Cheat (Ashley Cole)

Member Name: 'ave it

Product:	Ashley Cole
Date:	26/08/02 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Talented footballer

Disadvantages: Defensive ineptitude, cheat

Play attacking, faking injuries, and deliberate intents to get an opponent sent off have rightly been condemned in English football, unlike Italy where a lenient attitude has made this side to the game acceptable. The English media has been able to dismiss previous cheats as being foreigners such as Klinsman or Ginola, unaccustomed to what we find acceptable in the English game. Now, an English player has to account for his deliberate cheating.

Cole’s ability as a full back has come under significant scrutiny. He has great ability going forward, but often lacks the defensive capabilities to perform consistently at this level. His concentration and positional sense are poor, and his footballing talent can’t rectify fundamental defensive inadequacies. Whilst his position as being one of the few Englishmen to be able to kick the ball left footed will probably see him retain his England place, he is a constant defensive liability. Arsenal’s dominance at domestic level ensures that he his less frequently exposed, but he has been awful in Europe, and it is only a matter of time before international teams become aware of his failings, and exploit the huge weaknesses in his game.

It is his attitude and temperament which may cause him even more trouble. He has a reputation for clumsy and reckless tackles, largely in attempting to cover for his defensive lapses. He also has an inability to control his temper, taking over Nigel Winterburn’s role at Highbury of making sure he is involved in every dispute on the pitch. However, it is the way he cheats and over reacts in a deliberate attempt to get opponents sent off that will cause him the most trouble. Cheating to get Cisse dismissed is not the first time Cole has been guilty of deliberate play attacking, and whilst Cole will be punished by referee’s who will be less likely to award Arsenal free kicks, further punishment is necessary.

In overturning Cisse
’s red card, the FA are clearly indicating that, in their view, Cole cheated the referee by pretending he had been caught by a late tackle, when actually there was no contact, and Cole was cheating to gain his team a numerical advantage. In similar circumstances, the FA overturned Craig Bellamy’s red card when Cole cheated to get the Newcastle player sent off. The FA have to show that cheats will not be allowed in English football, and punish Cole as a lesson to others. Professionals who cheat to decisive the referee should be punished now, before this unacceptable behaviour becomes commonplace in our game.

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