You might not remember Lee Cook. He signed for a few million quid from QPR as part of Lawrie Sanchez’s rebuilding programme, played in a drab pre-season friendly against his beloved club and never appeared for us again. He was injured, unimpressive in training and didn’t do enough to earn a chance under Roy Hodgson. Perhaps Roy wasn’t impressed by the fact that instead of going along to support his teammates during a relegation battle he was at Loftus Road nearly every other week.
The Daily Mail has a story this lunchtime suggesting that Cook wants to use this week’s showcase Carling Cup tie with Manchester United to prove that Hodgson was wrong to point him in the direction of the exit door.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance there after my injury. I’ve had to come out on loan and start again really. It’s disappointing that I wasn’t given a chance but I’m back at QPR now and trying to get them back into the Premier League where Fulham are. Maybe one day I can prove myself to them when I play them.
It’s a confidence thing. I know the ability is there, it’s just getting the confidence. And when you put the two together, confidence and ability, no one should be able to stop you.
And forgive me because I’ve only coached university football, but I reckon top flight managers are more likely to reward those whose confidence is manifested on the training pitch as well as those who show loyalty to their teammates. The fact that we hardly ever saw anything of Lee Cook (even in the reserves) suggested he was more than happy to take the Premier League pay cheque and run.
If this little snippet from The Observer’s fan reaction to QPR’s narrow win over nine-man Cardiff at Loftus Road is anything to go by his hero status with his beloved R’s might be in jeopardy:
Lee Cook had his worst game ever. He never beat the full back and his first touch was terrible
I hope for Cook’s sake he shows a little bit more at Old Trafford. Otherwise he might end up looking very silly indeed – and we wouldn’t want that, now, would we?
