Joe Cole: the honest professional?
"I don't think Drogba has helped the honest professionals in that team like Joe Cole, like Gudjohnsen, like Frank Lampard. I think they have sen their club damaged by the attention to Drogba."The words of Henry Winter, well respected writer for the Daily Telegraph. Hang on a minute let's scroll back, Joe Cole is an honest professional?
I, for one, would certainly doubt that statement straight away. Taking my seat at the recent England game against Uruguay, I expected the referee to have a lot on his plate with obscene amounts of diving on the part of the Latin American visitors.
To my surprise it seemed the one player spending most time going to ground was none other than Joe Cole. At one stage I could even hear his yelps from my seat in the midst of Anfield's main stand.
The challenge wasn't exactly the strongest yet Cole seen fit to role around.
However, this is not a one off situation and indeed could be sypmtomatic of a larger problem being lead by Chelsea.
I leave this open to the realms of coincidence but it seems to me that Joe Cole, once a boy of many tricks and stepovers has now added a another trick to his repetoire. The ability to go down very easily.
Honestly, remind me when you can remember, during Cole's time at West Ham, when he went to ground so easily?
It's seems to me that during Mourinho's reign his ability to do this has evolved. But, this is not just a Chelsea thing. Remember Porto? Celtic fans certainly will!
Another player failed to endear himself to opposition fans for his ability and also had a surname beginning with D. Derlei.
Such was his incredible acrobatic ability to do a forward roll, like an extra from Saving Private Ryan, Barry Davies sounded like he would spontaneously combust with rage at the sight. He wasn't the only player during Mourinho's time in Oporto. Various players found reward in hitting the floor and crowding the referee at every hint of a fall from their colleagues, looking to influence the referee's decision. This isn't just a Chelsea or, more narrowly, a Drogba thing!
Remember Abramovich's first year in charge and how it started with a win at Anfield. The talk wasn't of a team playing dirty but "almost, wow, how do we stop these guys?" No talk of the enemy essentially, money aside.
And then you have Gudjohnsen, another from the pre-Mourinho days, going down to get Xabi Alonso booked during last year's semi-final of the Champions League. Alonso missed the return leg.
However, the real extent of the change in perception was felt at Anfield a fortnight later. Every time Chelsea were in possession, they were roundly booed like no other visiting side to Anfield in recent times.
It seemed to be more a vocal opinion on Chelsea's attitude to playing against their peers. I guarantee the on-field antics count for more in fans eyes than any fat cheque books.
posted by C O'K @ 2:19 pm
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