1 Jan 2013

Denied: LFC reject €4m African striker swap-deal. Bad decision...?

In what could turn out to be a very welcome belated Christmas present for Reds fans, QPR boss Harry Redknapp has admitted that he would like to sign Liverpool attacker Joe Cole during the January transfer window. However, it also transpires that the Reds have turned down another possible way of getting the former Chelsea star off the wage bill.

According to a report in The Telegraph yesterday:

"Liverpool have also rejected a potential swap deal involving Joe Cole and Lille’s Salomon Kalou".

In November, Lille coach Rudi Garcia admitted that he would 'love to see' Cole back at Lille, and to be honest, I would prefer £3m-rated Kalou in the squad to Cole, but Rodgers clearly isn't interested.

The Cole saga may still have a happy ending though. In an interview interview yesterday, Redknapp praised Cole as a 'good lad, and a good player to have around your football club', but admitted that his wages could be a barrier to any deal. He noted:

“I’ve got a lot of time for Joe as a player and as a person.

"I’d like to bring him here if we could, if they were willing to let him go, but the deal would have to be right for the club,

“We couldn’t do a deal with Liverpool for what his contract is at Liverpool. I’d have to speak with Brendan [Rogers], I’ll have a chat with him when the time is right and see what he has to say.”


I was against Liverpool signing Cole in the first place, and when it comes to his current ability to consistently influence games, I defer to Steve Nicol's view on the subject. He told ESPN recently:

"Joe was at his best maybe four years ago, and I think the reason Liverpool let him go [to Lille] is that he's a bit slow now doesn't have that extra yard in his legs anymore. He can't get away from anybody, and he can't hurt anyone going forward".

Cole is way past his best now, and he's just a drain on the wage bill. Granted, Rodgers knows him from his time at Chelsea, and he may be suited to a quick-passing game, but Liverpool can do better, and given his's age, it's not like he's going to be part of the club's future.

Cole came on a free transfer, so let him leave on a free. That will save QPR money, which should then (hopefully) allow them afford most of his current salary.

The 31-year old was also linked with a move to Russia recently, which prompted Man United legend Andrei Kanchelskis - who now manages Nizhny Novgorod - to deliver the following glowing eulogy:

"Cole is the perfect midfielder. He is quick thinking, a real organiser, and he's able to take the initiative and lead the whole team. He would be a useful midfielder for Spartak Moscow"

The perfect midfielder? Even in his prime, Cole was very far from the perfect midfielder! To be honest, I don't know which statement is more ludicrous: Kanchelskis' assertion that Cole is 'perfect', or Steven Gerrard's contention that Cole is 'better' at some things than Lionel Messi (!)

Jaimie Kanwar


29 comments:

  1. cole is a has been.

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  2. And Kalou is a 'never-was'.

    Both are over-paid tosh

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  3. just get rid anywhere will do as long as he goes,and we don,t give in to his wage demands if we are going to have to carry on paying his wages when hes gone,i would keep him ,and he can sweep the kop and clean the bogs till he drops his demands,if he goes to qpr you can garauntee, him and old harry will want a massive bung(or should i say harrys dog)

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  4. Personally I believe the Russian move would be a better one, preferably Siberia, just watching him play makes me nauseous, he was paid an absolute fortune for doing nothing. 

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  5. I'll personally drive him to the airport. 

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  6. Considering Cole would not accept a cut in his wage, LFC will have to pay him a severance package. If that is the case, LFC should get a transfer fee from QPR!

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  7. Why would we swap one Chelsea reject for another? 

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  8. Yes, we should not give in to his demands. I actually don't understand our policy in this case to be honest. Tell him to report to training every day, hand him a pair of nail scissors and a ruler, then ask him to cut the lawn to a certain length. At the same time tell him that he'll never kick  a football again for us.

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  9. and if he dose not do it dock is wages and if he repeatedly refuses sack him problem solved

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  10. I'm a little confused here,why are we slagging the guy off?we are trying to move him on,we should be wishing him well,see ya when you come to play us.HR and br know the situation,they'll work something out,harry wants him, we dont.The end.

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  11. Cole is better at speaking English than Messi and, being English, he's probably better at making tea. 

    As for football, sorry, Joe, but unless you show some of your training ground skills on the pitch, you're no good to the team. 
    I reckon Cole's signing has been worse than Kewell's.  When Harry was fit, he still managed to put in a fair few decent performances - when he was fit!

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  12. still think hes a better footballer than downing,.

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  13. There was a reason Carlo Ancelotti let Cole leave Chelsea on a free after a six month or so injury.  We are witnessing that reason in full 3D glorious colour.  Like Boxing Helena the legs have gone.

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  14. Biggest disappointment since Aqualani. At the time , Joe cole for free looked like a great bit of business, but he doesn't seem to have that 1/2 a yard in his head anymore, he used to think so quickly, plus never recovered from that stupid sending off decision on his debut. A bit like when Downing hit the bar on hid debut, maybe it would have all gone differently, but as it is, just get rid for free and a bit of a payoff, but if we have to pay him up just to see him leave, then let him continue to rot in the reserves until he lowers his demands, he's had too much for too little already

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  15. I would rather use the cash from wages etc for a different player, can`t see Kalou being worth it, so if we can still ship Cole out, then why not. He only plays non important cup games, so is kinda taking a spot we could use for a youngster to gain game time.

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  16. RAFASdaysWHEREtheGLORYdays4:32 pm, January 02, 2013

    Another bad decision by Christian Purslow,supposed to be a parting gift to the fans and he got a standing ovation from the silly muppets who havent got a brain cell between them and just follow the crowd.Purslow and Carragher have ruined LFC,Carra got his 30 pieces of silver,Purslow got the adulation of a load of muppets who cannot see a priest on a mountain of sugarFACT.

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  17. The swap makes no sense, Kalou is a striker that does not score. At this point we might end up loaning him to QPR and paying a part of his wages.  We need better deal makers at the club, we have developed a history of overpaying for transfer fees and wages, that is why we have the likes of cole who we can not even get rid of for free because of his wages. 

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  18. Gerrard will never down that Messi comparisons, likely has ruined his chance as a future executive with Liverpool, at least not with that example of talent evaluation. 

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  19. i domt blame cole ...i blame those responsible for paying him so much and giving him a long contact ...lets just pay him off and get shut

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  20. For those interested it looks like Ba's heading to Chelsea. Sky's reporting that they triggered the clause with a 7mil bid (with 13goals to his name this season already, that could be the deal of the transfer window). Same article also says that Sturridge is expected to watch the Sunderland game today at Anfield. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/8377128/Chelsea-launch-7m-bid-for-Newcastle-striker-Demba-Ba

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  21. For those interested it looks like Ba's heading to Chelsea. Sky's reporting that they triggered the clause with a 7mil bid (with 13 goals to his name already this season, this might be the deal of the transfer window). Same article also says that Sturridge is expected to watch the Sunderland game today at Anfield. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/8377128/Chelsea-launch-7m-bid-for-Newcastle-striker-Demba-Ba

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  22. I don't get this animosity towards Cole. You may not rate him and that's fair enough but why the lack of respect? He never moans, gives his best when he plays, DOESN'T SHUSH THE SUPPORTERS and is always on his best behaviour. Cole sure isn't a starter at Liverpool and he may want to leave to get more playing time and I couldn't blame him. But if he wants to stay I'd be delighted to keep him around the squad. If all players had his heart and professionalism, we wouldn't be eight points from CL qualification now.

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  23. Did Stevie G really say Joe Cole was better at some things than Messi - Lol!

    It's okay Stevie, you can get away with murder! Now start banging in some goals!!

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  24. Totally agree dude!

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  25. Sorry, what has this article got to do with poor Jamie Carragher??

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  26. Delighted we will not be signing Kalou. Do not rate him at all.

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  27. Sturridge in... Cole out...who's next in action?

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  28. harsh that is! but get HIM to pay for the petrol before you leave!!!

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  29. We have signed so much rubbish over the last few years it wouldn't surprise me if we re-signed Kewell and Heskey lol

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