As Joe Cole starts to find his feet, questions are being asked around the hallowed halls of Anfield. The first of such questions concerns the sending-off during Cole's first game for Liverpool, against Arsenal. While fans may bemoan the fact that Liverpool were then starved of a natural outlet on the left for the remaining 50 minutes, Joe Cole must also be congratulated.
When the replay is examined, it can be seen that Cole hardly makes any contact, while at the same time, constantly watching the ball. The ball leaves play, and only then does Cole turn to face the player he is supposed to have "brought down", Laurent Koscielny. For an older generation of fans, this shows what Cole is all about. Professionalism, pride, and bags full of passion.
He was unfairly villified by the press after this event, and deserves no less than an outright apology from Laurent Koscielny as well as the referee that day. While Liverpool FC accepted the red card quietly, there were mutterings among hardcore red fans that the referee was blind, and that Koscielny would never have 'survived' in the older game.
Cole is an example of those days in modern day form, and long may he continue to demonstrate the skill he is renowned for as well as the passion and belief that has already endeared him to the fans. Questions answered? Without doubt.
