Joe Cole proves money not ambition was key to Liverpool signing
Joe Cole is a talented player, there’s no doubt about that, but what can you doubt is his reasoning for signing with Liverpool and his ability to stay fit.
Liverpool is not a bad club, not by any margin, but they won’t be playing Champions League football next season and, still, could lose Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to other clubs before this season starts.
And consider Roy Hodgson as manager. While his time at Fulham was certainly impressive his managerial career hasn’t exactly been spectacular, Inter Milan being the biggest club he has managed, in a time where they weren’t as strong as they are today.
Can Hodgson really manage top-class stars in the Premier League? Only time will tell but it is definitely something to think about because Liverpool are now not a top-four club and it could be a while before they return.
So if Liverpool aren’t going to be challenging for a title this year why has Cole signed with the Merseysiders? Well the answer could lie in the other contracts presented to him by his other suitors.
Reports have suggested that Arsenal only offered a two-year £80,000 a-week contract, and Spurs were only willing to offer a three-year £65,000 deal. Liverpool however jumped in with a four-year £90,000-a-week deal and seemingly blew Cole away. Manchester United were also interested at the right price but with Cole’s demands so high, they didn’t table a serious offer.
If you wanted to really win titles and add medals to your medal collection Liverpool wouldn’t be the team of choice. Yes there is talent in the team but the club is in transition and could take up to four years before they actually challenge for honours again.
Cole is looking after his future, and rightly so because when you make 28 Premier League starts in the last two seasons combined, the same amount that he made in 2007/08 alone, why wouldn’t you take the money and play for Liverpool?
In reality we would all take the money, it’s not like he’s gone to Dubai to ply his trade, Liverpool will always be giants in the Premier League.
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