Joe Cole (West Ham)

West Ham to launch loan bid for Cole

West Ham are ready to make an approach to take one of their old heroes, Joe Cole, back to Upton Park on loan from Liverpool.

Cole joined the Hammers as a schoolboy and made his name at the club before moving to Chelsea in 2003 when West Ham were relegated from the Premier League.

A West Ham source told ESPNsoccernet: "It's a very long shot, but we are willing to have a go."

Owners David Gold and David Sullivan were willing to pay Cole a small fortune to return to the club before he opted to join Liverpool when he left Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer - that was again another "long shot" that didn't come off.

But the Hammers are ready to have another go with Cole unable to hold down a place in the Liverpool team, and the club about to embark on a spending spree in the January transfer window, which might give Cole even less of a chance of holding down a place at Anfield.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/867377/west-ham-to-launch-loan-bid-for-joe-cole?cc=3888

So thoughts?

Absolute madness if we let him go on loan, not going to happen

As long as he is not in Kenny's plans, I think he should go...

Absolute madness if we let him go on loan, not going to happen

Exactly. He may not exactly be on form at the moment but he's better than most players we have at the club.

I think when fit Kenny will give him a chance, he is the closest we have to Beardsley at the club

Im going against the grain here if we can off load him and the burden of his wages then we should and look at a younger replacement on half the wage cole is pn.

No way they're going to pay all of his wages though are they? Way too expensive for them.

No way should he be going on loan.

Wouldn't want this to happen. Think he's a good player and once he's getting a run in the team and fully fit we will hopefully see the best of him, but as for getting rid of him when we've not let that happen i strongly disagree.

That article says he's unable to hold down a starting place, which is twisting things a bit because he's been out of the team because he's injured.

I'm not in favour of this, he's not been bad for us, just not been able to have a run of games

Would be an odd transfer. Cant see it happening. I would be happier to sell him outright

That article says he's unable to hold down a starting place, which is twisting things a bit because he's been out of the team because he's injured.

I'm not in favour of this, he's not been bad for us, just not been able to have a run of games

People have been saying this for a couple of years now.I thought him coming here would reignite his career but he has been poor so far.if Kenny wants to let him go he will have seen enough of him now to make a decision.

Heard that LFC have offered him but the terms as yet don't suit Joe.

I understand people not wanting him to go on loan.

But how much is being paid a month.  Over a quarter of a million pound.

Anyone think he's worth it?

No

Don't want to see him go anywhere. We just have to get him fit and a few consecutive games under his belt. We need all the quality we can get, we know he possesses it just gotta get out on the park and show it.

I wouldn't be the slightest bit bothered if he went pemanently, to be honest. I was quite excited at the prospect of him coming to us but there was always a nagging doubt that he'd end up being a bit-part player suffering injury after injury and creaming ridiculous wages out of the club. He's done nothing to remove that nag from my mind.
Hope he proves me wrong but he needs to pull his socks up sharpish.

I think whoever sorted his contract out initially, well you know the phrase 'I saw you coming', well that springs to mind.  He's basically been sh*te for us this season and on massive wages.  So what do you do?  I think I'd be tempted to keep him until the summer to prove himself, then again, I'm going purely on his past form.

I understand people not wanting him to go on loan.

But how much is being paid a month.  Over a quarter of a million pound.

Anyone think he's worth it?

No.

I was quite excited to sign Cole but I just don't see it happening here.

Much prefer a sale but I honestly would not mind him going on loan and using Dani Pacheco instead. Nothing to lose as Cole hasn't really done much when he has played so let's see if Dani can step up.

To be fair to Joe, he's hardly been played in his favoured role. Hence, unable to play well and cement a place.

I actually feel he can contribute much more if he's played in the the hole. He ain't gonna do much on the left or right.

offloading him would open up chances for two player who have futures @ this club in Dani and Shelvey

if West Ham were willing to pay majority of his outstanding wages, and put in a option to buy @ the end of the loan then id do it in a heartbeat

He's one of a dying breed in that he takes players on and has bags of creativity. Being a flair player I'd have thought Kenny would love to have him in the side.

We shouldn't let Cole go in my opinion. Under Kenny he will be a different animal, my only gripe with him since his arrival has been his lack of fitness. If he gets a 3-4 match run in the side then we'll see the real Cole. The problem is that i can't see him staying fit for a prolonged period of time.