Melton I know what you mean but as far as Chelsea is concerned, Cole imo makes Hazard's job harder than it should be. Cole doesnt seem to be able to take defenders with him on a decoy run. Hazard ends up going inside more often than not and even if Cole is put through by one of our players, his end product isnt there. Not anymore it isnt.

These are the little things Cole does that frustrate Chelsea fans.

I think Winston will be watching Cole a lot more closely now and vice versa with me and Baines and hopefully he will see some of the things ive pointed out here and I might see Baines differently. If Cole proves me wrong and Winston right, well its a win win for me and Chelsea as we have Cole back to his best but I dont see it.

Say If Cole was given space to bomb up and down the wing and imagine Carrick played that nice little ball to Cole instead of Baines. Cole would not have got that cross in like Baines did in my opinion. He just hasnt got it in his locker.

"Cole would not have got that cross in like Baines did in my opinion."

I tend to agree.

But how often does Baines' locker open? The stats suggest not as much as you are insinuating.

And there is more than one way to skin a cat...

It's quite difficult to compare them due to just how differently Chelsea and Everton set up, particularly in terms of defensive line. Lots of football to be played before the world cup though, so opinions may well be very different in six months!

What I would say though is there are other positions in the England team that worry me far more than left back at the moment!

Winston

Not sure what you mean by 'locker' but Baines creates more chances for his teammates than any other player in Europe.
More than Ozil, Gerrard, Pirlo etc.

Imagine if he was able to play in a team where the chances he created were finished off by top class strikers!

I fully expect Moyes to go back in for him in January.

So did warren Barton when he played for Wimbledon Robb

Warren Barton was the most underrated player of his generation

Robb Marmite (U9808)

The strikers must be rubbish then, because he only got one more assist than Cole last season, and he takes most of their free kicks.

The strikers must be rubbish then
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Well, you are right - Jelavic and Anichebe!

Robb Marmite (U9808)

Fair point!

Back for round two are we

comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 6 hours, 7 minutes ago
Mr Chelsea,

I do get where you are coming from with Cole. The thing is, as much as you are being critical with a player from your own club, I think people are guilty of the opposite in terms of Baines and his contributions. The Poland game the other night is a good barometer due to just how much space he was allowed (both in an attacking sense and in terms of defensive accountabilities), he had a good game but in all honesty, it really wasn't difficult for him. Contrast that to the game he had against us in the league and he was anonymous, because we didn't allow him to cross the centre line for most of the game.

I get that people see him running down the wing and putting a cross in and think "Cole doesn't do that, Baines is much better at that", but for me, it is all about how the team is set up. Everton are set up precisely to allow Baines to do it, they cover through their deep midfield. They also have the front men that thrive off crosses out wide.

Ultimately, as I said earlier in the thread, it depends on how England set up the front four as to who would be best for me.
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The city game was one of the few games I have seen were the opposing team sacrifice one of there players to near enough mark a full back out of the game

Winston I thought we'd revisit this thread
If you go back a page I said by Christmas we'd know definite who is playing the better for their clubs.
Your thoughts now? Cole cannot even make our first team now.

Mr Chelsea ✪ (U3579)

At present, there can only be one choice, of course.

That doesn't change my view though - I believe Cole is a far better left back, and am astounded he's not playing.

United had a lot of joy down that flank yesterday, which is because Cole wasn't playing in my opinion.

Winston

Cole's flaws have been ever present this season that's why Jose has rightfully left him on the bench in my opinion. Its exactly what I stated earlier on. He's lost pace, he's very slow on the ball, negative, will always run back instead of going forwards. Frustrating to see him play like this in all honesty.

Mr Chelsea ✪ (U3579)

I completely disagree.

Winston

Ok

Mr Chelsea

Time for me to bring this topic up again.

Was everything I said not proven to be wholeheartedly correct on Saturday evening?

Baines is average - can't believe the country have somehow decided he's a world class left back.

Great with the ball, but England don't have the ball enough for him to be the right choice.

Cole should have gone.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Playing Rooney on the left, Cole should absolutely have gone.

As much as we didn't set up to get the best out of Rooney, we didn't for Baines either. It reminded me a lot of United without the ball and the criticism Evra got at times - they both get exposed due to the set up of the midfield and forward line.

Winston. Rooney didnt help him out on the wing.

Mr Chelsea ✪ (U3579)

Rooney helped him out more than anyone who moved out to the left.

But that's besides the point. We don't take Wayne Rooney to the World Cup to protect a left back who's too weak at defending to protect himself.

He looked average on Saturday because he is average.

I'm glad that a lot of people suddenly realised it, but it's a shame Roy didn't.

meltonblue (U10617)

And how many times have I said that is the main reason why selecting Baines over Cole is ludicrous?

I get many things wrong, but I think on this point I've been proven well and truly right.

Winston. Congratulations. You have won a ja606 argument.

In all seriousness, Baines was poor. Cole should been played for that game but its not easy defending against two men on your own when the wide player who is supposed to give you some sort of protection isnt doing that. Yes I know you think that's not Rooney's job but it is if he is playing there. Its not just simple a case of " Baines is average, I told you so". What if Baines has a good game against Uruguay.

Mr Chelsea ✪ (U3579)

Depends what the management have asked for.

In many cases, we could be looking at one of the holding midfielders to cover that position - Carrick does it very well.

But this isn't about Rooney, it's about Baines.

People have overrated him because he whips a good cross in for Everton, and now we're stuck at a tournament with a real weak link whilst one of the best lefts I've ever seen is on a sunbed somewhere.

Crazy.