Joe Cole Will Not Solve Liverpool's Wing Woes

Liverpool have signed Joe Cole on a free transfer for a reported £90,000 per week, despite offering the midfielder no assurances about the futures of key duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

Having overcome his reticence to move outside London, Cole will find Anfield a welcoming home, with a football heritage to match his own lofty ambitions.

And there is no doubt that he is a player of sufficient quality to improve boss Roy Hodgson's first team, the kind of signing previous incumbents Rafa Benitez and Gerard Houllier rarely made.

So as a statement of intent, it is certainly a bold one. Joe Cole is a Champions League player, who will be expecting Liverpool to once again become a Champions League club.

But why do Liverpool stick with that which they now know beyond any doubt doesn't work for them in the Premiership?

Asked to name the last time Liverpool had a European class genuine out and out wide player, you'd do well to find one since Steve McManaman.

And whilst Manchester United and Chelsea have been showing the way forward, deploying one and often two genuine wingers, Liverpool have stuck resolutely to players who can also play through the middle.

For all their virtues, the likes of the departed Yossi Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez do not offer the traditional wing threat that is key to winning the title.

Similarly, Jermaine Pennant, Mark Gonzalez and Antonio Nunez have simply not been of the quality needed to improve a big four side despite being of the right mould.

So whilst Joe Cole makes a great marquee signing, and he will certainly grab the attention of Gerrard and Torres, his signing must signify one of two things.

Either Alberto Aquilani will be playing nowhere near the amount of football he would want next season, or Roy Hogson has failed to learn from Liverpool's transfer mistakes of the last decade.