'Boomerang players', as they are known, are a curious topic; some regard these players returning to their former clubs as a homecoming, a triumphant return as you will.
But usually the case with a returning player they have reached the ends of their playing career and want to see it out in a comfortable environment, none more so than a club they have previously turned out for.Even our famous ground has had its fair share of players leaving, to only return again to grace the Boleyn Ground. From former players such as Frank McAvennie, Pop Robson, Julian Dicks and Tony Cottee to more recent cases such as James Collins and George McCartney. Collins, I believe didn’t want to leave West Ham in the first place, with much rumours circulating he was sold to Aston Villa (a notable West Ham graveyard) to free up funds to pay SBOBet for the transfer of the flop turned Italian International Alessandro Diamanti.
The ‘Ginger Pele’ has excelled this season, forming a formidable partnership with the resurgent Winston Reid, keeping out homegrown (Russell Brand lookalike) James Tomkins who has been left kicking his heels on the fringes of the first team.
Although Collins has been suspect with a few notable blunders (look no further than the Swansea away game) he more than redeemed himself by shutting out the rampant Luis Suarez during West Ham’s visit to Anfield, where Luis was left chomping at the bit to add to his impressive tally. McCartney left the club on personal terms allegedly with his girlfriend seeking a return up north for family issues. His departure also left a bitter taste, with then West Ham manager Alan Curbishley admitting that George was sold without his permission.
Following a decent two year spell with the Hammers, his move to Sunderland didn’t bear as much fruit as he had hoped and he was then subsequently loaned to Leeds for a year, before linking back up to his familiar surroundings. Brought initially on loan he helped us claim promotion to the Premier League, where he earned himself a permanent return.
But it seems he has now become a squad player, with Joey O’Brien preferred on the left for the majority of this campaign and with news of our latest signing, Romanian captain and Champions League-experienced left back Razvan (Roland) Rat joining our ranks, George’s days at the Boleyn may be numbered.
Now this brings me to Joe Cole, the last of the trio brought in for his second spell at West Ham. He ticks all the boxes fans look for in a player:
a) He was brought up through the academy,
b) He got the crowd out of their seats with his electric performances and
c) He is an East End boy through and through.
You could almost see the faithful swelling with pride whenever Joe graced the pitch, knowing he was one of their own. Unfortunately, the powers that be love to toy with our emotions. With that ill-fated ‘too good to go down’ season that condemned us to be stripped of all our finest talent, with Joe being plucked up by the newly installed Soviet regime at Chelsea.
We all wished him well and hoped his move worked out for him, but alas he never fulfilled his early potential at Chelsea, making a meagre 180 appearances over the course of seven years at the club. Injuries and manager preferences plagued his time at Chelsea and obviously knocked the confidence and halted his nurturing through reserve games and sitting on the bench for long periods.
He was offered pastures new at Liverpool, a move he later regretted in light of moving to us. This was his last crack at the big time (before Liverpool became the faltering giants they are today). Again it was another move that just didn’t work out for him, he started brightly but once again the injuries took hold and he couldn’t force his way back into the fold.
Following a successful spell with French club Lille (where he played alongside Chelsea star Eden Hazard) Cole returned to Liverpool for one last roll of the dice. Again with a bright start to the season, he suffered a reoccurring hamstring problem was left on the sidelines, allowing talent like Jonjo Shelvey and Raheem Sterling a chance to break into the Liverpool side. Though as we all remember earlier this season Joe came on against West Ham and showed us what we were lacking by scoring at Upton Park earning Liverpool a 3-2 win.
Joe finally made a return to claret and blue during this year's January transfer window, drafted in on a free transfer with Liverpool keen to get his relatively high wages off their bill. He has showed flashed of his early brilliance with a masterclass performance in his debut in the FA Cup match with Manchester United, putting them to the sword with two assists to his name.
Following this dream debut, renewed optimism was conjured up at the Boleyn of the prodigal son returning to take us to the next level, with another impressive performance against doomed relegation candidates QPR. With questions once again raised over his fitness Cole was left to sit on the bench for the duration of the campaign, fulfilling a role as an impact sub to try and change the game for us in the dying minutes.
His return in general has brought mixed reviews, I for one am happy to see a player of his calibre join our ranks, even if he is on the wrong side of thirty I believe with the right approach employed at Manchester United to prolong legends such as Giggs and Scholes, I think Joe can always offer something with his vision, passing and other qualities.
I can’t help but think he was more of a board signing than an Allardyce signing as he just doesn’t fit Sam’s brief when it comes to players. But Sam has a known reputation for rejuvenating seemingly doomed players (look no further than Jay-Jay Okocha, Ricardo Gardner etc.) so we may have got a coup from Liverpool. Of course I’m sure when Joe hangs up his boots he will be promoted to an ambassadorial role similar to one taken up by Tony Cottee, where we can use Joe’s wisdom to bring the new youth to the famous academy.
But for the short-term, I would take an injury free season for Joe Cole any day; only time will tell if he is the second coming we all hope he will be.
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