"With Andy Cole up front they can score at any time. We'll be watching him very closely"

The statement recognizes how a single elite striker reshapes the entire geometry and psychology of a match. “With Andy Cole up front they can score at any time” is not hyperbole; it’s an admission that his presence compresses the margin for error to almost nothing. A forward with Cole’s pace, movement, and finishing threat doesn’t need a sequence of elaborate chances. He can convert a half-chance, punish a loose touch, or exploit one mistimed step in the back line. That possibility forces defenders to concentrate continuously, alters their starting positions, and influences how high a team dares to push its defensive line.

“We’ll be watching him very closely” translates into a set of tactical commitments. It implies tighter marking in the box, earlier pressure on the pass into his feet, and protection of channels where he likes to run off the shoulder. It hints at coordination between center-backs and holding midfielders to cut supply, not just contain the receiver. Body orientation, communication, and timing of the offside trap become critical, as does the team’s rest defense in transition, because a striker like Cole is most dangerous when the game breaks open and the distances between units grow.

There’s also a psychological layer. The words are both respect and a warning to teammates: stay switched on, no lapses. Publicly, it signals reassurance to supporters that there is a plan, while offering a bit of gamesmanship, letting the striker know he’ll be crowded, nudged, and denied rhythm. Yet the caution carries a paradox: focus too narrowly on him and space opens for teammates. Neutralizing the supply lines, managing the wide areas and secondary runners, and keeping the ball to limit his touches are as important as shadowing the finisher.

Ultimately, the message is about discipline over 90 minutes. One misread, one slow recovery run, and the kind of striker who can “score at any time” will.