England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce believes Ashley Cole is "the best left-back that's ever played for England". http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21334178 He will always bring a level of dislike from many Arsenal fans, but do you agree with SPs assessment of Cole? Personally, i think he's been one of the best LBs in the world since he starting playing for Arsenal. The only other LB that could challenge his mantle of best ever LB in the Premiership would be Evra. He is also one of the few English players who have performed at International level, as well as his club. World class player and all-time great England player, whether we like it or not.
He's the best left back i've seen in an Arsenal shirt.The only player that comes anywhere near him is Kenny Sansom
I havn't seen enough England LBs to claim that but certainly the best since i started watching football
I have to agree with psycho on this one Laz. Cole has been absolutely monumental for club and country. The reason he stands out at international level for me is because that's where so many of our so called stars have actually failed to deliver but Cole has always been consistent and reliable. The guy could easily have been playing for any of the top 4 sides in the world but unfortunately he chose Chelsea. As a person I'd rather not comment on his personality as it will only be based on the crap written about him by erroneous journo's.
He won every single major cup a player can - as much as we don't like to admit it he did play for one of the top 4 sides depending on what years you look at.
Agreed, he could not only get into any top European side, but International teams too. In terms of England, only a handful of England players have done it on the International stage. So many have failed. From the so called "golden generation", Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard have failed but Terry and Rio have done well. But Cole stands out for me. Right now, apart from Wilshere, no English player really standards out. England's success will largely be built on this player. I really feel for Wilshere, as so much expectation will be heaped on his shoulders. The future for the England team isn't looking so good, as there isn't much talent coming out from England at the moment.
I totally agree with the last comment. We spent pretty much a decade concentrating on lampard et al so the press could sell more papers and the F.A could sell more shirts. When infact a few of those players have been nothing but awful at international level. Stupid articles asking weather 'Lamps' and Gerrard can play together. Seriously tedious journalism at its peak right there. I also feel sorry for Jack as he seems to billed as England's saviour. Makes me uncomfortable to see a player so young have soo much expectation on his shoulders. There was a time when we (Arsenal) were castigated as anti England (by the media and gullible opposition fans) with Wenger virtually blamed for England's lack of success. Now they are literally licking Wengers 'Ferrero roches' over jack. P.S have you seen Newcastles team sheet lately. Pfff no mention of the French revelution there in the media ( and quite rightly so) except when Arsenal does it.
Exactly, the media are a bunch of xenophobic arses that don't let facts get in the way. Arsenal now are producing and developing homegrown players that are now representing England - Wilshere, Gibbs, Jenkinson, Walcott (developing), OXO (developing), Frimpong (chose Ghana). If anything, they need to be thanking Wenger for changing the way the Premiership plays football. More and more managers are trying to emulate Wenger and doing a good job at it. If England stand any chance of winning any major tourny, then they will have to play a more continental, technical, pass on the ground possession football. As for Newcastle, that has got to be the biggest joke. We've never had that many French players playing in the team at one time. Even when we had the invincibles, we had a fair few England players playing for us.
Aaah but what we (gooners) didn't realise is that having an English manager (like Pardew), and also a fat beer swilling chairman (like Ashley) is enough to give your team an English identity. If you have a sophisticated french Manager and squad full of international players then you must be anti English. It all makes complete sense now. Lol
Sadly, he probably is. He is so consistent and he has never let England down on the pitch. He has arguably been England's outstanding player in every major tournament he has played in.
I remember an England vs Portugal game in one of the major championships where he had Cristano Ronaldo in his back pocket (how many can say that?), despite losing it was one of the best individual displays ive ever seen.
Really lads? No mention in the media at all of the fact we have so many French players? I applaud your inability to use google, heaven knows how you got here! Surely you should be slapping yourselves on the back that people are emulating your model, not crying about it... And, as I posted on the Man United board, we can play a full English Team. Arsenal have only been able to do that (roughly) in the last couple of years. ----------------Harper/Elliot---------- --Simpson--Saylor--Williamson---Tavernier ----------------Perch----------------- -Raylor----------------------------Sammy Ameobi- ------------Shola---Campbell---------------- We even have room for subs. Just because the Frenchies happen to be our better players (and you actually have very good English players), don't let that inform your twisted logic! As for Ashley Cole. Good player, tosser of a human being, but a good player nonetheless.
You see you have proven my point. Our 'French Revolution' was plastered all over the back pages. We were portrayed as anti English. The fact I have to use google to find any stories about newcastles French influx says it all really. No twisted logic here mate just good ole common sense and observational skills.
The biggest irony is that Chelsea were the first team to field a non English 11. I bet if you asked 99% of fans that question they'd say Arsenal.
Are you actually joking? I was yanking your chain mate... based on the fact being able to use Google is the port to many thousands of articles on the very topic, and probably some porn loosely based on it... It was in the news, on bbc sport, discussed on football focus, sky etc... So congrats on not owning a TV as well
I think you'll find Liverpool didn't have an English player in their starting eleven for the 1986 FA Cup final
