Should Leighton Baines be England’s first choice left back?
Ashley Cole earned his 100th England cap on Wednesday night, but following the friendly against Brazil, celebrating 150 years of the FA, should he be replaced by the in-form Leighton Baines?
Cole has undoubtedly been a great servant for his country, emerging as one of the most consistent players of the “golden generation”. Many still consider him to be the best left back in the world; however, there is good reason to believe he isn’t even the best left back in England.
Leighton Baines is enjoying another fine season in the Premier League with Everton and Roy Hodgson admitted this week that the pair are neck and neck in terms of a first team place.
It is fair to say neither one of the two are getting any younger, Cole (32) has proven he is a big game player over the years and performs on the big stage time and time again. Baines (28) has emerged as contender for a first team place in the past few seasons while he has been playing at Goodison. He certainly offers a bigger goal threat than Cole in both open play and set pieces but whether he could perform consistently like Cole at international level remains to be seen.
Many will argue that despite Baines’ attacking prowess, Cole’s defensive abilities should still see him ahead in the pecking order. Is Cole a better defender than Baines though? I don’t think there is much in it. It’s rare to see either of the two make a costly error at the back and both keep the ball well. Maybe the reason Cole has retained his starting place is the fact that previous England managers, especially Fabio Capello, haven’t given their full-backs license to bomb forward.
On current form Baines is arguably a better play than Cole. I cannot disagree with Hodgson’s decision to give Cole the nod for the game against Brazil, however I do feel once he has been honoured with his 100th England cap that it is time Baines is given a chance in the first team set up. He deserves it following his impressive form over the past couple of seasons. He has been one of the stand-out players in the Premier League this season and it would be foolish not to see if he can replicate his club form at international level.
Andrew Floyd
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