Tony Gale says that Joe Cole can emulate the brilliance of one of
West Ham's all time legends, Alan Devonshire.
He reckons Joe's switch to the left will be the making of him and says:
"Joe is being tied down to a specific role on the left hand side.
One of my best pals, Alan Devonshire, played on that left hand side and was probably one of the best ever West Ham players.
"West Ham are hoping that Joe turns out rather similar to him, playing on the left hand side but right footed, with the ability to go past players at ease.
"Maybe he is not quite as quick as Alan and he still has a lot to learn about the game, like positioning - when to come in and how to set up defensively in front of Nigel when we haven't got the ball.
"The left is a position where England have so many problems, it could be his.
"I wasn't there originally when Dev arrived but I was fortunate enough to play with him.
"Even after his cruciate injury he was one of the best players in the top division."
Tony reckons that Dev could teach Joe a thing or two and adds:
"Maybe if Joe met up with Alan one day and they had a chat Dev could tell him about how to receive the ball wide on the touch line rather than in the central areas.
"He could learn a lot off Dev, who was one of the best players, if not THE best I have played with."
Meanwhile, Tony says that he does not anticipate Michael Carrick playing against Germany, adding:
"I can't see it; every team I have seen bandied about by the press, who normally know from the insiders in the squad that they are paying, doesn't have Michael involved.
"But I think he has got a bright future and I think he could seal a spot in the middle of midfield."
Tony, who is in Munich covering the game with Capital Gold, thinks Trevor Sinclair should be out in Bavaria as well.
"If Sven, who was at the game, wasn't impressed by Trevor on Saturday he never will be."
And he says that he is not over confident about an England win.
He explains:
"I'm a little bit worried that we are going to play two up front, and for me that is too regimented.
"Things haven't changed a lot under Sven; everyone had a go at Kevin Keegan with 4-4-2 but it looks like we are still going to play the same system, and we still have the problem on the left.
"If we play that we will be relying on long balls and mistakes from the German back three and they will have a lot of possession.
"I'm a little bit fearful but I'm out here with high hopes - and a helmet on if there is any trouble!"
He reckons Joe's switch to the left will be the making of him and says:
"Joe is being tied down to a specific role on the left hand side.
One of my best pals, Alan Devonshire, played on that left hand side and was probably one of the best ever West Ham players.
"West Ham are hoping that Joe turns out rather similar to him, playing on the left hand side but right footed, with the ability to go past players at ease.
"Maybe he is not quite as quick as Alan and he still has a lot to learn about the game, like positioning - when to come in and how to set up defensively in front of Nigel when we haven't got the ball.
"The left is a position where England have so many problems, it could be his.
"I wasn't there originally when Dev arrived but I was fortunate enough to play with him.
"Even after his cruciate injury he was one of the best players in the top division."
Tony reckons that Dev could teach Joe a thing or two and adds:
"Maybe if Joe met up with Alan one day and they had a chat Dev could tell him about how to receive the ball wide on the touch line rather than in the central areas.
"He could learn a lot off Dev, who was one of the best players, if not THE best I have played with."
Meanwhile, Tony says that he does not anticipate Michael Carrick playing against Germany, adding:
"I can't see it; every team I have seen bandied about by the press, who normally know from the insiders in the squad that they are paying, doesn't have Michael involved.
"But I think he has got a bright future and I think he could seal a spot in the middle of midfield."
Tony, who is in Munich covering the game with Capital Gold, thinks Trevor Sinclair should be out in Bavaria as well.
"If Sven, who was at the game, wasn't impressed by Trevor on Saturday he never will be."
And he says that he is not over confident about an England win.
He explains:
"I'm a little bit worried that we are going to play two up front, and for me that is too regimented.
"Things haven't changed a lot under Sven; everyone had a go at Kevin Keegan with 4-4-2 but it looks like we are still going to play the same system, and we still have the problem on the left.
"If we play that we will be relying on long balls and mistakes from the German back three and they will have a lot of possession.
"I'm a little bit fearful but I'm out here with high hopes - and a helmet on if there is any trouble!"