Viewing Thread:
"Why Andy Cole???"

I have to admit that I am shocked to see Andy Cole decide to leave Manchester United, and I feel even worse to see that he's gone to Blackburn!!! There's a BIG differnce in comparrison between these 2 clubs. One's a world-wide success, with millions to spend and an overloaded trophy cabinet. While the other is a side that has won the Premiership before but nothing else since, has quite a bit of cash, a Brittish squad of resonable talent, and have returned to the Premiership as potentials to fall into the relegation zone.

Why would Cole leave a club destined for success, for one that can't even get anywhere near the final of the League Cup??? Was it for money?? - No, Blackburn aren't the richest. Was it because Fergie's leaving and he fears he may not like the new manager?? - Nah, it's way too soon for that! What about the offering of first-team football then?? After all, he can't get in the United 11 with van Nistelrooy and Solskjaer on form! - Yes, that must be why. Without regular first-team football he'll only get worse and lose his goal-scoring form, just like Dwight Yorke.

So Andy Cole is a player who will give up the chances of domestic and European glory, just to get regular first-team football, to re-discover his form and claim a place in England's 2002 World Cup squad. Can you blame him??? What's the point in staying at a club where it's obvious you won't be playing, left to 'rot in the reserves'?? How's Eriksson gunna notice what a great striker he is, if he only has the time to go and watch first-team matches? So maybe if he had decided to stay at the club he loved, then he would be decreasing his chances of making the England squad, week-in week-out. He is 30, and there won't be many more left before he retires after this one!

But what has he left behind at Old Trafford? The chance of more success, his good friends (especially Yorke), the possibility of EVEN MORE money, and being part of the world's biggest club! But he feels that England, his country, is more important to him than his club, and he wants to help them succeed!

But why would United decide to let him go??? Especially if they're looking to retain the European Cup and possibly more silverware in Fergie's last year! I think it's simply MAD to let him go!! He wasn't disruptive or anything, he was just un-happy because he wasn't being given the chances he deserved. In my opinion, he was the ideal partner for Ruud van Nistelrooy in the United attack. He has proven himself around the country, and leagues, as a goal-scorer, using his experience he could even teach van Nistelrooy a thing or two, and his love for the club and respect for the manager and his team-mates has always kept him as a hard working, determined player! He is someone United definitley need to succeed in Europe this season, and it was a big mistake letting him go!! Sir Alex can't keep relying on van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer and Yorke, also hoping they'll stay fit for the rest of the season! And the job of finding the ideal replacement will be almost impossible!!

I think that by selling a top player to a rival Premier league club is also a big mistake! With sides like Blackburn you never know quite what to expect, as anything can happen!! They may even thump you 5-0!!! I just hope that when United next meet Blackburn Cole doesn't do something that'll make Fergie regret his sale! This isn't the first time this season that Alex Ferguson has made a mistake in the transfer market (Stam, Blanc...)!! I hope Cole does make it to the World Cup though. Even though he hasn't shown goal-scoring form for England yet, i'm sure that if he finds his feet at Ewood Park, it'll also help him and England in South Korea and Japan!

Good luck Andy, or Andrew as you like to be called.

yea i think he did retire so he could concentrate on his man utd career plus he was having arguments with the manager of T&T anyway

no10 wrote:
Yorke on the otherhand is more or less a
> first choice for Trinidad and Tobago and does not need to impress to earn his
> place. Yorke is able to sit comfortably on the bench, picking up handsome
> wages, while Van Nistleroy keeps him out of the side.

Didn't Yorke retire from international football last season! So he does need to impress in some other way to earn his place in the United side. He's only one of 3 experienced strikers at the club anyway, so there's no real competition to keep him in the reserves. But I still believe Daniel Nardiello or Danny Webber can both do that!

The reports in the papers said he squandered a number of chances. I, personally, don't rate Cole and am looking forward to see how well he does at Blackburn. I'm sick of people saying that no one gets in positions more than him but I bet you and I would get into goal scoring positions if we had Veron, Beckham, Giggs etc. picking passes out for us.

I'm just glad he didn't come to Villa.

I read an interesting stat in the paper the other day regarding goals scored from shots taken since 98-99 season:

Fowler - 19%
Owen - 24%
Cole - 24%

(But as we all know, Cole needs 7 chances to score and Owen and Fowler are much more clinical!)

The reason Cole went and not Yorke is simple. Cole is desperate to play in the next World Cup and knows he must be in the headlines if he is to acheive that. He will feel he has a chance provided he is playing and scoring. Cole felt he had to leave for first team football if he is to fulfill his dream - and that is why HE ASKED Ferguson for a move. Yorke on the otherhand is more or less a first choice for Trinidad and Tobago and does not need to impress to earn his place. Yorke is able to sit comfortably on the bench, picking up handsome wages, while Van Nistleroy keeps him out of the side.

I am not a big fan of Cole and I would not pick him for England. However, at least this move has shown how desperate he is to represent England.

the reason i think yorke didn't go is because fergie wouldn't get his £12.75 M back and if he sold him for about £8M then it would be seen as a failure by fergie in the transfer market *cause that hasn't happened before has it*

Well I agree if anyone had to leave it should have been Yorke.He looks slow and has only started about 3 games this season!

But I think the reason he didnt go was because Fergie didnt want to give up his £12.75m signing.

Andy Cole had to leave though to increase his chances of first team football and a place in the World cup squad.

I think Blackburn is the wrong club for him though.I heard that Villa offered for him to.Him and Angel would have made a great front 2!

As far as Yorke goes though I think he should leave to.

Andy Cole has played for:
Arsenal
Bristol City
Fulham (on loan, twice)
Newcastle
Man Utd
and now Blackburn

I think that's all? Anyway, van Nistelrooy did score 2 on his United league debut against Fulham, but not on his competitive debut, in the Charity Shield against Liverpool.

How can you expect him to score a debut Blackburn goal when he hasn't played for the last 3/4 matches?? He'll start getting them soon, probably with a hat-trick against Man United!!

Ohh and guess what.... on his debut today for Blackburn a certain Mr. Andrew Cole failed to score, YET AGAIN in one of his debut games.

He's played for 5 teams now (I think!) and in all of his debut games, he's failed to score. And before you say... its hard for new strikers to score... I'll just say the name 'Ian Wright'... who was rather fond of getting hat tricks.

And I think Mr. Van Nistelroy scored in his debut too... although I aint sure bout that either

i'd be bloody terrified of Heskey if i was a defender knowing all i had to do was just brush past him he'd fall over and what if he fell on me? he'd squash me as well oh the humanity.
i agree though owen and anelka is a better partnership