There will be many vigilant eyes, eagerly awaiting the next step the Chelsea board will take in seeking to replace the void left by the exodus of the experienced boots of Michael Ballack, Joe Cole, Juliano Belletti and Deco. Chelsea would unarguably need to find a new number 10, someone who can influence play, a marquee signing. Joe Cole's departure this close season is goodbye to the last of the big influx of new players the summer Roman Abramovich bought the club. Not only was Cole the most enduring of the 2003 arrivals, but also his style of play and connection with the fans of a club he supported as a boy marked him down as one of the most popular. However all good things do come to an end and Chelsea will have to move on.
Throughout the season, it somehow just seemed that there is no possible permutation of Ancelotti's preferred Chelsea formation for the future that would see Joe Cole as the first-choice on the right flank. He just isn't as quick as the young Ivorian, Salomon Kalou and isn't incisive enough to start on the tip of the diamond. Doing this would only restrict the effectiveness of Frank Lampard, a compromise Chelsea would never dare to dream of implementing. The importance of Frank Lampard to Chelsea with his 20+ goals from midfield, season after season, is invaluable to the team. Joe Cole is neither defensively astute enough nor disciplined enough to feature as a conventional central midfielder either? So where do we go from here?
A player of Joe Cole's ability would arguably find a place in any top line up in the world. However, a series of injuries in recent campaigns along with the inconsistency in form have contributed to the Chelsea board having taking such a strict stance against him. His form has not yet reached the peak that it had before his freak FA Cup injury in January, 2009. Chelsea could only offer Cole a new contract provided he took wage-cut, something he would not fancy, and considering the regular first team football he craves for would not even be guaranteed. Not to mention the interest a player of his potential would attract, that too being available on a free transfer.
Carlo Ancelotti did use Joe Cole on the right wing towards the fag end of the season, a move that had some success. However, the former West Ham prodigy simply isn't quite impetuous or direct enough to fulfill the role Ancelotti aims for next season. While Cole featured in 26 Premier League games last season, he only started 14 of them (being slightly more than one-third only), being truly impressive in less than a handful. Although Joe Cole's contribution to Chelsea in recent years cannot be discredited from him, he has not really been at his scintillating best in recent seasons. At £80,000 a week, the club would expect much more from him. However with his escalating demands, at £100,000 a week, he was just probably getting too big for his boots. To be fair, Joe Cole has been deadweight ever for the most of the last 2 seasons and speaking of his "moments of brilliance", Malouda, Anelka and Kalou have all provided creativity and for anyone who has seen Kakuta play would agree that he is a true talent.
For both Footballing and Financial reasons, releasing the quartet of ageing players makes perfect sense. To this effect, the Chelsea Board have slashed their wage bill to the tune of £18m, something that would be enough to sign a Yaya Toure, Marek Hamsik, or even half a Sergio Aguero or Alexander Pato to name a few big money players the Chelsea board would be looking for. All these signings would greatly diversify the current Chelsea squad, one in a desperate need of refreshment. Ancelotti wouldn't want this great side to get too old and weary to compete at top level, week in week out. Hence, this revamp is needed and the promise of promotion to 5 youth team players to the first team squad for next season is much more than a welcome inclusion. It undoubtedly makes me sad thinking of Joe Cole, wearing a shirt other than a Chelsea one, but one has to realize that all great things must end and situations change over the years, something we must always take in our stride. His attacking flair and instinct will be missed, but he shall always remain special to the Stamford Bridge faithful. Thank you Joe Cole.
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