[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=40868.msg1138851#msg1138851 date=1279584084]
I’m a bit torn on this. I think Cole is a good signing in terms of a statement of intent, to our fans, to our players and to our rivals. That said, I don’t get the hype from a footballing perspective.
He’s a good player, capable of filling a number of positions. However, he has gone on record to state that he was unhappy playing wide left at Chelsea last season and wants to play central with his new team. Given the scramble to sign him, I’d guess Roy has told him he’ll play down the middle.
Seeing as he is coming in as Yossi is going, it’s interesting to compare their recent records. They show that (1) Yossi is capable of playing more games & (2) Yossi scores considerably more goals. Given that Yossi himself wasn’t able to play his preferred position for most of his time at LFC, this again does him favours. Obviously, Cole’s recent injury record is a concern especially given that our other big name players are hardly strangers to the treatment room themselves. Finally, I think the fact that Yossi is 30 softened the blow of him leaving for some people. Cole is 29 this year.
So, big outlay, we’ve haven’t addressed our wide issues (and, if we think we have, we’ll end up with a disgruntled player), we’ve complicated the Gerrard/Aqua issue, it’s a risk with fitness, it might be nothing more than a like-for-like. Plus side, Yossi was going anyway so this, at least, bolsters the quality in the squad.
Kewell or McAllister signing? Kewell for me, hope not though.
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I liked Yossi, and thought Rafa utilized him poorly. However, I find it difficult to understand how this could be viewed as anything but an upgrade. Yes, Yossi tends to score more goals, but his form is patchy at best. His goals tend to be concentrated into purple patches. He'll score a hat-trick (usually against poor opposition) and then go missing for 10 games. Prior to his two recent injuries, Joe Cole was a regular starter for Chelsea and a consistent Premiership performer.
We could agonize over the statistics all day but you only have to have watched them both play to know that Cole is the superior footballer.
