Ashley Cole

[OneMoSalah 8,885]

Least goal threat in our side not counting Cech.

I would have still picked him if he was sold defensively. Bertrand should be the better option for the time being.

I also think we should be going for a world class LB in the summer, preferably Coentrao(or anyone better) and also sign Luke Shaw and send him out on loan.

I am not completely sold on Coentrao defensively but he is one hell of an attacking fullback. Can't think of many better at going forward than him, he is also brilliant at crossing. Him and Ronaldo's link up on the left for Portugal and Madrid is class at times. I think he'd suit Juventus or someone who plays with wing backs more though, same with Marcelo. He'd be a great buy for us if he could work on his defensive side, sure its not too shoddy but against Bayern, Dortmund and Barca especially he has looked very suspect.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

The one thing Cole has over Bertrand atm is his tactical nous to deal with deadly attackers like Robben, Ribery, Ozil or Ronaldo. Even then he would need support from his winger, as he can't cope physically.

I think Ryan should be starting in more of the bread and butter games.

[Tomo 21,751]

Hes been so poor this season. Is it any wonder though, teams have been looking to target him all the time, Newcastle targeted him in the air, he gave away a few needless fouls from their long balls like one on Sissoko.

If the rumors are true that Jose tried to get Coentrao even though the negotiations came to nothing and that he enquired for a 'young English player' but was put off because of the price when it was well noted there was a big club who bid for Luke Shaw then maybe in the summer he might try and get a new LB in.

Bertrand's performance in the league cup was more than enough to warrant him a start as was Mikel's performance but yet Cole and Lampard started against Newcastle... maybe Jose is just picking them on reputation... don't want to think about it like that but looking at some of their performances then maybe it is true... same with Hazard at times.. reading it back it seems ridiculous but at times this season you could say this could apply.

I can't agree with Hazard, he has still created the most chances in the PL this season despite being doubled up on and fouled whenever he gets the ball.

For me he had been poor this season if you compare him to his potential, but in terms of productivity, i don't think he has been bad, for me.

[OneMoSalah 8,885]

I can't agree with Hazard, he has still created the most chances in the PL this season despite being doubled up on and fouled whenever he gets the ball.

For me he had been poor this season if you compare him to his potential, but in terms of productivity, i don't think he has been bad, for me.

I can't agree with Hazard, he has still created the most chances in the PL this season despite being doubled up on and fouled whenever he gets the ball.

For me he had been poor this season if you compare him to his potential, but in terms of productivity, i don't think he has been bad, for me.

He can still do much more though. He is by far one of the most talented players in the world but when he's facing two or three players at a time then he can't create as much, as many players who have a similar playing style based on explosive speed and close control can't as their game is better when they are in 1 v 1 positions when there is space to exploit if they beat their man.

Newcastle stopped him from being directly 1v1 with the fullback and restricted the space he could move into, when this sort of thing happens you want your supporting fullback or even a midfield runner to make a run to try and distract one of his markers to open up a pocket of space for a pass or a dribble or a shot or whatever.

I was watching the Arsenal-Liverpool game and I seen a great example of this for Ramsey's goal, Ozil has the ball with two markers and Lucas Leiva was marking the space Ramsey got into, Rosicky made a clever run coming towards Ozil to ask for the ball and Lucas followed him, that opened up space and Ramsey exploited it to get the shot off after Ozil played it to him in that space.

It can be the same out wide, if Cole makes a run off the ball into space he can take away a marker opening up space for a midfield runner to be found by Eden or space he can dribble into. I suppose though if teams are playing with 2 or 3 players marking one then players can also exploit that, didn't happen against Newcastle, nobody took a gamble to get into the spaces left occupied.

[Tomo 21,751]

He can still do much more though. He is by far one of the most talented players in the world but when he's facing two or three players at a time then he can't create as much, as many players who have a similar playing style based on explosive speed and close control can't as their game is better when they are in 1 v 1 positions when there is space to exploit if they beat their man.

Newcastle stopped him from being directly 1v1 with the fullback and restricted the space he could move into, when this sort of thing happens you want your supporting fullback or even a midfield runner to make a run to try and distract one of his markers to open up a pocket of space for a pass or a dribble or a shot or whatever.

I was watching the Arsenal-Liverpool game and I seen a great example of this for Ramsey's goal, Ozil has the ball with two markers and Lucas Leiva was marking the space Ramsey got into, Rosicky made a clever run coming towards Ozil to ask for the ball and Lucas followed him, that opened up space and Ramsey exploited it to get the shot off after Ozil played it to him in that space.

It can be the same out wide, if Cole makes a run off the ball into space he can take away a marker opening up space for a midfield runner to be found by Eden or space he can dribble into. I suppose though if teams are playing with 2 or 3 players marking one then players can also exploit that, didn't happen against Newcastle, nobody took a gamble to get into the spaces left occupied.

Without a doubt we can see much more from him, which goes to show just how good he is/can be.

But i have heard a lot that he needs to be dropped, which i don't agree with, he can and will play much better, but by in large i think he has played well this season, as the chances created stat shows.

[OneMoSalah 8,885]

Without a doubt we can see much more from him, which goes to show just how good he is/can be.

But i have heard a lot that he needs to be dropped, which i don't agree with, he can and will play much better, but by in large i think he has played well this season, as the chances created stat shows.

I think he could be benched for a few games and we could use him with 30 minutes to go or something when more spaces are likely to appear. He hasn't been anywhere near as good as I expected him to have come along under Robbie, Rafa and Jose.

Schurrle's industrious and direct performances are improving and they are interesting, they could be vital to breaking teams down. Schurrle is perhaps not as good a player but unlike Hazard he doesn't stop to think about passing it back to the pivot or Cole, he just runs and runs and runs and runs even if he doesn't beat his man he keeps trying to. It seems instinctive, like what I'd expect it to be from Hazard but he doesn't seem to try and take his man on every or most opportunity that arises.

Maybe some bench time would do him good, to be honest he doesn't actually look like he's in the greatest physical shape. He looks a bit tubby or he does in comparison to last year but maybe hes put a bit of body mass on to try improve his physical strength.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

I am not completely sold on Coentrao defensively but he is one hell of an attacking fullback. Can't think of many better at going forward than him, he is also brilliant at crossing. Him and Ronaldo's link up on the left for Portugal and Madrid is class at times. I think he'd suit Juventus or someone who plays with wing backs more though, same with Marcelo. He'd be a great buy for us if he could work on his defensive side, sure its not too shoddy but against Bayern, Dortmund and Barca especially he has looked very suspect.

Coentrao is the only realistic LB target that we can capture in the winter transfer window.

If you ask me who is the best man for the job, I'd say Alaba. Can't see Bayern selling him. Arguably the best LB in the world. Baines comes a closer second.

[Strike 7,478]

Coentrao is the only realistic LB target that we can capture in the winter transfer window.

If you ask me who is the best man for the job, I'd say Alaba. Can't see Bayern selling him. Arguably the best LB in the world. Baines comes a closer second.

Baines' attacking is insane but his defending is suspect. Even Aluko ran rings around him the other day for Hull.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Baines' attacking is insane but his defending is suspect. Even Aluko ran rings around him the other day for Hull.

TBH Aluko has been good this season.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Baines' attacking is insane but his defending is suspect. Even Aluko ran rings around him the other day for Hull.

Can't remember where Baines was 5 years back. Such a wonderful LB now.

[Jase 43,479]

Jose Mourinho: Ashley Cole has to fight for his Chelsea place

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Jose Mourinho: Ashley Cole has to fight for his Chelsea place

Actually surprised that the media have not made more about Jose benching Cole. Remember what happened when AVB benched him?

[Reddish-Blue 2,495]

Actually surprised that the media have not made more about Jose benching Cole. Remember what happened when AVB benched him?

Well..Cole is coming to the end of his career...its only natural that older players are on the bench in certain games.

The media are more interested in De Bruyne, Mata, Hazard's passport...

[Jase 43,479]

Actually surprised that the media have not made more about Jose benching Cole. Remember what happened when AVB benched him?

Well..Cole is coming to the end of his career...its only natural that older players are on the bench in certain games.

The media are more interested in De Bruyne, Mata, Hazard's passport...

And that was AVB. This is Mourinho. It's always easier from the media POV to target someone younger and inexperience..

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

I don't think Ash's been that bad bar his last 2 games. There are people who deserve to be stuck on the bench far more than him...