"he's struggling to keep up with the game and as a result he's often out of position, Baines on the other hand has energy to burn, he never runs out of steam and he finishes the game how he starts it."

Really not sure where you've seen that - when I watch Chelsea, Cole doesn't look to be struggling for fitness to me!

"do you think baines cant defend?"

Is that a serious question?

Andy Carrot (U2440)

I guess I see Cole as substantially better at defending than Baines, but each to their own I suppose!

Winston
----
Maybe you should watch Chelsea more then.

Of course it is, do you think baines cant defend?

Is it that hard to see that not only did Baines play against average wingers in these two games




Wow, just wow. Do you know who he had to play against last night?

comment by Winston (U16525)
posted 7 minutes ago
Ji Sung Park's Cousin (U2958)

Fair enough, but I don't agree. I've seen Cole live twice this season and not sure about getting caught up in position, nor not getting forward?
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I saw him at old Trafford and Valencia got the wrong side of him a number times and won the ball off of him even more, it's a shame he couldn't do anything with it.

I would hardly call Blaszkowski average, he's one of the most underrated players around.

----

Last night, especially in the first half, Blaszczykowski had an absolutely fantastic game, he tore our defence to shreds on 2 or 3 occasions.

Wow, just wow. Do you know who he had to play against last night?
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Exactly, Blaszkowski is better than any winger in the Premier League.

Fair enough, but I don't agree. I've seen Cole live twice this season and not sure about getting caught up in position, nor not getting forward?
------
To dismiss him on the back of the past two games is a rather short sighted and illogical thing to do, in my opinion.
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Two quotes from you OP, a bit hypocritical to say the least.

If still play Cole if we had a game vs a Spain or Italy where we'd not get a touch of the ball.

But anybody else, Brazil, Portugal ect you'd have to play Baines to try and exploit their defence. The fact is we don't have a left winger who justifies playing Coke over Baines, we need Baines to provide width otherwise we have nothing from the left.

Aint that the truth BB, I don't think I was born last time we had a decent left winger.

Baines overtook Cole a couple of seasons ago in my opinion. For what he offers going forward he should be ahead of Cole now.

comment by If United did beers... (U16990)
posted 8 minutes ago
Fair enough, but I don't agree. I've seen Cole live twice this season and not sure about getting caught up in position, nor not getting forward?
------
To dismiss him on the back of the past two games is a rather short sighted and illogical thing to do, in my opinion.
------
Two quotes from you OP, a bit hypocritical to say the least.
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hahaha well spotted IUdb

To those saying Baines:

If your life depended on a 1 v 1 between

Robben v Cole or Baines

Which would you use?

Apologies for the hyperbole

comment by Jay - The eyes are open, the mouth moves, but Mr Brain has long since departed. (U16498)
posted 6 minutes ago
Aint that the truth BB, I don't think I was born last time we had a decent left winger.
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Guppy

or Giggs. We could have had Giggs

Ashley Cole is very negative with the ball.
Take it from me
He will 99% of the time just pass it back.
He cant run with it
He cant use his right foot
Even when its in his own best interests and the team's to use his right foot in a dodgy situation, he will still resort to using his left and end up making some sort of silly error.
He takes forever on a throw in
His runs off the ball are not that intelligent.
He cant cross.
He does get back quick when caught out of position
Good at making last ditch tackles in the box

If United did beers... (U16990)

You watch them much, do you?

He will 99% of the time just pass it back.
He cant run with it
He cant use his right foot
Even when its in his own best interests and the team's to use his right foot in a dodgy situation, he will still resort to using his left and end up making some sort of silly error.
He takes forever on a throw in
His runs off the ball are not that intelligent.
He cant cross.

----------------------------

Yeah but apart from that Mr C

Mr Reasonable (U2320)

Your question is a ridiculous one.

comment by shinjisshin (U1700)
posted 8 seconds ago

He will 99% of the time just pass it back.
He cant run with it
He cant use his right foot
Even when its in his own best interests and the team's to use his right foot in a dodgy situation, he will still resort to using his left and end up making some sort of silly error.
He takes forever on a throw in
His runs off the ball are not that intelligent.
He cant cross.

----------------------------

Yeah but apart from that Mr C
----------------------------------------------------------------------
But apart from that, what have the Romans ever done for us?

comment by Jay - The eyes are open, the mouth moves, but Mr Brain has long since departed. (U16498)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by shinjisshin (U1700)
posted 8 seconds ago

He will 99% of the time just pass it back.
He cant run with it
He cant use his right foot
Even when its in his own best interests and the team's to use his right foot in a dodgy situation, he will still resort to using his left and end up making some sort of silly error.
He takes forever on a throw in
His runs off the ball are not that intelligent.
He cant cross.

----------------------------

Yeah but apart from that Mr C
----------------------------------------------------------------------
But apart from that, what have the Romans ever done for us?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Two quotes from you OP, a bit hypocritical to say the least."

No, you've just taken them in utterly the wrong context.

I think going forward, If England are looking to play with more possession. Leighton Baines should be in there ahead of Cole. Cole gives it away and just dilly dallies on the ball far too much and also possession without penetration is pointless. Baines can do both.

comment by SouthLondonManc (U12028)

posted 3 minutes ago

To those saying Baines:

If your life depended on a 1 v 1 between

Robben v Cole or Baines

Which would you use?

Apologies for the hyperbole

===================================

Good question.