BlueLion. 21,491 Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 Cole had a very good game. I'll grant you that. But, for my money, inconsistency has become a key issue for him. It can't help when you're in and out of the team on a rotational basis (and you do have to take into account our full-backs have never been more exposed thanks to our new system), but there have been games where he has been absolutely ripped to pieces by faster, more skilful players.I think Ashley still has a role to play at this club, but I think we are starting to see the first signs of age creaking into his play. Of course he isn't as athletic as he might be, as he's an old codger now. But this is something we definitely have to take into account. There is a list longer than we'd like to admit of players who have skipped past him this season - Franco di Santo included. That, for me, is a worry.But as for last night, he looked a little bit more like the player we saw last year. Stats 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHOULO19 24,332 Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 That Kung-Fu kick clearance....amazing. Blue Armour and Bir_CFC 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bir_CFC 3,455 Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 That Kung-Fu kick clearance....amazing. Yeah, I was in awe. How do you make perfect contact trying a clearance like that. 99% of the time that deflects off a regular human and goes in the goal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea_4_eva 1,182 Posted April 29, 2013 Share Posted April 29, 2013 does anyone have a gif of the kung-fu clearance? Yeboii 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Mikel OBE 4,920 Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Another great performance!Has looked fantastic since coming back from his injury. The Skipper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Armour 4,439 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Another great performance!Has looked fantastic since coming back from his injury.Like Mata, he's very good when he hasn't been run into the ground, playing match after match. Managers seem to forget that his stamina isn't like how it was in the old days.When he's fresh, he's still a beast. BlueLion. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLion. 21,491 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 ^ absolutely agreed. He is an old geezer now, so he needs a rest between games. It's the refractory period! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Armour 4,439 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 ^ absolutely agreed. He is an old geezer now, so he needs a rest between games. It's the refractory period! Older and wiser it seems... Remember how he tricked Kyle Naughton into conceding a throw-in?EDIT: (although I suppose it doesn't take too much to trick Kyle Naughton) Amblève. and Styles 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLion. 21,491 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 ^ it was Kyle Walker! Who is so ridiculously over-rated. Shows how desperate England need a RB when he is playing for our national team. I've had shits that would be more effective than him. Styles 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmax 9,219 Posted May 12, 2013 Author Share Posted May 12, 2013 What, no love for Ashley after that performance at Villa? By far and away still the best leftback in England. Baines should worship the ground Cole walks on. xPetrCechx, Amblève. and NiclasCFC 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Cool 388 Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 What, no love for Ashley after that performance at Villa? By far and away still the best leftback in England. Baines should worship the ground Cole walks on.I don't know. He started out really well in the first half, getting forward a couple times and providing overlapping runs for Hazard, but after the first 15 minutes or so he stopped getting forward for whatever reason, which was a big cause of us looking toothless up front in the first half (absolutely no width). Maybe it is Rafa's cautious tactics (which, as of late, seems to have stifled his ability going forward), or maybe he just doesn't have the legs for it (he's 32!!). I'm not quite sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmax 9,219 Posted May 12, 2013 Author Share Posted May 12, 2013 While I can understand what you're saying, if we're going to have to rely on a 32 y.o fullback to provide attacking impetus even after spending 80 mn on attacking players over the year, that's not very good at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHOULO19 24,332 Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 I don't know. He started out really well in the first half, getting forward a couple times and providing overlapping runs for Hazard, but after the first 15 minutes or so he stopped getting forward for whatever reason, which was a big cause of us looking toothless up front in the first half (absolutely no width). Maybe it is Rafa's cautious tactics (which, as of late, seems to have stifled his ability going forward), or maybe he just doesn't have the legs for it (he's 32!!). I'm not quite sure.He played a huge part in the equalizer. He and Azpi were crucial to the comeback we made. EDIT: It was the winner not the equalizer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Cool 388 Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 While I can understand what you're saying, if we're going to have to rely on a 32 y.o fullback to provide attacking impetus even after spending 80 mn on attacking players over the year, that's not very good at all.Obviously that's not the only reason, there's a whole host of others (poor game from Mata, probably fatigue), Lampard and Ramires in the pivot (we all know how that always turns out), Moses being useful as tits on a boar, etc. But my main point was that we haven't been seeing Cole go forward nearly as much as he used to, which is odd, considering the fact that he is (or was) one of the best in the business at doing that as a fullback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Cool 388 Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 He played a huge part in the equalizer. He and Azpi were crucial to the comeback we made. I'm not saying he had a poor game by any means, once it became 10 vs 10 he started going forward more, but I was just kind of puzzled by the fact that he didn't do it more when it was 11 vs 11.Generally, he hasn't been nearly as attack minded under Rafa as he had been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmax 9,219 Posted May 12, 2013 Author Share Posted May 12, 2013 Obviously that's not the only reason, there's a whole host of others (poor game from Mata, probably fatigue), Lampard and Ramires in the pivot (we all know how that always turns out), Moses being useful as tits on a boar, etc. But my main point was that we haven't been seeing Cole go forward nearly as much as he used to, which is odd, considering the fact that he is (or was) one of the best in the business at doing that as a fullback.I don't know, I kinda prefer him not going forward so much. He's 32, has a problematic ankle, has recently come back from injury, etc. Having said that, he still played a part in the winner ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHOULO19 24,332 Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 I'm not saying he had a poor game by any means, once it became 10 vs 10 he started going forward more, but I was just kind of puzzled by the fact that he didn't do it more when it was 11 vs 11.Generally, he hasn't been nearly as attack minded under Rafa as he had been.Manager's instructions. Rafa said once that he has a rule that only one of the two fullbacks should go forward in an attack. So when Azpi joins the attack, Ash has to stay back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Armour 4,439 Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 He played a huge part in the equalizer. He and Azpi were crucial to the comeback we made. I think you meant the winner? When he freed up Hazard in the penalty box to cross? CHOULO19 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stats 7,142 Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 What, no love for Ashley after that performance at Villa? By far and away still the best leftback in England. Baines should worship the ground Cole walks on.But what are your reasons for saying that? As a Chelsea fan it is easy to say Cole is the best LB in the world but facts is facts, he is not as good a she was before. He is exposed quite a lot and sometimes tbh I think he has been a liability this season. Baines in comparison has been superior to Cole all angles this season and that is obvious. Baines has been superb this season and I reckon he has surpassed Cole. Deserved to be in the team of the year. Mufassir08 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLyon 9,359 Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 I wish he would be around 28 yrs old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.