rumford
5:49 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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Devo all day long for me.
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Coffee
5:43 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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My abiding memory of that Chesterfield game was dying for a piss, queuing up for bloody ages for the tube and having to decide which took priority - the tube or a piss. Confident in my ability to hold out through the tube journey, I didn't take into account the possibility - the reality - of the tube getting stuck for 20 minutes somewhere near Mile End. It ended up being an uncomfortably close call that involved thinking about how to hide or explain the inevitable wet patch down my trousers. Happily, that contigency remained a contingency. Just.
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gph
5:34 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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That's the one.
I also managed to inhale a bit of stray cigarette ash, so I was literally spluttering at Joe Cole's skillful stupidity
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Coffee
5:30 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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gph
Was that Chesterfield game the one they took us to extra time?
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gph
5:24 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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My abiding memory of Joe Cole is when Chesterfield nearly embarrassed us in the League Cup*. Time and time again, he'd beat his man, get in a position to do them some damage, but then let his man get back at him and try and beat him again. Even if he did, our move lost momentum while he was fucking about.
My abiding memory of Alan Devonshire is his role in the 4-0 destruction of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Perhaps unfair to judge them on these two games, but I still think Joe Cole's best was nowhere near Alan Devonshire's.
*they actually embarrassed us a year later (iirc). Perhaps fortunately, I missed that one
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lincslink
5:05 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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I was standing next to Dev last season in the Gulls bar at Torquay UTD, I was like a kid looking at this great idol of mine.
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SDKFZ 222
3:41 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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I saw Dev’s entire career with us, from his debut to his last match.
Joe Cole, although quite talented, was overhyped and never achieved anything with us. Dev, on the other hand, was part of our ‘golden generation’ of the early to mid 80’s and was absolutely world class on his day. Unfortunately, we were robbed of two years of his career due to being scythed down in his prime by that Wigan defender in the FA. Cup.
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fraser
3:22 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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Devonshire for me.
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Jim C
3:21 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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Being 35, I never saw Devonshire play but my first reaction to that was what utter nonsense.
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Eerie Descent
3:07 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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With regards to playing for England, if that's part of the debate, it's worth remembering that Bobby Robson wanted to build his England team around Dev, unfortunately circumstances, and particularly his injury, put paid to it.
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South Woodhammer
3:01 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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I loved Joe Cole when he came into the team as a youngster and he was hyped up by 'Arry to be the next best thing to Gazza though he never quite got to that level. Still had a fantastic career , won a load of medals with the rent boys and still seems to retain love for West Ham whenever I've seen him as a TV pundit .But better than Devonshire ? At Dev''s all too short peak , no way was JC better. Brooking was the master and conducted the orchestra in that midfield for years but Devonshire did things that Trev couldn't... absolutely rapid turn of pace with trickery and body swerves to go with it , he was a defenders nightmare. Its unfair to compare on stats as Joe would come out easily on top.. Dev came late into West Ham from non league and had two very bad knee injuries during his time with us that kept him out for seasons , he was never quite the same player after the first one as it robbed him of a yard of pace. .But in both of their primes I'd go for Dev over Joe Cole every time.in terms of his ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck. Maybe like the difference a couple of years ago when we had Payet and Lanzini ... Dev would've been Payet , Cole = Lanzini. Both very good players and not a massive amount in it but having watched both players many times Devonshire would have been the better player. . .
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easthammer
2:22 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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It was on twitter so it must be correct!
Different players different eras but if, like me, you saw them both. You would have no problem deciding that Devonshire was better in terms of his impact on games for West Ham
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JAC
1:49 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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Non contest...Devonshire was superb and consistent.He was overshadowed by Sir Trev in my book .
Joe was exceptional at his young age but didn't fulfil his potential.
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Stowie.40
1:12 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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I missed Devonshire by 2 years so can’t comment although he is my old mans favourite ever West Ham player.
On Cole, personally think he is maybe along with Di Canio the naturally gifted player we’ve had in the last 25 years. Won the lot but should of had a better career.
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WHU(Exeter)
1:10 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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No chance, the way Devonshire used to ghost past players...that aspect of his game was world class. May have been players as contemporarys who were close, but off the top of my head can't remember any player around then who bettered it.
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ray winstone
1:09 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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Devo was superb, world class even, only injuries robbed him of more notoriety.
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Side of Ham
12:32 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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Not even a discussion to be had....a load of post ‘96ers clutching at straws on a shitty social media site.
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Sven Roeder
12:20 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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Players often make transfer decisions which BLIGHT their careers.
If Joe COLE had gone to Man Utd under Ferguson instead of the dead hand of Mourinho his creativity may have reached his early promise.
Would say the same for GASCOIGNE though maybe even Ferguson wouldn't have been able to focus him.
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zico
11:52 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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The other thing with Devonshire is that he had a horrendous injury when he should have been approaching his peak and never had the same attributes afterwards, but changed his game and was still a great player. McAvennie said he was the best player he ever played with, and that was after the injury. Joe was a great talent and had a very good career but played in a time that formations were so rigid he probably never had a manager who allowed him to express that flair. You could argue neither for different reasons hit their potential.
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RBshorty
11:41 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.?
Turn it in.!
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Kandu
11:17 Sat Mar 13
Re: Joe Cole better than Alan Devonshire.
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When fans pick their all time hammers xi Dev is in every one.
Cole isnt but still a worthy player for us
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