Joe Cole seeks talks

[Milan 17,849]

Joe Cole is expected to seek talks with the Chelsea manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, after being taken off against Southend United - the 12th club match in a row in which the England midfielder has been substituted.

Cole was taken off in the 84th minute on Saturday with Chelsea leading 1-0 and went down the tunnel without shaking hands with Scolari or acknowledging his manager.

The 27-year-old is understood to want to discuss his predicament with Scolari. Although he is regularly starting matches for Chelsea, he is becoming wearily accustomed to being taken off, at times because of injury, and twice in a run which stretches back to late September he has been substituted at half-time.

Scolari, who has been the subject of criticism recently from the striker Didier Drogba, claimed on Friday that all his players 'love him'.

guardian

Edited January 5, 2009 by milan.cech

[chelseafc123 0]

Scolari....

Edited January 5, 2009 by chelseafc

[terry26 6]

hmmm i'm a football reporter with nothing to do .......... OMG Joe Cole has been subbed 12 times in a row

there's my story

[Elliott 7]

Actually I'm getting sick of Joe Cole getting substituted. It doesn't seem to relate how well he's playing, it's just that apparently he's an easy player to substitute without feeling guilty or something.

[Aesthetic Relic 301]

Quite a few times he's been the best player on the park by a mile and still gets subbed. Its getting beyond a joke. If he wants to bring someone like Kalou on then take off the likes of Deco and move JC back to fill his role on the pitch. That way you still have the threat of Cole and the ineffectiveness of Deco is no longer a problem.

[Kez 2,727]

I picked up on this.. it's a piss take he's one of our best players and he's always getting subbed

[misschief 24]

Only wrote about this today

Chelsea do everything arse about face it seems. Doing everything they can to keep players happy who couldnt give a shit and taking the piss out of loyal players like Cole.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

This is something I'd normally dismiss as bullshit, but its something I've noticed actually. The way he didn't acknowledge the manager suggests to me Scolari has lost Joe Cole's confidence.

[chelseafc123 0]

1 -) Joe Cole should behave as a professional.

2 -) Scolari should give him more game.

Conclusion: Scolari must give more play to Joe Cole.

[Kez 2,727]

Joe Cole is one of the most professional players at this club!

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Actually I agree. He's not helping his cause by storming off down the tunnel.

[misschief 24]

Dont blame him really, reckon I'd have flicked a boot in Scolari's direction tbh. Doesnt matter how shit everyone else is, its always Cole who's sacrificed.

[Kez 2,727]

Exactly Cole deserves to be upset.