Former golden boy Cole comes home an outcast but England could call again

8Jan 2013

Premier League

West Ham have made one of the most intriguing signings of the transfer window with Joe Cole coming back to his spiritual home. The former boy wonder has fallen on hard footballing times but the faithful still believe they will get the best out of this talented individual, as Sean Holder outlines

Ring out the Bow Bells! Joe Cole has come back to the East End, picking up exactly where he left off at his boyhood club in the number 26 shirt. But how much of the old Cole is left to fill it? Looking at this 18 month permanent deal, Cole's move is composed of two distinct characteristics: the sentimental and the tactical.

Ultimately for the West Ham faithful, the return of this once-loved boy genius demonstrates a desire to give more to the club that gave him his first contract. Simply 'wanting' to play for West Ham is a quality Hammers fans will hold in very high regard; some seeing it as his number one attribute. This time around Cole arrives as a football outcast, a status that will only endear him to the Upton Park masses even more. It's an unenviable title Andy Carroll held before his move to Upton Park and the Irons will relish this disparate bunch of talented underdogs as they strive to bring out the best of Cole in his second spell.

But will this be enough to unearth the ability we know Cole possesses? It is no secret that Cole has been out of sorts in recent years, struggling to find his bearings in spells at Liverpool (where he rarely played) and Lille on loan last year. Would Sam Allardyce have looked at Cole without the history? Why not? His two assists against Manchester United demonstrate he offers a threat from a wide position. Replace James Collins with Andy Carroll and this looks like a winning formula.

Cole will be employed in a system designed to spread the ball quickly, attacking with pace and trickery from the wings. Matt Jarvis, before injury, is a capable performer in this role. Many a West Ham fan rued losing Yossi Bennayoun during his first spell and Matthew Etherington, too. Saturday's performance suggest Cole can slot back into this setup doing what he did for West Ham nearly 10 years ago.

However, perhaps therein lays the problem. Ten years is a long time in football and West Ham may be kidding themselves thinking they can relive the halcyon days.

Consider this though, we all know a West Ham old boy, chewed up and spat out by Chelsea, who drifted to another club, before becoming an England regular in his 30s at Upton Park. He goes by the name of Scott Parker. If the planets align and West Ham find a snug emotional and strategic fit, this could be a very interesting signing indeed.