Hated at Arsenal, loathed by neutrals, but Cole is the best in his field
Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole isn’t the most popular footballer around as he is hated by Arsenal fans, loathed by all neutrals, even some non-football fans dislike him for being unfaithful to his ex Cheryl Cole, but the guy is arguably the best left-back in the world.
Fellow professional Phil Neville seems to think so as he has recently lavished praise on the Blues and England left-back as he believes Cole typifies everything the modern fullback should be.
Neville told the Liverpool Echo:
“I’ve never seen him have a game where the winger he’s against has dominated him – because he is impossible to play against.
“He’ll make a 60-yard run and as an opponent you have to follow that and you quickly find yourself back on the edge of your own area. So you then have to make another 60-yard run to get back into the attacking third where you want to be. By the time you are there, you’re no longer fresh because you’ve just run 120 yards.”
Some of Cole’s most impressive displays have been against some of the world’s best players, particularly Cristiano Ronaldo as the pair came up against each other a few times at both club and international level. The Three Lions’ man has had the better of the former Manchester United player in their individual mini battles. Sir Alex Ferguson moved Ronaldo out onto the left flank in the 2008 Champions League final to try to take advantage of an out of position Michael Essien, but avoiding Cole on the opposite flank could also have been a factor in the Manchester United boss’ thinking.
The Chelsea fullback has managed to reach such a level and continue to perform at that level despite being hated by pretty much everyone, which makes it all the more impressive. Like his club team-mate John Terry he had a lot of negative press attention surrounding him over the season following revelations about their individual misdemeanours, but it didn’t seem to affect Cole in the same way as it did Terry who was guilty of letting it get to him at times.
However, Cole was probably fortunate to be injured during the times the scandalous stories were at their height.
It wasn’t his first taste of scandal though as the former Arsenal fullback was involved in a tapping up storm prior to his eventual move to Chelsea. He was labelled Cashley Cole after famously saying he almost crashed his car when he heard the wage package Arsenal were only offering him something like £55,000-a-week.
When Cole moved to Stamford Bridge in a swap deal involving William Gallas (2006) many thought Arsenal were getting the better deal and Chelsea were just acquiring another petulant mercenary, how wrong they were.
The 29-year-old was arguably one of the better performers of England’s dire 2010 World Cup campaign (although it’s not saying much) and managed to play the left flank pretty much alone as Steven Gerrard often drifted into the middle.
Last season Cole won an historic Premier League and FA Cup double with Chelsea and has been linked with Real Madrid (arguably biggest club in the world) following his best season in a blue shirt. Also, his England record is quite astonishing as he has made around 80 appearances country all of when he has been names in the starting XI, he has never appeared off of the bench.
Many may argue their individual cases for the likes of Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lahm, but love him or hate him surely Ashley Cole is the best fullback in the world and has shown it over an extended period of time?
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how much has he given you? and what is your judgement based on??? i hope it’s not the world cup.
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Lol Guvnor – well said.
Kieran Gibbs is fast becoming one of the best left backs in the country.
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What a crock. It’s this sort of pompous attitude that added to the ludicrous hype surrounding England. What did Cole do in the WC to be thought of as the best left back in the world?
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Yet another example of why the english national team continues to “disapoint”.
“Arguably the best left back in the world”?
Not even close, just more delusion.
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I agree with the lads above and think we should judge him over the last four games instead of his career.
Seriously, I hate him but he is one of the best left-backs in the world…I prefer Pat Evra, but I’m biased.
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An amusing article.So Cole is hated by all Arsenal fans, why’s that? I’ll tell you. The French team Arsenal refused to increase their only English Player, Ashley Cole,wages to match the wages of their numerous overseas players.
Cole was without doubt Englands best player at the World Cup, as Rooney was again, without doubt, Englands worst player.
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Firstly, I thank you for your comments. They are always much appreciated.
Secondly, I expected that he’d get some stick as Cole isn’t everyone’s cup of tea…if he’s anyone’s at all.
However, over his career he has consistently been one of the best players in his position despite the hate shown towards him, some bad decisions, negative press etc
@ Ian, there is always two sides to every story. Do you reckon it was Arsenal undervaluing Cole that pushed him out the door, was he just greedy, or a bit of both?
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Anthony, yes there are two sides to every story but one side is often very weak.
Was Ashley ( worlds best left back ) wrong in wanting wage parity with his team mates, I think not.
The Gunners were mugging him.
I agree with you, Ashley’s & Terry’s playing performances were affected by the negative press attention, but not to the degree the media wanted.
The English Press are both disgraceful & pathetic in villifying footballers for their alleged wrongdoings. compared to many of our Politicians these players are paragons.
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Ash is the best left back, no doubt about it. He’s only hated because of his wife really. He was a fool to marry and them cheat on the girl. I hope he goes to Real Madrid. Why would anyone put up with the stick he gets
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This is over the top- by a mile. Cole is a good, tidy player by world standards- unlike most of England’s players- but never a great one or a world class star. He was caught out of position on 3 of the goals conceded against Germany. He is too short and he leaves a defence vulnerable to high balls to the back post- and is not too hot against big direct wingers. Admittedly he looks good against weak opposition – but the game against Germany underlined his lack of defensive tactical awareness.
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