Did I get it wrong about Joe Cole?

[LDN Blue 7,903]

As most people on here know, I have vouched for Joe Cole being a great footballer for a while. After he left, he was slated and I did my best to defend him, for what he did for the club but lately I'm starting to wonder if I was right.

Despite Joey getting our vote as Player of the Year in 2008, I don't seem to recall him having a full, consistent season in a blue shirt. This is coming across even more now that he's in red, where we hardly see him play for Liverpool. Despite having, arguably, one of the best man-managers in football backing him, Joe has still failed to show any qualities that had me boasting how great he was.

He certainly had his moments of brilliance. Goals versus Sweden (for England), Manchester United & Norwich were all spectacular and skilful, but he wasn't the greatest technical player was he?

"I think he has two faces - one beautiful and one I don't like. He must keep one and change the other one."

"Joe can be a regular but he has to improve when the team needs him to be part of a defensive organisation."

So I put the question to you forum. Impartially, forgetting where he is now, is Joe Cole a world-class player or not?

[HRiver 1,512]

No, I don't think that Joe Cole is a world-class player. He used to be skillful and fast, but he has lost even these two now.

[zolayes 14,489]

He never approached world class ...Was a prodigous teenage talent who sadly never fully matured. Could have flashes of brilliance but never

sustained a sufficiently high level of consistent performance.

[Tomo 21,733]

He was the sort of player that would have one absoultely mindblowing game but follow it up with 15 shocking ones.

[HRiver 1,512]

He was the sort of player that would have one absoultely mindblowing game but follow it up with 15 shocking ones.

Very true. And players like that can't be called world-class, definitely.

[Kostas 1,468]

He's certainly not world class now. The real question is whether he ever was world class or not. The answer for me is that throughout his whole career his hype was bigger than him. Many fans believed into it and it seems he did too. That along with injuries and lack of tactical nous ruined him.

He's a whore of a player too.

[Rambo 1,729]

never really was world class to be honest, showed flashes of his brilliance at times but that was it.

[spuz 143]

Dare I say that joining us was a mistake. Probably should have stuck it at West ham for a few more years. He's also been plagued with alot of injuries you have to remember.

[True_Blue 469]

He was on his way to become one,now he i just one of the many wingers in the Premiership.

[Shane 2,275]

West Ham recked him, They put too much pressure on him at an early age.

[Madmax 9,219]

As most people on here know, I have vouched for Joe Cole being a great footballer for a while. After he left, he was slated and I did my best to defend him, for what he did for the club but lately I'm starting to wonder if I was right.

Despite Joey getting our vote as Player of the Year in 2008, I don't seem to recall him having a full, consistent season in a blue shirt. This is coming across even more now that he's in red, where we hardly see him play for Liverpool. Despite having, arguably, one of the best man-managers in football backing him, Joe has still failed to show any qualities that had me boasting how great he was.

He certainly had his moments of brilliance. Goals versus Sweden (for England), Manchester United & Norwich were all spectacular and skilful, but he wasn't the greatest technical player was he?

So I put the question to you forum. Impartially, forgetting where he is now, is Joe Cole a world-class player or not?

Re your question-he isn't world class now, and he never was.

I remember the two of us debating about him on page after page You being pro-Joe and myself favouring the reverse.

At the end of the day, no opinion is right or wrong per se. I understood and respected your points then, and do so now as well.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

He was on his way to becoming one of the best English talents before that injury in 06/07 that kept him out. The injury he had in 08/09 was the final straw for him, sadly.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I remember the two of us debating about him on page after page You being pro-Joe and myself favouring the reverse.

At the end of the day, no opinion is right or wrong per se. I understood and respected your points then, and do so now as well.

Hahaha that's what I was remembering as I posted it, but looking back on his career and looking at him now too.. It's very similar. A good talent that's had his injuries cost him really.

[Fulham Broadway 16,846]

Never the same after those injuries, and I know its a requisite of most top footballers to be thick, but he took it to new levels....

[Wilson 358]

He was on the brink of becoming world class but injurires dragged him down. Then Liverpool dragged him down even more.