To the delight of millions of Liverpool fans and to the chagrin of several Chelsea,Arsenal and other Premier League club fans Joe Cole made the surprising decision of snubbing Champions League football and the luxury of London to sign a lucrative contract at the Merseyside club.
However does his signing signify a change of regime and playing style at liverpool under Roy Hodgson ? Liverpool fans across the world shall certainly hope that the answer is in the affirmative.
As Liverpool struggled through the last season, the club and it fans were crying out for creativity. However with Alonso gone and with gerrard in indifferent form coupled with the injury to Alonso’s replacement Alberto Aquilani Liverpool were predictive and lacked artistry in their game especially in the away matches which proved to be their undoing and ultimately led to the departure of Rafael Benitez.
However fans now have a reason to be optimistic as the off-season has bought with it the signing of two attack minded players in the form of Milan Jovanovic and Joe Cole while alongwith the return to fitness of Alberto Aquilani.
So the big question is does Roy Hodgson let the creative talent of Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Maxi Rodriguez and Alberto Aquilani dicate the play behind possibly the best striker in the Premier League Fernando Torres or does he continue with the style of Rafael Benitez and continues to play with a defensive approach of two defensive Midfielders and resorts to the hoof-ball tactics which pained several of the Anfield faithful and didnt extract the best from players of the calibre of Steven Gerrard.
Looking at Roy Hodgson’s career, he certainly favours the measured approach which involves first and foremost defensive stability.
However he has never had the kind of attacking talent at his disposal as he now has at Liverpool. Coupled with the strong defence that liverpool boasts of and with a player of Javier Mascherano’s ability shielding it from counter attacks of the opponent surely Roy Hodgson shall give the fans what they have always dreamt of, an attacking and a wonderful to watch Liverpool side.
In the end it shall be Roy Hodgson’s decision as to what kind of Liverpool team he develops but if he decides to go for a defensive and cautious approach, he shall fail to get the best out of the attacking talents that Liverpool possess and Joe Cole shall end up as nothing more than a token gesture to the Liverpool fans.
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