Joe Cole

[Whiney MacWhineface]

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!

[PaulWinch again]

The thing is last season we had zero attacking threat from the midfield for the most part, so frankly Cole is better than that.

[Concrete John]

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.

[olaftab]

I'm hoping for rampant.

So am I. It's my birthday today.

Happy birthday Steve.

[pauliewalnuts]

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.

[PeterWithesShin]

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).

[Concrete John]

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.

[Ozzjim]

Barry should still be our number 1 target

[Concrete John]

Yep.  Him sitting and Cole getting forward, with Delph going box to box would be an excellent combination.

[Ian.]

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.

[supertom]

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. 

[Ian.]

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.

[Louzie0]

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.

[PeterWithesShin]

Happy Birthday Steve.

[supertom]

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.