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Born in Paddington, Joe Cole, 32,  is a self acclaimed Londoner, and is West Ham United through and through.

His four goals in 19 appearances for the Hammers since returning to his boy hood club have been much obliged by Sam Allardyce’s men, coming in some crucial ties for the Irons including goals against London rivals, Queens Park Rangers, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur as well as netting on the opening day of the 2013/14 Premier League season against newly promoted Cardiff City.

There is no doubt that Joe Cole still has the ability to change games and, being West Ham through and through, it makes you wonder as to why Allardyce is seemingly oblivious to Joey’s capabilities.

In times of need someone with the experience and class that Joe Cole has; would be the perfect role model on the pitch? Or is that to obvious for the midlands man?

The Hammers boss has come under much scrutiny for his team selections and impractical formations. Such as the infamous 4-6-0, which saw the Hammers line up without a striker for six league games – picking up just five points from a possible 18 – as the statistically provoked Allardyce finally played a striker in the home tie against fellow strugglers Fulham. The Irons saw off their rivals with a comfortable 3-0 win, with goals coming from, Mohammed Diame, Joe Cole and hot-and-cold Carlton Cole.

With the biggest game of the season against Sunderland at the Boleyn on Saturday, Big Sam will be in need of a leader out on the pitch, after the petulant Kevin Nolan saw red for a despicable challenge on Jordan Henderson at Liverpool, which sees him out of action for 3 weeks. So without club captain, Allardyce will be forced to select someone to lead the club through the Christmas period, much to his displeasure…one would imagine. There are of course many candidates for the role, including the likes of fellow hammers lads Mark Noble and James Tomkins, however personally I would like to see the role be given to none other than Joe Cole.

No player in that team knows the club better than him. Of course,you might argue that being the club’s longest serving player, Mark Noble surely does, and to an extent I agree. However, Joe Cole has seen the club evolve since his first appearance in 1998 until the present day, no matter where in the country he plays he has always followed the Irons, and that is the type if dedication and determination that this club needs.

In a recent interview, Frank Lampard was asked of his feelings towards West Ham after his departure, stated that, ‘Joe, used to sit and wait for the West Ham score to come in, and would be disappointed if they lost, I on the other hand smiled.’ Although this boils mine and I’m sure many Hammers fans; blood, considering we gave him his career, the fact that even after moving to a big club such as Chelsea, Joe Cole still loved his boyhood club and stood by us despite his ever progressing career, of which of course evoked his return to the club in January of last year, a kind of love and passion, a captain should have.

Thus, I believe it’s about time that Sam and his ‘management team’ opened their eyes and gave Joe Cole not only a chance to do what he can on the pitch but also the respect he deserves for his dedication to a club that quite frankly hasn’t deserved it in recent weeks. So instead of taking him off before he’s had a chance to get on the ball and work his magic.

Just let the lad play football, after all that’s all the retro-esque midfielder ever wants to do!

Keep the Faith!



2 COMMENTS

  1. Joe Cole is a shadow of the player he used to be. Did absolutely nothing against Sunderland and has struggled in nearly all of the games he has played in so far this season. The rose tinted glasses seem to keep the critics away but as time goes by I imagine more and more will come to the same conclusion.

  2. He got his chance yesterday and was one of the worst performers against Sunderland. He ignored his defensive duties and left Demel exposed, having to deal with two players. He drifted into the middle leaving the team totally unbalanced. I think he makes a good impact sub but sadly his best days are behind him.

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