Ashley Cole at Chelsea - will it work?

Ashley has been given license to attack at will at Arsenal in a very fluid tactical formation, howeverm jose is renowned for his rigid tactics and there have been numerous occasions in the past where the defenders have hardly been allowed to cross the half way line except at set pieces, and whilst ashley has improved defensively it i still not the strongest part of his game.

so could this be another del horno/swp or will it be a success?

Mourinho will play the diamond formation with Bouha and AC providing the width....

It'll work - Cole's mian strength isn't actually his attacking - its his defending - he is one of the best man markers in the league and his pace means wingers really struggle agaisnt him when hes fully fit

imagine the ego's now at Chelsea

I think it will work, if they are to accomodate Ballack and Lampard in the same team Chelsea's midfield will be more narrow allowing there fullbacks to get forward more often. If Cole produces his 03/04 form Chelsea will be very effective down that side.

It will be strange seeing him wear a Chelsea shirt.

I still don't think he is 'the world best left back though'

His attacking threat is actually supremly overrated he'll get to the edge of the box and panic like he always does...

poiuy1 wrote:I still don't think he is 'the world best left back though'

His attacking threat is actually supremly overrated he'll get to the edge of the box and panic like he always does...

There is no doubting his pace, ability to shackle wingers, and his short passing- what he lacks is the ability to cross tha ball. At Arsenal it was never part of their game- and when he tries it for England it usually ends up across the ground. Occasionally he will pull a magic cross out of the bag,

but in terms of attacking threat, I actually think Bridge >>>> Cole with his ability to pick out strikers. Bridge is hugely underrated, whislt Cole is probably rather overrated, in terms of attacking threat

Tweedledum wrote:It'll work - Cole's mian strength isn't actually his attacking - its his defending - he is one of the best man markers in the league and his pace means wingers really struggle agaisnt him when hes fully fit

This signing really buggers up José's plans to play an AC Milan-esque tight diamond though should he want though.

We need Bridge for that.

i don't think it significantly strengthens Chelsea at all TBH,

particualy as United are very strong in this area

I think Cole will do fine at Chelsea - I think he is an improvement on Bridge. I think we might see some good performances for him now that he's with his mates JT, JC and Fat Frank. They can rub each others egos in mutual admiration. They're a proper England clique. Meanwhile Cheryl is happy because her hubby is at a suitably galmorous club. So her profile should rise slightly. She's just sorry the deal didn't go through before their wedding - she feels they could have negotiated a much improved magazine deal. Arsenal players spend too much time on the back pages and don't attend enought parties. I mean how lame are players like Flamini, Clichy, Eboue, Toure! These players have almost no gossip column value! Frankly, Cheryl was embarassed. Cheryl was very disappointed to learn that Henry wasn't a media whore. Now that they're amongst like-minded people they can relax and she can bask in the reflected glory. Expect some paparazzi 'snaps' of Cheryl sunning herself on Abramovich's yacht. Cole's happy cose she's happy. So he'll do OK

Freddie Or Not wrote:I think Cole will do fine at Chelsea - I think he is an improvement on Bridge. I think we might see some good performances for him now that he's with his mates JT, JC and Fat Frank. They can rub each others egos in mutual admiration. They're a proper England clique. Meanwhile Cheryl is happy because her hubby is at a suitably galmorous club. So her profile should rise slightly. She's just sorry the deal didn't go through before their wedding - she feels they could have negotiated a much improved magazine deal. Arsenal players spend too much time on the back pages and don't attend enought parties. I mean how lame are players like Flamini, Clichy, Eboue, Toure! These players have almost no gossip column value! Frankly, Cheryl was embarassed. Cheryl was very disappointed to learn that Henry wasn't a media whore. Now that they're amongst like-minded people they can relax and she can bask in the reflected glory. Expect some paparazzi 'snaps' of Cheryl sunning herself on Abramovich's yacht. Cole's happy cose she's happy. So he'll do OK

Very funny, although sounding slightly bitter...

An England cliche likely to be no worse than Wenger's French one though - how many of Arsenal's players is it that speak French as their first language?

Once I was very fond of Cole - when he seemed like the most down to earth and reasonable England regular. I started to go off him when he began wearing obscene medalions and turning into a gangsta! Cheryl is his Yoko. Fair enough, I suppose you have to consider your wifes feelings but this move would not have happened without Cheryl's shrill geordie accent bending his ear.

I think he'll do alright. Not spectacular. He will be allowed to forward, because Boulahrouz isn't an RB who specialises in it. Boulah is in for defense foremost. So Terry and Boulah will give the ball to Cashley for him to go forward and pass it to Essien or Ballack. Chelsea's attacking set up will all come from the left.

I never rated Cashley as the world's best LB either. That's just BS. He's above average in all departments except crossing - there are backs who are better specialised in certain aspects. I don't think there's anything Cashley really excells in.

I feel that Cole will be exposed when Robben plays on the left. Cole will no longer be able to get forward us much as he did when he was playing at Arsenal.

I used to rate Cole going forward, but his crossing in the air is very average and he likes to play inside left, but isn't very good at it. On the other hand he's strong and quick and has a great touch for a defender, and he's not easy to beat unless you're Cristiano Ronaldo, who has given him a torrid time over the last couple of seasons.

I don't think he's much better than Bridge, but Chelsea didn't pay that much for him (Gallas with one year left on his contract isn't worth much) so they'll be happy with what they've got.

Distinguished Dutchman wrote:I don't think there's anything Cashley really excells in.

IMO athleticism and playing vs wingers. I'd take him over nearly every other left-back around in those departments.

The Real White Pele wrote:

poiuy1 wrote:I still don't think he is 'the world best left back though'

His attacking threat is actually supremly overrated he'll get to the edge of the box and panic like he always does...

There is no doubting his pace, ability to shackle wingers, and his short passing- what he lacks is the ability to cross tha ball. At Arsenal it was never part of their game- and when he tries it for England it usually ends up across the ground. Occasionally he will pull a magic cross out of the bag,

but in terms of attacking threat, I actually think Bridge >>>> Cole with his ability to pick out strikers. Bridge is hugely underrated, whislt Cole is probably rather overrated, in terms of attacking threat

sorry but i don't agree with that. There seems to be a general perception here that if wingers/fullbacks can't cross then they are lesser to the ones that can( lennon is mostly underrated here because of that), that is simply not true. Who are the top wingers in the world right now? messi, robben, ronaldo etc none of them is a great crosser of the ball, what they do is beat their man thereby creating space for their team, get in the box and pass to their team mates or shoot when they are in a position to do so. And we've all seen time and time again how difficult is it to defend against such players, they are mostly involved directly or indirectly in goals. Cole pays the same way; he can beat his man , play short passes around the box and also has the eye for a pass.He was an integral member of our famous left hand side which was one of the deadliest in europe. Cole is simply far better than bridge both offensively and defensively

Ok then who is the best left back in the world then?


serginho?
carlos?
quedrue?
a cole? who i personally think
gallas? ( mainly a centerback)
chellini? possibly for the future
sylvinho



zambrottas a right back
even if he can play on the left

Heinze!

it was quedrue a few of months ago. Something happened though, he's shit now.

it might work, cole might end up as an emergency left winger or perhaps even a striker, naaa that will probably be peter chec

very witty.

its petr cech.

I think it's a good signing, the players they have makes me think they play the diamond formation Maka, Essien, Lumpard and Ballack. As that formation doesn't have width naturally it will be up to Cole and Ferreira to bomb forward.

Samba De Baiano wrote:I think it's a good signing, the players they have makes me think they play the diamond formation Maka, Essien, Lumpard and Ballack. As that formation doesn't have width naturally it will be up to Cole and Ferreira to bomb forward.

and leave plenty of space behind to exploit

Chelsea to get relegated this season.

theflyingfrenchman wrote:Chelsea to get relegated this season.

A. Ashley Cole when fit can handle Cristain Ronaldo. Remember that FA Cup final a few years back......Ronaldo was getting now where against him. Then Rooney started playing down the right and Cole really could not contain him.....From that day on for me Rooney is the better of the two..........

Brian3-5-2 wrote:A. Ashley Cole when fit can handle Cristain Ronaldo. Remember that FA Cup final a few years back......Ronaldo was getting now where against him. Then Rooney started playing down the right and Cole really could not contain him.....From that day on for me Rooney is the better of the two..........

Yet in the last two games at Old Trafford, and the 4-2 at Higbury the season before last, Ronaldo ran rings around Cole.

England v Portugal same thing Cole did a good job against him.......Beating a player is one thing releasing a perfect ball after is another.........If nothing comes of it Ronadlo has not done his job..........