Could Chicharito Become The Next Andy Cole?
Cole had been having a somewhat barren spell in his latter days at Newcastle having not scored for a couple of months- although he still had one goal in two games for the season. Yet there was no doubt that he was a truly gfted goalscorer a once in a generation type of player. Cole managed a highly respectable 12 goals in 18 games for the Reds but was chastised somewhat for not getting a crucial winner at West Ham that would’ve given United the title.
Despite this the 1995/96 season looked set to be a great one for Cole especially with the return or a certain Frenchman. It wasn’t the success it should have been for Cole though who managed a disappointing 13 goals, although he did help United lift the double. 1996/97 saw Cole endure some difficult times once more not least with an horrific injury sustained during a reserve game against Neil Ruddock which left him with a double leg break.
Cole recovered though and was able to help United to our second successive title. Something then seemed to gradually happen to Cole, in the following season he rediscovered his true goalscoring form yet seemed to have devloped more as a player. 25 goals in all competitions showed he knew where the back of the net was, but his link up play and willingness to hold the ball up improved markedly.
The pinnacle of this improvement was the 1998/99 season as Cole formed one of the deadliest strike forces in United’s history with Dwight Yorke to sweep the Reds to the coveted treble.
The following season saw Cole regain his status from Yorke as United’s top scorer as he won his fourth title in five years and also racked up the assists.
Its worth noting that when Cole retired he not only had 187 goals to his name but also 127 assists -a record bettered only by Dennis Bergkamp and Ryan Giggs from open play.
Cole came to United as ‘just’ a goal poacher, a quick predator with the ability to get in behind defences and finish with almost any part of his body. Chicharito has similar triats.
Cole then developed his game to fit into a United side that contained the likes of Cantona, Giggs, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Solskjaer and Sheringham. A team where everyone chipped in with goals and the entire front six were all capable of finding the back of the net.
Cole has ever quite recieved the recognition from the British media that his acheivements deserve, the whole -erroneous- “he needs five chances to score one” statement from ‘rent-a-ludicrous quote’ Glenn Hoddle didn’t do him any favours. It’s funny how when the then England boss claimed Michael Owen wasn’t a natural goalscorer or that not taking Eileen Drury to the World Cup was his biggest mistake his comments were laughed at, yet when he commented on Cole people seemed to take note.
Yet despite his detractors those who watched Cole week in week out during the nineties and early noughties saw him develop from a player that had one real asset to his game- albeit a very useful one- to someone who could link up with his team mates, hold the ball up and find a killer pass as well as anyone on the pitch.
Chicharito may well be being touted as the next Solskjaer but if he were to develop into the next Andy Cole, I for one wouldn’t be complaining and I doubt his team mates would either.
Great article and fantastic facts and detail.
How often did Andy Cole play for England? Not enough surely he was awesome around the box with the truly loveable Dwight Yorke what a pairing.
The model profesional as well Andy, who would have ever thought that he and Teddy Sheringham did not see eye to eye on the field of play, they meshed perfectly.
Javier to me (I hate Chicharito, like I hate Lass)
is destined to outstrip Cole, if he can keep working on his upper body muscle and rather than be brushed of the ball, knock the defensive players of the fitbae.Bear in mind Andy was born and bred in England and plied his trade throughout all his carreer in England, Javier has had to make huge cultural alterations to his lifestyle(although fluent English speaker) it was still a huge upheaval for the player.The partnership with Javier and Wayne will only blossom in my opinion, they are made for each other dont you know smiling is infectious, aka Wayne of recent with Javier Hernandez smiling together.
Ps I hate Razor Ruddock, he should stick to selling whistles in the east end, wide eyed cockney boy.
I agree.
very good article if there is a problem with hernandez its defenatly his passing and his ball control. if he could hold up defenders and improve his passing hill be 1 very good player, im sure fergie would have noticed that and he would be helping him to improve on those ares.
great article mate…..I’ve definately questioned several offside decisions the lad has been denied throughout the season…..I reckon he was owed at least another 5 goals to his tally…..his timing of runs are impecible……Up the Javier….
More like Van Basten than Cole.
Chicharito will become one of the all time greats if he stays clear of injuries.