Bridgey

[geezer]

Bloody nora the red card madness goes on. Wayne Bridge is the latest to get a red card playing for the reservbes tonight which apparenlty means he misses up to three first team games! Why the hell should being sent off in the reserves stop you from playing first team football?

[The Moos]

Bad news. I was hoping to see him play a bit now when he's back. I guess that him playing for the reserves means that we wont play against Valencia. We're stuck with Cole.

[BlueBosnian]

We're stuck with Cole.

Don't mind being stuck with him at all.

And even if he didn't get that red, I doubt he'd get the call, because, all hatred of Ashley aside, he is better and even if the supporters want Bridge more, the managers will always play Cole ahead of him. And I don't blame them.

[Mod]

Cashley better than bridgey.. never.

Cashley has always been frightened going forward for chelsea, not how he use to play at the Gooners at all, like a different player.

[Lady Diehard]

Good God - I'm beginning to wonder whether the lads are doing it all on purpose!

[BlueBosnian]

Cashley better than bridgey.. never.

Cashley has always been frightened going forward for chelsea, not how he use to play at the Gooners at all, like a different player.

You could be right, but it's also interesting that the person we both admire and who's photo we both share as our avatars, never played him ahead of Cole.

[Tim W]

I thought it was virtually impossible to get a yellow in the reserves let alone a red

[bjd]

all hatred of Ashley aside, he is better and even if the supporters want Bridge more, the managers will always play Cole ahead of him. And I don't blame them.

From what ive seen Bridge is superior in every department apart from best looking girlfriend.

Never understood why we bought Cole , and to that point why we wanted Alves - both considered attacking full backs but yet at Chelsea they are asked to play a very strict defensive game hardly crossing the half way line. Now that may change now you know who has gone but ive seen nothing from Cashley to suggest it so far.

What actually happened last night btw ?

[High Street Ken]

I think Cole may just have the edge defensively plus he's always had a handy knack for making last-ditch clearances off the line for his clubs and England.

Clearly JM shackled him going forward and of course he has as much to offer as Bridge in that department. Don't forget he started his career as a striker and was converted to full-back (which may mean he was a cr*p striker but surely had more than the average defender's flair going forward).

I think the only area where Bridge wins hands down is in his crossing ability, which is exceptional. He also has a better understanding with his team-mates.

[Tim W]

What actually happened last night btw ?

Bridge was judged to have gone over the top with studs up in a 50-50 challenge resulting in a straight red, and being a straight red, can't be appealled against.

[loz]

In full agreemeent with BJD - Bridge is the better player both going forward and defensively. The only area where Cole is superior to Bridge is pace and this allows him to make up ground and recover from his own mistakes or the mistakes of others (in the way Gallas used to).

We simply didn't need Cole. OK Bridge ended up picking up a serious injury which meant we did need a left back however you can't predict things like that and I would much rather we had looked to bring in a back up left back with Bridge selected as the first team let back. To be honest I would have been happy enough just keeping Del Horno as back up (assuming he would have been content in a back up role)

[ethicalstrategy]

To be honest I would have been happy enough just keeping Del Horno as back up

It was all sounding so plausible until you said that!

[bonetti]

Without doubt Bridge is our No 1

Ive always thought Cole is a bit of a number 2

[ethicalstrategy]

Cole's biggest problem is that he is so one footed. You will never ever see him use his right foot to kick a football! Unfortunately that is also Bridge's biggest weakness. I guss that's why they are left backs but I still find it incredible that they haven't been able to at least be competent with their "wrong" foot. I would say that both Lampard and Drogba are naturally right footed but in a match they will use either foot without thinking about it and with pretty much equal effect.

Cole's pace gives him the edge over Bridge defensively. Bridge definitely looks more dangerous going forward.

[Dorset]

What actually happened last night btw ?

Bridge was judged to have gone over the top with studs up in a 50-50 challenge resulting in a straight red, and being a straight red, can't be appealled against.

Having seen it myself I'd say it was worth no more than a yellow card. The ref took his time to make the decision, but was not competent enough to detach himself from recents events and duly over reacted. The Fulham player was not hurt, contact was minimal, but the tackle was over the top.

[andy]

I agree very dodgey Red, yellow would have been correct.

Regarding who is better... I would say Bridge... but having said that it is close and I think Cole has looked better the last few games where he has been allowed to get forward. Something that Jose didn't let his full backs do to readily.

Anyway.. we have the two best English left backs, can't moan about that !