It may be a harsh reflection, but not many would argue with the appraisal that Joe Cole's career ended the moment he left Chelsea on a free transfer in 2010. Shunned during the World Cup in South Africa by England boss Fabio Capello, his time at Anfield was an unmitigated disaster while an Upton Park homecoming failed to reignite the spark, leaving a flaccid, dried shell of a man to warm the bench for Aston Villa. However, that didn't stop Harry Redknapp from wanting to be reunited with his former West Ham prodigy, demanding the QPR board to act faster in a bid to secure his signature when he was made available in January 2013.
''I wanted Joe. I would've had Joe about two weeks before West Ham got him. I just felt we took a long while to get it sorted. It just dragged on too long. Once West Ham come in, he's only ever going to come to West Ham. I don't blame him. This is his home. This is where he started as a 12 year old when I signed him. He's a fantastic boy.'' - Harry Redknapp, January 2013.
Judging by his failure to impose himself at Upton Park, apathetically and passively meandering through games, Redknapp will probably have been relieved that the Hoops missed out on adding yet another over-the-hill 'superstar' to their ranks.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
