Joe Cole

[silhillvilla]

Doesn't that 20 apps last season including quite a few off the bench cameos ?

[paul_e]

6 starts, the rest were sub appearances.

[silhillvilla]

JOE COLE IS OUT INJURED

[mr underhill]

you are joking? Joe Cole injured?

[Rolta]

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.

[Chico Hamilton III]

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.

[Clampy]

JOE COLE IS OUT INJURED

Yes, you've already expressed your surprise elsewhere. You didn't need to tell us again.

[Toronto Villa]

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.

[Damo70]

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.

[RussellC]

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.

[Damo70]

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'.

[Chico Hamilton III]

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?

[Gregorys Boy]

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.

[Damo70]

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?

[mr underhill]

I think you should. I'm over the moon with your top, top post.