he was pretty good even though he never played as well for England. But yes, Baines is a far better player. Once Cole gets his 100th cap, Baines should become first choice !
Scholes is a given. The only reason I didn't mention him is because it pretty much goes without saying he was world class. I just commented on the five 'debatable' ones.
that's not the point ! How good he was 10 years ago means nothing. He is nowhere near as good as Baines or Gibbs and he should barely be in the England squad now !
Stop asking questions then googling yourself, that's olm's job! Cole's been superb for club and country. His battles with Ronald's were fantastic. But his legs are going, did anyone see sissoko out pace him? That has never happened before. That's why I'm glad we didn't buy Dudley, 3 years contract for a mediocre player over 30 the greats lose it never mind average. Oh and the answers GAZZA. no one else has been world class since Bobby Charlton and Moore. FACT.
I see no one is prepared to challenge my rather bold claim regarding Carlton Palmer's world class credentials.
Now that I totally agree with. I honestly think people just say it without thinking about what it actually means. At the moment the trend seems to be to say Suarez is, but he really isnt. He's a very good player, even great, but he isnt in the world's top 3 in his position.
That is your barometer, it is not the only barometer. In considering whether I think a player is world class or not I think about which club sides, and international sides the said player would get in. The number of big clubs across Europe monitoring Suarez's situation shows how many want him. Similarly I think he would get into most international teams so I would say he is world class. I'm not sure Carlton Palmer would (well not know anyway) - sorry Carmine.
Ashley Cole is the best left back in the world and the only world class England player of the last 10 years. He would get into any team in the world at club or international level, he is bloody brilliant. It gets on my wick that he's got this ****ty reputation as Cashley for leaving Arsenal for wanting to be paid more money despite the fact it has led to multiple titles and trophies! He gets berated for cheating on some stupid bimbo who for some reason is the darling of the press which is bollocks. Fair enough shooting the intern was a dumb ass thing to do though//// The other English players named are / were top class and outstanding players but not world class in my view, (using the top 3 analogy) Shearer was at the time not as good as Ronaldo, Stoichkov, Suker, Rivaldo, Batistuta to name 5 immediately off the top of my head Michael Owen is in there only as a joke I can assume John Terry comes very close, but is not as good as Cannavaro, Nesta, Puyol or Lucio Gerrard is not as good as the media or Liverpool fans make out, not by a long way, in central midfield you have players like Xavi, Pirlo, Zidane and Viera who have all won world cups and Scholes who has been the best english CM of the last 15 years, despite ******ed managers playing him LM to accomodate lampard and gerrard. Finally, David Beckham.......really? better than wingers of the past 10-15 years like Figo, Messi, C Ronaldo, Pires & Stuart Elliot???
i think it means if they ever was a 'world squad' of say 22 players then all those players would be considered 'world class'
Well that's even harsher than me. I was suggesting a squad of 33 with the top 3 in the world in every position. There isnt, it's my basis but the point stands that people say 'world class' without qualifying it with what they mean by that. Judging by some people it's said about it means they play football in the world....
Ashley Cole, John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Alan Shearer & David Beckham were all world class in their prime
Can't honestly remember the last time I watched a full Chelsea match, though I do try to watch highlights programmes when they are on, but you cannot really judge a player based on one single appearance as at any given point they could have just had a stinker or a blinder, i.e. based on his last game against Newcastle you could say that he was caught out by the pace of Sissoko which indicates he had a mare, but take the last 12 months of his career, Champions League and FA cup winner, one of only 2 England players to emerge from the Euros with reputation intact and still England's first choice left back despite Baines' excellent form and this would stand in my view as a pretty good indicator as to his quality. It all comes down to personal opinion, nothing any of us can say can be deemed as fact, and in my opinion he is the best left back in the world.
