Joe Cole on the verge on West Ham return
As this is being written, Joe Cole is waiting on the last finishing touches for his move to West Ham be completed, a move which would bring him back to the Boleyn ground, his boyhood home.
West Ham through-and-through and like so many others in the early 2000’s, Cole was plucked at the height of his potential. Along with Cole, Jermain Defoe, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Glen Johnson and Rio Ferdinand were all bought from the Hammers at key times in the players development, with the only difference between Joe and the rest is, Cole’s coming back.
Yes, that may be via Chelsea, via Liverpool, via France and via the treatment table, but you try stopping the Hammers fans saying he’s coming home!
Long had it been discussed early in his career Cole would be the next big thing with his speed, ability to beat a man, dribbling, confidence, versatility to play wide or central, drawing obvious comparisons to a certain Mr Gascoigne, but Joe was his own man.
At 16-years-old, Manchester United offered a reported £10 million for a lad who hadn’t played a competitive match, then a year later at 17 it all started for him. He made his debut in the claret and blue and by the time he was 21 he even captained the side, but that’s when he left.
Chelsea came calling and so did a winners medal, but he gradually got frozen out at Stamford Bridge with injuries no doubt playing their part. Competition was aplenty and he ended up leaving on a free transfer to Liverpool, a smart move a lot of people thought, others a shrewd one, but a year later he was loaned out to Lille after an injury hampered season at the Reds.
Lille was a success in some sense. Better form, injuries were kept at bay but more importantly, Joe got games under his belt, something that hadn’t happened consistently for a few years and this gave him and Liverpool supporters a glimmer of hope.
However he is again on the move and is praying that he can establish himself as a key figure in Sam Allardyce’s squad.
Good luck Joe, but more importantly, good luck West Ham.
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