Posted June 25, 201113 yr http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2008049/Ashley-Cole-wants-Barcelona-Real-Madrid.html This rumor actually seems like it has some truth to it and IMO it's a move Chelsea need to heavily consider. If Madrid offers 25-30 mil for a 30 year old Left back (although he is arguably the best) then its a good piece of business. You use some of those funds to bring in Fabio Coentrao, who AVB should have good knowledge of and pocket the rest to balance the books.
June 25, 201113 yr Isnt he linked to Real or Barca every summer now? He will stay. And dont tell me he would change country just to get back with Cheryl, what a whipped man if true! Edited June 25, 201113 yr by Andreas
June 25, 201113 yr I don't want him to go but I wouldn't be surprised. Although of he were to "get back" with Cheryl - would he expect it to be different than before? He was left alone in a huge house months on end with a horrid mother in law... She put her career first and as a young couple it was always gonna end in tears. Aaaanyway, I hope this is just the press making up stories because they're bored.
June 25, 201113 yr I don't believe it personally, but I have to agree that if it's a good offer, we'd be silly not to look at it. Obvsiouly part of me would rue losing arguably the best LB in the world, but he doesn't have too much time left. We could look at a younger LB, or try Bertrand or PVA. Then again, it's probably too risky, and we'd be better off keeping Ash till the others can establish themselves...hmm... Nevertheless, I think it won't matter in the end, because I don't see the club selling him, especially since he's English.
June 25, 201113 yr That said, if a massive 20m+ bid came along, I would seriously consider it. Take this quotes into account: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6449473,00.html "I would love to end my career here," said the left-back, whose current Chelsea contract expires in 2013."I'd like to say I have four years left at the top, but I'm taking it year by year and seeing how the body is because I'm 29 but I feel like 35 or 40. It's hard getting up in the mornings." I think age and injury will really slow him down in the next season or so. The only reason I wouldn't jump into a deal or try to flog him off this season is that he still does have a lot to offer and truth is, there just aren't that many good left-backs in the world. He's currently the best in the world and even a season of underperforming would put him as one of the top 5. There just aren't that many quality players in that position.
June 25, 201113 yr Yeah, I`m sure he would love to go to a country where he was racially abused whilst playing for england....
June 25, 201113 yr Yeah, I`m sure he would love to go to a country where he was racially abused whilst playing for england.... For a manager that won't let him go over the half way line :P
June 25, 201113 yr For a manager that won't let him go over the half way line :P And who Cole himself said he didnt really enjoy the football under. Yeah, its a dead cert hes going to madrid.
June 25, 201113 yr I thought Coentrao signed for Real Madrid ages ago anyway? Didn't Ronaldo come out and talk about him being one of the best in the world? I'm so confused. I wouldn't sell Ash for anything less than £30million, he's consistently brilliant.
June 26, 201113 yr I thought Coentrao signed for Real Madrid ages ago anyway? Didn't Ronaldo come out and talk about him being one of the best in the world? I'm so confused. I wouldn't sell Ash for anything less than £30million, he's consistently brilliant. I'd be having a serious think about it if someone offered £20m. Not sure whether I'd be happy for him to leave at that price, but for a 30 year old player whose game relies on the fact that he's able to consistently keep running for a full 90 minutes it's worth considering. I really can't see him having a huge number of seasons left in him that he can remain at the top of the tree. We have a couple of promising young talents at the position and for £20m+ there's an argument to be made for cashing in. However, as many people have said, it's probably all bollocks and I would be very happy to see Ash finish his career in the Chelsea blue, so I'm struggling to see the relevance of my point...
June 26, 201113 yr Wonder if its just me who felt at times this season that he was already slowing down a bit?
June 26, 201113 yr Wonder if its just me who felt at times this season that he was already slowing down a bit? I noticed it a bit..but more for me, I really started to notice just how one footed he is. He is still quality, and it really isn't anything new...but it became tedious at times watching him have to often turn 180 degrees just to get in a position to play a short left footed pass, rather than keeping the attack moving my playing the pass on his right. I don't expect him to cross with his right, but I refuse to believe a professional player at this level has no faith at all to play a basic passing game with his wrong foot. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it, and thinking I'm seeing it more than actually happens?
June 26, 201113 yr I noticed it a bit..but more for me, I really started to notice just how one footed he is. He is still quality, and it really isn't anything new...but it became tedious at times watching him have to often turn 180 degrees just to get in a position to play a short left footed pass, rather than keeping the attack moving my playing the pass on his right. I don't expect him to cross with his right, but I refuse to believe a professional player at this level has no faith at all to play a basic passing game with his wrong foot. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it, and thinking I'm seeing it more than actually happens? I think you're right. And I see it at times with other players of ours too. Another thing I noticed about our passing last season was that, a lot of the passes out to a wide player were directed at his body meaning he had to completely arrest his momentum to receive the ball. Maybe that's something I'm remembering seeing more than it actually happened?
June 26, 201113 yr It'd be a mistake to sell the world's best left back but if you look as far as selling him at anypoint now would be the best time as we'd probably get the most for him HOWEVER we aren't Arsenal or Spurs we don't sell our best players cause its financially the right thing to do keeping the best Left back in the world is very very important.
June 28, 201113 yr It'd be a mistake to sell the world's best left back but if you look as far as selling him at anypoint now would be the best time as we'd probably get the most for him HOWEVER we aren't Arsenal or Spurs we don't sell our best players cause its financially the right thing to do keeping the best Left back in the world is very very important. Barca sold Ronaldinho/eto, manu sold VanNisterooy/Ronaldo etc, sometimes rotating a squad is whats best for the club, something IMO is what we fail to do. No doubt if we replaced ashley cole, we might we immediately weaker at that position next season, however we will be stronger in the long term. If we get the opportunity to get 20mil and sign a backup like contraoe, id jump at the option.
June 28, 201113 yr I noticed it a bit..but more for me, I really started to notice just how one footed he is. He is still quality, and it really isn't anything new...but it became tedious at times watching him have to often turn 180 degrees just to get in a position to play a short left footed pass, rather than keeping the attack moving my playing the pass on his right. I don't expect him to cross with his right, but I refuse to believe a professional player at this level has no faith at all to play a basic passing game with his wrong foot. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it, and thinking I'm seeing it more than actually happens? He played the majority of the season with a knock to his ankle that never had time to heal, I think it started to show towards the end of the campaign but overall he was still one of our most consistent performers.
June 28, 201113 yr He played the majority of the season with a knock to his ankle that never had time to heal, I think it started to show towards the end of the campaign but overall he was still one of our most consistent performers. I wasn't suggesting he was bad, by no means. Probably still the best in the EPL, he just showed signs of slowing down. Part of that could have been injury and fatigue. And me pointing out just how one footed he seems is just a small annoyance, but he's still a teriffic player.
June 28, 201113 yr He's too good to be replaced by anybody at the moment. Eventually van Aanholt and/or Bertrand may develop to be as good as Cole.
June 28, 201113 yr I am in the minority who think we have two of the best young fullbacks on our books & IMO equally as good as the Da Silva twins. I'd rather we kept both; one as a back-up LB & the other as a back-up RB. In the long run it will be beneficial to the team as I think both if nutured well could form one of the best wingback/winger combo in world football. While one is getting occasional games as a back-up to Ashley, the other is working on his right foot as a backup to Ivanovic. Philip Lahm who IMO is one of the best fullbacks is comfortable on both flanks. This didn't come as a result of long loan spells away from Bayern but being given a chance & trusted by prospective coaches. Mourinho was the last I remember experimenting with Essien in a fullback position & playing Ferreira on the opposite flanks. Fergie has played his Da Silva twins as wingback & Guardiola is confident enought to play Mascherano or Abidal in the centre of defence.
June 28, 201113 yr It's also a good tactical option. Gallas, Bosingwa and Ferreira have all had great performances at right-back against left-footed forwards, simply because their stronger foot is more likely to prevent said players from cutting inside successfully.
