torchomatic
Well-Known Member
What a fantastic interview and a real refreshing change from the usual player interviews. It seems he genuinely wants to play football and isn't interested in just picking up his, no doubt substantial, wage packet.
I hope it's longer than 35 days but if not I think we, as fans, need to make the most of him and relish every single moment he's on the pitch wearing Sky Blue.
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Joe Cole is itching to make his Coventry City debut at Rochdale – and insists he relishes the prospect of being a target for League One’s hard-man defenders.
The Aston Villa midfielder – who has played in the world’s great stadia during his trophy-winning career – is set to slot straight in to the Sky Blues side for his first-ever trip to Spotland as he launches a 35-day loan spell.
“Primarily it’s about playing football,” said Cole, who admits it might take a game or two to get up to speed.
“I want to compete on a Tuesday and Saturday and play proper football with people trying to kick me.”
Asked if he thinks he’ll be targeted during his stint in the third tier, he said: “Yes probably, but I have been kicked by the biggest and the best so it ain’t going to bother me.
“You are a long time retired in this game and it doesn’t matter what your name is or what you’ve done in the game, when you step out there and are playing football against other players that’s all that matters. And I just wanted the buzz of playing again.
“You can’t stay at the top forever. I am not saying I won’t play back at the top level. I just love playing football and the day I don’t will be the day I pack it in.
“I might hit the ground running and be brilliant at Rochdale. But even though I’ve played Premier League and this is League One, I might need to blow away the cobwebs to get that match fitness. I’m here for 35 days and I need to influence the games and we’ll assess it after that.”
The former England star’s arrival at City has raised a few eyebrows in the game but the 33-year-old insists the Ricoh Arena is the perfect fit at this stage of his career.
As for dropping down to this level, he added: “I’ve had a few funny comments about coming here but it’s just my personality and I will always go with what feels right, and this does.”
Cole’s advisors approached Tony Mowbray , the Sky Blues boss revealing: “It’s not something I went chasing.
“His advisor comes to a lot of our games and the fit was right – he wants to play in a team that moves the ball around the pitch.
“It wasn’t for me to go to Tim Fisher and start asking for financial favours but everything behind the scenes is sorted and Joe’s here where he can enjoy his football and help us out at the same time.”
Cole said: “Tony probably thought I wouldn’t be available and people probably thought I wouldn’t drop down to this level but I just want to go out and play.
“The last few years I’ve had a terrible time with injuries and not played regularly so I tweaked things in the summer and have had four good months of training but not got in the team at Villa because they’ve spent a lot of money on players who need time to settle in, so I was looking to go out on loan to play.
“I was looking at options and the main thing was I needed a team that play football the right way. I spoke to Tony and he just impressed me. I knew his reputation as a manager who likes to pass it and pop it about and so he really impressed me.
“He was a massive part of the reason I am here because of the way his teams play. It’s the style of football and I spoke to him and he seems like a genuine guy. We got on and have the same philosophy on football so he was vital; the main cog in this happening for me.
“I watched them play and thought I could help and give some experience to some good young lads, and it just seemed right.”
Cole trained for the first time on Monday morning, just hours after being present at the birth of his third child, a boy, on Sunday which was part of the reason the deal wasn’t done ahead of the weekend’s match against Blackpool, at which he was a spectator.
“Training was good but it’s been a whirlwind because me and my wife had our third child yesterday so I have not really had much sleep to be honest,” he said.
“But it was nice to come in and meet the guys and look forward to a game. I don’t think I’ve played at Rochdale before but I just want to be in a dressing room looking forward to a game. I have played 21s football but you need to be playing against players who want to kick you, a proper game.”
The big question on most City fans’ lips is will he be available beyond his initial seven games which includes the first round of the FA Cup on November 7, for which Villa have given permission for him to play, suggesting he doesn’t figure in Tim Sherwood’s plans any time soon.
“I’m not looking beyond Tuesday night,” he said.
“I think I have got seven games in the 35 days and we’ll review it after that and see where everyone is.
“My first couple of games will be to shake the cobwebs off and get used to competitive football and I’m pretty sure my last two games will be stronger and fitter than my first two, but hopefully I can influence the game and help the club win football matches.”
Asked about his situation at Villa Park, he said: “You can only sit around so long when the team’s not doing very well and you are still not given a chance. I am not one for resting on my laurels. I’m sure they’ll pick up because they are good players with a good manager but I just want to get out and play football.
“The gaffer was great with me and understood my situation.”
I hope it's longer than 35 days but if not I think we, as fans, need to make the most of him and relish every single moment he's on the pitch wearing Sky Blue.
-------------------
Joe Cole is itching to make his Coventry City debut at Rochdale – and insists he relishes the prospect of being a target for League One’s hard-man defenders.
The Aston Villa midfielder – who has played in the world’s great stadia during his trophy-winning career – is set to slot straight in to the Sky Blues side for his first-ever trip to Spotland as he launches a 35-day loan spell.
“Primarily it’s about playing football,” said Cole, who admits it might take a game or two to get up to speed.
“I want to compete on a Tuesday and Saturday and play proper football with people trying to kick me.”
Asked if he thinks he’ll be targeted during his stint in the third tier, he said: “Yes probably, but I have been kicked by the biggest and the best so it ain’t going to bother me.
“You are a long time retired in this game and it doesn’t matter what your name is or what you’ve done in the game, when you step out there and are playing football against other players that’s all that matters. And I just wanted the buzz of playing again.
“You can’t stay at the top forever. I am not saying I won’t play back at the top level. I just love playing football and the day I don’t will be the day I pack it in.
“I might hit the ground running and be brilliant at Rochdale. But even though I’ve played Premier League and this is League One, I might need to blow away the cobwebs to get that match fitness. I’m here for 35 days and I need to influence the games and we’ll assess it after that.”
The former England star’s arrival at City has raised a few eyebrows in the game but the 33-year-old insists the Ricoh Arena is the perfect fit at this stage of his career.
As for dropping down to this level, he added: “I’ve had a few funny comments about coming here but it’s just my personality and I will always go with what feels right, and this does.”
Cole’s advisors approached Tony Mowbray , the Sky Blues boss revealing: “It’s not something I went chasing.
“His advisor comes to a lot of our games and the fit was right – he wants to play in a team that moves the ball around the pitch.
“It wasn’t for me to go to Tim Fisher and start asking for financial favours but everything behind the scenes is sorted and Joe’s here where he can enjoy his football and help us out at the same time.”
Cole said: “Tony probably thought I wouldn’t be available and people probably thought I wouldn’t drop down to this level but I just want to go out and play.
“The last few years I’ve had a terrible time with injuries and not played regularly so I tweaked things in the summer and have had four good months of training but not got in the team at Villa because they’ve spent a lot of money on players who need time to settle in, so I was looking to go out on loan to play.
“I was looking at options and the main thing was I needed a team that play football the right way. I spoke to Tony and he just impressed me. I knew his reputation as a manager who likes to pass it and pop it about and so he really impressed me.
“He was a massive part of the reason I am here because of the way his teams play. It’s the style of football and I spoke to him and he seems like a genuine guy. We got on and have the same philosophy on football so he was vital; the main cog in this happening for me.
“I watched them play and thought I could help and give some experience to some good young lads, and it just seemed right.”
Cole trained for the first time on Monday morning, just hours after being present at the birth of his third child, a boy, on Sunday which was part of the reason the deal wasn’t done ahead of the weekend’s match against Blackpool, at which he was a spectator.
“Training was good but it’s been a whirlwind because me and my wife had our third child yesterday so I have not really had much sleep to be honest,” he said.
“But it was nice to come in and meet the guys and look forward to a game. I don’t think I’ve played at Rochdale before but I just want to be in a dressing room looking forward to a game. I have played 21s football but you need to be playing against players who want to kick you, a proper game.”
The big question on most City fans’ lips is will he be available beyond his initial seven games which includes the first round of the FA Cup on November 7, for which Villa have given permission for him to play, suggesting he doesn’t figure in Tim Sherwood’s plans any time soon.
“I’m not looking beyond Tuesday night,” he said.
“I think I have got seven games in the 35 days and we’ll review it after that and see where everyone is.
“My first couple of games will be to shake the cobwebs off and get used to competitive football and I’m pretty sure my last two games will be stronger and fitter than my first two, but hopefully I can influence the game and help the club win football matches.”
Asked about his situation at Villa Park, he said: “You can only sit around so long when the team’s not doing very well and you are still not given a chance. I am not one for resting on my laurels. I’m sure they’ll pick up because they are good players with a good manager but I just want to get out and play football.
“The gaffer was great with me and understood my situation.”
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