I'M SURE I'm not alone in being gutted about losing out to Liverpool for the services of Joe Cole.

Clearly the player doesn't own enough Louis Vuitton wallets or Gucci man-bags and has opted to further enhance his wealth by signing for a club that will be playing in the Europa League next year.

Heaven forfend that should have gone to a club which will actually be playing top level European football in 2010. Why would he join a club like that when he can move to one which hasn't achieved anything of note since fluking its way to a European Cup five years ago?

In his defence, he would probably say something about it being a long-term move and that he expects the side to get back into the top four next season, especially after the long-overdue clear-out of sub-standard rubbish that will no doubt go on under new boss Roy Hodgson.

Most Liverpool fans would probably make that same argument too, if it weren't for the fact that most of the them were too busy labouring under the illusion that their team is the biggest in the world (despite the fact that a) it's not b) they're rubbish and c) they have David Ngog).

Meanwhile, Carlo Cudicini may have recovered from his motorbike crash last year but I welcome the news that Harry Redknapp is trying to add more personnel between the sticks.

The latest rumour has us linked with Croatian goalie Stipe Pletikosa, who is currently plying his trade at Spartak Moscow, one of the top teams in the Russian league.

As good as Cudicini is, it's entirely possible that he'll never be the player he was after breaking his wrists and pelvis when he crashed his bike in Woodford a few months back.

Plus, he's the wrong side of 35 and while our first-choice stopper Heurelho Gomes is in his prime and showed great form as we held our nerve and qualified for the Champions League, another strong option in goal is never a bad thing when trying to compete in several competitions.

The keeper, 31, impressed fans and pundits alike with his solid performances in Euro 2008 (leading Alan Hansen to proclaim him the best keeper of the tournament) and has been capped more than 80 times.

By adding such quality in this importance position, Redknapp is clearly determined to make the most of the chance to compete against the best teams in Europe next season, and has no intention of making our historic top-four finish a flash in the pan.

Stick that in your brand-new Aston Martin, Joe Cole.