Ashley Cole

[Blue Armour 4,438]

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. 21,491]

^ absolutely agreed. He is an old geezer now, so he needs a rest between games. It's the refractory period!

[Blue Armour 4,438]

^ 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)

[BlueLion. 21,491]

^ 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.

[Madmax 9,219]

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.

[Joe Cool 388]

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.

[Madmax 9,219]

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.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

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.

[Joe Cool 388]

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.

[Joe Cool 388]

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.

[Madmax 9,219]

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 ...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

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.

[Blue Armour 4,438]

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?

[Stats 7,142]

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.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I wish he would be around 28 yrs old