Complacent Cole deserves boos
Mon Oct 13 08:57AM
Early Doors never thought it would see anybody leap to Ashley Cole's defence.
This is a man who embodies everything odious about the modern game. Who left his boyhood club to chase money; who became the face (or the back) of anti-respect when he turned away from a referee; who played the field despite landing a pop star wife; who published a remarkably self-pitying autobiography that sold only 4000 copies.
Now he is cast as a victim after England fans booed him for his calamitous pass that led to Kazakhstan's goal on Saturday.
Words like 'disgraceful', 'mindless' and 'idiots' are bandied about by players, managers and pundits who reach the po-faced conclusion that anyone who booed Cole is worse than Hitler.
First of all, there is the namby-pamby argument that nobody should be subjected to public ridicule.
Tell that to Ashley's more successful other half Cheryl, currently appearing on a TV programme that has spent the last two months laughing at poor saps who think they can sing but can't.
Next comes the claim that the fans are to blame for England's poor home record. Wembley will never become a fortress unless people get behind the team and show unwavering support.
Surely this puts the cart before the horse? Fans wouldn't be booing if the team wasn't so crap.
The crowd had already endured 68 minutes of utter tosh with some patience before Cole's party piece allowed Zhambyl Kukeyev to race through and score the most embarrassing goal England have conceded since Davide 'General' Gualtieri took just eight seconds to beat David Seaman for San Marino.
Rio Ferdinand also deserves blame, incidentally. If he had reacted to Cole's ricket as quickly as Kukeyev did, he would have cut the ball out easily.
Only then did the jeers rain down on Cole. But it is important to understand that he wasn't booed for the mistake as much as what the mistake represented.
For reasons that are painfully obvious, Early Doors doesn't condone booing people for incompetence. Cole was guilty of more than that.
That San Marino goal in 1993 came from another left-back error, by Stuart Pearce. He under-hit a backpass and San Marino scored. But it was merely rubbish, not reprehensible.
When people say Cole didn't make his mistake on purpose, they are wrong. Of course he did it on purpose.
ED doesn't mean he deliberately gave away a goal. But he knew that the pass was showy and risky, and he played it anyway because it was only Kazakhstan.
In nearly a decade of club football, has Cole ever done anything as stupid as that? (On the pitch, that is.) Would he ever, in a million years, think of doing that for Chelsea? Of course not.
Cole personified the entire England team, which was suffused with complacency. Where the 4-1 win in Croatia was full of urgency, drive and ambition, Saturday's match was totally flat.
England were so convinced that goals would come by divine right, they couldn't be bothered to make anything happen.
It was the same at the back. In the first half, rather than making an obvious clearance, Matthew Upson attempted a dangerous backpass to David James. Presumably because booting the ball into Row Z against such lowly opposition would have been embarrassing.
A couple of minutes before the first goal, Kazakhstan nearly scored after Cole was caught miles out of position.
Where was he? Vomiting on the floor of a black cab? Watching X-Factor? Debating some p*ss-take contract offer?
Clearly, England were not trying, and Cole was the worst offender.
Clubs and the FA are happy to view football as a product when it suits them. They take full advantage when people pay huge sums to consume football matches, replica shirts, Peter Crouch calendars and Wes Brown alarm clocks.
Despite this relentless commercialisation, there seems to remain an old-fashioned view that the people who shell out thousands of pounds a year for this tat should not be viewed as discriminating customers.
They are expected to shell out £70 a head for tickets, get a crappy old train to a dank corner of North-West London (no parking at English grounds, obviously), spend another tenner on a programme, then buy overpriced hot dogs and fizzy drinks.
And then they are expected not to complain when they see something as lifeless and complacent as the first 70 minutes against Kazakhstan?
Nobody is forcing people to come to football matches. If they are not entertained, they won't be back. That's business. And if you don't want football to be a business, bring prices back down to 1966 levels, when World Cup tickets set you back all of seven bob.
Otherwise, you must expect people to make their voices heard when they feel short-changed.
And who said unconditional support was the best way to help your team win, anyway? Why is it that fans are expected to sit there (sorry, stand there) and cheer, clap and whoop, whatever fetid tripe their team feeds them?
Managers who take this approach - well, Kevin Keegan - are ridiculed for it. There are times when you need a good old-fashion rollicking to sort things out - and the booing of Cole was the fans' version of the hairdryer treatment.
Players are mollycoddled and protected from reality enough as it is. Do they really need fans to overlook their failings and give them a pat on the back they clearly don't deserve?
England's performance in general - and Cole's in particular - was unacceptable and they needed to be told so.
Things improved markedly after the booing started - do you think it was a coincidence? Well, yes, it probably was.
The late glut of goals probably had less to do with the abuse meted out to Cole than England's realisation that defending set-pieces is no more a part of Kazakh culture than naked wrestling or the running of the Jew.
But it's fun to boo Ashley Cole.
- - -
Disagree with the above? Well, you're in good company. Jonathan Symcox explains why booing simply isn't on. And Reda Maher agrees with him. Early Doors thinks they are both fools.
- - -
QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND: Steven Gerrard: "It's up to the manager whether he plays me and Frank [Lampard] in central midfield or plays a three and changes the formation."
Only for the staggering arrogance in Gerrard's statement. It hasn't even occurred to him that he might be dropped.
EXCHANGE OF THE WEEKEND: Paul Dickov on Goals on Sunday, proving he is just as troublesome as a pundit as he was as a player.
Pleasingly, Robbie Savage was the target of his mischief, forcing Chris Kamara to defuse a potentially embarrassing situation.
Savage on Scotland 'striker' Chris Iwelumo: "I didn't expect to hear that sound coming out of his mouth."
Dickov: "Why?"
Savage: "Well, er.."
[Awkward silence...]
Kamara: "Because he's coloured!! HAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! It's OK, you can say it!!!"
- - -
FOREIGN VIEW: Early Doors is bracing itself for the worst. Despite France coming from two goals down to draw in Romania on Saturday, the most entertaining man in international football could still get the push. The French FA meets on Wednesday to discuss Raymond Domenech's position.
twats
From jjury on Mon Oct 13 10:22AMno one boos rooney coz everyone knows that rooney would die for the shirt he wears..
hello all!!
From m.nair89 on Mon Oct 13 10:22AMbest article in ages and glad someone is treating this with common sense.
being there the booing was more pantomime than anything else as after each boo there was sniggers from around the ground.
and im sorry but wembleys atomsphere has nothing to do with the fans and everything to do with average football, over priced tickets, food, drink, no beer, and corporate bull**it glitz. stadiums like that should have an aura and a presence, something magical when you step foot inside and sorry FA you cant buy that.
From jonsimpson0010 on Mon Oct 13 10:22AMMorning fellow 15 percenters
Anne your new look is cute, apologies could not e-mail you at weekend try and catch you tonight hopefully!!
From fitbutfrustrated on Mon Oct 13 10:25AMWell from my point of view the difference between the club i support and the national football team is my club team do deliver convincing results more than the national team, my club team repay my loyalty by playing with passion and an appreciation of the shirt theye wear and the fans that foloow them, so many times in the past i have racked up to watch England full of hope and 80% of those times they have let me down, how long are we supposed to let the players dictate what the definition of a good performance is? For how much loger do we have to endure being the also rans? It is a sad state of affairs that some of the fans have resoted to bboing theam when they feel the performance merits it, i wouldn't class these fans as morons moron but disheartened, frustrated fans who know and have always known that he England team can do better but very rarly do.
From andy_23w on Mon Oct 13 10:26AMLast year you did not play the euro08, for a first time they're playing well, shut up and watch! Idiot.
From affiluc on Mon Oct 13 10:26AMHa ha Cashley...!!! You raging @#$%! Hope he breaks his leg!
GO ON CLICHY!!!
From bigambitions2k3 on Mon Oct 13 10:26AMCole is a c*&^t, as useless as his missus.
From phil.okeeffe on Mon Oct 13 10:29AMHello FBF
From mickr273 on Mon Oct 13 10:31AMAshley Cole has NEVER been a great footballer, he is sometimes quite good, but rarely for England. Going forward he gets into some good positions then loses the ball or puts in a woeful cross, then gets caught out out when there's a counter attack and is always trying to get back in time (which he never does). He is a clumsy tackler and his clearances are at best hoofed into touch or to an opposing midfielder. Like many of the current England squad he is picked because he used to look good (at Arsenal in Cole's case) but cannot be trusted at international level. It has been difficult to find a good left footed left back but to stick with Cole is never going to make the England back four a force to be reckoned with. Drop Cole for good, he gets booed because he's constantly giving the ball away and behaving like a spoilt five year old muppet.
From haddocklips on Mon Oct 13 10:31AMTo all those anti - booers, you forget that football is now entertainment and believe me booing is the Least that the paying public do to comedians who "bomb out!" Ashley Cole, the FA etc have to wake up; this game was shown via satellite etc to millions of paying viewers and do you really believe thatn they got their money's worth in the first 68 minutes. Maybe if people asked for their money back and footballers weren't paid for producing second - rate rubbish, THEN the FA and the English team would really have to wake up!
From jonathangrosskopf on Mon Oct 13 10:31AMmarcgrant, alrite mate how was the weekend?? Not too hung ova i hope lol. Ashley cole is @#$% but hes a good player and a good left back, jose mourinho (one of the best coaches in the modern game) didnt chase him for 2 years for nothing!!
I know u dont like burley, and i agree he isn't up to the job, but u cant say boyd walking out on his country isn't a disgrace. At least cole played (fair enough he made the howler) but i bet he has a good game against ukraine.
From jay8my on Mon Oct 13 10:32AMI totally disagree.
I hate Cashley Cole, both as a player and a person, but he should not have been booed DURING the game! Yes, supporters pay their money and are fully entitled to show their disapproval, but do it at full-time! Booing one player, or even the entire team, for playing @#$% is hardly going to inspire them to play any better is it? All it does is instil fear and therefore makes the likelihood of mistakes even more prominent! England will, hopefully, learn from this and in future treat ALL teams with the respect they deserve!!!!
From cameronwestwood on Mon Oct 13 10:32AMWhat would the opposing team think when they hear the crowds booing their own players? Probably, 'Thank God we don't play for that country!' Have we become a self loathing nation? Do you want the opposing team to get the incentive to pressure and even bully the out of favour player? No one deserves this for representing their country! All the journalist that wrote that Ashley Cole should have been booed are just totally irresponsible. They are encouraging acts that lead to hooliganism in a society facing increase crime and financial difficulties. They are jealous of footballers' wages. It is stupid amounts but if they hate it so much, they can stop writing about football. There are those less fortunate in life. People dying from hunger. If you support your country then support it. Most journalist watch England matches because its their job to do so and then act like parasites. Don't fall for the bait.
From tiptop_cat on Mon Oct 13 10:33AMUntil there comes a time when the FA has the balls to appoint an English coach for the England team, who would not be afraid of dropping the bunch of overpaid Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd and Pompey prima donnas. To look around at other home grown talent that is out there in abundance and who would PROUDLY play for their country with the attiude and belief that the name on the front of the shirt is always more important than the name on the back!!
From bob_howitt on Mon Oct 13 10:34AMMust....have.....Wes.....Brown.....alarm......cloc
k! Don't know why, also I would like an Emile heskey Lunch-box and flask combo.
From sikka316 on Mon Oct 13 10:34AMWhilst not feeling comfortable watching the TV and hearing the booing I feel that I must agree 100% with this article.
From smith_sj on Mon Oct 13 10:35AMSounds like a good idea to me! Altogether now, BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
From jay.rangdale on Mon Oct 13 10:36AMU know alot of us fans are called supporters because we support our teams when there good and @#$%. There are too many glory hunting supporters that expect england to play like man utd and aresnal. Thats just not possible, they dont train with each other all year round. Stop being glory hunters and accept england are not even ranked in the top 10 in the world so stop expecting miracles. Against a big team like croatia who are ranked higher than us ashley cole didnt make a mistake. So @#$% u anti supporters and go support ur @#$% glorified club teams!!
From jay8my on Mon Oct 13 10:37AMtip top_cat = tip top comment, well said mate!!
From jay8my on Mon Oct 13 10:38AMWell I told you all england were lucky to beat Croatia. You were all prasing them for a brilliant performance but look at the game against Kazakstan. They were lucky again! England are top of their group now but won't stay there if this continues.
There is one hope. Fabio Capello. If he just do what he does best they'll make it. That is to play organized defensive football and end up winning 1-0 every home game and getting a draw on every difficult away game and be @#$% the big stars. Lampard, Ashley Cole, Michael Owen and Rio Ferdinand should all get a beating and shouldn't be alowed to set their foot on the pitch until they actually show they deserve it.
From richard.ekman on Mon Oct 13 10:42AMdoubt it!
From jay8my on Mon Oct 13 10:45AMI think most of the comments on here sum it up. This is not in any way racist about Cole. There must be some jealousy from some of us in view of his wage packets, given that he is not that good really, but we have no one else at the moment.I do not like him as he comes over as arrogant etc, as people have said, he is a well known clubber and has not been nice to his more rich wife. Have you seen photos of her, she looks like a stickwoman with the stress. In addition the booing was not owing to the mistake, it was because he plays for Chelsea. I am a betting man and it is a sure thing that the boo boys were not from Chelsea. No wonder the England team wants to play away from Wembley as the fans who travel, apart from a few mindless ones, are the genuine fans who love their football and are not there to goad other PL followers.
From colin.howell on Mon Oct 13 10:45AMearly you are foolish people out there, can you play football?
From leepoboyyan on Mon Oct 13 10:47AMSorry tip top cat and jay8my, but until English players are PROUD to play for their national team and stop producing any old rubbish maquerading as football this and more will inevitably will be the reaction of a lot of many so - called football fans. Wayne Rooney gives the impression that he wouldm die in the cause for his national football team: does Ashley Cole even care about his national team - I doubt it! P.S. David Beckham earns much more than Cole and doesn't NEED the money but HE plays with passion and pride for his team. Drop Cole and other "mercernaries" get 11 players who really WANT to play for England and then cheer them on to winning the World Cup etc!!!
From jonathangrosskopf on Mon Oct 13 10:49AMrichard.ekman, sweden are no better, they only play well against england and thats only because they want to get scouted by a team in the EPL. Ljungberg ur captain was dumped by west ham hahaha, it just shows, get ur own nation sorted before u start having a go at ours. We are sitting at the top of our group...how are sweden getting on, apart from constantly trying to get henrik larrson out of retirement. U have one world class player (ibrahimovic) and it looks like he doesn't give a flying @#$% about playing for sweden.
From jay8my on Mon Oct 13 10:50AMhi jay, drowned the sorrows on saturday mate!
i agree, im annoyed at boyd reaction, he should have cleared the air before running to the media. i dont think boyd is the most professional anyways but we need a goalscorer and thats what he is. its blatantly obvious we were missing a bit of a killer instinct. boydy may not be an all round world beater but he certainly doesnt miss from a yard
From marcgrant7 on Mon Oct 13 10:50AMterrible!
From sav46e on Mon Oct 13 10:51AMI would also like to see a Rio Ferdinand Yo-Yo and a David James range of wooly hats. Any other suggestions??
From sikka316 on Mon Oct 13 10:52AMI am a man-utd fan, but that aside Ashley Cole is a fantastic player, and as for bemoaning the performance of the team the other night don't you morons realise this is a campaign that they have to get through, as well as play week in week out in the premier league, if they want to play a little casually so what, they won. perhaps the ticket prices should reflect the importance of the game.
From littletissue on Mon Oct 13 10:53AM
Comment on this article
Please sign in to add your comments.
Early Doors – Your morning briefing
Sport Newsletter
Catch up with all the latest news
Sign up to our free daily newsletter to recieve the latest news straight to your inbox. Make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Sign up now
This site is Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! and Eurosport. All rights reserved.
- Terms of Service
- Updated Privacy Policy
- Copyright/IP Policy
- Remarks and Suggestions
- Corporate info
- Jobs at Eurosport
Notice: We collect personal information on this site. To learn more about how we use your information, see our Privacy Policy.