I've never been quite sure about this whole lark of fans booing their own players or staff. I've changed my mind about it a number of times over the years. Referring back to Saturday night, if we're going to start going down the route of booing a player for a single mistake, then that's probably not a great development, as far as I can see. However, I do rather think that there were a selection of fans, probably Arsenal ones, who were looking for any excuse to boo him.
Like I say though, I'm not really sure where I stand on this. If we're booing a team's player for a misplaced pass, no matter how hilariously misjudged, that's not working for me. However, if we're booing a player for being a contract rebel who will stop at nothing to gain himself the move he wants with absolutely no regard whatsoever for the fans that supported, nay idolised, him then that probably earns a lot of deserved booing.
Bugger, I've forgotten whether I'm talking about Ashley Cole or Cristiano Ronaldo now. Oh, wait, United fans cheered Ronaldo to the rafters. We're still on Cole then.
The thing is, even if the underlying issue with Saturday's booing was some Arsenal fans using it as excuse to boo Cole, should an international match be the place to play this out? The source of many Manchester United fans' resentment at the England national team is, after all, born out of England fans booing the likes of Gary Neville and Paul Scholes back in the late nineties and early part of this decade because, well, they played for United. I'm sure if I didn't support United I'd regard that as good a reason as any to boo them, mind you. Oh, and there was the small matter as well of the ridiculous nationwide vilification of David Beckham after THAT sending off.
What I'm asking is are a load of Chelsea fans now going to become rabidly anti-England as a result of Saturday night's incident? Probably not. But it could happen if this occurred again.
Ahh yes, Ronaldo. What a dilemma that is - one for another post, I think. Going back to Cole though, interesting to hear the variety of arguments about that one. People arguing that they paid good money to watch the match and should be able to express their opinions within reason if they so wish. Fair enough, and whatever your opinions about the 'knee-jerkiness' of it, they certainly have that unarguable right.
Then you have Rio Ferdinand, who I must say has shaken off the general demeanour of being a bit of a dithering prat quite admirably in recent months with some good interviews, understandably defending his team-mate although being slightly melodramatic in saying that said supporters should be ashamed of themselves. I can understand the argument too in that it doesn't really help Cole or the team to hear the crowd booing.
Then again, this is Ashley Cole. I'm quite sure he's heard worse, MUCH worse, than a few boos for a bad pass in his time. I'm pretty comfortable in saying that the depth of some of THAT is absolutely not on.
He's still a nob though, innit?
