Ashley Cole

[bushman 2,043]

An 18 year old kid without any experience in the WC is not a very smart choice by Roy, I feel. Shaw is not ready for this major competition. Meanwhile, Cole has plenty of experience in these competitions.

[Special Juan 28,106]

His interview after the CL win will stay with me forever and a day.

:blue scalf:

[The only place to be 11,313]

Offensively? Yes, definitely.

Shaw has 1 assist this season, Cole has 2 in less than half the games.

I'd have taken Baines and Cole if I actually wanted to try to win the World Cup this year, but this decision is all about four years down the line....except we're taking Lamps as well.

Basically the FA are a bunch of cunts and rather than take the best players to help us win the World Cup (Terry and Cole) they're 'building for the future' by taking one 18 year old left back. Wankers, tossers, fuck-pots and shit-sticks the lot of them.

[Jype 6,398]

An 18 year old kid without any experience in the WC is not a very smart choice by Roy, I feel. Shaw is not ready for this major competition. Meanwhile, Cole has plenty of experience in these competitions.

He's not going to play unless Baines gets injured and England will hardly be going all the way at this World Cup in any case so why not give some valuable experience of being involved in a major tournament (training, preparation etc. plus of course the friendlies before the WC) to a guy who will be their first choice left-back for next 10-15 years?

Cole's selection in the squad would have been understandable but his omission even more so. If he had played as first-choice for us he would have at least had a chance of going but he deservedly lost his place to a player in much better form and could never take it back again so I can't really see why this is being made into such a big deal. If anything, I would question Hodgson's choices if he had taken someone on board based on their old merits and completely ignored who deserves to go based on their form this season.

[The Skipper 20,609]

I personally would've taken Shaw and Cole, Shaw as starter - giving him vital tournament experience and Cole as the reliable, more defensively sound back up.

[Jype 6,398]

Shaw has 1 assist this season, Cole has 2 in less than half the games.

I'd have taken Baines and Cole if I actually wanted to try to win the World Cup this year, but this decision is all about four years down the line....except we're taking Lamps as well.

Being good offensively is much more than having assists. If you watched Southampton you'd agree that Shaw has been good in the attacking end of the pitch whereas Cole has not really been bombing forward for a few years now. Even when Cole was better offensively in his prime he never got much assists because his crossing was shit even then, but it was all about the link-up between him and the attacking players in the team.

For Cole's place Hodgson had two great alternatives in Baines and Shaw but which younger player would you say should have been taken in Lampard's place if the plan was to integrate younger players in the team? Cleverley?

[The only place to be 11,313]

Being good offensively is much more than having assists. If you watched Southampton you'd agree that Shaw has been good in the attacking end of the pitch whereas Cole has not really been bombing forward for a few years now. Even when Cole was better offensively in his prime he never got much assists because his crossing was shit even then, but it was all about the link-up between him and the attacking players in the team.

For Cole's place Hodgson had two great alternatives in Baines and Shaw but which younger player would you say should have been taken in Lampard's place if the plan was to integrate younger players in the team? Cleverley?

I like Shaw going forward but he's not that much better than Ashley....YET. I have no problem with taking Lampard because I think he's the best choice for right now but that same logic should've applied to Cole as well.

It's muddled thinking as usual from The FA.

[DH1988 1,347]

Worrying that we are left with Betrand and Patrick.. both good going forward but Berty always seems to make a mistake.. Hopefully he's ironed that out, either that or we're going to buy someone.

I think Shaw is too young for Van Gaal to bring in first choice, honestly it leaves them so open down that side, not sure if people have watched him but defensively.. its not very good.

[bushman 2,043]

Shaw should have been involved with the 18 year old team to get more experience. Cole is definitely the better choice for the WC.

[Jype 6,398]

I like Shaw going forward but he's not that much better than Ashley....YET. I have no problem with taking Lampard because I think he's the best choice for right now but that same logic should've applied to Cole as well.

It's muddled thinking as usual from The FA.

Sure if you believe Cole to be the best option out of the three then fair enough, I got to respect that opinion even though I don't agree. For me, both Baines and Shaw have been showing much better form for a couple of years now and especially with Cole's performances at Chelsea leading to him being benched for a good six months or so while the other two were earning praise week-in week-out in the PL I considered Cole being left out a no-brainer.

Lampard is included because he is no doubt the best choice for his position and unlike with Cole's situation that isn't even up for debate. His club form hasn't exactly been too good either but if he's up against Cleverley for the place in the team then it's really much easier to call him up than getting Cole who was competing with two of the best left-backs in the league. I think James Ward-Prowse might have been a good shout if the plan was to take a youngster in midfield like Hodgson did with Shaw in defense, but maybe this summer is a little too early for JWP.

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

Petr Cech @PetrCech

Want to pay tribute to @TheRealAC3 - absolute legend & one of the best ever left backs.

[The_Flash 1,144]

It's a real shame I would have liked him to stay but I'm not that surprised that he hasn't been offered a contract. It really is a shame I liked him and thought he was a great player, ah well don't know what to say

[Pizy 18,858]

I just really hope he's replaced with a worthy player.

We'd have many of the same problems next season with 2 fullbacks who contribute nil going forward.

[The Skipper 20,609]

[Gilvorak 3,734]

I think we're selling him short calling him just a "Chelsea legend" he's one of the greatest players of ALL TIME in my eyes.