I got the right hump when Joe Cole was left out of the England game. So much so I was whingeing like a bitch even when preferred bench-warmer Shaun Wright-Phillips put the ball in the back of the net.
You see, whilst I accept Cole missed most of last season for us after suffering a cruciate ligament injury and I also accept even his club manager doesn’t appear to have much faith in him, starting him in just 11 of his 17 games this season, I still believe he’s one of England (and Chelsea’s) most creative players. He might not have rediscovered his form yet and he might be struggling with his confidence right now but until his manager’s give him a real chance, what do they expect?
A third of his appearances in the league have been from the bench and when there’s a substitution to be made, irrespective of how badly his team-mates might be performing, you can guarantee it’s Cole dragged off every time. His club is holding out on a contract and his international manager comes out in the press saying “Every game that Joe plays we either watch live in the stadium or view on television. But there are some problems for him. He’s not back like the player I remember. We have to wait. Possibly he will improve over the last two months.”
Again, what do you expect?
Well, what I expect is for Joe Cole to react to this the same way he’s reacted to every question that’s ever been asked of him in the past – he’ll prove himself.
You know what they say – ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’.
Blue is the colour
