Ashley Cole, England's best ever left-back

[Hutch]

So says Stuart Pierce:

It's hard to find a weakness in his game

England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce has praised Chelsea star Ashley Cole as the best left-back the Three Lions have ever had.

Cole is set to equal Arsenal legend Kenny Sansom 86 cap-record against Montenegro on Tuesday and will almost certainly become the most capped fullback England have ever had, and Pearce suggests the Stamford Bride star is a better player than both himself and the aforementioned Highbury hero.

Pearce believes Cole’s game is almost flawless and his performances at the highest level are consistently superb.

Pearce told the Daily Mail: “Ashley's the best left back England's ever had, 100 per cent. It's hard to find a weakness in his game

“At the highest level, his performances for England have been fantastic. There's no doubt in my mind he's the best left back ever to play for England.

“I used to think Kenny (Sansom) was the best, but Cole's game's improved. His pace is a really big strength and his ability on the ball.'

Pearce believes Cole is already a better player than he ever was, claiming: “He's better than me at most things,

“He can deal with the ball better and he's got two better feet. He's a world-class performer.â€

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[cfckeane]

Not just the best left back England have ever had, I'd say best left back we've ever had, and probably the best left back in the world currently.

Definitely one of the fittest players in the league.

[The Brit]

just wish everyone outside Chelsea would just get over the mistakes he's made in his private life and just start appreciating him as footballer...you don't have to like the guy, but you're a fool to ignore his ability...england fans in particular will wake up one day after he's gone and realise what they had but it will be too late

[mad_mac]

It's things like this that make me thankful I follow the Scottish national team. That way when the "fans" turn against Terry and Cole (without realizing how beneficial they are to the team) I can just shake my head in bewilderment and say "what fools they are!"

[Bobbywoodhogan]

Not just the best left back England have ever had, I'd say best left back we've ever had, and probably the best left back in the world currently.

Definitely one of the fittest players in the league.

Definitely, plus how many times has he saved England on the line. Incredible player, best left back to ever play in the Premier League and for England for sure.

[Tim W]

Sorry, Eddie McCreadie fills the shoes of best Chelsea left back in my book

[BlueBeard]

Sorry, Eddie McCreadie fills the shoes of best Chelsea left back in my book

I agree with that 100%

[andy]

What about soxy, I think he was massively underrated

[Hutch]

Sorry, Eddie McCreadie fills the shoes of best Chelsea left back in my book

I know it's a bit of a simplfication, but of the two, I'd say that Eddie Macreadie was the better defender, and that Ashley Cole is better going forward. Ashley Cole is also fitter and faster, but you can put that down to the differences in footballing culture.

Assuming he plays against Montenegro this week, Ashley Cole will equal Kenny Sampson's 22 year old record as the most capped England left-back of all time.

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[Bobbywoodhogan]

I actually think Ashley Cole is underrated defensively

[Maksimov]

I still rate Le Saux more than Cole, but the gap is getting smaller every day.

[High Street Ken]

I still rate Le Saux more than Cole, but the gap is getting smaller every day.

Based on what exactly?

[Maksimov]

Based on what exactly?

Le Saux was a much more balanced package. Cole's defensive skills have never been on par with his attacking skills. He's been steadily getting better, though, so that's why I think the gap is getting smaller.

[Bobbywoodhogan]

I wasnt a huge fan of Le Saux, his temperament got is in trouble way too many times. Ashley Cole is a much better player than Le Saw was.

[german-blue]

Del Horno was better imo...

[Bobbywoodhogan]

Del Horno was better imo...

[PloKoon13]

[Tim W]

I know it's a bit of a simplfication, but of the two, I'd say that Eddie Macreadie was the better defender, and that Ashley Cole is better going forward. Ashley Cole is also fitter and faster, but you can put that down to the differences in footballing culture.

It's impossible to compare really as football was a different game back in the "good old days". Saying that, I could see Eddie playing in today's game but not Ashley in the sixties/seventies. But I rate both very highly.

[Hutch]

It's impossible to compare really as football was a different game back in the "good old days". Saying that, I could see Eddie playing in today's game but not Ashley in the sixties/seventies. But I rate both very highly.

That was really my point. There's no way of knowing how either player would have coped had they played in different eras. Eddie would have had to curb his tackling, and like it or not, the chances are that Ashley Cole would have had to put up with even more widespread abuse (you know the kind of thing) than he does nowadays.

Two undeniably great players though. Eddie Mac was already a legend before his all too short stint as Chelsea manager, and all credit to Ashley for winning the majority of Chelsea fans round following the initial scepticism and even antagonism that initially surrounded his move from Arsenal.

[dkw]

Del Horno was better imo...

I see where your coming from but I think youve forgotten about a certain Mr Tony Dorigo....

[Hutch]

Bearing in mind the way Jose managed to stifled Ashley Cole's natural forward-running instincts I find the following just a trifle ironic:

Jose Mourinho backing Ashley Cole to become England record breaker

Jose Mourinho has backed defender Ashley Cole to become England's most-capped player.

The Real Madrid boss took Cole to Chelsea in 2006 in a deal that saw William Gallas head in the opposite direction to Arsenal.

Cole will equal Kenny Sansom’s record of 86 caps for a full-back when he plays against Montenegro on Tuesday night.

But Mourinho thinks the 29-year-old can also go on to beat Peter Shilton’s overall total of 125 England appearances.

Mourinho said said: 'Ash equals a record but has years and years in front of him to establish a great record.

'I congratulate him and wish him a trophy with England to make his career a perfect one. A great player but a better man.'

Former England left-back Stuart Pearce has also sung the praises of Cole.

'Ashley’s pace is a real big strength, his ability on the ball and the way inwhich he deals with the ball for a full-back is outstanding,' said theEngland Under 21 boss.

'Ashley is the best left-back England’s ever had, 100 per cent.

'It is hard to find a weakness in his game. At the highest level, his performances for England have been fantastic.'

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[cfckeane]

Didn't Winston Bogarde dabble at left back on occasion?

[Hutch]

Didn't Winston Bogarde dabble at left back on occasion?

He was on the left against Coventry in the game I watched on Chelsea TV the other day (the 6-1 where Ed De Goey hilariously creates the Coventry goal). What can you say about Bogarde though: Best and/or worst player ever to hardly ever play for Chelsea?

[midlandblue]

if Ashley continues playing the way has been over the last 18 months and continues for another 4 or 5 seasons at that level he will have to be seen as a Chelsea great.

He is a fantastic player, head and shoulders above anyone else in that postion in the world and as good as if not better than any full back ever to play for us. What we need to do is look at him as a Chelsea player, nothing else.

As I said, if he continues playing the way he is than in a few yerars time he could well be up there with our greatest ever players.