On sky sports new this morning a reporter said he was the best left full back in the world ! I don't think he's the best left full back at Chelsea ! If people actually watch him he is very average !
I don't think he's as good as he was, which is a pretty obvious thing to say but he is still a good player. A few years ago it could be said that he was possibly the best left back in the world but not now. I would start Baines ahead of him for England after this game, he's the future. Saying that how old is Baines?
At his peak along with Scholes he was the only world class player England has had in the last 20 years.
I'm sorry, but he is the ONLY left-back at Chelsea. Bertrand is a midfielder. Baines is better in my opinion, but based on his consistency over the last 10 years, he has been the best LB in the world.
Coles has been an outstanding LB for both club and country - Baines is a good PL player but nowhere in the class of Cole.
I think that this could be Cole's last England game. The man, based on his on-the-pitch antics, deserves the 100 caps. Baines is a better left back now and should be first choice for Hodgson.
Overall, he is very good both offensively and defensively. However I think he has passed his peak. Both him and Lampard deserve new deals though IMO. They have no one else to play LB as well as AC does, and FL is still a game changer.
This will probably sound very stupid, but am I the only one who has only just noticed that Leighton Baines' initials are LB, which is used to mean Left Back?
You honestly, honestly hand on heart think ANY of them were in the top 3 in the entire world in their position? Cos that's how I determine world class and none of them were. Owen? Are you serious? He had 2 decent seasons and then did nothing. How can he be world class when him and Beckham could hardly even get a game for Real Madrid? Capello even went as far as saying he would never pick Beckham again. Edit - and dont even get me started on Gazza. When did he ever achieve ANYTHING with any of his club sides? He might have been a joy to watch but world class? He signed for the Italian equivalent of Fulham at his absolute peak.
This is my opinion as to whether they were in the top three players in the world in their respective positions. Shearer-Yes Terry-No Gerrard-Yes Owen-No Beckham-Yes I appreciate not everyone will agree but that's how I see it.
As you say, opinions but I think Gerrard is up there only slightly behind Rooney when it comes to overrated. Edit - I assume nobody is mentioning Scholes just cos I did?
