ANDY COLE DECIDED BACK IN 2000 that he wanted to be known as Andrew. It carries more gravitas, certainly, but the best way for the forward to be taken seriously is to score goals. He is doing just that, even in the twilight of a career that seemed to be slowly winding down until his move to Manchester City last summer.
Cole’s winner against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday makes it 19 starts for City and nine goals. That is a better ratio than at Fulham last season, where he found the net 13 times in 37 starts, and a definite improvement on his scoring rate at Blackburn Rovers, where he was a disappointment after joining from Manchester United in 2001 for £8 million.
Cole is 34, but his decline has been slower than his former strike partner at Ewood Park and Old Trafford, Dwight Yorke. Still, his FantasyGame value of £5 million means he is overpriced. Though Cole is doing far better than £5 million-rated fantasy flops such as Walter Pandiani, Robert Earnshaw and Kevin Phillips, there are better, younger and cheaper options. Such as Jason Roberts, of Wigan, Darren Bent, of Charlton Athletic, or Cole’s strike partner, Darius Vassell. Sorry, Andrew: you’re playing well, but no matter what we call you, we’d rather not call on you.