Cole a good signing for shrewd Hodgson

England international Joe Cole has joined Liverpool on a four-year contract.

After his release from Chelsea earlier this summer Cole was linked with a host of top clubs. Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham were all interested in signing the mercurial star.

Value

At 28 years-old Cole is in the prime of his footballing career. Surely he was the most talented player available on a free transfer this summer.

Although he has signed a £90,000 per week contract he arrives on Merseyside without Liverpool having to pay a transfer fee. That’s a bargain for a player with so much talent.

Money

I’m just hoping for Liverpool’s sake that Joe Cole has decided to join the club for footballing reasons and not for the financial package offered. It seems a strange choice with Liverpool not offering Champions League football next season. Maybe he realises that he has a good chance of first team football with the Reds and that’s why he has joined Roy Hodgson’s side.

Injuries

Cole had injury problems last season and it led to his appearances for the Blues being limited. When he did recover from his injuries he couldn’t command a regular first team spot. Despite his injury problems it was still a surprise that Carlo Ancelotti let him leave the Bridge.

Talented

Joe Cole is without doubt one of the most talented players of his generation. Unfortunately he has yet to fulfil his enormous potential. He has a creativity that many of his England colleagues lack. Fans and players called for his inclusion in the starting line-up for England at this summers World Cup.

However England boss Fabio Capello decided against his selection. He is that rare sort of player who can take a man on and produce bits of magic.

Excitement

Cole could provide the excitement that Liverpool fans so craved last season. The side were flat on many occasions in the last campaign and Cole is the sort of player that can lift a flat performance. He could be the catalyst to a mini revival.

Problem Position

The left side of midfield proved a problem position for previous Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez. Yossi Benayoun, Albert Riera, Maxi Rodriguez and Ryan Babel all played on the left flank last season but nobody could make the position their own.

Benayoun has joined Chelsea and Cole seems to be his very shrewd replacement. Riera also looks destined to leave Anfield this summer and Ryan Babel is still struggling to convince that he is Liverpool material.

Positive

The signing of Joe Cole sends a positive message out to the rest of the Premier League that the club aren’t finished yet. It shows that the club can still attract top players, even without the carrot of Champions League football next season.

With top stars rumoured to be considering their futures at Liverpool this signing should help convince them that Liverpool mean business. It also shows the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres that the club are still ambitious and want to win trophies.

Signings

Roy Hodgson is a very shrewd manager and he is known for spotting a bargain signing. Hodgson can’t really lose with the Cole deal. If the move doesn’t work out he can be sold for a profit and it’s only cost the club his wages.

Hodgson is likely to bring in more signings this summer. His signings aren’t always big names but they tend to produce the goods on the pitch for him. He has a superb talent for developing players.

Cole is likely to be the biggest name to arrive at Anfield this summer but it’s the lesser name players that thrive under Hodgson. Expect Hodgson to pull a few more rabbits out the hat in the near future.

Good Mix

The mixture of stability that Hodgson brings and the excitement and creativity Cole brings has already created a more positive outlook at Anfield. Whether either will prove a long-term success at Anfield remains to be seen but I’d say Hodgson has already completely his first coup of his Liverpool career.

Will Joe Cole be a good signing for Liverpool?