Manchester United legend Andy Cole accepted an exclusive interview with Sky Sports and talked about the performance of forwards Sheshko, Yockers, Isaac and others who moved to the Premier League this summer.
What is it like to join a club of Manchester United's size and what kind of mentality do you need to be successful?
Andy Cole: Tough mentality, let’s put it that way. You see, when I joined Manchester United many, many years ago, people always talked about Old Trafford being a graveyard for number nines. It’s not the easiest place to score goals and be part of a winning team. I mean, all I would say to anyone going to Manchester United now is, enjoy it and try to express yourself as much as possible. I know they're going through a tough time at the moment. Everyone talks about scoring goals. You know, you always need to score goals to win football games but sometimes when you're at a big club like Manchester United it's not as easy as people say. You have to have the right mindset. You also have to have a bit of luck to try and get into the zone quickly. When you're in good shape, you know, take advantage of opportunities that come your way. When you're at Manchester United, there are no weekends off.
If you play for a weaker team, you might play well one week and then have the weekend off next week. When you play for Manchester United, there are no weekends. So, you know, everyone wants to beat Manchester United. I think about the era when I was playing football. That's where we get hooked. I think that's what brings out the best in us week in and week out, because we know everyone wants to beat us and we're always ready to meet that challenge.
Especially Sheshko, he came from abroad and is still a young player. Is patience the key for someone like him?
Andy Cole: Yes, absolutely. Anyway, coming to England, you come to the Premier League, which is completely different to any league. But coming to Manchester United and trying to succeed at Manchester United, as a number nine at Manchester United, you know there are huge expectations placed on you. This can become intimidating. Of course, that could be the case, but you just have to go out there, do your thing, keep training hard and keep doing the things that got you the move in the first place.
One of the other big transfers this summer, Alexander Isak, went from Newcastle to Liverpool. You had a similar experience, leaving Newcastle for a bigger club. How challenging is this?
Andy Cole: Yeah, it's always challenging. I think that's why as a player, you want to make those decisions. I think when you believe you are moving to a club that can win the Premier League, compete for the Champions League and all the major honours, you have to understand that it may take some time to settle in, but you will eventually understand why you are going there. So, in Isaac's case, it was a rough start for him and the way this deal went. People can look at that and say, "Well, we should do this. We should do that." But that's it, and all he has to do now is put his head down, keep working hard, and hope that something good comes out of it.
Given his attributes and the way he performed at Newcastle, do you think this will be successful?
Andy Cole: Yeah, you don't become a bad player overnight. It may take a while. You know, at Newcastle he was the main man up front. You go, you go to Liverpool now, you are no longer the main figure in the frontcourt.
Because you have had a similar experience.
Andy Cole: Yes, one hundred percent. You know, and you're playing on a team that plays a completely different style. You know, once he understands that and gets himself back into peak physical shape, things will get better for him.
What about his replacement at Newcastle, Walter Mader? Do you think he will settle in at Newcastle in the long term? We've already seen some flashes of his ability.
Andy Cole: I think so. Yes. If you look at how he's doing now, I don't think anyone could have predicted that. He's an individual who wants to be involved in the attack and link up the offense, but he also got off to a really good start and scored goals. You know, that in itself is a huge plus for a guy like him, his size, he's tall, he has spindly hands and feet. He has a really good first touch. He likes to get other players involved in the offense. He can get into the paint.
Jocles went to Arsenal in the summer. Is he the missing piece of the puzzle that can help them win a championship?
Andy Cole: Only time will tell. Arsenal have never had that type of centre-forward. You know, they always need an individual that can get into the box and score goals. Do you know what I mean? Yokere is a different type of striker. He makes runs from deep and into space, which you don't see center forwards doing anymore in modern football. You know, he was willing to do that kind of work. So, we'll have to wait and see if he's the guy they've been looking for to score Premier League goals for them.