Joke (in the) hole

[Buddha]

Bear with me on this...

Reflecting on yesterdays rollercoaster of a game and thinking about Cole's goal as the turning point - and somewhat out of the blue given we'd created fuck all in the second half until then.

When he came on it wasn't long before all the usual (and justified) frustrations about him in a Liverpool shirt came to the fore. Trying fancy flicks that didn't come off on the halfway line, devoid of sufficient pace to make an impact on the flanks, not tracking back well enough to prevent the fullback being exposed.

And then he drifted inside, made a clever run and buried the fuck out of quick turn and shot into the bottom corner.

It made me wonder, should Rodgers think about playing him in behind Suarez in the middle? He's just about the only player of the same ilk as Suarez in making untold darting runs, always on the move, going for intuitive flicks when others would trap and think. And he can finish a move with aplomb when on form. He's always made a personal case for being played through the middle and always seemingly shunted out wide where he often struggles.

Give him a go there against Villa?

 

[iseered]

No. He is still shit.

 

[doctor_mac]

Nice thread title, and yes, he could play that role. Indeed, we'd probably be less exposed defensively if he was plying his trade there too. He used to be excellent anywhere along the 3 behind a striker, but now, as you say, the flank positions expose his shortfalls. It might be worth a punt. We could use the goals fo shoore.

 

[Red Astaire]

I think he should be given a go. As Doc Mac said it's worth a punt.

 

[Dreambeliever]

No he needs to prove his worth coming off the bench a couple of more times before he gets a start. Although Rodgers has shown he likes to reward those who score or play well with a start so it wouldn't surprise me

 

[mark1975]

I don't think he does need to prove it from the bench, the same couple of players are getting in the side every week and doing nothing, so he should be given a go. The potential for him and Suarez together is pretty promising as they are both constantly on the move, and while he's not the quickest, he might give us what we've lacked since Maxi left in movement off the ball and runs from midfield. Next up is the ideal game for it.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Problem is 1 great shot apart he was dire yesterday.

 

[mark1975]

Problem is 1 great shot apart he was dire yesterday.

That's alright, he's one step ahead of Allen and Gerrard already!

 

[Gary25]

Joe Cole still has a bit of class about him as he showed yesterday for the goal. It was a difficult chance but he made it look easy.

However, he still has a long, long way to go if he wants to have any sort of future at LFC. Still big question marks over his fitness and overall contribution.

He would be a great asset if he can get some form going.

 

[Modo]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves here....

 

[Tal]

Why change a winning team? Give Suarez a rest.

 

[the count]

Joe Cole believes Liverpool are making good progress under the management of Brendan Rodgers
Liverpool's win over West Ham on Sunday leaves them now find themselves just four points off the Champions League places in the table after a slow start to the season.
Cole reckons the team are developing well and reserved special praise for 18-year-old winger Raheem Sterling.
"I really do think this team is making good progress," said Cole. "The players are getting better and better and really responding to the things the manager wants us to do.
"It's great to play alongside the young lads with the talent and enthusiasm they have got."
"It was a great pass from Raheem for my goal. That's what he's capable of, he is a real livewire and is always a threat. He never stops running and working hard for the team and never looks tired, and for an 18-year-old kid that's unbelievable.
"He is going to be a top player and he is at the right club to do that."

Cole scored Liverpool's equaliser against old club West Ham and the 31-year-old was delighted to get on the scoresheet.
"It was a good feeling to score again and an even better one to win for our fantastic supporters," added Cole.
"When I came off the pitch after scoring against Young Boys, considering I haven't done much for Liverpool, the reception I got from the fans was amazing and it meant a lot to me.
"The fans can see I want to do well for this club and it was great to score a goal for them and get the three points."

 

[Modo]

Why change a winning team? Give Suarez a rest.

You can't be serious.

 

[Squiggles]

'I want to do well for this club'

The same lad who was taking £100,000 a week off us and spending most of it on ciggies. Pfft.

 

[hmmmmm1]

If only we have had an 18 year younger version of Cole that we could mould into a superstar........like Suso!

 

[Modo]

If only we have had an 18 year younger version of Cole that we could mould into a superstar........like Suso!

I wonder when he'll get his next chance.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Playing him anywhere means taking up minutes that are more useful for developing the promising youngsters in the team for the longer term. I think we can use him as a stop-gap from now till January on the wing though, and then move him on when the window opens.

At AM, Shelvey and Suso are behind Gerrard in the pecking order there, so dropping Cole ahead of them doesn't help their development.

On the left, Cole could work as temporary relief until Borini returns. This gives Sterling a break, offers him some competition, or allows us to shift Sterling to the right to fill a gap there right now. However, this blocks Assaidi on the left, and he's someone who could really use some minutes to bed him into the league.

In January, with Borini back, and assuming we do get a wide forward on the right, we'll have these setups:
Forwards: -- Suarez (CF/LW/RW); Borini (LW/CF), Sterling (LW/RW), Assaidi (LW), <new guy> (RW/CF)
AM: -- Gerrard, Shelvey, Suso

Well, that's the way I see it anyway, but obviously Rodgers sees it otherwise because Assaidi and Suso keep sitting on the bench while the likes of Downing and/or Cole keep getting the minutes and blocking them out. It's odd because maybe a month or two ago, Downing and Cole looked like they were going to be pushed out.

 

[doctor_mac]

If only we have had an 18 year younger version of Cole that we could mould into a superstar........like Suso!

Suso will be terrific, but his shooting is fucking woeful at the present time.

 

[peterhague]

Cole can fuck off.

 

[Mors]

Suso will be terrific, but his shooting is fucking woeful at the present time.

Well he's not alone. Seems most of our squad don't know where the goal is. We had 3 shots on goal in 90mins the weekend 😉 good job we put 2 of em in 😉

 

[Brizzle]

This season for me is all about bedding in some of our newer faces to the first team (sterling, shelvey, suso, wisdom, allen etc) and so I'd rather let someone like Suso have the chance to show his talents against dross like Villa than put Cole out who realistically won't be here next season.

I think he has the ability to change a game, but he also provides a detriment to other team members (e.g. full backs he is meant to back up).

 

[doctor_mac]

I don't think anyone thinks Joe Cole is the future, but if we can use him to get some goals then lets do it. We can control games and have 90% possession all we want, but it is pointless without goals. Having players who score is handy.

 

[Lastboyscout]

Definitely. People don't forget how to score goals, sometimes they just just need a lift and for things to go their way. He's a confidence player, things are going his way, 2 games now where he has - dare I say - saved us and he's scoring goals (who else is?)

Start him on Saturday.

 

[peterhague]

I guess this just shows how completely desperate we are that Joe Cole is seriously being proposed as a starter because of one goal.

Depressing.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I guess this just shows how completely desperate we are that Joe Cole is seriously being proposed as a starter because of one goal.

Depressing.

Come on, he's averaged 1 in 8 for us, and a whopping 1 in 7 for Chelsea. And he's scored recently.

He has to be the answer to all our problems, until someone else scores.

 

[the count]

I guess this just shows how completely desperate average we are that Joe Cole is seriously being proposed as a starter because of one goal.

Depressing.

corrected that for you mate

 

[Molbystwin]

That's alright, he's one step ahead of Allen and Gerrard already!

And shelvey for that matter.... Im not too sure I agree with you Mark, I dont see he has a future tbh.... Yeah OK if we need squad depth and can play him onto form then maybe give him a run but....


I wish he was Maxi!!

 

[Squiggles]

Come on, he's averaged 1 in 8 for us, and a whopping 1 in 7 for Chelsea. And he's scored recently.

He has to be the answer to all our problems, until someone else scores.

Gerrard has scored 1 in 15.
Allen has scored 0 in 15.
Henderson has scored 0 in 9.

So...

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Gerrard has scored 1 in 15.
Allen has scored 0 in 15.
Henderson has scored 0 in 9.

So...

Cole would be replacing Shelvey, Gerrard or Sterling. All of whom are more likely to score than him. If Cole had been anything other than shit in his time here, I'd be all for him playing. But he's been awful, I'd rather give his place to someone who needs some development.

 

[Halmeister]

Gerrard has 2 goals. But yeah...