Cocky, or just good?

All too often I hear the phrase 'I don't like him, he's just too cocky' in reference to a footballer. Now this might make sense when describing a League Two winger with 3 career goals wearing gold boots & refusing to defend, however when used to describe players of the ilk of Didier Drogba, Thierry Henry or Cristiano Ronaldo this is nonsensical.

Every great player has a 'cocky' side, a side that truly believes they're the best thing since the telephone and is intent on rubbing everyone's noses in it. This is what gives us truly magical moments from brilliantly mercurial players. Would Henry, regarded as one of the finest players of the Premier League era, have given us his fantastically cheeky back-heeled goal at the Valley if there wasn't a voice in his head telling him that he was the best man on the pitch and was going to prove it? Would Zinedine Zidane have scored his amazing 2002 Champions League final goal if, as the ball dropped almost vertically out of the sky, the 'cocky' streak within him hadn't thought 'this is mine, and it's going in the top corner'? No. A less cocky player would have let the ball drop and tried to take a touch, allowing the defenders in to clear the ball.

This cockyness is key to every great player. So by all means as your winger's golden boots shank a half volley towards the corner flag give him all the abuse under the sun. But before targeting that abuse at players such as Cristiano Ronaldo (113 career goals, 3 Premier League winners medals, 1 FA Cup winners medal, 1 Champions League winners medal & 1 Club World Cup Medal) or Didier Drogba (140 career goals, 3 Premier League medals & 3 FA Cup medals) just think what it was that brought them those goals & won them those medals, and applaude their audacity.

2-0 Is A Dangerous Lead

So there it is, after those heady days of August optimism expectations have been brought back down to earth with an almighty crash. After consecutive home draws against Bristol Rovers & Yeovil Town (Two teams Latics were all of a sudden 'expected' to beat despite pre-season predictions of a battle to avoid the drop) the locals were already sharpening their pitchforks. Now, after showing impressive capitulation skills to throw away a 2-0 lead at the home of one of the divisions best teams those pitchforks are being waved skywards in scenes akin to the Battle of Rorke's Drift.

Reasoned post-match debate

Now surrendering a two goal lead is never acceptable, but neither is the inevitable vitriol which will be hurled towards Boundary Park by those angry fans who cling to the belief that the Latics should be playing at the highest level due to being founder members of the Premier League. In the days leading up to next Saturday's visit of Bournemouth one can expect all sorts of wild statements and accusations attempting to explain Athletics recent dip in form (which incidentally leaves them in a truly embarrassing 10th position with 40 games still to play) ranging from Paul Dickov's lack of managerial experience to an alleged link with Salman Butt & Mohammad  Asif's spot-betting misdemeanours.

So after Latics suffered their first league defeat of the season in one of the most difficult away trips they can expect this season the players, management and fans would do well to heed the advice of Harry Enfield's scousers and 'Calm Down'.

Last weeks visit of the Gas to Boundary Park coincided with Sky Sports' decision to film the latest episode of their new quiz show 'Take It Like A Fan'. A show that, despite the presence of the rather exquisite Charlotte Jackson, is surely in line to win the coveted Worst TV Show Ever Award. The highlight of this week's episode was Dean Furman's excellent rinsing of Jackson's co-presenter Fenners' dodgy cravat/scarf choice: 'You've come on TV and chose to wear your dodgiest gear!'

Coming soon to a football ground near you

Its quite an impressive feat that Fenners & co have managed to make this such a terrible programme. On paper a TV show that tours football grounds on match days, giving fans at the game a chance to win a few quid by answering questions even GMTV would dismiss as 'too easy' should be quite watchable Saturday lunchtime TV. However viewers must quickly be put off by Fenners' 'SHOUTING IS FUNNY' presenting style and succession of terrible gags salvaged from the Soccer AM rejection pile. However, its not all bad, here's Miss Jackson dancing to Sir Mix-A-Lot's 'I Like Big Butts'. Enjoy.