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.
tenaynhamrd has a point as far as Cole, Gerrard and Ferdinand, but Rooney! Which planet are you on? Wayne Rooney has been criticised pricesly because he is TOO involved in the game playing at right back, left all over the place (probably in goal if he was allowed to!) but not as a forward. Even Capello admitted as much. So come on, there are some players who are playing for their egos (thanks to Jay for his answer) but to many are not playing to their supposed potential as footballers. If they are that frighted let them go and play at the San Siro where AC and Inter Milan play or at "Welcome to Hell" Turkish team (Galatasary) - very frightening!!
From jonathangrosskopf on Mon Oct 13 12:22PMmistakes are part of human creation give Cole a break
From skaveru on Mon Oct 13 12:22PMFirst things First.
I dont like Ashly Cole, the way he treated Arsenal was unaccpetable, indeed Cole embodies much which is wrong with the modern game.
However I want england to succeed and booeing a player, especially after a mistake will not help the individual or the team.
We should get behind any player wearing an England shirt, after all there is plenty of opportunity to give cole the stick he deserves every saturday in the premiership.
Lets get behind anybody wearing the three lions, were the best fans in the world and can be a huge asset to the team, this sort of abuse is not needed, and certanly not deserved after one miskake. Despite my personal feelings towards cole, he is one of the best full backs in the world, and were lucky to have him in the England team, so lets supoport him and everyone else lucky enough to represent our beloved country!!
COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!From michael_shelt on Mon Oct 13 12:22PMBoo him, they should sack him! Too busy thinking about hairdressers or something else to spend his maga wages on - how about another career Cashley! My 8 year old son doesn't put his team at risk as Cashley does!!! Too many mistakes from too many players, they practically played with cigars in their mouths - same old England!!
From ckeel2001uk on Mon Oct 13 12:23PMIf you pay good money to get entertained (at almost any event) and you aren't getting your monies worth, it is within the bounds to let the "performers" know what you think of the Cash/Performance ratio.
It isn't racist or obnoxious or rude. It is a well accepted method of showing displeasure. IMHO Cole wasn't the only one deserved of a Boo or two. Gerrard goes into "John Barnes" mode every time he dons a national shirt (great effort for club..fak all for country).
The game only sparked to life when Mr 110% every match came on (SWP).
From asxtc on Mon Oct 13 12:25PM'English fans booing their OWN team deserve to be called MORONS' So how do the fans get the point accross to the team, manager, officials that we are not happy with the standard of football over the past say 20 years, sit quietly? Really though Kath how should irratated, dis-illusioned and frustrated fans get there message across?
From andy_23w on Mon Oct 13 12:25PMyeh i think she is brilliant. she is a bit different which is cool.
thats ashame man, but must say thats a cracking back up plan!
havent seen eric prydz yet, but heard alot of good things, an pvd always comes up wiv the goods.
got westfest sorted so a weekend of hardstyle, old skool and techno awaits!
sensation white was a bit too pricey for me at the moment
From marcgrant7 on Mon Oct 13 12:26PMWell said early doors, not too often you make a good and valid point on monday morn, must have stayed off the sauce this weelend end then
From rkill67 on Mon Oct 13 12:26PMI guess it's my turn to have a say on the actual diskussion here.
I'm a spurs fan so I have never liked the guy. The fact that he is suposed to be an idiot off the pitch doesn't make it better. I don't think you can just say he made a misstake or a miss hit or what ever. He deliberately hit that ball and it was fcukin stupid and arrogant. If you do a thing like that you can expect people to show their frustration. England hasn't had a decent second chice on the left back for many years and that has resulted in A. Cole being way to comfortable with his spot in the starting eleven. In football you're being dropped if you don't perform and perhaps this was his wake up call. If a new star left back was to make it this season in the EPL he wouldn't be as comfortable anymore.
So did I think it was right to boo him? Yes I do. He can take it. If he wants the booing to stop he'll perform better. That's it.
From richard.ekman on Mon Oct 13 12:26PMthe fans pay good money to watch england games and therefore have a perfectly good right to boo if they feel they are being short changed. for rio to say it was a disgrace is pathetic, cole deserved it. even if he didnt, it was still funny.
From stevescott1uk on Mon Oct 13 12:28PMBrilliant article...agree 100%.
From clintheine on Mon Oct 13 12:28PMThey didn't boo engalnd they booed Cole.
From richard.ekman on Mon Oct 13 12:29PMmorning all
From milesandy73 on Mon Oct 13 12:30PMThis article is a joke! and not a good one at that! It doesn't matter what team you support what is the point of booing someone for making a mistake if you want your team to win. The fans who booed are probably some hill billy rednecks! Anyone with common sense would know that if the team is frastrated you don't frustrate them more you encourage them. But to take it out on one player just disgraceful!!! Thats why England will never win anything because the players know like beckham that on one actually likes them and they likewise.
From stuartrfc3 on Mon Oct 13 12:33PMThe team where booed on the way in at half time, came out an scored 5 goals in the second? Coincidence?
From andy_23w on Mon Oct 13 12:33PMfor once in a loooooong time ED has written something i can talk about, ashley cole is a (insert whatever here) and deserved his booing, i dont agree that you shouldnt do that, i can do as i please, and he's not worth a spot currently, play the best players and he's not in that category
i'd blow a raspberry here if i could
From roxydgurl on Mon Oct 13 12:35PMengland sucks
From stanklomi on Mon Oct 13 12:35PMThis article and many of the comments make me realise why I'm so ashamed to be English sometimes. As laughable and pathetic as the item is, unfortunately it's systemic in our game these days. You all deserve each other, but real fans of the game deserve better.
From tonyjforder on Mon Oct 13 12:36PM'Anyone with common sense would know that if the team is frastrated you don't frustrate them more you encourage them'
I ask again, how? How do we let the players know how we are feeling in a way we feel they are listening, by singing England songs louder than before? I am afraid it is a sign of the times that fans are booing the team or the individual players too many years have passed with maybes or nearlys, too many wnough is enough these guys will get their egos masaged when playing well but must be told when they are not performing to standards expected by the masses, writing a letter of complaint to the FA wont help, moaning about it on here wont help, what will help is making that player aware in public that the pass he just fooked up was out of order, If anyone has any better ideas please feel free to tell me them because i am out.
From andy_23w on Mon Oct 13 12:39PMandy 23 couldnt agree more with u.
yi mean y go to watch england if u re going to boo them.
what they need is our support cos they are human after allFrom milesandy73 on Mon Oct 13 12:46PMNot a good one, Ed. Players, who make mistakes that give away goals are fair game at the time of the error. Booing asd opposed to through dangerous objects is healthy. However, you've surrounded your comment with a lot of other stuff about Ashley Cole, which leads to the implication that he made the mistake because of who he is, not because of an error that any defending footballer might make. Stating later on that the whole team was on holiday for most of the game doesn't really balance what is basically a smear. Surely, if Cole's private life affects his football that much he will find himself dropped.
From james_ssmith on Mon Oct 13 12:46PMBoo Hoo
From simon-roberts.t21 on Mon Oct 13 12:48PMwe should all respect the manager's decision to field whatever 11 he thinks best, but clearly most people wouldn't want cole in their fantasy side, he cant wear an england shirt right now better than a bib and daipers, but how to say we dont want him in this team is dont by the disapproval of the fans, capello take note, next match play anyone else there bench him if you must but no more of him whle he's in this mood
From roxydgurl on Mon Oct 13 12:48PMBest ED article in ages - absolutely spot on!
From hermie65 on Mon Oct 13 12:49PMmaybe this is englands normal standard and croatia was just a flash in the pan.
encourage them guys and not making matters worse.From milesandy73 on Mon Oct 13 12:49PMBrilliant piece. Over the past few months, people here question whether ED was 'past it', incapable of the articles of old.
This piece is fantastic, cuts away the bullcrap and idealisation forced upon the greedy fatcats who live off the money we spend. Well done guys.
From philliecullen on Mon Oct 13 12:52PMTO ME IT DID ALL SEEM OVER THE TOP, IT SEEMS THAT COMMENTATORS AND SUPPORTERS ALIKE SEEM TO THINK WE HAVE A DIVINE RIGHT TO BE 10 GOAL UP AT HALF TIME WHOEVER WE PLAY. WE WON THE GAME 5-1. WHEN THE OPPOSITION PLAY WITH 10 AND AT TIMES 11 MEN BEHING THE BALL, WHOEVER YOU ARE PLAYING IT IS DIFFICULT TO BREAK THEM DOWN. WHEN WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT A GOOD RESULT FOR OURSELF AND A GREAT RESULT FOR US IN UKRAINE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BOOING ASHLEY COLE. BIT PATHETIC EH!
From northeastbolting on Mon Oct 13 12:53PM10 men went to bed---went to bed with ashley----10 men and their mobile phones.......WENT TO BED WITH ASHLEY........@#$%!
From niklasvilhelmrejstrom on Mon Oct 13 12:53PMroxy who would u have replace cole
From milesandy73 on Mon Oct 13 12:54PMI have no problem with Cole playing for England, up until saturday night he hasn't really commited any howlers and always seemed to play with his heart in the right place. Cole is an experienced and talented left back which i think added to the dissapointment of 'the pass heard around the world' on saturday.
From andy_23w on Mon Oct 13 12:55PM
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