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zeonflux
I shall never doubt you again Slash
K3V0
zeonflux
Slashman X
There's a slight possibility of an OG as well but I think it's been given to Ba
zeonflux
King Luis
Cant see that happening while Rafa is there tbh
Poe
Phoenix Arrow
Eh. It wasn't really a dive. He exaggerated the fuck out of it, but it was still a foul. The referee was right next to tackle and had no hesitation in booking him. Ameobi was late, approached him from behind and lazily tackled him. Didn't get the ball. Booking. A spaniards rolls.
Newcastle has no chance though. They couldn't work it into the box so just started taking potshots. Quite why Obertan is allowed to play for a Premier League side I'm not sure. Bigirimana was the only played who seemed to be pulling his weight. Not sure what Sami Ameobi brought to the table other than looking awkward on the ball and falling over.
I'm worried about Newcastle. I like them as a team but without Ba I can't see where their goals are going to come from. I understand they weren't playing a full team, but those players did not give a fuck and they certainly weren't playing as a team. Need to play out the season and go shopping in the summer.
But yeah, Bridge was on top form. CMS was active though actually Newcastle did do a decent job of closing him down in the first half. Orlandi impressed me with his composure. Hoskins took his goal well and did well to get into that position and ball for that goal played by Lopez was great. Bridcutt and El-Abd were solid. Barnes was completely anonymous again. A good performance though all in all. Managed to see most of the balls against a Premier League side. Kept calm and made them play at our own pace which is what we need to be doing. Happy.
zeonflux
Yeah but as an all round player Baines is better than Cole yet he's not the 1st choice England LB, sometimes your name is all you need
Poe
It wasn't a dive no - but Ameobi comitted two "fouls" during the game - none of them yellow card worthy imo. Lopez made a massive meal out of it, looked back whilst rolling around on the floor. Something that Busquets/Thiago Motta does and is described as a cunt/cancer of the game etc.
zeonflux
As an all rounder Baines is way better, he's a better crosser, he's better at getting forward, he's a fantastic set piece taker and he gives 100% in every match.
The only thing Cole really has over him is that he's slightly faster (although he's losing his pace now) and he's great at knowing when to get on the goal line to stop the ball going in (see Chelsea's CL matches against Barca last season)
zeonflux
Phoenix Arrow
I didn't have a very good view of them to be honest so idk. I do know that the referee was right up behind him for the second one and it wasn't really protested by anyone. He was throwing his weight around a lot so it might've just been the last straw for him.
I don't really like it when our players make a meal of fouls like that, but I guess that's how they play it in Spain. It would be one thing if he was going down for no reason (like Sammy Ameobi was doing for most of the first half) but eh. I'll allow it if we keep playing good football.
That's not fair. I mean, he did make a meal out of it, but the referee ignored it and went straight over to book him. His rolling around on the floor didn't contribute to that.
King Luis
Lets not get silly now.
om4ever
It couldn't have been an OG, the ball was going in without the intervention of the defender.
Mata took some time to get into the game, once he did it was game over.
Lamps on now, c'mon Frank
zeonflux
King Luis
Poe
This is just untrue. Cole has been probably the best left back in the world for about 7-8 years. You're seriously underrating him here. I suspect you support Man Utd?
What does Torres bring that Ba doesn't?
Number 1
The contact was minimal and David Lopez made a meal of it. Not quite as bizarre as the first yellow given the referee needed eyes in the back of his head to see it.
But as has been previously established, we were fucking terrible - not since the game where Michael Owen et all didn't give a fuck as we sunk into the Championship have we put out such a painful and embarrassing performance. If it didn't ram home to Ashley that our squad as a whole is not good enough to replicate last season then simply nothing will.
Be interesting to see what happens if, as expected, Hughton gets one over us next week.
zeonflux
Yeah i am hence the avatar (no offense) and i completely agree with you Cole has BEEN the best left back in the world for the last 7-8 years but then again Torres WAS the best striker in the premier league 3-4 years ago, just because he was doesn't mean that he still is. Cole's main strength was he pace which he used to pin the opposing winger back in his own half and then his team mates produced goal scoring chances through crosses and such.
Baines just produces so much more in terms of an attacking threat and he's just as good as Cole at defending but Cole's positioning is better
Dutton
\o/
om4ever
But the ability that Cole has to step up in big games remains outstanding.
Poe
Going forward yes, he's probably slightly better. But defending wise I still rate Ashley Cole as better than Leighton Baines.
Phoenix Arrow
And as I said before, the contact was minimal but it was contact. Whether it was a foul or not is hard to say, but from where I was it looked like he caught him in the thigh, Lopez lost balance and fell over, the referee blew the whistle and ran to Ameobi reaching for his pocket and then Lopez rolled along on the floor doing whatever while everyone else was looking at the ref.
K3V0
He's still the best left back in the Premier League imo though just ahead of Baines.
zeonflux
om4ever
SUPER FRANK
K3V0
Not a problem really.
He loves getting forward and could do quite well there.
zeonflux
quickly going back to Baines, that is my point with England if Baines is the best attacking English left back and definately the second best defending left back then why should he not be considered as the first choice for England, with the center backs we have we can afford to have Baines on and attacking rather than use Cole and only be effective down the right
Sam
1068 Hastings fans turned up today, damn.