Liverpool FC: Is Joe Cole the Answer to the Reds' Attacking Problems?
By
(Featured Columnist) on March 29, 2012
Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
This season at Anfield has been a fairly tumultuous one with the joys of winning the Carling Cup and a trip to Wembley in the FA Cup semifinals ahead of them in a few weeks, but there has also been the lows that include the failure to score and losses to the bottom-feeders of the Premier League
Liverpool's disappointing performances have brought on tons of criticism, including whispers this week about manager Kenny Dalglish's job security.
The personnel out on the pitch is mainly to blame, as failed big-money transfers and injuries have hurt the Reds this season.
Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez, Jordan Henderson and Jose Enrique have not been as impressive as they were with their previous clubs, as both forwards, Carroll and Suarez, have a combined 10 league goals this season.
Henderson has been inconsistent on the wing, while Enrique shows moments of brilliance on the pitch but is not in his best form.
Injuries to key players like Lucas, Steven Gerrard and Charlie Adam have also affected the consistency of the squad as well.
One answer to this problem is a member of Liverpool Football Club who is currently practicing his trade in Ligue 1.
Is Joe Cole the Answer to Liverpool's Midfield Problem?
· Yes
37.1%
· No
62.9%
Total votes: 205
That answer is Joe Cole.
Cole, who signed with the Reds from Chelsea in the summer of 2010, played last season with the club before being sent out on loan to Lille in Ligue 1 this season because of all the transfers brought into the club at his position, like Henderson and Stewart Downing.
It seems that the 30-year-old Englishman has finally recovered from the string of injuries that he suffered toward the end of his time at Chelsea, and he has found great form in France this season.
Cole has started most of Lille's games this season and has not garnered a ton of attention due to a certain Belgian named Eden Hazard—maybe you have heard of him—taking all the headlines at the Stade Metropole.
With the ongoing struggles at Liverpool this season on the wing and a chance to return to the Premier League with success, Cole may be the perfect fit for Dalglish's club instead of spending in the transfer window again.
Not only could Cole provide experience on the wing at Anfield, but he could also be a mentor to Raheem Sterling (the club's 17-year-old phenom) and the maturing English wingers at the club like Henderson and Downing.
As players like Maxi Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt may be on the way out, it could provide a perfect opportunity for Joe Cole to save the Liverpool midfield and catapult the club back into European qualification.
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