A warm welcome to new signing Ian Cox.
The 28 year-old central defender signed a three and a half year contract on 4 February.
Burnley fans will remember him playing some great games against us for Bournemouth, where
he was sweeper and captain, and it appears that he will be playing as part of a central
defensive trio at Burnley. The fee was £500,000, which looks like a steal. Cox has also
been capped by Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago
football official site.
Ian Cox was born in Croydon in
March 1971. He is six foot tall and played for Carshalton and Crystal Palace before
joining Bournemouth, where he was converted from a midfielder into a central defender. He
was linked with Leicester last season, and Portsmouth and, most recently, Wigan this
season.
Here's what we said when Bournemouth played at Turf Moor in
April last season:
"Their captain, sweeper and No. 7, Ian Cox, strolled through the game with
unruffled majesty. He controlled the game from the back. If it hadn’t been
frustrating it would have been a pleasure to watch. Every time one of Bournemouth’s
defenders found themselves pressured or short of options, they were able to play a simple
ball back to Cox, who would take a touch or two then roll it out to someone in the same
coloured shirt. By this means they were able to slow the game down and play it at a pace
to suit them.
...However, Cox handed out a lesson in how the role of the sweeper could be
pivotal and proactive, prompting the game from the back rather than reacting to
events... I’d almost believe in playing five at the back if we could do it like
this."
Sounds like a good 'un, eh? Read that report.
Here's a profile of Ian Cox from the best Bournemouth website (Boscombe on the web):
"Ian Cox is such a rock in the heart of our defence. He is
coolness personified. He has got a lot of pace and good close control and that mixed in
with an excellent sense of awareness makes him one of the most sought-after defenders in
the divison. Some of the things he does look so casual, but at the same time, amazing! He
gets forward and scores goals in his spare time, and also likes to exchange passing
sequences with the rest of the team. He has some great touches and anything less than
£1.5 for him would be ludicrous. He is a superb ball winner and although his role
of 'captain' is debated over with 'not enough communication' coming from his gob, he
usually lets his football do the talking."
For views from Bournemouth fans, visit Boscombe on the web.
5 February
2000
