EPL Team Of The Decade - Left back

Bubs101

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

It's funny when Evra won the other poll beating Cole you dismissed the results as being down to United fans, yet you regard this poll as fine and dandy because Cole happens to be winning it.

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Oh come on MNG, the results were dismissable because everyone bar the 10 of us in the Chelsea thread hate Ashley. In a popularity contest Cole isn't going to win very often so when he'd destroying someone it's evident he deserves it

Mr.Nice Guy

SlickRic wrote: »

it's like you're not listening to what everyone is saying.

Evra in 3 years has not done enough to outstrip what Cole has done in 10.

there's not that much between them now, if anything.

so Cole's longevity in the league is a huge factor in this decision.

Ronaldo is a phenomenon and will probably win the RW slot, and rightfully so. there is also nobody worthy of challenging him, since nobody has been close to good enough for long enough, and there was nobody anywhere near his class in that position.

Evra is not a phenomenon, Cole is at his level, plus he's around 10 years in the league.

if Evra's shirt was blue and Cole's red, i suspect you'd be voting quite differently.

I am listening to what you're saying. You're not listening to what I'm saying. I based my decision on who I regarded as the best left-back I've seen over the past ten years. In my view that was Patrice Evra. I offered my reasons for why that is and did so without making jibes about other fans being blinkered. Some don't like my position because they feel the place should be awarded to someone based on longevity. I see that as unfair and a poor way of determining it.

If Ronaldo's longevity shouldn't come into it than neither should Evra's longevity. You can't base a left-back decision on longevity and then say 'Oh but this doesn't count for the winger spot because Ronaldo's a phenomenon'

Sure the whole thing is subjective.

Bubs101 wrote:

Oh come on MNG, the results were dismissable because everyone bar the 10 of us in the Chelsea thread hate Ashley. In a popularity contest Cole isn't going to win very often so when he'd destroying someone it's evident he deserves it

You can't have it both ways. You say he lost the other thread's poll because everyone hates him yet you say in this poll he's destroying someone so how unpopular is he really?

Evra was dismissed as a candidate for the 2009 poll by certain contributors to this thread when the world's pros were heaping praise on Evra.

Some just like kicking up a stink when a United player looks to be the right choice. See the O'Shea right-back poll, Giggs winning PFA Player of the Year, Sports Personality of the Year etc.

SlickRic

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

If Ronaldo's longevity shouldn't come into it than neither should Evra's longevity. You can't base a left-back decision on longevity and then say 'Oh but this doesn't count for the winger spot because Ronaldo's a phenomenon'

of course you can.

for argument's sake, say Evra is the best LB we've seen in the past 10 years. i think you'll agree it would be a marginal decision. Cole has performed at the level ever so slightly below it for 10 years.

it would then be a close call.

however....this does not take into account the actual fact that Cole was phenomenal from 2002-2004, better than we have seen from Evra to be honest. he was also excellent for most of the rest of his Arsenal career, as well as the last year of his Chelsea career. added to that the fact he's been at a consistent level in the Premier League for the entire decade, i honestly don't see how it is even close.

but genuinely, you're correct, i promise i'm not being smart when i say you are entitled to your opinion.

i'll say again, i've no problem with Evra. i voted for him in the 2009 Poll.

d22ontour

Cole only for the fact he has played longer in the decade than Evra.

Mr.Nice Guy

SlickRic wrote: »

of course you can.

for argument's sake, say Evra is the best LB we've seen in the past 10 years. i think you'll agree it would be a marginal decision. Cole has performed at the level ever so slightly below it for 10 years.

it would then be a close call.

however....this does not take into account the actual fact that Cole was phenomenal from 2002-2004, better than we have seen from Evra to be honest. he was also excellent for most of the rest of his Arsenal career, as well as the last year of his Chelsea career. added to that the fact he's been at a consistent level in the Premier League for the entire decade, i honestly don't see how it is even close.

but genuinely, you're correct, i promise i'm not being smart when i say you are entitled to your opinion.

i'll say again, i've no problem with Evra. i voted for him in the 2009 Poll.

I don't think we're actually disagreeing on a lot here except the criteria we're using to judge it. I accept totally Cole has been a great full-back including back to his days at Arsenal, though I would differ with you that he was better than Evra in the years 2007-2009 (just my opinion).

Of course I am talking about margins here when I put Evra ahead of Cole. I said in the other thread too that there's little between them.

Likewise it is perfectly valid to choose Cole on the basis of his many years of service in the Premier League. I accept that. However I also think it's acceptable to choose a candidate with less years of service if one thinks that player the best player in the particular position over the decade. That has been my reasoning and I think this reasoning is also valid.

I don't say Evra is the best choice because I think in his 4 or so years he was better than Cole in his 10 years, I say it because I think Evra at his peak in his 4 years was better than Cole at his peak in his 10 years.

flahavaj

What an absolutely sh*t decade for left backs. The fact that Leighton Baines, Riise, Phil Neville and a kid like Clichy makes the poll is actually scary.:eek:

Gillington

flahavaj wrote: »

What an absolutely sh*t decade for left backs. The fact that Leighton Baines, Riise, Phil Neville and a kid like Clichy makes the poll is actually scary.:eek:

Give me Denis Irwin any day over that lot!

Went for Ashley Cole as much as I hate him.He's won every trophy in England and proven himself at two of the biggest clubs in football and at England

Tomthepost

Babayaro surely would run Cole close on this.
Denis Irwin is surely worth a mention in nominations.
Gareth Barry probably played left back more than anywhere else during the decade and would surely also be worth a nomination.

JPA

Tomthepost wrote: »

Babayaro surely would run Cole close on this.
Denis Irwin is surely worth a mention in nominations.
Gareth Barry probably played left back more than anywhere else during the decade and would surely also be worth a nomination.

No, no and no I'd say.

starbelgrade

flahavaj wrote: »

What an absolutely sh*t decade for left backs. The fact that Leighton Baines, Riise, Phil Neville and a kid like Clichy makes the poll is actually scary.:eek:

It seems like all the best players were left back in the dressing room.

I'll get my coat.

Super-Rush

Tomthepost wrote: »

Babayaro surely would run Cole close on this.
Denis Irwin is surely worth a mention in nominations.
Gareth Barry probably played left back more than anywhere else during the decade and would surely also be worth a nomination.

Good Lordy

Mr Alan

Ashley Cole with ease.

Evra was better season before last, but for the last 18 months Cole has been better & also played longer.

Easy decision.

Spiritoftheseventies

and by the way no seperate Ashley cole threads after this (pretty please!)