Joe Cole

[SamTheMouse]

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?

[pauliewalnuts]

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.

[robbo1874]

Not until we're taken over we won't.

[jeff]

Joe Cole or Karim el Ahmadi seem like a simple answer to me.

[pauliewalnuts]

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.

[jeff]

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.

[pauliewalnuts]

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.

[Toronto Villa]

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.

[QBVILLA]

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

[saunders_heroes]

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.

[QBVILLA]

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.

[Chico Hamilton III]

With Cole being on a free and by Premier League standards a modest wage

What will he be earning, anyone know?

[QBVILLA]

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.

[Chico Hamilton III]

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"

[RussellC]

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.