Joe Cole

[Pete3206]

If he keeps fit, he could be useful. And that's a very big if.

[PaulWinch again]

All I'll say is he probably could have taken a better pay day elsewhere, so fair play to him and good luck.

[nigel]

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.

[peter w]

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.

[Legion]

I can guarantee you that at the start of the season we'll be in 2nd place before a ball has even been kicked.

[peter w]

Actually we'll be joint first.

[exigo]

Actually we'll be joint first.

*Obligatory Brummie reply*

Or joint last.

[Brend'Watkins]

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.

[citizenDJ]

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?

[peter w]

Actually we'll be joint first.

*Obligatory Brummie reply*

Or joint last.

I'll go for joint 16th.

[Meanwood Villa]

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.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

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.

[pauliewalnuts]

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.

[malckennedy]

32 plus 2 equals 34. Where does 35 come from?

[PeterWithesShin]

32 plus 2 equals 34. Where does 35 come from?

Playing for Villa ages players quicker.