davieG Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/sam-wallace-ashley-cole-deserves-applause-not-abuse-ndash-but-some-will-never-separate-player-and-persona-2206393.html? Sam Wallace: Ashley Cole deserves applause, not abuse – but some will never separate player and persona There was an unexpected visitor to the Walkers Stadium on Saturday afternoon, although Leicester City fans may have wondered what interest Ashley Cole had in their game against Barnsley. He was actually there to lend some moral support to Patrick van Aanholt, the 20-year-old Chelsea left-back who has been sent on loan to the Championship club for the rest of this season. It was an insight into the character of a man whose status as one of the nation's most vilified public enemies is so entrenched that he has long since stopped trying to change anyone's mind. Cole has taken some fearful stick over the years and in return he has locked the door and pulled the curtains long ago. As far as his detractors are concerned, there will be no rehabilitation of Cole. Yet you cannot help thinking there are not many Premier League stars who would bother driving to Leicester the day before one of the biggest games of their own season to lend their support to a little-known academy graduate. As ever it is important to make the distinction between Cole's caricatured public persona and Cole the footballer – and this week it is Cole the footballer who approaches another milestone in a great career. Providing Cole plays against Denmark in Copenhagen on Wednesday he will become the most-capped England full-back of all-time. The man whose record he will surpass is Kenny Sansom, the 1980s stalwart who, like Cole, played for Crystal Palace and Arsenal. One more cap will give Cole 87 in total, moving him up to ninth in the all-time list and within touching distance of the magical 100 caps if he plays up to and through Euro 2012 – of which there is every chance. Of the current England squad only Steven Gerrard has more caps (89) than Cole. There is no doubt that when the Liverpool captain reaches his personal century Wembley will rise to its feet to acclaim him, and rightly so. But what reaction can Cole expect when he reaches the same number? Certainly Cole's career merits a standing ovation. Only 30, he can be regarded as one of the best left-backs in the world of the last ten years, arguably the best for the last six or seven. He has played for England through three World Cups and Euro 2004 and performed brilliantly at times. The end of next month will mark ten years since he made his England debut. But the capricious Wembley crowd have in the past chosen to judge Cole on the basis of the stories they have read rather than the performances they have witnessed. Certainly the way in which they turned on him for a dodgy pass that led to a goal against Kazakhstan in October 2008 suggests that they prefer the caricature to celebrating the man who has marked Cristiano Ronaldo better than anyone else. Only when Cole finally calls it a day and the England manager has to find a successor will some people truly recognise what a good player he was. Leighton Baines, who has had a great season with Everton, is the latest candidate to get a chance but succeeding Cole is comparable to succeeding Gerrard or Wayne Rooney. They are big boots to fill. Yes, Cole has made some mistakes but, goodness knows, this is not a man who is ever permitted to forget them. If every person who has ever quoted that ill-judged passage from Cole's autobiography about his reaction to Arsenal's contract offer in 2006 had actually bought the book he would have sold more copies than Nelson Mandela shifted of his life-story. For all that Cole is pilloried it is worth remembering that the man whose record he should pass on Wednesday was far from perfect too. Sansom was, by his own admission, a functioning alcoholic with a gambling addiction while he was still a player. In his autobiography he admits that he was once so drunk he refused to fly to Spain for Arsenal's pre-League Cup final training camp in 1988. That is not to condemn Sansom for his addictions which he says were a result of a traumatic relationship with his father but it puts the criticism of Cole in perspective. He might not be everyone's cup of tea – and for Arsenal fans that would be understating it – but he has never been anything short of professional in his service of club and country. So why is he disliked? First of all, everyone seems to be an expert on Cole's failed marriage which is really no one's business but his own. Secondly, being a very talented footballer during the sport's financial golden age has made him a very rich man who also happens to have dated a lot of attractive women. Which some people seem to have difficulty accepting. Are they jealous? You bet they are. In fact, most would rather excuse Sansom for being a hopeless drunk than Cole for being talented and famous enough to move from one primetime television beauty to the next. Even though, as far as we can tell, his lifestyle has had no discernible effect on the standards of his performances on the pitch. Unlike poor old Sansom, whose own addictions sent him downhill fast. Perhaps we will get a taste on Wednesday of what England's support think of Cole should the Wembley stadium announcer choose to mention the fact he will break Sansom's record. If the response is as negative as it has been in the past then Cole might wonder why he should stick about to find out how they react to him reaching 100 caps. That would be a shame. But who could blame him?
Dickie Greenleaf Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 Now I still dislike him as much as the next man, but 1) That's a good article 2) I do increasingly think he was hung out to dry by Arsenal.
StanSP Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 We've all made mistakes in life - some more publicised and worse than others obviously. But at least he's getting on with his job of playing football and well done to him for reaching that landmark.
James. Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 Why do we need to comprimise and accept a player's off the field behaviour just because he's good at football. Cole is hardly a role model is he? And if he is then it's a pretty sad state of affairs.
Dickie Greenleaf Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 I don't think the article or anyone else is suggesting that. Its more that despite all of his off field problems, he's been one of the most consistent performers on the pitch over the last ten years and doesnt deserve things like the Wembley boos etc
Bert Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 How many other Chelsea players took it upon themselves to go and visit a young lad in their own time? He's one of these people that'll get stick no matter what, even if he donated his weeks wages to charity. Fair play to him.
Trav Le Bleu Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 How many other Chelsea players took it upon themselves to go and visit a young lad in their own time? He's one of these people that'll get stick no matter what, even if he donated his weeks wages to charity. Fair play to him. This. Never liked the guy as a person, but a superb player and this has done something to show that, like all people, there's more than one angle.
foxoffderby Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 Saw him going into the West Stand, he didn't have time to chat with me though
ScouseFox Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 Fair play to him on this one, but he's still not angelic.
m00nie Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 yea fair play to him i say.. friend had his pic took with him at the ground so he even gave our supporters the time of day also..
CosbehFox Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 Why is he disliked? The journalist asks..... maybe that enormous chip on his shoulder as showcased when he was sent off down the Walkers for a two footed lunge on Ben Thatcher...
Fox92 Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 I think its great that he went to watch a younger footballer play for another club. I remember when Jay Spearing said that Stevie Gerrard did it whilst he was on loan at Leicester. I think its fantastic. World Class/International footballers generally get stick from the opposition fans. I know in this case Cole has done some bad things, but I like to watch star players like Ashley Cole, not abuse them, like some do. Fantastic left back. One of the best that I have seen in my time. He'd probably get in my 'best 11' from the matchday programme.
Dickie Greenleaf Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 Erm, I seem to remember him apologising after that and Ben "pot, kettle, black" Thatcher also stamping on Freddie ljungberg in the same game?
MPH Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 Erm, I seem to remember him apologising after that and Ben "pot, kettle, black" Thatcher also stamping on Freddie ljungberg in the same game? not to forget that charging elbow to the jaw he did on that portuguese fella... knocked him out cold...
DB11 Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 not to forget that charging elbow to the jaw he did on that portuguese fella... knocked him out cold... Pedro Mendes? I loved Thatacher when he was at Leicester though!
CosbehFox Posted 7 February 2011 Posted 7 February 2011 Erm, I seem to remember him apologising after that and Ben "pot, kettle, black" Thatcher also stamping on Freddie ljungberg in the same game? My opinion has nothing to do with Thatcher but Cole's tackling ability seems to have a reoccuring pattern of apologises, bookings and sending offs. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article183855.ece Thatcher and Anelka incidients http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7307460.stm Apology to Hutton and Riley http://www.englandfootballonline.com/seas2000-10/2000-01/M0780Gre2001.html ''Ashley Cole receives an unnecessary caution for a two-footed lunge on Zagorakis'' http://www.englandfootballonline.com/seas2000-10/2001-02/M0781Hol2001.html ''Ashley Cole’s brutal challenge was as close to a penalty as one is likely to witness'' Excellent player, attitude of a doughnut. Showcased perfectly in those two nasty challenges on Thatcher and Hutton.
davieG Posted 8 February 2011 Author Posted 8 February 2011 My opinion has nothing to do with Thatcher but Cole's tackling ability seems to have a reoccuring pattern of apologises, bookings and sending offs. http://www.thesun.co...ticle183855.ece Thatcher and Anelka incidients http://news.bbc.co.u...sea/7307460.stm Apology to Hutton and Riley http://www.englandfo...780Gre2001.html ''Ashley Cole receives an unnecessary caution for a two-footed lunge on Zagorakis'' http://www.englandfo...781Hol2001.html ''Ashley Cole’s brutal challenge was as close to a penalty as one is likely to witness'' Excellent player, attitude of a doughnut. Showcased perfectly in those two nasty challenges on Thatcher and Hutton. So you must abhor Walshie then
fatmando Posted 8 February 2011 Posted 8 February 2011 How many Leicester strippers went back to his hotel room with him and van Aanholt that night after the game? He came down to sample some delights with van Aanholt. No law against it though. Good player.
Houdini Logic Posted 8 February 2011 Posted 8 February 2011 Why do we need to comprimise and accept a player's off the field behaviour just because he's good at football. Cole is hardly a role model is he? And if he is then it's a pretty sad state of affairs. Maybe he wants to be a footballer, not a role model?
Kingylcfc Posted 8 February 2011 Posted 8 February 2011 how many other premiership players would go and watch an academy player?? not many really
CosbehFox Posted 9 February 2011 Posted 9 February 2011 So you must abhor Walshie then Not particularly a fan of him. Mainly because of his attitude again. I am not making a claim here Cole is a bad player, I am just dismissing the article that he should be applauded...he's a good footballer but if he wants to be applauded, he needs to start winning medals of international and continental significance and showing a better attitude on pitch. MD has summed it up quite well on the other thread. how many other premiership players would go and watch an academy player?? not many really How many Premiership players would go watch one of their mates play? Quite a few.
Dickie Greenleaf Posted 9 February 2011 Posted 9 February 2011 he needs to start winning medals of international and continental significance Are you on about World Cup/Euros? Cause then that goes for every Enlglish player in the last 40+ years? Otherwise 3 League winner's medals and more FA cup medals than anyone else are kind of significant
BoneDog Posted 9 February 2011 Posted 9 February 2011 Just talking about football here and none of this personality stuff - I'm gutted he's beat Kenny's record, Sansom was my English hero when I was a nipper. Cole is a great left back though so fair dues.
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