Oh how the mighty have fallen. Manchester United have been lousy this season. Jose Mourinho recently gave Arsene Wenger a right tongue lashing. Even Ashley Cole, England’s most consistent and gifted left-back, has been put out to pasture.
After many years as England and Chelsea’s first choice left-back, Ashley Cole has been demoted at club level and could well be forced out of the international starting XI too.
Since Jose Mourinho’s return at Stamford Bridge, Cole has lost his place in the team to Cesar Azpilicueta, a talented Spaniard who has been in excellent form this season. He’s the reason why Cole hasn’t started a game this February.
It’s not like Ashley Cole has done anything to lose his place in the team. He’s still a gifted full-back who can be relied upon to produce the goods. But Azpilicueta’s rise to fame has been meteoric and he’s earned his place in the first team.
At international level, Ashley Cole will face competition from Leighton Baines, Luke Shaw and Kieran Gibbs. At 33-years-old, I’m not sure how much longer he’ll be able to compete. This is a man who is in desperate need of a career boost.
When the summer rolls by, he may well receive it. After 332 games for Chelsea, it’s time for a change. [Football] direct claim that Liverpool are readying a summer move for Ashley Cole.
If Chelsea are willing to sell to a rival, this would be a very smart move for the Reds. After making an immediate mark at Anfield, Jose Enrique has struggled for form this season. Injury problems aside, he’s just not quite as effective as he used to be. Then there’s Aly Cissokho, who has hardly set Anfield alight this season and will be returning to Valencia in June.
Signing another full-back in a smart move. But signing somebody with as much quality and experience as Ashley Cole could be something of a game-changer for Liverpool.
Brendan Rodgers has already proven that he’s got the makings of a title winning side. Adding players like Ashley Cole to the ranks will only help to further his cause next season. It’s an exciting time to be a Liverpool fan!
If Ashley Cole salvages his career in the meantime, then all the better.
What’s your take? Should Liverpool draft in this Chelsea full-back? Should they be looking at younger options?
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What utter rubbish, Rodgers is building a youthful team, so why would he be interested in a 33 year old whose legs have gone? Besides which any football journalist should know that FSG will not buy anyone aged over 25, but then Harry Cloke is not a journalist of any standing, in fact he’s an unmitigated joke. And before anyone tries to defend Cloke and cites Kolo Toure, he was brought in on a free and reduced wages as emergency cover for the departing Carragher.
Bill – That’s precisely why I think he might be brought in. Cissokho probably won’t be purchased outright. Enrique has been out for most of the season. Robinson has looked frankly average/bad on loan.
Cole would be signed on a free just like Toure, add some experience to our back line. However, I would prefer Johnson to play there (he looks better on the left, more defensively aware) and allow Kelly and Flanagan to develop on the right. I think Kelly is a long term solution to centre back/right back if we can keep him injury free, Skrtel and Agger are approaching 30 and aren’t the quickest to start with. We have Wisdom, Ilori, Sakho as well as Kelly to take over once they leave.