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Cole tells Pellegrini where to play Wilshere

Former Hammer Joe Cole has told the Coaches’ Voice that Manuel Pellegrini should play new signing Jack Wilshere deeper in midfield and compared him to Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti.

Cole has urged Pellegrini to play the 26 year old in deep midfield rather than the number 10 role – and reckons he shows similarities to Verratti.

“I look at him and think he is a similar player to myself, in terms of style,” Cole said. “I’d like to have coached him, I still think he has levels to go up if you keep him fit.

“As a manager, I would have managed him differently to how he has been managed; he’d have played more games. I’d play him in a position deeper than the number 10 role, as a number 10, that’s when he gets into a bit of trouble.

“I’d play him more in midfield when he can pick and choose his moments to go, and be more explosive; he’s more effective there. People might have looked at him as an Eden Hazard, I’m looking at him like a Marco Verratti.”

 

About Sean Whetstone

I am Season Ticket Holder in West stand lower at the London Stadium and before that, I used to stand in the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Row R seat 159 in the Boleyn Ground and in the Eighties I stood on the terraces of the old South Bank. I am a presenter on the West Ham Podcast called MooreThanJustaPodcast.co.uk. A Blogger on WestHamTillIdie.com a member of the West Ham Supporters Advisory Board (SAB), Founder of a Youtube channel called Mr West Ham Football at http://www.youtube.com/MrWestHamFootball, I am also the associate editor here at Claret and Hugh. Life Long singer of bubbles! Come on you Irons! Follow me at @Westhamfootball on twitter

3 comments on “Cole tells Pellegrini where to play Wilshere

  1. Sorry Joe but i disagree. If he’s deeper in midfield then he’s more likely to make stupid tackles and get injured, he’ll be better playing further up front and try to stay out of harms way. Problem with Jack is he will want to win every ball if he plays deep.

  2. surely there’s a place on the coaching staff for joe at West Ham?

  3. More games for JW would have needed injury-free consistency. That ain’t Wilshere’s provenance. That he is as gifted as Joe was, moreso perhaps, is beyond doubt. Wilshere will get injured. Hopefully the coaching team will manage his playing time around his physical vulnerability. Every Gooner knows that Arsene showed Wilshere patience and immense respect, and despite a personally good final season, JW was not going to be part of Arsenal’s future plans. Let’s wish JW well and, as Gooners have done in the past, keep our fingers tightly crossed on this one.

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