Can we cope without Jose Enrique?

Simple question really, that should require a simple answer. Unfortunately though a simple answer is something that can't answer this rather simple question.

I've read Alan Pardew's comments about Jose Enrique in The Chronicle today, and to be honest it's a case of more of the same with no change on the horizon - Pardew maintains some hope of keeping him at the club but also admits that it's possible, maybe probable, that we'll lose Enrique this summer. He also maintains that we'll cope should the Spaniard fly the nest.

I tend to agree with that assessment to be honest. Yes Jose is a fine player, but he doesn't make or break the side. How many goals does he score? How many assists did he rack up? Not very many. How many times did he put the defence under pressure with a lapse of concentration or a misplaced pass? This may come as a surprise to some, but Jose is only human and is replaceable.

It's pretty clear, to me anyway, that Jose is waiting to see if there is any interest in him before deciding his future. It's his right after all and the club have made this situation themselves by leaving it until the last year of his deal to try and negotiate a new one, and it may well work if you listen to speculation linking him with a move to either Liverpool or Arsenal.

However, if his head is for turning then it's probably best that some interest is smoked out for him. In the final third of last season we saw just how dangerous Jose Enrique can be when his mind is elsewhere and his performances took a nosedive for it. Professional or not, if you don't really want to be somewhere you aren't going to be at your best.

That is what we need. That is what we have become accustomed to over the last couple of seasons. We've been treated to seeing a bunch of committed lads playing football for the cause. If Jose stays will he still be for the cause? Or will he just be waiting for the next opportunity to arise?

I'd love Jose to stay, if he wants to stay, but the longer it goes on the more I fear that someone will come in with a bid for him. Enrique may be on holiday at the moment, but he needs to really think about things and let the club know what his intentions are so they can look at a replacement. Technically it's not his problem mind, but I'd like to hope that Enrique will at least be honest to the club that gave him a break in the Premier League, and stood by him whilst he adapted to life in England.

So yes, life would go on without Jose, but it would be much better with Jose. What Alan Pardew said about being able to cope is true, but it doesn't exactly send out the message that he is wanted does it? Hopefully the "mega" contract offered does send out the message that we want him to stay.

There is still hope. Slim hope, but hope all the same!