Aaron Ramsey - 2nd best British player

[I am Rod Hull]

Scored again 

[theessexfox]

If Ashley Cole wasn't around, Baines would have tonnes of England caps by now. Top player.

[Finnegan]

If Ashley Cole wasn't around, Baines would have tonnes of England caps by now. Top player.

 

 

But... he is.

[theessexfox]

But... he is.

Really? I'd never have guessed.

[The Year Of The Fox]

I don't think Britain has came up with a truly worldclass player (bale aside) for donkeys.

[Aus Fox]

I don't think Britain has came up with a truly worldclass player (bale aside) for donkeys.

Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney all 3 on their day truly world class

[The Year Of The Fox]

Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney all 3 on their day truly world class

Scholes and Giggs I agree. But that was donkey's.

[Aus Fox]

Scholes and Giggs I agree. But that was donkey's.

So we're on the same page what do you define as donkeys?

[The Year Of The Fox]

Giggs came onto the scene in about 93-94, Scholes about 2-3 years later. It's almost 20 years mate. That's donkeys when you consider the football season occurs every year.

[Aus Fox]

Ashley cole Steven Gerrard?

[The Year Of The Fox]

Again if you really hold those players in as high a regard as roberto carlos and say scholes, they've still been around for over a decade.

[Strokes]

Again if you really hold those players in as high a regard as roberto carlos and say scholes, they've still been around for over a decade.

its not until theyve been doing it for a decade that they can actually be considered world class.

[Bert]

Makes me laugh how people think Baines is better than Cole. Complete insult to Cole. 100 caps and still going? We'll not have a better left back.

[Stadt]

I don't really see why Cole is/has been considered the best left back in the world, I'll give him credit for being able to block the ball on the line and make a few tackles. He is poor offensively, he can't cross or shoot - Baines is better.

[The Year Of The Fox]

its not until theyve been doing it for a decade that they can actually be considered world class.

Im talking about when they first came on the scene and truly became established/regarded as world class. My point was its been over 10 years since scholes giggs cole Gerrard lampard etc did this.

Since that generation there's been Bale and that's about it IMO.

[Fox92]

Gerrard was world class. Around 2005 time he was the best midfielder in the World, and all the major European clubs wanted him, including Manchester United who saw him as a replacement for Roy Keane... He's a complete player and can do most things.

Yeah he is my favourite footballer but I don't feel I'm being biased. He's even scored in every domestic cup final.

[Bert]

I don't really see why Cole is/has been considered the best left back in the world, I'll give him credit for being able to block the ball on the line and make a few tackles. He is poor offensively, he can't cross or shoot - Baines is better.

that is brilliant!

If Baines was better he'd have displaced Cole by now. Cole has won the lot domestically and played consistently at domestic and international level for the best part of ten years. Granted he's on the road to getting past what he was but Baines better? Never in a million. People are blinkered by his free kicks.

[Charnwood Norris]

Anyone think Wilshire is overated?  Plays a few 5m reverse balls and people hail him as the new Iniesta.  Doesn't score goals. doesn't play pinpoint 50m passes like Gerrard or `Pirlo. He was terrible againts Ukraine.

[Danno]

Anyone think Wilshire is overated? Plays a few 5m reverse balls and people hail him as the new Iniesta. Doesn't score goals. doesn't play pinpoint 50m passes like Gerrard or `Pirlo. He was terrible againts Ukraine.

Think him and Barkley are both good talents. Seem to get hyped up a hell of a lot though.

[Strokes]

that is brilliant!

If Baines was better he'd have displaced Cole by now. Cole has won the lot domestically and played consistently at domestic and international level for the best part of ten years. Granted he's on the road to getting past what he was but Baines better? Never in a million. People are blinkered by his free kicks.

Also cole was one of the first attacking full backs of his type, the way he used to play in his younger days with arsenal and chelsea was sublime. It was hard to tell if was a winger or full back.There were not many if any better than cole for a very long time in his position.

[Banks]

It's like saying Jamie Vardy should be getting an England call up because of how well he has played so far this season... Ramsey, one of the best players in the world lol

[Dan]

Cole's had a better career than Baines but currently out of the two? I'd play Baines. Cole isn't what he was.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I don't think Britain has came up with a truly worldclass player (bale aside) for donkeys.

 

Put opinions of his personal misdemeanors aside and I think it's impossible to say that Ashley Cole hasn't been / still isn't world class. He's arguably been the best and most consistent left back in world football for a decade.

[ScouseFox]

Put opinions of his personal misdemeanors aside and I think it's impossible to say that Ashley Cole hasn't been / still isn't world class. He's arguably been the best and most consistent left back in world football for a decade.

If everyone's honest with themselves there's not even an argument about it really. He's been miles ahead of any other left back pretty much since I started following football properly about 12 years ago.

[Finnegan]

Phillip Lahm on either flank > Ashley Cole.