majority of transfers in of players anywhere are done at least partly on the basis of what the player has done before?
Why are Hull trying to sign Lescott? On the basis of what he's done before.
Just because they are footballers doesn't mean they start every new job with a totally clean slate.
I absolutely hope Cole turns out to be a marvellous signing, but I am not about to ignore the fact that he has looked past it for at least three years now.
I also can't help but notice the depressing trend of our signings towards the cheaper end of the market. I hope that changes soon, and will wait to see if it does, but I am not massively hopeful about it.
First two signings, Senderos and Cole. How many of us would have been pleased to read that had we known a few weeks ago?
Incidentally, Cole is on a two year deal. We need to be thinking about how much we reckon a 35 year old Joe Cole is going to be offering us during the last 2/3s of a season of the spell he's with us.
I accept that I didn't really word it very well, and I'm not altogether disagreeing with your point of view.
The point being made is: How many of us didn't raise an eyebrow at the signings of Withe, McGrath and Merson? I reckon if we're all honest the answer would be very few.
All three had a good pedigree, but when we acquired them we bought one journey man and two alcoholics!! All three turned out to be absolute master strokes by the relevant managers.
The other side of the coin would be Cascarrino (?), Colleymore and, to a certain degree, Ireland. Signings which excited us at the time but turned out to be false dawns.
I think both Senderos and Cole fall into the 'Good pedigree, but, had better days' category. Senderos is still an international with a half decent Swiss team at the World Cup.
I'll be honest and say that they're not signings that have excited me, but, when I look at the comparisons I think its unfair to say that they're sh*t signings.
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32 plus 2 equals 34. Where does 35 come from?
He's 33 in November which means for the last two thirds of his second season with us, he will be 35.
I thought we'd stopped doing things like that.
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I also can't help but notice the depressing trend of our signings towards the cheaper end of the market. I hope that changes soon, and will wait to see if it does, but I am not massively hopeful about it.
:o
You can't help but notice! What're you talking about? Helenius cost us £20million last season, and there was that £15million left back we signed the season before – Joe Bennet – which was part of Lambert's epic spending spree of 9 signings at £12million each. Don't you know the only thing we can judge him on is tactics! What trend is there to notice? What? We've been poor since Lerner decided to cut costs?! Even when McLeish signed N'Zogbia and Hutton etc. we made about £10million in profit that season.
Maybe it's beyond time to lower your expectations, because reality makes all that's happening much easier to take.
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32 plus 2 equals 34. Where does 35 come from?
He's 33 in November which means for the last two thirds of his second season with us, he will be 35.
I thought we'd stopped doing things like that.
No he won't he'll be 34 in his second season, and he'll be 35 the November after his two years are up.
There's looking for negatives, and then there's making things up.
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I was a fan of Cole in his prime, the sort of player that could pick a killer pass more often than most. I've not seen much of him in recent years, but it's hard to believe that he would lose that rare skill. Of course, it depends on whether he is here for one last payday, or if he genuinely wants to play football to the best of his ability.
If it's the latter that's great, but what is most concerning is whether we have any forwards who are capable of moving off the ball into positions to accept that "killer" pass. There's not been a great deal of evidence to suggest that we have.
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That "making things up" line again.
I am prepared to concede there's poor maths, however.
Still, 34 years old, point remains. Old player, hasn't done it for yonks, come to coast. I bet he starts less than five league games in his second season.
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That "making things up" line again.
I am prepared to concede there's poor maths, however.
Still, 34 years old, point remains. Old player, hasn't done it for yonks, come to coast. I bet he starts less than five league games in his second season.
If that's because Grealish has established himself as a first teamer then he has probably served his purpose and those five games will be to give him a breather :-)
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I hope Grealish gets his chance - a proper one, not ten minutes here and there.
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That "making things up" line again.
I am prepared to concede there's poor maths, however.
Still, 34 years old, point remains. Old player, hasn't done it for yonks, come to coast. I bet he starts less than five league games in his second season.
I would also hope by the time his second season rolls around, we'll have had our takeover and be looking at players more akin to Joe Cole in his prime.
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That "making things up" line again.
I am prepared to concede there's poor maths, however.
Still, 34 years old, point remains. Old player, hasn't done it for yonks, come to coast. I bet he starts less than five league games in his second season.
You did though :/
Yeah, I'll worry about next year next year – after we see what Joe Cole and the team can do right now. This season, with the club about to be sold and in limbo, when Joe Cole is 32, turning 33 (like plenty of players still doing well), not 35. And if he plays a decent part this season then there is something to be positive about. And as you're so worried it might not actually be difficult to move him on next summer considering his profile. He'll still likely be able to attract offers from MLS or elsewhere, and unlike our other players in the past, by all accounts he'll be able to increase his wage if he leaves us.
That's if it doesn't work out, but hopefully it does.
It's your choice to focus on the negatives (er, or make them up).
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I am warming to the idea of Cole.
But, if he says Birminum when talking about the city he now plays in, I'll turn on him like stink!
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That "making things up" line again.
I am prepared to concede there's poor maths, however.
Still, 34 years old, point remains. Old player, hasn't done it for yonks, come to coast. I bet he starts less than five league games in his second season.
I mean listen to yourself – JOE COLE IS 32! There's no hope with this kind of attitude.
And why do you presume he's come here to coast? I know if I was a footballer I'd actually want to be good!
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That "making things up" line again.
I am prepared to concede there's poor maths, however.
Still, 34 years old, point remains. Old player, hasn't done it for yonks, come to coast. I bet he starts less than five league games in his second season.
I mean listen to yourself – JOE COLE IS 32! There's no hope with this kind of attitude.
And why do you presume he's come here to coast? I know if I was a footballer I'd actually want to be good!
FFS, here we go again.
I said he was going to be 35 IN THE LAST TWO THIRDS OF HIS FINAL SEASON, you pointed out it was 34. I would have thought it was obvious that was what I was referring to. I am not saying he's 34 now.
Incidentally, getting something wrong or making an error of arithmetic is not the same as "making things up"
How has he managed not to "be good" for the last three years, then? He has looked hopelessly past it.
Compare and contrast with the likes of Barry, who is the same age and has still looked like he can do it.
I fear he will be coasting because it's his last contract, and he's looked like he's coasting for several years now.
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I am warming to the idea of Cole.
But, if he says Birminum when talking about the city he now plays in, I'll turn on him like stink!
I fear that's a thing he is programmed genetically to do, sadly, as a cockernee.
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I think the issue is whether Cole is to supplement other signings or he's the most ambitious signing we get. If it's the former then I'm fine with it and I think he could be useful. If it's the latter then it's a slightly different matter. Either way though he's better than what we had available, so that's a good thing.
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I think the issue is whether Cole is to supplement other signings or he's the most ambitious signing we get. If it's the former then I'm fine with it and I think he could be useful. If it's the latter then it's a slightly different matter. Either way though he's better than what we had available, so that's a good thing.
The most ambitious signing we get (if there is a more ambitious one) will probably be a loan.
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I think the issue is whether Cole is to supplement other signings or he's the most ambitious signing we get. If it's the former then I'm fine with it and I think he could be useful. If it's the latter then it's a slightly different matter. Either way though he's better than what we had available, so that's a good thing.
The most ambitious signing we get (if there is a more ambitious one) will probably be a loan.
Is Barry on a free?
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Grealish and Cole. Jack and Joe. Sounds like a good pairing. Potential Jack Jones Jeans endorsements in the offing for both too.
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I accept that I didn't really word it very well, and I'm not altogether disagreeing with your point of view.
The point being made is: How many of us didn't raise an eyebrow at the signings of Withe, McGrath and Merson? I reckon if we're all honest the answer would be very few.
All three had a good pedigree, but when we acquired them we bought one journey man and two alcoholics!! All three turned out to be absolute master strokes by the relevant managers.
The other side of the coin would be Cascarrino (?), Colleymore and, to a certain degree, Ireland. Signings which excited us at the time but turned out to be false dawns.
I don't recall being excited by Cascarino, and if anyone was, the first game would have swiftly changed that mood. Same with Ireland - I was hopeful perhaps, but not particularly excited, especially as we'd lost Milner in the deal. Collymore was different because he was supposedly "one of us" and genuinely had the talent to make a difference to a team that was around the Top 6.
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Whatever you think of Cole, the speculation that this is as good as it gets for us this summer is exactly that - speculation. We might still be in the market for actual signings (ones that cost money). We just dont know. Should Lambert have told Cole to hide in the wardrobe for a couple of months until we've signed those other players just so that it didnt give the wrong impresion to hysterical fans?
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I think the issue is whether Cole is to supplement other signings or he's the most ambitious signing we get. If it's the former then I'm fine with it and I think he could be useful. If it's the latter then it's a slightly different matter. Either way though he's better than what we had available, so that's a good thing.
The most ambitious signing we get (if there is a more ambitious one) will probably be a loan.
Is Barry on a free?
I think he is now. Think his deal at City expires this month. He'll have half the Premiership chasing his signiture I'd imagine (not to mention offers from abroad). If we snag him we'll have done bloody well.
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Does he still live in, or have a house in, that place down the A435 towards Redditch? Pretty sure he used to live down on the left, past that garden centre.
If he wanted to "come home", we'd be in a good position if we could do the wages.
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I hope I'm wrong and he turns out to have a blinding Indian Summer with us. Although I lost faith in Lambert long ago, and he seems to be desperately backtracking on his strategy, I'm prepared to give Cole a chance. I still want lambert out ASAP though.
I'm just glad we got Cole before Man City swooped - I hear they're desperate for West Ham substitutes.
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Does he still live in, or have a house in, that place down the A435 towards Redditch? Pretty sure he used to live down on the left, past that garden centre.
If he wanted to "come home", we'd be in a good position if we could do the wages.
That's my hope too. Give him the wages that we freed up letting Ireland go. Job done. I think he'd come here for 50-60k for a couple of years.
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Honestly don't see how this deal can be criticised until he's played a few games. At the very least, he'll be good experience for the younger talented players like grealish to learn from in training. If we assume there's no cash available until a takeover happens, can anyone think of a more positive signing than this, in terms of quality and experience v price?
I don't really look at it as a reversal of the young and hungry policy. More so that the clubs in limbo until a sale happens and lamberts trying to get experience to complement the very young squad we have. Most players that break through young and kick on, cite the influence of older heads in the squad that they learned from.
Look at like us having a Gordon cowans on the touch line and another one on the pitch.
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Cole appeared 20 times for West Ham last season. Tonev appeared 17 times for us. Now, whether or not you are a fan of our new signing I can't see there being many if any who would prefer Tonev in the side.
Keeping my glass half full here.
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FFS, here we go again.
I said he was going to be 35 IN THE LAST TWO THIRDS OF HIS FINAL SEASON, you pointed out it was 34. I would have thought it was obvious that was what I was referring to. I am not saying he's 34 now.
Incidentally, getting something wrong or making an error of arithmetic is not the same as "making things up"
How has he managed not to "be good" for the last three years, then? He has looked hopelessly past it.
Compare and contrast with the likes of Barry, who is the same age and has still looked like he can do it.
I fear he will be coasting because it's his last contract, and he's looked like he's coasting for several years now.
I understood you. The first thing I said to you was that you're looking for negatives, and I really think you are. And I'm only saying it because, I don't know, it makes me feel sad. We signed a 32 year old and you're worrying about what's going to happen next season, not this one, and I think you're going beyond yourself to find faults. I think when Lambert signs a 32 year old on a 2 year contract he has done so fully aware that he will be a short term fix. Joe Cole is here to do a job now.
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I know he's here, I am not looking to find faults, I am just expressing an opinion that his best years are worryingly behind him. It's what we do on here, talk about football and footballers, good and bad. The point about his age and the two year contract was about the fact that it's a mistake we've made in the past, it would be nuts to repeat it again.
Anyway, he's here, so we'll see who else we sign. I just hope that it's not going to be limited to this sort of signing. That way trouble lies.
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Cole appeared 20 times for West Ham last season. Tonev appeared 17 times for us. Now, whether or not you are a fan of our new signing I can't see there being many if any who would prefer Tonev in the side.
Keeping my glass half full here.
I see what you mean, but I'd opt for not having either of them play that many games.
We're drinking out of the wrong glass ;-)
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Does he still live in, or have a house in, that place down the A435 towards Redditch? Pretty sure he used to live down on the left, past that garden centre.
If he wanted to "come home", we'd be in a good position if we could do the wages.
That's my hope too. Give him the wages that we freed up letting Ireland go. Job done. I think he'd come here for 50-60k for a couple of years.
I don't think he'd get more than that elsewhere, would he?
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Anyone know what he's getting paid?
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Does he still live in, or have a house in, that place down the A435 towards Redditch? Pretty sure he used to live down on the left, past that garden centre.
If he wanted to "come home", we'd be in a good position if we could do the wages.
That's my hope too. Give him the wages that we freed up letting Ireland go. Job done. I think he'd come here for 50-60k for a couple of years.
I don't think he'd get more than that elsewhere, would he?
At his age no. But I would hope we can at least offer as much, or close to, what he'll get domestically. Of course he could still get one last mega pay day playing abroad, but I think he's still too good at this level to consider semi-retirement in somewhere like the MLS just yet. He should do another year or two in the Prem (with us hopefully) and then go abroad.
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I know he's here, I am not looking to find faults, I am just expressing an opinion that his best years are worryingly behind him. It's what we do on here, talk about football and footballers, good and bad. The point about his age and the two year contract was about the fact that it's a mistake we've made in the past, it would be nuts to repeat it again.
Anyway, he's here, so we'll see who else we sign. I just hope that it's not going to be limited to this sort of signing. That way trouble lies.
Which brings us nicely back to:
What if we'd had the internet when we sold Andy Gray... ;D
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I am not happy about Joe Cole however he wears our shirt now so we need to stop debating his being here and look forward to something good from him in the coming season.
Time to close this thread and move on.
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I know he's here, I am not looking to find faults, I am just expressing an opinion that his best years are worryingly behind him. It's what we do on here, talk about football and footballers, good and bad. The point about his age and the two year contract was about the fact that it's a mistake we've made in the past, it would be nuts to repeat it again.
Anyway, he's here, so we'll see who else we sign. I just hope that it's not going to be limited to this sort of signing. That way trouble lies.
Which brings us nicely back to:
What if we'd had the internet when we sold Andy Gray... ;D
We'd still have bought him. it's a discussion forum, not an advisory panel to the club ;-)
And by the same definition, what if the internet had been around all the other times we bought older players who had done nothing for years, and did nothing for us either in the intervening 35 years?
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I am not happy about Joe Cole however he wears our shirt now so we need to stop debating his being here and look forward to something good from him in the coming season.
Time to close this thread and move on.
You could just ignore the thread if you don't want to talk about him, of course.
It'll sink away down the page when people get bored.
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Why would a thread about one of our players be closed? I'm hoping there are plenty of times we'll need this thread over the next two years.
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if we get 15 to 20 games out of Joe Cole I for one think he is a Good edition.
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I think the issue is whether Cole is to supplement other signings or he's the most ambitious signing we get. If it's the former then I'm fine with it and I think he could be useful. If it's the latter then it's a slightly different matter. Either way though he's better than what we had available, so that's a good thing.
That's the thing.
The way Lambert is talking, he finally believes he's found his 'number 10,' after an epic search.
He's talking about where he will play, and how he will give us something we don't already have.
This doesn't sound like a player signed to add squad depth, or one asked to prove his fitness.
The ongoing comparisons with the Withe, Merson and McGrath deals fall down for a variety of reasons. Primarily, they were still valuable and highly coveted players when they signed, despite nudging 30. Withe was part of a strong Nottingham Forest squad who were operating at the top end of the table. Merson had just gone to a World Cup with England. And McGrath, despite his issues, was wanted by Tottingham and Everton (and Sheff Wed, according to Ron). Ferguson didn't want to sell him to a potential rival though, so gave him the choice of retiring and a payoff or a move to us.
All three were signed for big fees too, in line with their status at the time.
Joe Cole has been released by a side as poor as West Ham.
If any other clubs who finished roughly around where we did last season had signed Senderos and Cole, I don't think we'd be casting envious glances their way.
To listen to some on here (not you, Paul) you would think expressing concern at this kind of deal is akin to treason. I haven't seen anyone yet advocating booing Joe Cole, or pelting him with rotten fruit on his home debut. Of course we'll bloody well get behind him, as we have with Harewood, Heskey and the many other signings that looked iffy at the time.
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We bought Withe from Newcastle.
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So we did. I blame the acid. The overall point remains though.
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So we did. I blame the acid. The overall point remains though.
Yep. And I was much more inclined to trust Ron Saunders' assessment of players than Paul Lambert's.
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I am not happy about Joe Cole however he wears our shirt now so we need to stop debating his being here and look forward to something good from him in the coming season.
Time to close this thread and move on.
This
Welcome to Villa Park Joe, THE home of football, hope you wear the shirt with pride and give your all.
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So we did. I blame the acid. The overall point remains though.
No it doesn't. You said Withe was part of a strong Forest side operating at the top end of the table, whereas he hadn't been at Forest for over 2 years. This backs up the point that he was regarded as past his best rather than supporting your point.
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Does it bollocks.
He was our record signing at the time.
And his record at Forest (and Newcastle) for the four years prior to joining us wasn't too shabby either, in sharp contrast to Cole.
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What were those records? He wasn't even at Forest for their second European Cup win.
You may need a few minutes to look them up, especially as you didn't know he played for Newcastle!
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Not sure if I already posted in this thread, think I might have been wittering on about it on South London Lions instead and got confused? Anyway, mate of mine is a Hammers season ticket holder and says if we play him centrally he'll be a good addition for us. Fat Sam could never get the best out of him as he's a skillful player who likes to play, rather than hoofing it up to Fatty Nolan and Andy Carroll. He's a model pro as well and will be a good head to have in the dressing room.
Question marks obviously hover over his fitness plus as I've always liked him I'm probably being slightly optimistic, but I think people are letting the general malaise at the club boil over into seeing the worst in anything that the club do at the moment and it's creating a toxic atmosphere. Suppose we'll see soon enough anyway.
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Withe had something like 9 clubs in 8 or 9 years before joining us, and was a 1 in 3 striker in Division 2 with Newcastle. I doubt many were excited when he signed. And I seriously doubt anyone expected his signing to work out the way it did.
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So we did. I blame the acid. The overall point remains though.
No it doesn't. You said Withe was part of a strong Forest side operating at the top end of the table, whereas he hadn't been at Forest for over 2 years. This backs up the point that he was regarded as past his best rather than supporting your point.
We broke our transfer record to sign Withe, that doesn't suggest he was past his best.
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Hmm, well lets see.
He played 70 odd games for Forest in his two years there and weighed in with his fair share of goals.
He also played 70 odd games for Newcastle before joining us (again, with a healthy goal return).
How many games has Cole played in the last four years?
There is also the little matter of Withe being 29 when he joined: Only three years younger with Cole then, and without the chequered injury record. Apart from that, the comparisons are sound.
Honestly, we could re-sign Bobby Pires and some halfwit on here would say "Ah! I remember when they wrote off Peter Withe... and we all know how that turned out!" Everyone who posts that also seems to believe they are the first one to do so, for some weird reason.
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Can't believe we've signed a donkey like Withe, he's the sort who shins it into the net off the post.
Not good enough, Saunders out.
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Halfwit? You're a paid up MENSA member then?
Is "he weighed in with his fair share of goals" a euphemism for "I haven't a clue what the number is"?
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What were those records? He wasn't even at Forest for their second European Cup win.
You may need a few minutes to look them up, especially as you didn't know he played for Newcastle!
IIRC he wasn't at Forest for their first European Cup win either. I think he left after they won the league - Newcastle offered him more money than Clough would give him.
Withe had been a good solid player, but from memory had never been seen as a star, nor close to an England call up. I would say that Saunders got more out of him than any other manager did, and few of us saw the impact he would have when he arrived.
Cole has been a wonderful player, but has been on a downward slide for a couple of years. If fit, he can be a good player as he is skilful and intelligent, and pace was never part of his game (sadly, neither was scoring goals). On the downside, we have a physically frail midfield and I can't see him being of use when we don't have the ball.
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I know he's here, I am not looking to find faults, I am just expressing an opinion that his best years are worryingly behind him. It's what we do on here, talk about football and footballers, good and bad. The point about his age and the two year contract was about the fact that it's a mistake we've made in the past, it would be nuts to repeat it again.
Anyway, he's here, so we'll see who else we sign. I just hope that it's not going to be limited to this sort of signing. That way trouble lies.
Which brings us nicely back to:
What if we'd had the internet when we sold Andy Gray... ;D
We'd still have bought him. it's a discussion forum, not an advisory panel to the club ;-)
And by the same definition, what if the internet had been around all the other times we bought older players who had done nothing for years, and did nothing for us either in the intervening 35 years?
FFS, for an intelligent person you really are an easy catch.
:-X
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Halfwit? You're a paid up MENSA member then?
Is "he weighed in with his fair share of goals" a euphemism for "I haven't a clue what the number is"?
28 for Forest in two years and 25 for Newcastle.
I gave up my Mensa membership when they started letting riff-raff like Brendan O'Carroll in.
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At the end of the day lets just give joe cole the loudest welcome he has ever received louder than west ham Chelsea and liverpool put together.
He has signed for us and that is good enough for me even if you think he is over the hill.
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Joe Cole used to be a good player. He might still be, but nobody knows, because hardly anyone has seen him play more than half an hour or so since 2011 (yes, I know this is an exaggeration, but it's not a huge one). He's also always been injury prone, and unless he defies the laws of human anatomy that quality is not likely to have improved with the passing of time.
Sure, he's experienced, but he hardly strikes me as much of a leader, either on the pitch or off it.
I have nothing against signing a player like him, quite the contrary, as we desperately need some creativity in the final third. But given our very limited resources, I'd rather Lambert had gone for someone who was more likely to be earning his money out on the pitch rather than sitting in the stands.
Of course, he might turn out to be a very successful signing, but the evidence suggests that would be a surprise. A nice one, but still a surprise.
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Halfwit? You're a paid up MENSA member then?
Is "he weighed in with his fair share of goals" a euphemism for "I haven't a clue what the number is"?
28 for Forest in two years and 25 for Newcastle.
I gave up my Mensa membership when they started letting riff-raff like Brendan O'Carroll in.
Yes,I've looked them up now too. Goals for Newcastle were in Division 2.
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Halfwit? You're a paid up MENSA member then?
Is "he weighed in with his fair share of goals" a euphemism for "I haven't a clue what the number is"?
28 for Forest in two years and 25 for Newcastle.
I gave up my Mensa membership when they started letting riff-raff like Brendan O'Carroll in.
Yes,I've looked them up now too. Goals for Newcastle were in Division 2.
Look we broke our transfer record to get him. He was clearly well thought of and still a top player.
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Halfwit? You're a paid up MENSA member then?
Is "he weighed in with his fair share of goals" a euphemism for "I haven't a clue what the number is"?
28 for Forest in two years and 25 for Newcastle.
I gave up my Mensa membership when they started letting riff-raff like Brendan O'Carroll in.
Yes,I've looked them up now too. Goals for Newcastle were in Division 2.
Great. So we're agreed that signing a player who played that amount of games and scoring that amount of goals in his four years prior to joining us is really nothing like the Joe Cole deal at all?
This deal is more like the kind of thing West Ham (ironically) used to do, namely signing ex international players like Stuart Pearce, Nigel Winterburn and Ian Wright when their careers were well on the slide.
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To both previous posters, I well remember as a ST holder at the time that the signing was met with a widespread feeling of disappointment. This was particularly so in light of the fact that Andy Gray had been sold for twice the cost of Withe a year previously. In fact Doug Ellis lost his place on the board in the aftermath of the Gray sale because he wanted Saunders sacked.
I don't believe anyone ever claimed that the signings of Withe, McGrath and Merson were an exact mirror of the Cole signing. They were only pointing out that there are successful precedents for signings working out when fans don't get them. This is better than being so miserable that, admittedly limited good news, but good news nonetheless has to be whinged over because we haven't signed someone else.
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On the Gray comparison I'd agree, it would have seemed like losing a fiver and finding a quid.
On the wider point about fan reaction to this deal, I'd be more concerned if there was widespread approval of this.
Concern or criticism of this deal expressed on a messageboard doesn't mean he won't get a chance, though.
Even McLeish was given a chance by the vast majority of Villa fans.
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At the time I was one of those wondering what Saunders was doing signing Withe. As proved after, Saunders saw something in a player that many thought was average at best, that would benefit the team and bring out the best in the players around him.
Rather than looking at what Cole has done in the past, I hope that Lambert has seen something in Cole that he thinks can improve the team/squad or help to bring on some of the young talent. The latter point being something that we have failed miserably at over the last 5 to 10 years. Too many of our youngster have got to 19 and stopped developing.
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Withe and Merson were also last pieces of the jigsaw and McGrath was going to be a mainstay of the team. Cole will, hopefully, be a squad player.
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I couldn't believe it when we signed Peter Withe. I considered him just a useless lump. What did I know eh? I saw him training at BMH and he was everybit as full- blooded in training as he was during matches. Consummate professional .
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Withe and Merson were also last pieces of the jigsaw and McGrath was going to be a mainstay of the team. Cole will, hopefully, be a squad player.
You're probably spot on there, and actually that's what concerns me. We've got loads of squad players - shouldn't be devoting the rest of the wage budget to nailed on first-teamers?
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Withe and Merson were also last pieces of the jigsaw and McGrath was going to be a mainstay of the team. Cole will, hopefully, be a squad player.
You're probably spot on there, and actually that's what concerns me. We've got loads of squad players - shouldn't be devoting the rest of the wage budget to nailed on first-teamers?
I agree entirely, but in fairness, we might still buy the nailed on first-teamers we need.
I won't care too much about Cole or Senderos if we do that.
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Not until we're taken over we won't.
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Joe Cole or Karim el Ahmadi seem like a simple answer to me.
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Joe Cole or Karim el Ahmadi seem like a simple answer to me.
Me too.
Neither.
Alright, alright, I know I am going on about it now, I'll stop.
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Joe Cole or Karim el Ahmadi seem like a simple answer to me.
Me too.
Neither.
Alright, alright, I know I am going on about it now, I'll stop.
lol I do understand what you mean however is Joe Cole better than our current options? Probably yes. Am I excited by his signing? not really but I can understand why we have made it.
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I think it really depends on the wider picture of what our other signings are.
I dunno, though, I have this horrible nagging feeling that they're going to be underwhelming, too. Still, we will find out soon enough.
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I think it really depends on the wider picture of what our other signings are.
I dunno, though, I have this horrible nagging feeling that they're going to be underwhelming, too. Still, we will find out soon enough.
blimey paulie you're verging on being filed amongst the massively miserable. It's June mate, relax, enjoy the WC. We have no way of knowing what the rest of the window will look like so no point getting too worked up over a couple of frees. Lots and lots will happen between now and the end of August.
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Halfwit? You're a paid up MENSA member then?
Is "he weighed in with his fair share of goals" a euphemism for "I haven't a clue what the number is"?
28 for Forest in two years and 25 for Newcastle.
I gave up my Mensa membership when they started letting riff-raff like Brendan O'Carroll in.
Yes,I've looked them up now too. Goals for Newcastle were in Division 2.
Look we broke our transfer record to get him. He was clearly well thought of and still a top player.
We also broke our transfer record to sign Cascarino
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Halfwit? You're a paid up MENSA member then?
Is "he weighed in with his fair share of goals" a euphemism for "I haven't a clue what the number is"?
28 for Forest in two years and 25 for Newcastle.
I gave up my Mensa membership when they started letting riff-raff like Brendan O'Carroll in.
Yes,I've looked them up now too. Goals for Newcastle were in Division 2.
Look we broke our transfer record to get him. He was clearly well thought of and still a top player.
We also broke our transfer record to sign Cascarino
Yeah and there was high hopes for him as well (as we were going for the league at the time). Turns out he was a waste of space.
The fact remains we broke our transfer record for Withe and there were big expectations from him, and unlike Cascarino he delivered.
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Point being transfer fees are no guarantee of success and every signing is a gamble. With Cole being on a free and by Premier League standards a modest wage it's not a risky gamble. As it stands who would you have in the midfield instead of Cole? I don't expect him to play in 30 + games and reach double figures in goals but I do think he'll contribute in a more positive manner than KEA,Tonev or Sylla. I also believe he'll bring more out in Westwood who I still think can become a good midfielder at this level. Given the choice of Cole or Barry then I like most would opt for Barry but I don't honestly believe that is an option as Barry will command double Cole's wage and as he showed last season is still a top 6 player. Apart from having ties to the area I can't see why Barry would want to spend the remaining years of his career at Villa if he has the choice of say, Everton. Cole on the other hand could prove to be the difference between relegation and mid table mediocrity. Unfortunately that is our level, none of us like it but it hasn't happened overnight.
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With Cole being on a free and by Premier League standards a modest wage
What will he be earning, anyone know?
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With Cole being on a free and by Premier League standards a modest wage
What will he be earning, anyone know?
I've heard £25k a week.
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With Cole being on a free and by Premier League standards a modest wage
What will he be earning, anyone know?
I've heard £25k a week.
That's not much, relatively speaking.
Can't believe I'm describing a £2.5m contract as "not much"
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I would hope that Cole will be used in the home games against teams that we're looking to beat, but not so often in away games where we'll be spending long periods of time without possession of the ball (not that we have it much at home).
My fear with using a 'number 10' (as Lambert likes to call them) is that we actually need some movement from the forwards in front of them in order to really be effective.
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With Cole being on a free and by Premier League standards a modest wage
What will he be earning, anyone know?
I've heard £25k a week.
That's not much, relatively speaking.
Can't believe I'm describing a £2.5m contract as "not much"
Yes, I was only speaking to Lady QB last night about the cost of extending the servant quarters.
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I would hope that Cole will be used in the home games against teams that we're looking to beat, but not so often in away games where we'll be spending long periods of time without possession of the ball (not that we have it much at home).
My fear with using a 'number 10' (as Lambert likes to call them) is that we actually need some movement from the forwards in front of them in order to really be effective.
With a player like Cole who actually runs with the ball it does encourage defenders to leave their man to close the ball down and makes life easier for the forwards to find that space.
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Halfwit? You're a paid up MENSA member then?
Is "he weighed in with his fair share of goals" a euphemism for "I haven't a clue what the number is"?
28 for Forest in two years and 25 for Newcastle.
I gave up my Mensa membership when they started letting riff-raff like Brendan O'Carroll in.
Yes,I've looked them up now too. Goals for Newcastle were in Division 2.
Look we broke our transfer record to get him. He was clearly well thought of and still a top player.
We also broke our transfer record to sign Cascarino
Yeah and there was high hopes for him as well (as we were going for the league at the time). Turns out he was a waste of space.
The fact remains we broke our transfer record for Withe and there were big expectations from him, and unlike Cascarino he delivered.
There were clearly high hopes and expectations of Peter Withe on the part of the manager, who later described him as "the final piece in the jigsaw". I can assure you that these hopes and expectations were not widely shared by the supporters at the time. That is the point.
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Cole is exactly the type of player we needed when Lambert first took over to compliment his 'young and hungry' signings. Still if he gets on the park for about 25 league and cup games, I think it will have been quite handy an acquisition. Reaching that amount, no doubt there'll be a handful of his appearances it'll be a wonder why Lambert even bothered but if it bridges the gap for Westy and whoever else it'll be worth it.
Expectation can't be too high of course but given the state of hot poo we're in, I actually think we'll get a couple of moments here and there from Cole off his own boot, may prove to be a match winner on a couple of occasions.
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Let's hope he has an impact more like Robbie Keane as opposed to Jermaine Jenas.
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A nice little drive from that London to VP in his Chav Rover on a Saturday morning followed by a kick about and a nice overnight stay in the Hotel du Vin, assorted wanna be brummy chicks laying in wait in the VIP section of the latest night spot.
Champagne, Blow Jobs, kiss and tell.
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Where do I apply?
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Where do I apply?
Joe Cole. c/o Aston Villa Football Club. Birmingham, B6
Each to their own
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I don't drink. Do you think I would be allowed Irn Bru?
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I don't drink. Do you think I would be allowed Irn Bru?
'Never trust a man who doesn't drink'
James Crumley
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Very true. I would not trust me any further than I can throw me. Utter scoundrel and a blackguard. I even miss eastie.
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Did Ron actually refer to Peter Withe as the final piece of the jigsaw when he bought him?
Or reflecting on the purchase when reviewing how he built the Champions?
Just curious.
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toeing the company line.
"senderos is such a brilliant signing"
Yes Joe.
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I do find it funny that Cole has received a rougher ride on this forum than Philip 'Flippin' Senderos! :)
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I do find it funny that Cole has received a rougher ride on this forum than Philip 'Flippin' Senderos! :)
I think we are all just glad that Senderos is not Titus Bramble.
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So we did. I blame the acid. The overall point remains though.
Yep. And I was much more inclined to trust Ron Saunders' assessment of players than Paul Lambert's.
I bet Blues and Albion fans wouldn't
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Did Ron actually refer to Peter Withe as the final piece of the jigsaw when he bought him?
Or reflecting on the purchase when reviewing how he built the Champions?
Just curious.
I think that was Tony Morley he was referring to, could be wrong though.
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Did Ron actually refer to Peter Withe as the final piece of the jigsaw when he bought him?
Or reflecting on the purchase when reviewing how he built the Champions?
Just curious.
I think that was Tony Morley he was referring to, could be wrong though.
In the DVD Ron says Peter Withe was the final piece
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Did Ron actually refer to Peter Withe as the final piece of the jigsaw when he bought him?
Or reflecting on the purchase when reviewing how he built the Champions?
Just curious.
I think that was Tony Morley he was referring to, could be wrong though.
In the DVD Ron says Peter Withe was the final piece
I stand corrected, it was Morley he said needed to get into what Saunders called 'starting positions'
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Did Ron actually refer to Peter Withe as the final piece of the jigsaw when he bought him?
Or reflecting on the purchase when reviewing how he built the Champions?
Just curious.
I think that was Tony Morley he was referring to, could be wrong though.
In the DVD Ron says Peter Withe was the final piece
I stand corrected, it was Morley he said needed to get into what Saunders called 'starting positions'
And he also said Morley needed a 'kick up the arse every week'
I don't think Morley got on well with RS but I don't suppose he minds the medals he won
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Remember when Morley gave him the two-fingered salute after he scored?
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Remember when Morley gave him the two-fingered salute after he scored?
His second?
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I went to a Q&A evening with Morley as one of the speakers. Someone asked him if he was glad when Saunders resigned. He answered no and that he liked Ron Saunders. Also didn't Morley sign for Saunders twice more after us?
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Talking to Hammers fan today at work and he was of the opinion Joe can still cut it in the Prem.He was their second top scorer inspire off only playing 15 or so games and Allardyce not allowing him the freedom to take players on.
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I went to a Q&A evening with Morley as one of the speakers. Someone asked him if he was glad when Saunders resigned. He answered no and that he liked Ron Saunders. Also didn't Morley sign for Saunders twice more after us?
What was that story about Morley's house burning down, and him having to sleep in his car - imagine that these days - and asking Saunders for some sympathy of some sort (can't remember circumstances) but getting zero?
And before the match at Everton, didn't Saunders tell him he wasn't going to pick him, as he was an Everton fan as a kid and he didn't think he could trust him to do his best, only to then pick him, and he scored the goal of the season?
I don't think that sort of thing would work these days - in fact, it wouldn't - but what brilliant stuff.
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I went to a Q&A evening with Morley as one of the speakers. Someone asked him if he was glad when Saunders resigned. He answered no and that he liked Ron Saunders. Also didn't Morley sign for Saunders twice more after us?
What was that story about Morley's house burning down, and him having to sleep in his car - imagine that these days - and asking Saunders for some sympathy of some sort (can't remember circumstances) but getting zero?
And before the match at Everton, didn't Saunders tell him he wasn't going to pick him, as he was an Everton fan as a kid and he didn't think he could trust him to do his best, only to then pick him, and he scored the goal of the season?
I don't think that sort of thing would work these days - in fact, it wouldn't - but what brilliant stuff.
Saunders definitely told him that Pat Heard was playing against Everton before changing his mind late Friday afternoon. Morley had also asked for a transfer the week before Saunders left, only to come off the list the day after he'd gone.
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I went to a Q&A evening with Morley as one of the speakers. Someone asked him if he was glad when Saunders resigned. He answered no and that he liked Ron Saunders. Also didn't Morley sign for Saunders twice more after us?
What was that story about Morley's house burning down, and him having to sleep in his car - imagine that these days - and asking Saunders for some sympathy of some sort (can't remember circumstances) but getting zero?
And before the match at Everton, didn't Saunders tell him he wasn't going to pick him, as he was an Everton fan as a kid and he didn't think he could trust him to do his best, only to then pick him, and he scored the goal of the season?
I don't think that sort of thing would work these days - in fact, it wouldn't - but what brilliant stuff.
And that's the kind of reaction you'd want off a player: "I'll show that prick."
Ginola (nowhere near as important a player to us) did similar to Gregory.
Today, players would just sulk and get on to their agents to initiate a move.
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On a sort of related note, one of the signs that SGT was not suitable for modern football came against Charlton at the Valley.
Mark Kinsella hadn't played for months. SGT recalled him, on the basis that he'd be fired up against his former team. Needless to say he continued to be dogshite and we lost 3-0. This might have worked a decade earlier, but it smacked of a very old fashioned approach to management.
That and taking a villa side that had been top 7 for about 5 years running and almost getting them relegated, whilst buying players that make some of the current crop definitely look premier league class (UDC, Kinsella, Leonhardsen, Gudjonsson). Anyone who thinks Ashley Westwood isn't streets ahead of that lot doesn't know what they're talking about.
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I have heard it said that the West Ham style of football didn't suit Joe Cole, because the ball was going over his head from back to front quite a lot. Er, isn't this the way Villa are playing? I hope that this transfer works becuase Cole is a decent player down the middle, but we have to give him the ball.
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Talking to Hammers fan today at work and he was of the opinion Joe can still cut it in the Prem.He was their second top scorer inspire off only playing 15 or so games and Allardyce not allowing him the freedom to take players on.
He made 25 appearances for West Ham last season, 20 in the league. That surprised me to be honest.
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Doesn't that 20 apps last season including quite a few off the bench cameos ?
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6 starts, the rest were sub appearances.
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JOE COLE IS OUT INJURED
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you are joking? Joe Cole injured?
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I have heard it said that the West Ham style of football didn't suit Joe Cole, because the ball was going over his head from back to front quite a lot. Er, isn't this the way Villa are playing? I hope that this transfer works becuase Cole is a decent player down the middle, but we have to give him the ball.
It seems it was more a fact that he was playing as a winger and not as a number 10. We have signed him to play in a completely different position than he played at West Ham.
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I have heard it said that the West Ham style of football didn't suit Joe Cole, because the ball was going over his head from back to front quite a lot. Er, isn't this the way Villa are playing? I hope that this transfer works becuase Cole is a decent player down the middle, but we have to give him the ball.
It seems it was more a fact that he was playing as a winger and not as a number 10. We have signed him to play in a completely different position than he played at West Ham.
I thought one of the biggest gripes with Cole from his previous managers ( paricularly Mourinho) was that he would never stick to a game plan and would leave managers pulling their hair out in frustration.
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JOE COLE IS OUT INJURED
Yes, you've already expressed your surprise elsewhere. You didn't need to tell us again.
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Is he now out for the season? You'd think he was from the drama. Because I read he had a slight knock to his thigh and is being kept out as a precaution.
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I have heard it said that the West Ham style of football didn't suit Joe Cole, because the ball was going over his head from back to front quite a lot. Er, isn't this the way Villa are playing? I hope that this transfer works becuase Cole is a decent player down the middle, but we have to give him the ball.
It seems it was more a fact that he was playing as a winger and not as a number 10. We have signed him to play in a completely different position than he played at West Ham.
I thought one of the biggest gripes with Cole from his previous managers ( paricularly Mourinho) was that he would never stick to a game plan and would leave managers pulling their hair out in frustration.
I have always thought of a 'number ten' as a free role. Le Tissier had his best spell at Southampton in a free role under Alan Ball. The problem of course is that they have to perform well enough and consistently enough to merit that role. We needed a Joe Cole type of player and in our situation he is probably as good as we could feasibly get.
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Cole may well end-up just being used an option from the bench, in which case I think he'll make a useful signing as someone who can change our attacking approach to a game midway through it.
Last season our only really options from the bench were like-for-like Striker changes, or wildcards like Tonev.
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Cole may well end-up just being used an option from the bench, in which case I think he'll make a useful signing as someone who can change our attacking approach to a game midway through it.
Last season our only really options from the bench were like-for-like Striker changes, or wildcards like Tonev.
I don't want to rip off a Chandler from Friends phrase but could there possibly be a better word to describe Tonev than 'Wildcard'.
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Cole may well end-up just being used an option from the bench, in which case I think he'll make a useful signing as someone who can change our attacking approach to a game midway through it.
Last season our only really options from the bench were like-for-like Striker changes, or wildcards like Tonev.
I don't want to rip off a Chandler from Friends phrase but could there possibly be a better word to describe Tonev than 'Wildcard'.
Last ditch attempt?
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I would play Cole at ten (Not at night before you guys jump on that one ;)) because he was never the best crosser so wouldn't really solve our lack of supply issues anyway.
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I would play Cole at ten (Not at night before you guys jump on that one ;)) because he was never the best crosser so wouldn't really solve our lack of supply issues anyway.
He has also never been what you would call a 'speed merchant' (surely right up there with the best football phrases ever), so is clearly a creative midfielder as opposed to a wide man. Speed merchant, creative midfielder and wide man. Do I win a prize for football cliches?
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I think you should. I'm over the moon with your top, top post.
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I think you should. I'm over the moon with your top, top post.
We shouldn't get carried away, it's a long thread, we need to take it post by post.
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I think you should. I'm over the moon with your top, top post.
Yeah but I don't err know but err know but err know I just don't err but know what to say. I'm chuffed and over the moon and all that obviously. At the end of the day obviously. Thank you. Obviously.
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I think you should. I'm over the moon with your top, top post.
We shouldn't get carried away, it's a long thread, we need to take it post by post.
Obviously. That goes without saying.
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Cole may well end-up just being used an option from the bench, in which case I think he'll make a useful signing as someone who can change our attacking approach to a game midway through it.
Last season our only really options from the bench were like-for-like Striker changes, or wildcards like Tonev.
I don't want to rip off a Chandler from Friends phrase but could there possibly be a better word to describe Tonev than 'Wildcard'.
How about "Wild One" ? His attempts remind me of the blind Charlie Sheen efforts in that baseball movie ...before he got fitted for glasses...
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I thought the lad was brilliant, especially early doors
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Well, you know, he came on here and you know, did what we expected from him, you know, and that's all you can, you know, ask of him.
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Speaking to a couple of West Ham ST holders last night they didn't paint a good picture of Joe Cole and his performances last season. Legs are shot and he can barely last 15 mins. Also a heavy smoker so doesn't bode well.
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How did he pass a medical in that condition?
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Dicky Dunne and Jacky Wil
sonshere manage peak performance despite their love of fags.
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yes, but they're all going to be signing for Emphysema City very soon
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Speaking to a couple of West Ham ST holders last night they didn't paint a good picture of Joe Cole and his performances last season. Legs are shot and he can barely last 15 mins. Also a heavy smoker so doesn't bode well.
Just because they are season ticket holders doesn't mean they aren't talking shit.
Merson was a pisshead, chain smoking, druggie at one point...
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Speaking to a couple of West Ham ST holders last night they didn't paint a good picture of Joe Cole and his performances last season. Legs are shot and he can barely last 15 mins. Also a heavy smoker so doesn't bode well.
Just because they are season ticket holders doesn't mean they aren't talking shit.
Merson was a pisshead, chain smoking, druggie at one point...
Didn't he only play 1 entire league game last year?
That's worrying.
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Speaking to a couple of West Ham ST holders last night they didn't paint a good picture of Joe Cole and his performances last season. Legs are shot and he can barely last 15 mins. Also a heavy smoker so doesn't bode well.
Just because they are season ticket holders doesn't mean they aren't talking shit.
Merson was a pisshead, chain smoking, druggie at one point...
Didn't he only play 1 entire league game last year?
That's worrying.
It was a game of two halves.
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Joe Cole is Jenas MK II.
You'd think the club would bloody learn.
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the question is would be available if this was a league game? If we wrap him up now and not risk anything then surely that is a good decision.
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Joe Cole is the english Steven Ireland.
The London media have been in awe of Joe Cole since his West Ham youths days. Unfortunately he was never good enough to play that free role as alike many English players (Gerrard and Rooney come to mind) he was tactically braindead and despite the nice flicks didnt deliver enough goals and assists. Aside from 18 months at Chelsea where Mourinho made a player out of him, he was typically the first player off no matter who was manager at club or international level. Cole has had John Terry publicly try to get him into the English team during a World Cup, Gerrard publicly predict he would be player of the year at Liverpool, Harry Redknapp at every turn proclaiming him the most talented English player since Gazza but in truth he was nowhere near good enough despite his unprecedented number of cheerleaders. Id describe him similar to Paul Merson though Merson proved he still had the heart for the game well into his 30's, Joe Cole gave up trying to play football years ago. Getting released by West Ham the final insult but instead of QPR spunking money on him, we decide to pick up his tab.
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the question is would be available if this was a league game? If we wrap him up now and not risk anything then surely that is a good decision.
So, what so we do then ? Wrap him up and unravel him every 10 games or so?
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Oh frick. Not another sick note! I hope not, we really need a number 10 type player.
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the question is would be available if this was a league game? If we wrap him up now and not risk anything then surely that is a good decision.
So, what so we do then ? Wrap him up and unravel him every 10 games or so?
Granted not a perfect comparison but do you treat him a little like we did McGrath and only limit his exposure so he can perform at the weekend?
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It's one of them, Joe Jenas , Jermaine Cole .
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You've got to remember the one over riding, redeeming factor going in Joe Cole's favour for the Villa.
He was on a free.
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Jenas was a loan. A bad loan.
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Jenas was a loan. A bad loan.
Jesus was a black man. No, Jesus was Batman.
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Jenas was a loan. A bad loan.
We paid a loan fee too didn't we? Spurs saw us coming with that one. Big time.
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He's been there and done it. Not a lot recently admittedly but he should be a wide head in the dressing room etc.
He was never going to be our star turn but bring him on with 20 minutes to go and he might just be the steadying influence.
Or he might be a shit waste of money.
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We definitely need a number ten. Cole is not only say past his best but he's also never really been effective as a number ten despite his own views. He was only ever really effective when mourinho made him play as a wide man in a front three
We still look worryingly short of penetration - especially with benteke out. I've gotorr hope in n'zogbia providing creative spark and that's a concern in itself. An attacking signing would be really helpful even if on loan
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Joe Cole is the english Steven Ireland.
The London media have been in awe of Joe Cole since his West Ham youths days. Unfortunately he was never good enough to play that free role as alike many English players (Gerrard and Rooney come to mind) he was tactically braindead and despite the nice flicks didnt deliver enough goals and assists. Aside from 18 months at Chelsea where Mourinho made a player out of him, he was typically the first player off no matter who was manager at club or international level. Cole has had John Terry publicly try to get him into the English team during a World Cup, Gerrard publicly predict he would be player of the year at Liverpool, Harry Redknapp at every turn proclaiming him the most talented English player since Gazza but in truth he was nowhere near good enough despite his unprecedented number of cheerleaders. Id describe him similar to Paul Merson though Merson proved he still had the heart for the game well into his 30's, Joe Cole gave up trying to play football years ago. Getting released by West Ham the final insult but instead of QPR spunking money on him, we decide to pick up his tab.
What a fucking insult.
I must have missed Ireland scoring at World Cups and winning numerous PL trophies, FA Cups, League cups and Chelsea'a player of the year.
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We definitely need a number ten.
Villa already have one....... Tonev.
He's the closest thing to Johnny Wilkinson ever seen at Villa Park.
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We definitely need a number ten.
Villa already have one....... Tonev.
He's the closest thing to Johnny Wilkinson ever seen at Villa Park.
Gabby made a particularly good attempt to emulate him at Walsall last night.
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Jenas was a loan. A bad loan.
Jesus was a black man. No, Jesus was Batman.
'I rode in on an ass... Yo momma's ass.'
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N'n'n'n'no, that was Bruce Wayne.
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If Wonga did player loans it would be jermaine jenas
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Knowing ours and Joe's luck he will start half a dozen games and after an injury ravaged season will announce his retirement.
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Knowing ours and Joe's luck he will start half a dozen games and after an injury ravaged season will announce his retirement.
Injuries are not just a recent thing. Think about Keith Leonard, Brian Little, Gary Shaw and Alex Cropley. Top players in their prime.
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Knowing ours and Joe's luck he will start half a dozen games and after an injury ravaged season will announce his retirement.
Injuries are not just a recent thing. Think about Keith Leonard, Brian Little, Gary Shaw and Alex Cropley. Top players in their prime.
I remember Keith Leonard, His injury was really tragic as he had only just made the break through. I honestly believe he would have been a real star.
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Luc Nilis.
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Er, Ivo Stas!
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Think we can put this thread to bed at least until December? See what I did there! 8)
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Knowing ours and Joe's luck he will start half a dozen games and after an injury ravaged season will announce his retirement.
Knowing ours and Joe's luck he will start half a dozen games and after an injury ravaged season will announce his retirement.
Injuries are not just a recent thing. Think about Keith Leonard, Brian Little, Gary Shaw and Alex Cropley. Top players in their prime.
I remember Keith Leonard, His injury was really tragic as he had only just made the break through. I honestly believe he would have been a real star.
Injuries are not just a recent thing. Think about Keith Leonard, Brian Little, Gary Shaw and Alex Cropley. Top players in their prime.
I remember Keith Leonard, His injury was really tragic as he had only just made the break through. I honestly believe he would have been a real star.
I went to a lot of games in the 74/75 promotion season and Keith was a top player and very underrated, terrible shame he had to end his career at such a young age.
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I went to a lot of games in the 74/75 promotion season and Keith was a top player and very underrated, terrible shame he had to end his career at such a young age.
Ditto - a genuinely decent player in a career that only lasted 38 games for Villa.
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Keith Leonard, a big man, had no pace whatsoever but clever skills in abundance....and he knew how to look after himself!
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Ron, do you remember Keith Leonard smashing Dave Watson's nose with his elbow during a match against Sunderland during the 70's? It looked like a squashed tomato.
A promising career cut short sadly.
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What happened to Keith Leonard, how did he get injured?
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What happened to Keith Leonard, how did he get injured?
Went into a challenge with that useless great lump of an Arsenal keeper, somebody Rimmer, and did his knee.
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What happened to Keith Leonard, how did he get injured?
Went into a challenge with that useless great lump of an Arsenal keeper, somebody Rimmer, and did his knee.
Thanks Dave
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What happened to Keith Leonard, how did he get injured?
Went into a challenge with that useless great lump of an Arsenal keeper, somebody Rimmer, and did his knee.
Thanks Dave
No thank-you that bloody Rimmer. What ever did happen to him?
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Ron, do you remember Keith Leonard smashing Dave Watson's nose with his elbow during a match against Sunderland during the 70's? It looked like a squashed tomato.
A promising career cut short sadly.
I remember Keith Leonard saying 'You have to look after yourself out there. Its the law of the jungle'
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I was too young when Keith Leonard played to remember him. Unfortunately my main memory of him is being caretaker manager of Small Heath for a game when Ron Saunders quit.
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Ditto. I grew up disliking him because of his Shit connections. I knew he was ex-Villa but didn't know anything else about him. This is when I was 6 or 7 mind. Didn't he go to them around 77-78ish Or maybe the Albion? Really unclear now.
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Only knowledge I have about Keith Leonard is from an old Villa video. Think i'm right in saying he was finished at 24 by a knee injury whilst playing for us?
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I was too young when Keith Leonard played to remember him. Unfortunately my main memory of him is being caretaker manager of Small Heath for a game when Ron Saunders quit.
Keith Leonard could and should have been the answer to Malcolm Macdonald, he had everything except pace and he was my first real Villa hero.
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Saw Leonard & Little tear Millwall apart at the old Cold Blow Lane.
Could have been one of the best if injury hadn't cut his career short.
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Only saw KL play a handful of times but remember folks always commenting how late he came to the game. We never saw the best of him.
Was at the Arsenal match when he got injured.
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KL was yet another brilliant signing by the late, great Vic Crowe.
Cost a pittance from Highgate United. I saw him make his Villa debut v Forest Reserves as the first part of his 'trial'.
Slower than shit but a wonderful technician -how Graydon and Little loved playing off him in the second half of 74/5.
Also very useful at the old ultra-violence, in the days when it was 'allowed'.
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What thread do I go on to talk about Joe Cole ?
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The Joe Cole thread maybe?
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What thread do I go on to talk about Joe Cole ?
This one. Have you got anything you'd like to say about him?
Maybe there should be a thread for people asking which thread they should post on.
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Villa signing Joe Cole has not assisted a Premier League goal since October 2010.
Nice
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Assists are over-rated anyway.
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Yeah assists don't count for anything it's goals that count.
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Pah. We're Aston Villa. We don't 'do' goals.
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Those assists will rocket with crosses into Gabby.
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What happened to Keith Leonard, how did he get injured?
Went into a challenge with that useless great lump of an Arsenal keeper, somebody Rimmer, and did his knee.
I had always thought it was a challenge from behind by Terry Mancini that did for his knee - but I was on holiday for that game and didn't see it. Great player anyway, a kind of MkI Peter Withe.
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Does Risso's return suggest a change in owner is imminent?
Risso - you do know that Randolph is still here. Right?
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Does Risso's return suggest a change in owner is imminent?
Risso - you do know that Randolph is still here. Right?
You do know that this is the Joe Cole thread, right?! ;)
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Oh, you're back.
Could have waited until I overtook your post count.
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Does Risso's return suggest a change in owner is imminent?
Risso - you do know that Randolph is still here. Right?
You do know that this is the Joe Cole thread, right?! ;)
ah fuck. I was bouncing between threads and posted in the wrong place. Again.
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“His attitude towards football is great and you’re talking about a guy who has won things.
“He does everything right. He’s a top pro. He doesn’t cut corners.
“He’s excellent in training, he works hard and he does the extra things that you need.
“You always see that with lads who have won things, though. They know how to do everything and how to do it right.”
The only problem is, the extra he does is in the canteen.
Joking aside, if he is fit and up to speed he has got to make a difference.
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“His attitude towards football is great and you’re talking about a guy who has won things.
“He does everything right. He’s a top pro. He doesn’t cut corners.
“He’s excellent in training, he works hard and he does the extra things that you need.
“You always see that with lads who have won things, though. They know how to do everything and how to do it right.”
The only problem is, the extra he does is in the canteen.
Joking aside, if he is fit and up to speed he has got to make a difference.
Lambert himself has won things and can't seem to do much right.....
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“His attitude towards football is great and you’re talking about a guy who has won things.
“He does everything right. He’s a top pro. He doesn’t cut corners.
“He’s excellent in training, he works hard and he does the extra things that you need.
“You always see that with lads who have won things, though. They know how to do everything and how to do it right.”
The only problem is, the extra he does is in the canteen.
Joking aside, if he is fit and up to speed he has got to make a difference.
Lambert himself has won things and can't seem to do much right.....
And Cole had also won things by the time he went back to West Ham and showed nothing there, either.
The bloke is way past it, total waste of money.
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“His attitude towards football is great and you’re talking about a guy who has won things.
“He does everything right. He’s a top pro. He doesn’t cut corners.
“He’s excellent in training, he works hard and he does the extra things that you need.
“You always see that with lads who have won things, though. They know how to do everything and how to do it right.”
The only problem is, the extra he does is in the canteen.
Joking aside, if he is fit and up to speed he has got to make a difference.
Lambert himself has won things and can't seem to do much right.....
And Cole had also won things by the time he went back to West Ham and showed nothing there, either.
The bloke is way past it, total waste of money.
A mistake by Lambert and he has probably realised it.
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I'm still holding onto the slim hope that Joe Cole can find a second wind and be even half as effective as Merson was for us. Highly unlikely, but I've always been a fan of Joe Cole.
I'd be looking to play him in the next few games and just allow him to drift. Give him no pressure to do a lot of chasing and running because his legs will fall off, just let him stay in the gap between the opposition defence and midfield and orchestrate. After all, Merson wasn't obligated to do much running.
That said I'd expect to see a pig flying before Cole comes good. Unfortunately. Right player, wrong time.
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The new Pires, unfortunately.
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the good thing is that there is going to be a bit of shake up it appears. The current players simply are not creating chances. Don't want to blame it all on the players as I don't think the system employed has helped. Clearly that also needs to change. But at least we can see what the likes of Cole or Sanchez might have. We haven't scored in bloody ages so nothing to lose in terms of changing up the players to see if we can break the current unwanted record.
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the good thing is that there is going to be a bit of shake up it appears. The current players simply are not creating chances. Don't want to blame it all on the players as I don't think the system employed has helped. Clearly that also needs to change. But at least we can see what the likes of Cole or Sanchez might have. We haven't scored in bloody ages so nothing to lose in terms of changing up the players to see if we can break the current unwanted record.
What makes you think there is going to be a shake up?
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While I'm not excusing it, I think we signed Cole (and Senderos) when working to a certain transfer policy at the start of the summer that probably legislated zero or very low spend.
As a sale of the club grew increasingly unlikely it seemed like there was a slight shift in stance on transfers (Cissoko, Sanchez, Cleverley) and I wonder whether Cole would even have been signed if this had been the case from the outset.
None of that changes the fact he's probably had it at this level though.
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the good thing is that there is going to be a bit of shake up it appears. The current players simply are not creating chances. Don't want to blame it all on the players as I don't think the system employed has helped. Clearly that also needs to change. But at least we can see what the likes of Cole or Sanchez might have. We haven't scored in bloody ages so nothing to lose in terms of changing up the players to see if we can break the current unwanted record.
What makes you think there is going to be a shake up?
I was thinking the same. Lambert and shake ups don't really go together.
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the good thing is that there is going to be a bit of shake up it appears. The current players simply are not creating chances. Don't want to blame it all on the players as I don't think the system employed has helped. Clearly that also needs to change. But at least we can see what the likes of Cole or Sanchez might have. We haven't scored in bloody ages so nothing to lose in terms of changing up the players to see if we can break the current unwanted record.
What makes you think there is going to be a shake up?
maybe shake up is strong and maybe it's more hope than anything. I just think that after 4 games without a goal, almost as many shots there needs to be some change. Lambert said in his post match after Everton that he wasn't happy with how things went and how they came out so it could be a case of getting other players involved. We'll see on Monday how many changes outside of those that are forced upon us.
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I cannot see many unforced changes for QPR. As somebody on another thread said very pithily Lambert has a very vivid imagination but unfortunately none of it is football related. He will be totally focussed on not losing and that reminds me if another very neat and appropriate word coined by a poster to describe this manager's approach - submcleishian.
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I cannot see many unforced changes for QPR. As somebody on another thread said very pithily Lambert has a very vivid imagination but unfortunately none of it is football related. He will be totally focussed on not losing and that reminds me if another very neat and appropriate word coined by a poster to describe this manager's approach - submcleishian.
subMcLeishian...Excellent word. I suspect we'll be seeing it appear more and more in the coming months. Kudo's to the creator.
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Well I hope he is enjoying his retirement ;)
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He is rubbish as a summarizer on BT Sport jock football. A bit like the Chairman of Falkirk or Cowdenbeath brought in at the last minute to stand in for Gordon Strachan.
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We have BT Sport but until today, had only ever watched football on it. Today was the first time I watched one of their other programmes. Geez, seeing Robbie Savage on that Fletch & Savage show is even worse than seeing/hearing him on a BBC programme.
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I really don't see the fascination with him. He's most noteworthy contribution during his playing career was as a wind-up merchant and that warrants being a TV personality? It's a sad indictment.
Regarding Joe Cole, I still have hope that he has a part to play for us this year and hopefully can disprove a few doubters.
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When I try to get optimistic about Joe Cole I keep seeing Pires and Ginola not Merson. To get an indian summer out of a player like we did out of. Paul Merson and Paul McGrath that player has to have retained his appetite and enthusiasm for the game. I suspect that Joe Cole does not have that any more. I hope I am wrong but it looked a massive punt to bring him to the club.
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"I hope I am wrong but it looked a massive punt to bring him to the club"
I am assuming there is a typo there Brian ?
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When I try to get optimistic about Joe Cole I keep seeing Pires and Ginola not Merson. To get an indian summer out of a player like we did out of. Paul Merson and Paul McGrath that player has to have retained his appetite and enthusiasm for the game. I suspect that Joe Cole does not have that any more. I hope I am wrong but it looked a massive punt to bring him to the club.
It's a gamble, sure, but massive punt is over egging it a little. If it doesn't come off then it's a relatively minor outlay in today's market?
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Joe Cole and Lambert assure us that Cole's hunger is still very much there. I hope so. As for his legs, that's another matter.
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If we get a glimmer of spark from him today that'll do me. We need inspiration from somewhere after that horrid run of games. Today could be his day too being that he's up against Harry.
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When I try to get optimistic about Joe Cole I keep seeing Pires and Ginola not Merson. To get an indian summer out of a player like we did out of. Paul Merson and Paul McGrath that player has to have retained his appetite and enthusiasm for the game. I suspect that Joe Cole does not have that any more. I hope I am wrong but it looked a massive punt to bring him to the club.
It's a gamble, sure, but massive punt is over egging it a little. If it doesn't come off then it's a relatively minor outlay in today's market?
We keep hearing that, but in our on-going austerity drive, all these "inexpensive" flops are starting to add up.
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I really don't see the fascination with him. He's most noteworthy contribution during his playing career was as a wind-up merchant and that warrants being a TV personality? It's a sad indictment.
Regarding Joe Cole, I still have hope that he has a part to play for us this year and hopefully can disprove a few doubters.
Not to take this off topic or anything (to be fair I don't know how we even got onto Savage in a JC thread), but sometimes I do think certain Villa fans are determined to hate Savage forever because of who he once played for. Didn't like him as a player, but I think those wind up qualities actually work better as a pundit. He is outspoken and it is entertaining when he really gets into a debate with someone on 606, but his predictions stick! Moving on...
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When I try to get optimistic about Joe Cole I keep seeing Pires and Ginola not Merson. To get an indian summer out of a player like we did out of. Paul Merson and Paul McGrath that player has to have retained his appetite and enthusiasm for the game. I suspect that Joe Cole does not have that any more. I hope I am wrong but it looked a massive punt to bring him to the club.
It's a gamble, sure, but massive punt is over egging it a little. If it doesn't come off then it's a relatively minor outlay in today's market?
We keep hearing that, but in our on-going austerity drive, all these "inexpensive" flops are starting to add up.
Even by modern standards is is a bit early to be calling him a flop.
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When I try to get optimistic about Joe Cole I keep seeing Pires and Ginola not Merson. To get an indian summer out of a player like we did out of. Paul Merson and Paul McGrath that player has to have retained his appetite and enthusiasm for the game. I suspect that Joe Cole does not have that any more. I hope I am wrong but it looked a massive punt to bring him to the club.
It's a gamble, sure, but massive punt is over egging it a little. If it doesn't come off then it's a relatively minor outlay in today's market?
We keep hearing that, but in our on-going austerity drive, all these "inexpensive" flops are starting to add up.
Even by modern standards is is a bit early to be calling him a flop.
I wasn't necessarily including Joe Cole, but if it doesn't work out, he'll have cost us £2m+ in wages. When you add that on to the others like Tonev, Luna, Bennett and Sylla etc, it mounts up.
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Cole needs to play, but I don't think he's up to it - sadly, we could have invested in someone younger and with a better fitness record. Sounds obvious really. Lambert obviously has a plan and a need for Cole. Let's hope it's not a pointless signing.
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What staggers me is a quick trip to a west ham forum or call to any ST holder would have told you Joe Cole is blowing out of his arse after 7 mins of trotting about. The guys legs are gone , he is useless to us at this level.
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There you have it Sil. We buy players albeit "cheaply" without full and forensic examination of their problems. Somebody could have told us NZogbia runs into dead ends with his head down or that KEA bottles tackles or Tonev shoots wildly from 30 yards. Surely Lambert was aware of Cole's inability to achieve proper levels of fitness? You can only assume that he did know but once again chose to roll the dice.
As Riss says entirely correctly it is the steady frittering away of a couple of million here and a couple of million there which is at the core of our lack of transfer funds.
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What staggers me is a quick trip to a west ham forum or call to any ST holder would have told you Joe Cole is blowing out of his arse after 7 mins of trotting about. The guys legs are gone , he is useless to us at this level.
Exactly. I spoke to a WHU season ticket holder who said he is finished. Mind, it didn't take being Einstein to work that out .
He really needed to drop down to a Brentford level.
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Cole needs to play, but I don't think he's up to it - sadly, we could have invested in someone younger and with a better fitness record. Sounds obvious really. Lambert obviously has a plan and a need for Cole. Let's hope it's not a pointless signing.
I just get the feeling that for a half decent number 10, we probably couldn't afford anyone better who could be consider a fairly safe bet. Joe Cole on a free was probably an alternative to Wes Hoolahan.
I think we looked at a Spanish player at one point late in the window. I'm buggered if I remember who, but obviously it didn't come off.
I just think we could really do with a good 20-30 million quid window next summer. With TV money etc, and a good further trimming of wage bill with 1-2 going, I think a spend like that should be within our means. Given our struggles we could well also lose a couple of our better players, so we can't do things by half any more. Hand in pocket time.
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I had totally forgot we had signed him.
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We've been linked today with a january loan move for Clint Dempsey, along with QPR too. For me he'd be a good short term solution, in the Robbie Keane mould who could play the number 10. And he's in decent nick for his age, unlike Cole. It might give us a couple of months with a bit more nous and threat up top.
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We've been linked today with a january loan move for Clint Dempsey, along with QPR too. For me he'd be a good short term solution, in the Robbie Keane mould who could play the number 10. And he's in decent nick for his age, unlike Cole. It might give us a couple of months with a bit more nous and threat up top.
Didn't he go to Everton last season and did naff all or did I dream it?
edit. Just looked and it's Fulham he went back to for five games. He did do naff all though.
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We've been linked today with a january loan move for Clint Dempsey, along with QPR too. For me he'd be a good short term solution, in the Robbie Keane mould who could play the number 10. And he's in decent nick for his age, unlike Cole. It might give us a couple of months with a bit more nous and threat up top.
Didn't he go to Everton last season and did naff all or did I dream it?
edit. Just looked and it's Fulham he went back to for five games. He did do naff all though.
Ha ha. I'd forgotten all about that. That said, he was quality in the World Cup.
I don't envision our ambitions going much higher than something like this in Jan to be honest.
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Dempsey, Keane (again), Cahill and... fuckit, Henry. We can send Bennett, Sylla, Salifou and Gardner over to the US on an exchange trip.
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I wouldn't mind Keane coming back, just as a coach to teach the players about movement.
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Joe Cole is fat, unfit and past it. End of.
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Joe Cole is fat, unfit and past it. End of.
And ours for two more seasons, woo hoo!
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I'm amazed Villa signed Cole, he was clearly past his best and off the pace last season at West Ham.
Shame really, he was a quality player just a couple of years ago.
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Injured? That's a surprise. Hamstring this time too, jesus wept.
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His legs seem to be made of the same stuff as a Daddy long legs, except he can't grow new ones.
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What bugged me a little about Cole last night was, his legs appeared to give out. He was sat on the floor looking sorry for himself. As soon as his number came up, he got up and sprinted off the fucking pitch. In fact it was as quick as I've ever seen him move for us.
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Joe Cole is fat, unfit and past it. End of.
And ours for two more seasons, woo hoo!
Said it at the time, but offering him a two year contract was a really poor decision (unless of course there are some break off clauses written in).
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He had played nearly 2 days in a week! poor little lamb
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His legs seem to be made of the same stuff as a Daddy long legs, except he can't grow new ones.
Neither can daddy long legs.
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Still can't complete ninety minutes, even when he's given two games to achieve it.
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He's still got the ability, but can't keep himself fit long enough to make it count.
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Injured? That's a surprise. Hamstring this time too, jesus wept.
But I wanted to see the "good" Joe Cole on Sunday! <stamps foot>
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I wonder what Joe Cole is up to? Anyone any ideas?
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Sat, smoking, watching Jeremy Kyle most days, I reckon.
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I wonder what Joe Cole is up to? Anyone any ideas?
About page 796 of War And Peace I would imagine.
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I wonder what Joe Cole is up to? Anyone any ideas?
No good.
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Counting his daily wages one penny at a time?
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Counting his daily wages one penny at a time?
He could still get injured doing that.
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I'd pretty well forgotten that he plays for us. I can just imagine the horror of the chirpy cockney chats between him and Sherwood.
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Likewise I'd forgotten he was here. Spends his days exchanging fitness tips with Vlaar presumably.
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I would have thought 'im and Tim would be thick as thieves. If he is fit then it seems that Grealish and Gil are ahead of him in the "fancy stuff like pass and move" pecking order.
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To think at one point it almost seemed like our hopes for actually creating goals for Benteke rested on the fine china shoulders and legs of Mr Joe Cole. Suddenly we've got Grealish getting game time, Zogbia actually playing well, Sinclair and Gil have come in and even Gabby has turned up now. It feels strange to have options.
As such I don't envision Joe Cole playing for the club again. He'll go down as Pires Mk2.
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He'We'll always have Burnley.
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is it possible to get fitness back and become top level player ? (For the like of Joe Cole)
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To think at one point it almost seemed like our hopes for actually creating goals for Benteke rested on the fine china shoulders and legs of Mr Joe Cole. Suddenly we've got Grealish getting game time, Zogbia actually playing well, Sinclair and Gil have come in and even Gabby has turned up now. It feels strange to have options.
As such I don't envision Joe Cole playing for the club again. He'll go down as Pires Mk2.
And end up in the "You forget they played for Villa" thread.
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To think at one point it almost seemed like our hopes for actually creating goals for Benteke rested on the fine china shoulders and legs of Mr Joe Cole. Suddenly we've got Grealish getting game time, Zogbia actually playing well, Sinclair and Gil have come in and even Gabby has turned up now. It feels strange to have options.
As such I don't envision Joe Cole playing for the club again. He'll go down as Pires Mk2.
This season you could read through the squad list and wonder why we were where we were. The players were there but there was a very limited coaching staff overseeing them, led by someone who lacked outward passion and whose tactics constantly illustrated a lack of confidence in his own players and fear of the opponent. If we were to still to go down, it would be down to Lambert and by the club taking too long to replace him. If the team that showed against Albion had appeared against Stoke and Newcastle, we may well have an additional 4 or 6 points.
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is it possible to get fitness back and become top level player ? (For the like of Joe Cole)
I don't think so. His problem is he breaks down before getting back up to full speed, and the sands of time are against him.
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is it possible to get fitness back and become top level player ? (For the like of Joe Cole)
Too many injuries as well down the years have taken there toll on him.
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Joe Cole is a very lucky man to squeeze another season's salary sort of money for nothing but now it's time to say goodbye.
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Tim Sherwood is a big admirer of Joe Cole and believes he still has plenty to offer in claret and blue.
An injury-hit 2014-15 campaign to date has restricted Cole's appearances, meaning the Villa faithful are yet to see the best of former Chelsea man since his arrival in June 2014.
Throughout his football career, Cole has built up an enviable CV, listing prestigious honours including three Premier League trophies, three FA Cups and two League Cups.
And, providing club and player establish a healthy balance between training and playing, the manager believes the 33-year-old remains highly influential - on and off the field.
He said: "Joe is not getting any younger but I still think he's got a part to play. He's not broken by any means.
"He's got great experience.
"I like players who can affect the game and Joe, when he is on the pitch, does that.
"He can score and assist.
"I don't like players who are just out on the pitch - I like them to affect football matches.
"You just have to make sure you nurture him to get the right balance between training and playing because the most important thing is the playing. They need to be at a physical level to deal with the demand.
"He's good around the place. He's been at every game.
"He's been in the dressing room before the match talking to the players.
"We have a relatively young squad so he's valuable to me."
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I can't see him having any great involvement from here on in, I just hope Jack Grealish can learn from him in training.
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Tim Sherwood is a big admirer of Joe Cole and believes he still has plenty to offer in claret and blue.
An injury-hit 2014-15 campaign to date has restricted Cole's appearances, meaning the Villa faithful are yet to see the best of former Chelsea man since his arrival in June 2014.
Throughout his football career, Cole has built up an enviable CV, listing prestigious honours including three Premier League trophies, three FA Cups and two League Cups.
And, providing club and player establish a healthy balance between training and playing, the manager believes the 33-year-old remains highly influential - on and off the field.
He said: "Joe is not getting any younger but I still think he's got a part to play. He's not broken by any means.
"He's got great experience.
"I like players who can affect the game and Joe, when he is on the pitch, does that.
"He can score and assist.
"I don't like players who are just out on the pitch - I like them to affect football matches.
"You just have to make sure you nurture him to get the right balance between training and playing because the most important thing is the playing. They need to be at a physical level to deal with the demand.
"He's good around the place. He's been at every game.
"He's been in the dressing room before the match talking to the players.
"We have a relatively young squad so he's valuable to me."
That's good to hear. It's quite an understanding and ringing endorsement (although I doubt Sherwood could say much else considering where we're currently at regarding Cole's injury and the fact that he currently has no option but to make the best of the players available). At least Sherwood is emphasising the positives in a difficult situation - a change from the Bomb Squad fiasco.
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is it possible to get fitness back and become top level player ? (For the like of Joe Cole)
Not unless he's friends with Dr. Emmett Brown and Marty McCoy.
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is it possible to get fitness back and become top level player ? (For the like of Joe Cole)
Not unless he's friends with Dr. Emmett Brown and Marty McCoy.
Marty McCoy?
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Can't believe he got a 2 year deal.
Hopefully for all concerned he'll take an MLS club offer this summer.
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is it possible to get fitness back and become top level player ? (For the like of Joe Cole)
Not unless he's friends with Dr. Emmett Brown and Marty McCoy.
Marty McCoy?
Marty McFly, Sylvestor McCoy. Easy to get these time travellers mixed up.
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is it possible to get fitness back and become top level player ? (For the like of Joe Cole)
Not unless he's friends with Dr. Emmett Brown and Marty McCoy.
Marty McCoy?
Barsteward autocorrect.
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It's a shame that a player of such undoubted talent & ability finds himself totally broken & unable to maintain any sort of fitness, but I don't regret us taking a risk on him & his professionalism & qualities as a man of integrity shine through. I really respect that he came here determined to try and prove himself & wasn't here simply for a pay cheque. It's to be admired & is sadly lacking in modern football. He'll move on this Summer & he'll certainly have my best wishes
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You never know, his goal against Burnley could turn out to be vital.
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Does anyone know if he's due back before the end of the season? What his injury status is?
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From Sherwood's comments it sounds as if Cole has a constant niggle...so he'll probably come on for 20 minutes as usual and then retire to the physio's couch.
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From Sherwood's comments it sounds as if Cole has a constant niggle...so he'll probably come on for 20 minutes as usual and then retire to the physio's couch.
That doesn't sound promising at all, it sounds like Joe Cole has turned into an intermittent fault (that always stops working/breaks down at the most inappropriate time). I hope he manages to recover.
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I get the impression that Cole is great around the club and a positive influence on Grealish.
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No idea why we signed him really, but hey ho this is a Dr Doo Little type season.
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I get the impression that Cole is great around the club and a positive influence on Grealish.
This was my main hope when we bought in Cole. My expectations for him on the pitch were zero, but I hoped he could have a positive influence on Grealish.
In all honesty too, Cole hasn't done too badly when he's actually played. Sure he can't run any more but he's showed some experience which has proved useful at times. I thought he did well when he came on against Spurs. The vast Wembley pitch is a bit beyond him now, even in a cameo.
I suspect he's got one more Burnley-esque game in him before the season is out though.
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I get the impression that Cole is great around the club and a positive influence on Grealish.
This was my main hope when we bought in Cole. My expectations for him on the pitch were zero, but I hoped he could have a positive influence on Grealish.
In all honesty too, Cole hasn't done too badly when he's actually played. Sure he can't run any more but he's showed some experience which has proved useful at times. I thought he did well when he came on against Spurs. The vast Wembley pitch is a bit beyond him now, even in a cameo.
I suspect he's got one more Burnley-esque game in him before the season is out though.
Probably West Ham at home ??
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Speaking to a couple of scouters after the game and they said Cole had had to get a bungalow in Liverpool because he had trouble getting up stairs after a game. Sounded dubious but they had just lost and probably weren't in the mood for joking.
They were very, very dismissive of Sterling and his attitude.
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I get the impression that Cole is great around the club and a positive influence on Grealish.
This was my main hope when we bought in Cole. My expectations for him on the pitch were zero, but I hoped he could have a positive influence on Grealish.
In all honesty too, Cole hasn't done too badly when he's actually played. Sure he can't run any more but he's showed some experience which has proved useful at times. I thought he did well when he came on against Spurs. The vast Wembley pitch is a bit beyond him now, even in a cameo.
I suspect he's got one more Burnley-esque game in him before the season is out though.
Probably West Ham at home ??
Quite possibly. They've pretty much drawn the curtain on their season and Cole will perhaps have a point to prove. I do fancy that to be the game which seals our survival.
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Speaking to a couple of scouters after the game and they said Cole had had to get a bungalow in Liverpool because he had trouble getting up stairs after a game. Sounded dubious but they had just lost and probably weren't in the mood for joking.
They were very, very dismissive of Sterling and his attitude.
To be fair, Sterling's attitude stinks to fuck.
I dont mind players making big money, but the sense of entitlement on a player so young who has proved so little makes me want to gag.
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re Cole, I found myself thinking, as Grealish made way for him on Sunday, "old replaces new", followed by, "how nice to see a player with an increasingly evident bald spot"
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I think Cole could become important in the last few games. A steady head needed for the run in as it could get very nervy and he has been in this position before.
Regarding Sterling a lot has been said but we, obviously being Villa fans we're hugely removed from it, don't know anything. Football fans tend to exaggerate reasons for players not signing new contracts - he wants £200 000, a villa in Santa monica, to shag Miss World - when all he's actually said is that he doesn't want to sit down and sign a new contract now. He's getting hugely criticised and everyone has decided that he he's a greedy so and so. A little bit like some people were starting to be negative towards Delph and then look what happened.
He's a great player Sterling. Should get even better. No-one knows why he doesn't want to sign on the dotted line straight away and I'm not sure he deserves the criticism.
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Based on his stats for this season he's a good player. He's a good player who at times is very good and can even be exceptional. He's certainly shouldn't be considered great given his total body of work in my opinion.
A lot of Liverpool players elevated their game and were made to look a lot better than they are with Suarez in the side. Great players like Suarez elevate everyone around them. Sterling doesn't do that and the hype surrounding him has been a bit nuts. That and his "interview" goes again to highlight how some players simply lose perspective with the slightest bit of success. Turning down £100k a week is utterly ludicrous.
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I saw Cole in London a few weeks back, he was with his wife/girlfriend pushing a pram. They were bickering and looked to be in foul moods. He looked old. She sounded a right bitch.
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He's listed as an investor in the Pretty Green clothing range. That's got to be worth a few Bob.
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What was interesting for me was the clips afterwards, Cole was right in the middle of much of the celebrations. The squad clearly love him, he is having a good impact on Grealish and his cameo roles are quite useful. Plus his goal at Burnley looks priceless right now. I think Sherwood will keep him around next season and use him like he has so far.
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I think Sherwood will keep him around next season and use him like he has so far.
His main role seems to be to keep the ball in the last few minutes if we look like getting some points.
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Regarding Sterling a lot has been said but we, obviously being Villa fans we're hugely removed from it, don't know anything. Football fans tend to exaggerate reasons for players not signing new contracts - he wants £200 000, a villa in Santa monica, to shag Miss World - when all he's actually said is that he doesn't want to sit down and sign a new contract now. He's getting hugely criticised and everyone has decided that he he's a greedy so and so. A little bit like some people were starting to be negative towards Delph and then look what happened.
He's a great player Sterling. Should get even better. No-one knows why he doesn't want to sign on the dotted line straight away and I'm not sure he deserves the criticism.
Fully agree Peter.
The suggestion is that he wants to move to a club where he is more likely to win things. Based on this year, thinking that there might be better places to do it than Liverpool isn't a crazy idea.
Even if it just about money - Liverpool's income next year is likely to be 70% higher than this year because of the increased TV income. The old income had the likes of Glen Johnson on £90k per week and Gerrard on £140k per week. He's been told every step of the way that he is going to be one of the best players in the world, it stands to reason that he would probably rate himself as more important to the club than Glen Johnson is and should be compensated accordingly.
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I can see the argument Dave, but I think he is being advised very poorly. He has had a couple of hot periods of form but so far is 20, and not proved anything over a sustained period. He signed a new deal 12-15 months ago on a lot of money reportedly, so is already very well paid for his age and standing. Your use of Johnson, he was bought for 19 million and was the first choice England right back at the time. Sterling is still very raw, very young, is playing regularly in a side that this season has reached 2 cup semi finals, last year came second in the league. His chances of winning things might actually not improve that much short of going to Real Madrid or Chelsea for example. If I were his agent, or advising his mum, I would be telling him to take the 120k a week on offer, and then give it 2 years to develop as a player before trying to move on. At the moment it just seems silly to me.
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He signed a new deal 12-15 months ago on a lot of money reportedly, so is already very well paid for his age and standing.
So why is everybody fretting about him not signing another one now then? Why can't he just carry on for now on the deal that he signed a year ago?
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Regarding Sterling a lot has been said but we, obviously being Villa fans we're hugely removed from it, don't know anything. Football fans tend to exaggerate reasons for players not signing new contracts - he wants £200 000, a villa in Santa monica, to shag Miss World - when all he's actually said is that he doesn't want to sit down and sign a new contract now. He's getting hugely criticised and everyone has decided that he he's a greedy so and so. A little bit like some people were starting to be negative towards Delph and then look what happened.
He's a great player Sterling. Should get even better. No-one knows why he doesn't want to sign on the dotted line straight away and I'm not sure he deserves the criticism.
Fully agree Peter.
The suggestion is that he wants to move to a club where he is more likely to win things. Based on this year, thinking that there might be better places to do it than Liverpool isn't a crazy idea.
Even if it just about money - Liverpool's income next year is likely to be 70% higher than this year because of the increased TV income. The old income had the likes of Glen Johnson on £90k per week and Gerrard on £140k per week. He's been told every step of the way that he is going to be one of the best players in the world, it stands to reason that he would probably rate himself as more important to the club than Glen Johnson is and should be compensated accordingly.
they are giving Henderson £100k per week, Sterling must think he is worth £250k per week at least :-)
can understand the top top players getting top top money (still think it's wrong mind you) but average players shouldn't be paid that kind of money, that is where English football has got it wrong
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I've been pleasantly surprised by Cole when he's been fit this season. A couple of good performances as a starter and his attitude when he's came on under Sherwood has been good. Seems to know and happily accept his role in the squad.
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Just watched joe cole on fantasy football club with magic merse and was impressed how passionate he is about football. For me he speaks well , interested in staying in game managing and was intetesting hearing him. I certainly think he would be one to keep on as an experienced player who is professional and can cut in championship. Of course hes little attachment to villa but I think he should be appreciated and is a decent footballing guy who's needed at our club in some capacity.
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I saw him and he has got a great attitude, unfortunately I am not sure he has the legs
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I thought we'd released him from his contract?
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We have released him, he's a Coventry player for the rest of the season (I think!)
Did he mention his time with us at all?
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We have released him, he's a Coventry player for the rest of the season (I think!)
Did he mention his time with us at all?
He liked the club but found the apples and pears on the Holte a bit tiring.
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We have released him, he's a Coventry player for the rest of the season (I think!)
Did he mention his time with us at all?
He liked the club but found the apples and pears on the Holte a bit tiring.
If he cared about us, he would have had a stair lift put in to combat that
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It was painful to see him huffing and puffing, bent over with his hands on his back, but he was still a good player.
He is about our only player that made an intelligent run to the near post to score a goal in the last several years.
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What is this thread all about? Joe Cole is the day before yesterday's man and he's playing in division million.