I suppose the issue of race is a bit contentious, and one people (all colours) find very uncomfortable. It is not uncommon for any suggestion or insinuations to be dismissed like you have just done. To say Roy is a racist will be silly (as I do not know the bloke!). However the issue of whether the FA is institutionally racist is another matter. Racism is not just overt as a lot of people on here think. It is more covert and is a taboo subject and usually it is the elephant in the room. All I am wondering is whether colour has anything to do with Ashley Cole not making the World Cup squad.
Why would it have anything to do with colour ? The evidence is staring you in the face with Johnson, Strurridge, Sterling, Wellbeck and Ox in the squad.
Sol Campbell was a brilliant player and certainly had his head screwed on when he left a team of no hopers to join Arsenal, but in the last few years his senses seem to have taken a leave of absence. The racism claim that he wasn't made captain was about as credible as Toure's hissy fit over his birthday cake.
I completely disagree with the OP's statement its the manager who chooses the captain as far as i am aware i dont think it has anything to do with race when picking his squad. All thhough i wouldnt be surprised if those at the top where racist but i reckon if they where they would be closet racists keeping it to them selves
on The face of things this thread looks completely ridiculous. It takes a slightly wider perspective to see what the OP is getting at. I dont even think he is aware of the issue he has raised. yes we have lots of young black talent in the England Squad. (this is a good thing) none of them are as established as Ashley Cole. Cole is heading into the legend status within England. Thats very dangerous for the FA. It means that if Ashley continued to operate at international level then he would be heading into unknown territory for both the FA and himself. Then you have talk about awards that are given to players who reach that level of international recognition. Ashley Cole OBE (cough laugh) no ****ing chance. Even though the guy has given nothing but 100% for his country every single time. I dont care who sees what I am saying. I dont care if you think I have a chip on my shoulder or whaterver else outspoken people of colour get labelled with. The fact is Ashley Cole is the best left back in the country and he is not in an England squad that definitely needs him. Ashley knows he has hit the glass ceiling thats why he retired. It's actually very sad not just for Ashley but more so for England.
To be honest now i think of it i feel ashley cole not getting called up could be due to racism or (him being a C*nt) at the top end maybe the FA didnt want a player with his reputation or race to get 100 caps. The Fa has in the past influenced the managers over player Selection. Did beckham really deserve to get his last few caps for england or did the FA push Cappello to pick him for a few cameo's. So ultimately the point i am making is that maybe perhaps his reputation or race have had an impact on ashley cole being called up again
I find it well within the realm of possibility that an institution like the FA is racist. Not overt or deliberate but institutionally, deep down there is absolutely a possibility. Look at the numbers of black (or any race) executive members (the higher ups) but this has more to do with society. I think John barnes did a fantastic interview on it. However does it have anything to do with Cole not getting selected because he is black or that the FA doesn't want a black player being the most capped England player. Does it ****. Baines was arguably the best left back in the league last season (deffo the best english one) and Shaw is someone who realistically will be a future LB for England. It fits into the ethos of Hodgsons team selection, which is some experience and players for the future. I think based on this season Welbeck should not be in the team but he is (but that is not considered a race issue). Not only is there no evidence of Racism to back the Cole exclusion theory from the OP but on the basis of many black players being in the team the evidence goes against it.
Or maybe Sol Campbell likes to spark discussion to see what the response is like? Nothing like throwing out an idea or opinion to start a discussion is there? PS: Sol was captain of Portsmouth when they won the FA Cup.
You asked if ashley cole was ignored cos he is black....ignoring some one to go to the world cup based on their skin colour would be blatant racism not institutional racism. The fact that the England team has taken and played 4 black players ... a third of the team... in the opening match suggests that the asking of this question is crazy cos you have given no reason as to why racism might play a part in his exclusion ... even ignoring the fact he has only play 6 times for chelsea fom mid january to May ... and he was not injured in that time. The squad has Johnson, smalling, oxo c, sterling, welbeck and sturridge in it.... that's 6 from 23... over 25%. Cole ain't in the squad cos hodgson preferred other players... no more no less
Cole played 6 matches in the past 4 months for chelsea...that is why (imo) he was not chosen for england. There lots of of issues of racism within football...the number of (or rather lack of) asian professional footballers, the lack of black managers and coaches, the lack of black people playing a leading role in the fa (given the number of of successful black footballers since the 60's and 70's) ...all these could be looked at as institutional racism issues but the idea that cole has not been selected due to his race/colour imo belittles the issue of racism...as did campbell when he made his claim. Ashley Cole for OBE...that's political decision not the FA which is obviously a different discussion. why would anyone think you have a chip on your shoulder? you disagree with my view and I disagree with yours...if you hadn't put that in I'd not have known your colour...you are entitled to your view...even if you are wrong
Sorry Colin the laughing avatar at the end of your sentence does not make it funny nor does it make me wrong and you right. Like you said we are all a titled to our opinion. Mine is important to me as yours is to you. I'm not going to tell you your wrong. We just look at the situation from different perspectives. Your response was pretty much spot on as a general response/defence for the FA's decision not to take Cole. Laughing avatar included
This is true CYM but it's not really the point of my statement. My uncle is an OBE so it's not really an issue to be honest. I said is with a tongue in cheek but obviously there is a level of truth especially in regard to Cole. He deserves to be in the squad and remembercolin's stat.... They are just stats. His playing time over the last season does not describe a player with his experience and ability when he is fit. In my opinion it's a situation the FA exploited to make sure he (for whatever reason) did not make it to Brazil. If you really want to look at stats over Ashley Coles international career it's a waste of time because no one is even close to him in his position. So why is Ashley not in Brazil. Because he only played a few games last season? This is not a valid reason for a player of Coles calibre. Because Baines is better? Or because Shaw is better? (Yeah even I chuckled as I wrote it) Oh wait maybe it's because he is not as good as he used to be? This I may have accepted to a point but even now Cole is worth a place is the squad. We'll I'm out of reasons so I guess I will stick to my original statement that Cole is a victim of whatever political agenda the FA thought was necessary to ensure his retirement from international football.
Cym remember when Rooney had just recovered from a broken toe and he went along to the World Cup. It was the general consensus that this talented young boy MUST get on the plane with a broken toe that was on the mend. Why? Because apparently he was that good! I don't know if you remember how well Rooney performed in the 2010 World Cup but I remember him being a complete let down and let's be honest he has followed suit ever since. But guaranteed he is Always the first guy on the team sheet! Cole is hated by most of the British public so it's quite easy to dispose of him knowing that not one person (even his club fans) will fight his corner. Is it a race issue or is it an individual issue? Or is it a bit of both?
the last line was simply a joke mate...hence the laugh... and it was hodgson who chose not to take cole not the fa
maybe an england manager has simply made a decision you don't agree with...no more no less. remember capello taking a 17 yr old walcott to world cup when he had not played a single minute football for arsenal...and then didn't play him? there has been and will be decisions that people don't agree with in every world cup / euro squad ... but I am at a loss to understand why you think there is a conspiracy against cole. For years England have taken players based on reputation so they take players who are clearly injured rather than fit players (Beckham; Rooney; Owen) ... England fans were very critical of this, if they had taken cole (who has played just 6 matches since Jan for chelsea) this trend would have simply been continued. As for cole being disposed of...he has 107 caps and this england manager has decided (rightly or wrongly) to look to the future and chose alternatives...this happens to every international at some point. I have no idea how this is a race issue as you have offered no reason other than a vague "he is a victim of whatever political agenda the FA thought was necessary to ensure his retirement from international football."
What? This has everything to do with how poor England is and how crappy our strike force was in 2010 and how Rooney is seen as our best player (not because he is white) but how we desperately pin our hopes on one mercurial player. The issue was never one of race then.
Not a big fan of Cole personality wise, but you can't deny his talent and skill. He is an all time great LB of our generation and probably still better than Baines. I've hardly ever seen him exposed and his experience would have been great to have against a wily ol team like Italy. You play your best players, regardless of age in my opinion. Was it a racist thing, who knows. But to deny there is institutionalised racism in the UK is delusional, there is plenty of it in the Civil Service for example!
