sabret00the
Established Member
Give someone an audience and it's only a matter of time before they start informing us of our opinions, this is the case with Ashley Cole and the general media inclusive of amateur blog writers.
It is this writers opinion that the whole thing with Ashley Cole has gone too far, so I think it's about time someone at least tried to counterbalance the arguments that are awash out there.
Recently The Sun started printed portions of his book in a bid to sell papers, we forgive them, it's their job. In fact most Arsenal fans should've fully understood the situation before even reading the articles but alas this is a little too much to ask.
Months ago now, we read in various papers how certain members of the board weren't happy with certain parts of Ashley's book and thus tensions arose, time went by with each party standing their ground until the story faded from public domain to private resolution. Given the goings on of the serialisation, I guess Ashley's lawyer went into a dance regarding something or another about free speech.
However the situations dead, or it should be. But it's not, and why? Because of course when the fans got to read the actual extracts (not even the full book) they went into an outrage.
An outrage, I'm not disputing the rights of some fans to show disappointment, seriously I've been around a lot since this whole thing started and different fans saw it in different ways. You're split between the "if you're promised something, you're pissed when you don't get it", the "he hasn't even apologised" and the "he met with our arch rivals, he should just leave". Please note, my niceties here are far above that of the pub or an internet message board.
In all this the best question has been raised, Ashley really hasn't thought about the fans in his actions at all, he hasn't stopped to think how this all effects us and the bigger picture in which he's apart of. While he's pissed off at the world of Arsenal surely we're the ones who don't deserve to be put through all this? The very fans that gave him a standing ovation on his return from injury. The fans that defended him day-in, day-out. The fans that took it upon themselves to believe he loved the club and it was just a family spat?
In spite of all of this, there's still some fans who don't want rid of Ashley, they tend to fall into three groups: the "blame his new wife, he went funny since he met her, he's still Ash deep down" posse, the "he's got a point but this has all gone too far in regards to both parties" gang, and the "I'd rather him play for us than anyone else even if he isn't a very nice guy" crew. Excuse the niceties again.
At some stage Ashley has to use his power as a celebrity to address the fans, enough with the playing the media, enough with professionalism, just a straight out, I care about you or I don't. You see as football fans, we do a lot of things we shouldn't, pay over the odds, buy merchandise, get our kids addicted. Honesty, when dealing with us, isn't something to fear.
We've always looked at Ash like he's a Gooner through and through and now we're not so sure, if his heart is in another place now?
Honestly speaking, I condemn the notion that we must all hang Ashley out to dry, I understand the contempt but I don't support it, I feel we all have questions as fans that are unanswered and I'll be bitterly disappointed to see him leave for a multitude of reasons.
I guess I just wanted to state and to particularly Ashley that not all Gooners are now anti-Ashley, some think that he's still pivotal to our future. In spite of this whole debacle, for the fans I hope all this can be put well and truly behind us by the start of the season.
It is this writers opinion that the whole thing with Ashley Cole has gone too far, so I think it's about time someone at least tried to counterbalance the arguments that are awash out there.
Recently The Sun started printed portions of his book in a bid to sell papers, we forgive them, it's their job. In fact most Arsenal fans should've fully understood the situation before even reading the articles but alas this is a little too much to ask.
Months ago now, we read in various papers how certain members of the board weren't happy with certain parts of Ashley's book and thus tensions arose, time went by with each party standing their ground until the story faded from public domain to private resolution. Given the goings on of the serialisation, I guess Ashley's lawyer went into a dance regarding something or another about free speech.
However the situations dead, or it should be. But it's not, and why? Because of course when the fans got to read the actual extracts (not even the full book) they went into an outrage.
An outrage, I'm not disputing the rights of some fans to show disappointment, seriously I've been around a lot since this whole thing started and different fans saw it in different ways. You're split between the "if you're promised something, you're pissed when you don't get it", the "he hasn't even apologised" and the "he met with our arch rivals, he should just leave". Please note, my niceties here are far above that of the pub or an internet message board.
In all this the best question has been raised, Ashley really hasn't thought about the fans in his actions at all, he hasn't stopped to think how this all effects us and the bigger picture in which he's apart of. While he's pissed off at the world of Arsenal surely we're the ones who don't deserve to be put through all this? The very fans that gave him a standing ovation on his return from injury. The fans that defended him day-in, day-out. The fans that took it upon themselves to believe he loved the club and it was just a family spat?
In spite of all of this, there's still some fans who don't want rid of Ashley, they tend to fall into three groups: the "blame his new wife, he went funny since he met her, he's still Ash deep down" posse, the "he's got a point but this has all gone too far in regards to both parties" gang, and the "I'd rather him play for us than anyone else even if he isn't a very nice guy" crew. Excuse the niceties again.
At some stage Ashley has to use his power as a celebrity to address the fans, enough with the playing the media, enough with professionalism, just a straight out, I care about you or I don't. You see as football fans, we do a lot of things we shouldn't, pay over the odds, buy merchandise, get our kids addicted. Honesty, when dealing with us, isn't something to fear.
We've always looked at Ash like he's a Gooner through and through and now we're not so sure, if his heart is in another place now?
Honestly speaking, I condemn the notion that we must all hang Ashley out to dry, I understand the contempt but I don't support it, I feel we all have questions as fans that are unanswered and I'll be bitterly disappointed to see him leave for a multitude of reasons.
I guess I just wanted to state and to particularly Ashley that not all Gooners are now anti-Ashley, some think that he's still pivotal to our future. In spite of this whole debacle, for the fans I hope all this can be put well and truly behind us by the start of the season.