Uncle Joe
‘DOES Joe Cole have hidden depths? We ask in light of the Mirrors news that the slack-jawed player was offered by Chelsea chairman Roman Abramovich to Spartak Moscow on a years loan.
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| The twelfth man |
The Cold War might be over, but we cant help but think that Cole is part of something bigger. Is he the third man? Perhaps, but at Chelsea, where hes staying, hes very much the twelfth.
Meanwhile, the Star catches up with a few of the Chelsea first XI, which this week includes Damien Duff and Adrian Mutu.
Mutu is seen aboard a flight to Prague for Chelseas Champions League clash. Duff is just heard moaning about how little he likes being substituted.
Soon Id like to get the full 90 minutes, says Duff, who has been substituted in all five matches hes played for the Blues. He complains that he wants to stay on the pitch and that his case for doing so is not being helped by his being played out of position.
A position, which if he keeps whining, will soon be in goal for Siberia Athletic.
Over there, Duff would be wise not to hit the frozen turf too hard. Something Robert Pires, the Arsenal player, should also note when his team play their Champions League games in Moscow and Kiev.
The Express shows Pires falling to the ground and winning a penalty in Arsenals 1-1 draw with Portsmouth, and talks about the need to stamp out diving in the game.
Also in the frame is Manchester Uniteds Ronaldo, who has been accused by Charltons players of diving in their match of last weekend.
Pires is heard defending himself. I did not dive, says he. Ronaldo is not heard from at all, and as is the way with Manchester United, the talking is left to Alex Ferguson.
Fergie claims that the influx of foreign players is to blame for the burgeoning diving culture. Its those pesky foreigners that are at fault – although, curiously, none who play for Manchester United.
Ive watched some of the tackles on video, says Fergie of the Charlton match, and Atlas, the Greek god, would have gone down under some of those challenges.
Which is clearly a balanced, unbiased and clear view of events. Its a good job Fergies around to tell us whats what or else wed think people were cheating…’
Posted: 16th, September 2003 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
