Cook – but only just
Last updated : 25 June 2005 By Tony Scholes
For me two of Stan Ternent’s best two signings went head to head in this particular battle. I have always considered Cook to be his best signing Stan himself would tell you Kevin Ball.
It looked as though Cook was going to win it over Ball but then there was a late surge from Richard Chaplow that saw him not only overtake one of them but almost both of them.
In the end, in a poll that received almost 1,200 votes, he fell just one vote behind Cooky and not so many more above Bally.
There is no doubt that Cook should be in this side, his influence over the Clarets in four years is there for all to see. During his time with the Clarets he started 140 league games, 68 of these were won and only 34 lost.
A look at the points shows that it averages out at 80 points per season and in the 56 games he didn’t start during that time we picked up just 69 points from 56 games with 19 won and 25 of them lost.
Cooky came in from Stockport on loan in March 1999 as we looked to be heading for relegation to the bottom division again. He transformed the midfield in those last twelve games and that prompted Stan Ternent to sign him on a permanent deal during the summer.
He was inspirational at times during his years as a Claret, his left foot was a delight and he was certainly on of the main providers of Gareth Taylor’s goals. To add to all that did any player ever work harder than Cooky?
So Cooky takes his place in the team and tomorrow the other twelve return to the polls to battle it out for a place alongside him. It must surely be Bally, Stan’s call for best signing, or Chappy and it is those who voted for Cooky last time round who will be deciding, it will all depend on which way their vote goes.
The team so far
