It used to frustrate Joe Cole when he saw the number ten come up with 25 minutes to go. He would settle for that now.
For the fourth official to display Cole's number so that a harder running player could be introduced to shore up the game would mean he had been in the starting line-up, at least. The return of Jose Mourinho with Inter Milan next week will be a reminder of how life used to be. Mourinho was often considered to be equivocal on the subject of Cole but, in retrospect, he was plainly a fan. He did not wish to play him as a conventional number ten - a position that has all but disappeared in the modern game - and he accused him of having two faces, one for the beautiful game, one that lacked commitment to defence, but he still wanted to find use for him, somewhere.
Once Cole had been made aware of his defensive responsibilities, that turned out to be high on the left, a role now occupied by Steven Gerrard with England, and it redefined Cole's career as an international footballer. Sven Goran Eriksson, never one for original thought, immediately took Mourinho's idea and recycled it so that Cole solved a problem position in his England team. Having driven Paul Scholes into international retirement, Eriksson inserted Cole left-side and he excelled there, enjoying one of the few memorably good games from an England player at the 2006 World Cup, in the 2-2 draw with Sweden.
Cole was still important when Fabio Capello began his World Cup campaign, scoring twice as a substitute in the 2-0 win over Andorra. He was playing so well against Croatia the following week that he was bludgeoned out of the match with England leading 1-0. Robert Kovac was sent off for the offence, and because Cole came off, too, his contribution to the high point of Capello's reign is often overlooked.
Yet English football has never known what to do with Cole, and now Italian pragmatism has also had its say a major decision is pending in the summer. Cole has lost his place in the England side, maybe the squad, and for Chelsea, too. Carlo Ancelotti, the coach, is making it clear that he prefers others.
It would be fascinating were Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, to pursue his long-standing interest in a player that has fascinated him for almost two decades. When Cole was still a schoolboy with West Ham United, Harry Redknapp said that Ferguson coveted him and regularly requested updates on his progress. Redknapp always thought Cole would end up at Old Trafford.
Now could be his chance because it does not look as if he has a long-term future at Chelsea. Cole is out of contract in the summer and Chelsea are playing hardball. Maybe they will spring into action if Ferguson shows interest but Cole should resist. There is little doubt a move to United would benefit him. He could slot into that space behind Wayne Rooney and play the role many think should have been his long ago.
Cole will be 29 in November, so this is his last chance to deliver on the promise of his youth. It is time to leave Stamford Bridge. He has too much talent to be banished to the periphery.