Joe Cole: RVP is a pain to play against

DIFFERENT CLASS ... Robin van Persie steals an FA Cup replay for Man United at Upton Park

JOE COLE believes he and Robin van Persie have at last found a place they can call home.

Cole slotted straight back in on his return to West Ham but he reckons RVP is at his devastating peak as a net-busting centre forward.

Midfielder Cole said: “Take away Messi and Ronaldo and he’s probably the best player in the world.

“He is different class and in his prime. He is hard to stop and is just sublime.

“Technically, he is fantastic. He was playing wide for Arsenal for many years and getting a few injury problems. Moving central means there is a bit less running in there and he can use his technique and finishing, which is just incredible.

“He uses both feet. He is a joy to watch and a pain to play against.

“We nearly got the third goal at the end. You can’t give them a chance like that but to be fair to us you can’t point the finger at anyone, it was just a world-class ball from Ryan Giggs and a world-class finish.”

‘Van the Man’ has played in all of Manchester United’s 21 Premier League games this season.

Yet he was as famous for missing large chunks of the season at Arsenal as he was for his untapped potential.

He has now scored five goals in the last four games and 22 in all so far this season. The stats alone are frightening for the opposition.

And for anyone who claims United are a one-man team, you need only rewind the video to watch how Giggs delivered an incredible ball across 40 yards of Upton Park pitch on to the tip of RVP’s toes.

From there it was left, left, right as a shot was unleashed past the dive of West Ham keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The foot movement would not have looked out of place on Strictly Come Dancing.

As usual, United never know when they are beaten. It is the most inspiring or infuriating quality in the team depending on your loyalties.

Defender Nemanja Vidic hailed RVP’s classic strike as ‘textbook’ stuff — and it should be a bestseller.

Vidic said: “His touch is magnificent and his finishing is top class. It’s movement from the book, touch from the book, goal from the book.

“It’s something they can show to kids, how to move and finish in the last third. He was magnificent for us.

“West Ham made this game hard. They tried to defend with everybody behind the ball and played long balls.

“We always know that on set-pieces they are a tough team to play against and eventually today they scored two against us from crosses.

“They scored from the second ball which we should look at again, and we are definitely a bit disappointed.

“It’s something to talk about. We have the height in the team, we should deal better with that, but most important is that we managed to stay in the match and I believe at home it’s going to be a different game as we have such a wide pitch.

“They’re good physically and in the air, like they showed today, and we have to give credit to them as well.

“They fight well and in the end I think 2-2 is a result they deserved.”We haven’t won the FA Cup for eight years and it’s a trophy we’re looking to win. We showed that in how we celebrated the goal, and I’m hoping at home it will be a different game. We have a big squad and we can manage one more game.”

Cole was the inspiration for the Hammers on an evening when he realised how the club has been transformed since he left for Chelsea in 2003.

His two pinpoint crosses dropped perfectly for defender James Collins to score twice with his head and bring West Ham back from a goal down to within three minutes of a famous win before RVP’s killer blow at the death.

Tom Cleverley had put United ahead with another class finish when left unmarked in a wobbly opening spell before West Ham regrouped.

Cole at least enjoyed this debut better than his first match for Liverpool when he was sent off after 45 minutes by referee Martin Atkinson — the same bloke who took charge of this Cup classic.

The midfielder joked: “He said to me as I was being substituted ‘At least you lasted longer this time’, which was quite funny.

“It was great to play again and I really enjoyed it. There’s been a lot of fuss.

“I’m not really one for that. I just wanted to get out there and play football. Individually it was a good performance and collectively I thought we defended really well.

“The reception I got from the fans was amazing. It really choked me up. It’s great to be here.

“The fans, even when I came back here with Chelsea or Liverpool, have always given me a good reception but today was special. Onwards and upwards.”