Cole for Yossi just doesn’t make sense
I know the transfer rumour mill needs to be taken with a pinch of salt but the news that Yossi Benayoun is set to join the club while Joe Cole is on his way out seems baffling.
For starters the numbers just do not add up. The main sticking point with Cole’s contract negotiations were the club’s refusal to rank him along the clubs top earners. For a player who has missed much of the past two seasons with injury I can understand why the club want to claw back some money.
But they would then contradict themselves by spending upwards of £4 million on Israeli midfielder Benayoun, a player who is two years older than Cole. The transfer fee alone would cover the cost of Cole’s wages and Benayoun is a technically inferior player to the England man. Cole, after all, will probably be helping his country justify their World Cup odds in South Africa this summer.
I don’t mean to knock Benayoun, who stood out in a struggling Liverpool side last season. But at 30 his signing would be a step in the wrong direction considering our aging squad.
With a number of senior players such as Deco, Carvalho and Ferraira set to leave the club and with a number of our first teamers like Terry and Lampard over 30, now is the time to bring in younger players and lower the average age of our squad. Not to mention the fact that Cole is classed as a home grown player, so will count to words our quota when the new rules come in.
In my opinion the departure of Cole and signing of Benayoun would weaken the depth of the squad and lighten the bank balance. The football betting suggests the club are on course for more success, but a long-term approach must be taken.
If Roman Abramovich’s aim is to retain the Premier League and win the Champions League next season then I truly hope this rumour proves to be just that.
Filed under: Current Players, Rants, Rumours, Transfers
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Being a Liverpool supporter I understand why replacing Cole with Benayoun might seem like maddness.
When Benny came to Liverpool I didnt think he was good enough for the club.
But Bennys performances completely changed my opinion and if you are lucky enough to snare him for 4-6 million when he actually gets a run of performances you will realise what a top player he is.
He makes goals from nothing. Hence its maddness we are contemplating selling him
Chelsea took many wrong decisions in the past but i can’t understand why the management can learn from that.you want to release COLE.OK then do it but bring a more brilliant one. why a 30 year aged player?we have many experienced players now need fresh bloods.
Arsenal managed febrigus replacement.the young energetic one.not 30.
Man U replaced C.ronaldo’s with a fair one. Valencia showed his worth in the 1st season.
But a player like benayoun will be suicidal in 7/8 m.as a fan i can expect don’t down our head.
If Cole is to leave, he will certainly need a young replacement even if we sign a younger player who is not as good as even Benayoun but would be better than signing a player in the Autumn of his career. Aaron Lennon would be my first choice but that is unlikely but Milner can play on the right…
Why don’t we try for Danny from Zenith Saint Petersbourg. He is quite good and young too and I feel we may be killing two birds with one stone with his purchase as he will fill in effectively for both Deco and Cole.
As Alan Brazil would say…..”Why?” What a stupid move this would be! £10m???? Crazy talk. Keep JC I say!
I’ think benayoun is wast player like cole and Anilka
I don’t understand this at all — i love roman and what he’s done for the club but i have to admit he has moments of sheer madness: sacking mourinho, sheva, now letting joe go and signing yossi benayoun? please!
me thinks he listens to agents too much. I mean come on – its craziines and you’ds be hard pressed to find a chelsea fan who didn’t think so.
its shockin if this happens i just hope thats all it is a RUMOUR cos if not thats bad business and not the right direction we need to be taking as simon said milner wud be an ace replacement but for me id stick with joey
Very well said. Couldn’t agree more.
I will repeat this again and again I don’t understand why Chelsea fans are against this possible transfer. Benayoun is ONLY 2 years older than Cole. So age isnt really a factor unless you are following the media hype about our “aging squad”. The same aging squad that won the domestic double. Look at 2009-10 Treble winning Inter Milan team not exactly side littered with youth is it? Ironically most fans that are against this transfer would not trade a older Lampard for a younger (former FIFA player of the year) Kaka correct? and reason being “form’ is more important than age. Face facts Benayoun is in better form than Cole and this isnt just this year its been the last 3 years. Also a OLDER Yossi Benayoun will be more understanding towards being subbed in and out for our YOUTH players that are coming up to the senior squad. Your point about buying Yossi costing the same as keeping Cole doesnt factor in the the most important reason why Chelsea don’t want to raise Cole’s pay. It’s not about the money as we are still one of the richest clubs in the wolrd its about stopping players from beleiving that 100G a week is something Chelsea is going to offer all of the squad players. Joe Coles does not deserve to be paid more than Essien or Anelka so why pay him the amount. If you cant say no to Cole then how do you say no to others? Cole leaving is sad as i do like Joe Cole on our team but he keeping chances away from the YOUTh you are all screaming for so YES it does make sense and get over it !!
Hey good thoughts Mac-d, I’m glad to read somebody who has a different perspective. If I look at who makes the team better at this point, cole vs Benayoun, i pick Benayoun over cole. He is in better form definitely and seems like he can make something happen at any time. However, given the other options out there, i still don’t fancy the move. There are better players Chelsea can get who won’t command an extraordinary salary. Benayoun, (just like Cole) will be past his prime within 3 years max. A player like Pablo Hernandez would be at the club for 5+ years and still be at the pick of his career. That’s why I don’t lilke this Benayoun move personally, but yes I would take him over cole.
This move doesn’t baffle me as much as Joe Cole thinking he deserves more money. FOR WHAT?! Let him leave and let hungry reserve player take his spot…The only club that would let him play would have to be Arsenal..Can’t go to Man Utd, because he can’t displace Nani or Valencia..At spurs he would just be a backup to Lennon…Arsenal have only Walcott and Eboue who are always hit and miss..
I think there is much younger who need to graduate to first team like stoch,borini,kakuta the transfer fee should be used as compensation based on there performance