bridge views - the thinking fan's chelsea blog

Joe Cole 'heartbroken' to leave Chelsea? Give me a break

All the recent media talk involving Joe Cole has been around how Capello should use him to inject some life into his almost paralytic England team. They are right. As he has done at Chelsea, Joe Cole has the potential to offer the ailing England team something it does not have without him – that flash of ‘fantasy’ that is a prized asset at even the best teams on the planet.

I was sad when I heard news in the final days of my recent holiday that Chelsea had decided to let Joe Cole go. He was, it seemed, a genuine Chelsea supporter who delighted in playing at Stamford Bridge, and at times he has been an incredible player for us. After a run of poor luck with injuries, I was desperate for him to come good. And, of course, it’s always good to see Chelsea’s English players do well. In an ideal world, I’d want Joe Cole at the club – no question.

At the same time however, I couldn’t help but agree with the decision Chelsea have made. All reports on the contract negotiations suggested that Cole was looking for a payrise. Unrealistic and unreasonable, in my view: his injury record and questionable form this season in no way add up to a valid argument for a payrise. If he had wanted to stay, he should have accepted the offer Chelsea made (supposedly at the same level of his existing contract), played his way back into form and then lobbied management for an improved contract further down the line. Isn’t that how someone who was a fan – as well as a professional – would behave?

Today however, the Mirror has reported that Joe Cole is apparently ‘devastated’ and ‘heartbroken’ to have been let go by Chelsea. The paper says that he is “struggling to come to terms with being shown the door” and that sources reckon “the ace has taken the news very badly as he desperately wanted to stay at Chelsea”.

Honestly, give me a break. How can he have been desperate to stay – to the extent that he is apparently almost in mourning now that he’s leaving – but not accepted a reasonable contract? Maybe we haven’t got the whole picture, but Joe - we’re all sad to see you go, but it sounds like you had a choice. There’s no point crying now…

You might also be interested to read:

• Joe Cole: emotional attachment not enough to warrant bumper contract
• A word on Joe Cole’s loyalty

Week of change for Chelsea despite World Cup lull: exits, Benayoun and Mutu

Having gone on holiday for a few weeks after the 09/10 season finally drew to a triumphant close, I came back to enjoy the start of the World Cup. Whilst most of the country was drawn to a complete standstill as the tournament kicked off in South Africa however, changes at Chelsea were afoot.

First of all, the departure of three Chelsea players was confirmed: Beletti, Ballack and Joe Cole. Beletti’s exit was not entirely unexpected – while he had gained somewhat cult status at Stamford Bridge and been a useful utility player over the last two seasons, the Brazilian wasn’t getting any younger, and Chelsea have a wealth of right backs to call on. Ballack’s exit was only slightly more surprising, but his departure probably points to a desire to lower the wage bill and freshen up the squad with younger, quicker legs.

Letting Joe Cole go has obviously been far more controversial. Chelsea’s plans for the England midfielder have been the subject of much speculation for months now – not least on this blog, which questioned his supposed demands for a payrise – so the eventual decision isn’t much of a surprise either. While losing an English player who adds something genuinely different to a team that occasionally lacks creativity is a shame, Cole’s injury record and form over the last couple of seasons in no way warranted a payrise. If the rumours are true that he was demanding more money then, sadly, it is the right decision to let him move on. More analysis on each of the Chelsea departures this summer will follow on this blog – and there are sure to be more. Deco, anyone?

Chelsea’s apparent pursuit of Liverpool’s Yossi Benayoun has been genuinely surprising, however. It seems like he is the chosen replacement for Joe Cole, and it doesn’t immediately feel like a step up. The Israeli – who has a decent scoring record at Anfield of around one goal every four games – is two years older than Cole and wasn’t deemed good enough to make regular starts up on Merseyside (although perhaps Benitez’s habitual insanity had something to do with that). I have always seen him as a steady but capable squad player, reliable in front of goal and with the odd spark of creativity from the right, but maybe chasing his signature was an early, genuine sign that Chelsea are no longer in the market for the bigger names in world football.

Having not seen too much of him play however, I thought I would check out a Liverpool messageboard to see what fans with far more knowledge of the player thought of Benayoun and his potential move to London. As it turns out, the scousers are far more respectful of his abilities than I was. Comments included:

• “We simply can't afford to lose creative players”
• “We won't find another player like Yossi for 4 measly million”
• “Gutted, like I would say he’s one of our 5 best players”
• “I'm ambivalent about this: on the one hand, he is a really creative player, and you never really know what he'll do next. But equally, he often finds himself running into dead-ends”
• “Definitely worth more than this. superb player. this will be a terribly long season. assuming that masch is also hinting at an exit, thats already 2 of our best 5 gone”

So perhaps £6m isn’t such a bad deal, but it’s hard to see how Chelsea view him as a cheaper option than Joe Cole if they were planning on giving Benyoun the reported £60k a week four-year contract. On his own, Benayoun probably isn’t a great signing. If he is intended as a squad player and his signing is followed by other, younger and more promising transfers, it could turn out to be a very shrewd move indeed. Let’s wait to see what happens.

Elsewhere this week, former Chelsea striker and drug addict Adrian Mutu has been ordered to pay the Blues £14.3m by the Swiss Federal Court. thechelseablog.org has done a great round up of the decision here, but it’s about time Chelsea saw some cash. Mutu was offered help to tackle his addiction by Chelsea, refused it and continued to use illegal substances. It was right to sack him and pursue compensation. Sending a message that certain behaviours, regardless of who you are or what you do, are unacceptable, has to be a good thing.

Hopefully bridgeviews.co.uk will now be back in action, but what do you think of the developments this week? Friends of this blog over on facebook had a mixed reaction to news that Benayoun could be on his way. Post a comment!

Joe Cole debate: emotional attachment not enough to warrant bumper Chelsea contract

Joe Cole’s exquisite goal against Man Utd at the weekend re-awakened everyone to what he is capable of. On his day he is the exciting creative spark that Chelsea otherwise lack. Sadly however, that spark has been none too evident in recent months and, in light of that, is the club right to play hardball over his new contract?

Chelsea fans feel a certain emotional connection with Joe Cole, a connection that has probably intensified in recent months. It’s not difficult to see why: since joining the club in 2004 he has often spoken with pride about playing for the team he supports. He joined at a time when unprecedented success came to the club, and enjoyed individual success in Mourinho’s 4-3-3. Since Robben left the club, Cole has probably represented the last remnant of ‘fantasy’ in the Chelsea squad. He has a fantastic work ethic, has been unquestionably committed to the club and has had terrible luck with injury.

But a lot of rubbish has been spoken about Joe Cole and the supposed impasse with the club regarding his new contract. Some fans, probably because of their affinity with him, have become irrationally angered that he hasn’t automatically been handed a bumper contract. The club’s short-sighted and frivolous negotiations with John Terry (which resulted in a 29 year-old defender already on a long-term deal and with injury problems being given a five year, £160k a week contract) does help reinforce that view.

Perhaps most amusingly, Republik of Mancunia, one of the most popular Man Utd blogs out there, has weighed in on the issue amidst continued rumours that Cole could end up at Utd. On the whole it is a fantastic blog, but it’s difficult to agree with its criticism that Chelsea is only about money (in stark contrast to Utd, of course) and that the club is unprepared to reward loyalty. It speaks as if loyalty in itself should be rewarded, with no consideration of whether it is accompanied by performance.

I first wrote about the stalling contract negotiations back in January, and it seems to me that nothing much has changed. Chelsea can’t be expected to reward Cole regardless of performance or value to the team: goodwill and loyalty alone won’t do it. It would be ludicrous for any football club, or business, to act in that way. Moreover, Chelsea desperately need to rein in a previous overspending on player wages, which should be applauded. There is a real contradiction between the real criticism consistently aimed at Chelsea for not being financially prudent and the outright surprise that money hasn’t been thrown at Joe Cole.

In offering a new contract, Chelsea are therefore making a risk assessment. Will their investment pay off as Cole continues to improve? On the other side of the coin, will he consistently recapture his better form, and has he completely overcome his injury concerns? Would investment in a different player bring a greater return?

As it is, Cole’s performances are steadily improving, but he hasn’t contributed as much as you might expect of a player of his ability. Eleven players in the squad have scored more times than him this season, and five have contributed more assists. Combined with his injury record, it would seem like madness to offer him an improved contract.

I, like thechelseablog.org (a blog that has teamed up with Republik of Mancunia on numerous occasions), am very keen to see Joe Cole sign a new contract at Chelsea. But I can’t agree that he has been mistreated or undervalued by Chelsea over the years, or with the implied belief that somehow the club owe him something. Looking back, a combination of Chelsea and Mourinho made Joe Cole the successful player he was in his mid twenties, taking a highly talented player and adding a dose of discipline that made him a consistent starter for England and the country’s player of the tournament in the last World Cup.

Like most Chelsea fans I’m desperate for him to stay and succeed at the club, probably more than the vast majority of other players on the team. Regardless of that however, I understand that the club has to make their decisions based on different factors, and are holding out to make a more informed judgement on form and fitness before offering better terms. In the meantime, Ancelotti has offered unwavering support for Joe Cole in the form of press conference praise and chances on the pitch.

Joe Cole wants to stay at Chelsea, and I believe Ancelotti when he says the club wants him to stay too. But, just as we all have to earn our money, so Cole is having to earn his new contract. That is the right and proper way, and an entirely necessary message that should be more consistently sent to present and future Chelsea players looking to negotiate their contracts. If only the same approach had been taken with John Terry.

Unique to Chelsea both as a player and a person, I think Joe will prove he is worth a new contract. Here’s hoping that his tremendous backheel at the weekend really was a sign of him getting back to top form.

To sign or not to sign? Chelsea's Joe Cole

There's been plenty of newspaper speculation over the past few weeks about Joe Cole, who is edging his way towards been out of contract. Whilst the club's senior representatives have pained themselves to make it clear that getting the attacking midfielder on a new contract is both a priority and a likelihood, this hasn't prevented the rumours from circling Stamford Bridge. But how keen should Ancelotti, Gourlay and Buck be to sign him up? 

The most common of all the rumours is that Joe Cole, now returning to (fairly) regular football for Chelsea, is demanding a payrise to £120,000 a week. You can't believe everything you read when it comes to reported wages - I remember Liverpool fans getting very hot under the collar a few months back when I commented on gossip suggesting Glen Johnson was on £140k a week - and the papers are only guessing half the time. Needless to say, the figures being touted around about the Chelsea favourite are proving divisive with fans. 

Each year, pretty much all of us want - and think we deserve - a payrise from our employer. We probably wouldn't expect a 20% payrise - the minimum figure which Cole is reportedly looking for - put a payrise nonetheless. Perhaps Joe is entitled to the same view?

As many Chelsea fans have pointed out on football chatboards and forums (and even over on this blog's facebook profile page), however much they appreciate him and his time at the club Joe Cole has hardly been a regular over the past couple of seasons. Bad luck with injuries has left him sidelined for long periods, and last season he only made 13 appearances in total. If anyone in regular employment had been unable to work for ten months out of twelve, they likely wouldn't be too hopeful of a decent payrise come the end of the year. 

Since his welcome return, Cole hasn't been at his scintillating best, either, contributing four assists and one goal - compared to six goals and seven assists for Malouda, five goals and four assists for Kalou or three goals and one assist for Deco. Those stats don't make spectacular reading, and intuitively I suspect his best performances this season have come when Chelsea have already put opposition out of the game.

On the other hand, Ancelotti has been easing Joe Cole back into the team gradually. Probably wise after such a serious injury, but building up form can't be easy under those circumstances.

Form aside however, there is another significant bargaining chip working in Cole's favour. Chelsea have a real dearth of players of his type - someone who will take a man on or play that extra creative, speculative pass. Through adding a little 'fantasy' to Chelsea's play, Cole has found himself one of a kind at the club, and therefore harder to part with. Abramovich's supposed desire for sexier football must also be making it difficult for the money men to make the argument for Cole's wages not deserving to elevate beyond their current level - especially with a range of other suitors lining up for his services.

Chelsea fans are divided on Joe Cole's contract. Most, if not all, see him as a quality player feeling his way back to form who Chelsea should work hard to ensure stays at the club. I for one see him as an infinitely preferable option to the likes of Deco, for example, and replacing him in today's market would surely be an expensive task. Perhaps more than anything else, Joe is Chelsea through-and-through, and has repeatedly stated how much he sees playing for the club as a priviledge - a kind of commitment not always found in today's game.

Many fans, me included, agree however that any new deal needs to represent value for money for the club and, regardless of his allegiance and poor fortune with injuries, his recent record doesn't warrant a significant payrise. 

Hopefully all the media chatter is just a result of his agent chancing his arm (it probably is), and we'll hear news of Joe signing a new, reasonable contract in the coming weeks. 

What do you think? Post a comment... 

Could injuries determine Chelsea’s success in 09/10?

Chelsea’s injury record over the past two or three seasons has made fairly sickening reading, with Petr Cech’s horrific injury at Reading 2006 kick-starting a lengthy – and ongoing – queue for the treatment table at Cobham. 

I discussed yesterday the potential impact of Bruno Dimichelis  joining the club, suggesting that reducing the number of injuries could be his most significant contribution. And, looking back over the last campaign in particular, that could well be the case.

Essien himself, the previous season’s player of the year who suffered torn knee ligaments, ended up playing 11 premiership games while Joe Cole played 13 and Carvalho just 12. That’s £50m worth of talent that have played just a quarter of a league season each. Drogba and Ballack also suffered early season injuries, making only 24 appearances, and John Terry, Deco and Ashley Cole all had niggling problems. Peripheral players suffered too, with Ferreira not available for most of the season.

Having suffered a number of injuries to key players for three successive seasons, Dimichelis will have to evaluate what, if anything, could be behind what looks more like a worrying trend than poor fortune. One wonders whether Mourinho’s policy of playing top players week-in, week-out in all competitions during his three and a half year tenure have had a long-term impact on the squad…

It looks like Ancelotti has plans of his own to tackle the problem however, and we might see the return (without meaning to sound derogatory) of more ‘tinkerman’ tactics. Speaking last week, Ancelotti hinted that he will look to use the full depth of the squad over the coming season: “I don’t want to choose my first team. Chelsea is a great team because it has 25 great players, and for me it is impossible to choose the first team. It may be that I never want to choose. I want 25 players that can play well for Chelsea”.

Rotation aside, there has been some good news on the injury front for Blues fans over the past couple of days, first with Ancelotti confirming the importance of Joe Cole in his plans (having suffered a setback in his recovery)  and then with Essien insisting yesterday that his long period on the sidelines last season has made him stronger as a player.

United finished seven points ahead of Chelsea last season – I’ll let you decide whether you think having a fully fit Essien and Cole – both entirely unique in the Chelsea squad - could make up that difference. Either way, hopefully it won’t be long before we find out.

Joe Cole's loyalty

The whole John Terry issue isn't clear at all - and many fans have taken his silence over the last couple of weeks badly. In light of all that, when I stumbled across a press cutting with the following quote from Joe Cole I warmed to it all the more. Here's hoping he's back to full fitness soon.

He's here, he's there, he's every fu*king where...