Best Left Back in the World?

I ran a topic a while ago on the best centre back in the world so I thought I'd do a similar one to ask your opinion on who currently is the greatest left back in the world?

Lahm can play at LB?

Cole has been the most consistent LB in the world for quite a few years now IMO, but my opinion is that he's also an utter soloist

I would probably give it to Alaba of Bayern, he was a huge miss last night and supports Ribery with great effect offensively as well. Quick, strong, good tackler and can produce a great cross and final ball. Picked up the Austrian player of the year and will probably be the best left back in the world over the next few years.

As for last night, Ashley Cole was simply outstanding and showed what a great player he is. Certainly world class in his prime, however his form has dropped this season. I can't believe Kolarov is in this list, truly appaling.

Cole by a mile. Alaba will be but isn't quite there.

Cole for me. Was absolutely immense last night, and has been quality for years.

I think Ashley Cole is still the best left back in the world, but his reputation is hurt because of his personal life.

Most full-backs are either too attacking or too defensive but Cole has got the balance right down to a tee, he can be like another midfielder when attacking but one of the best defenders when his team is playing defensively. Long gone are the days where he used to get caught horribly out of position being too attacking like at Arsenal. He's Chelsea's best player.

Where is Adam Drury???

Ashley Cole. A horrible little runt but an outstanding footballer. He'd walk into any side in the world right now.

Schmelzer. Been a huge part of Dortmund's double winning team this season.

ollyrules wrote:Where is Adam Drury???

Norwich.

FreekShow wrote:

ollyrules wrote:Where is Adam Drury???

Norwich.

11 years after he joined, You'll still never beat the Drury

To be fair though, is this topic in the context of being the best at attacking, the best at defending or being the best at both?

I think the question is who is the most effective to be honest, just like all positions -all players have different skill sets, but its working out who you think was the best in that position.

cole is a great all rounder. but back in the day when carlos was about he was considered one of the best LB's yet he wasnt considered that great a defender.

who was the better striker out of shearer or lineker- tough question again- both offered different skillsets. who was better on the right for united- beckham or ronaldo- again different skillsets but both effective.

The point is to pick the best overall what ever there skillsets are.

Perhaps not the best yet, but i really like Alba at Bayern, it was a shame he wasn't playing yesterday, he's still only 19 though so time on his side.

does anyone really know enough about alba yet- he has a long way to go..

Ashley Cole and he has been since around 2004!

Sure he has a long way to go but certainly attacking wise he is one of Bayern's most important players at 19. Excellent prospect.

any reason he wasnt playing last night?

He got a yellow card against Real so was suspended.

arr cheers.. I watched the game with 90% germans with german commentary last night, i wondered why he wasnt playing.

Well I would give it to Lham because its only recently he's moved to RB.

I still think Cole is the best. Doesn't attack as well as he used to but defending wise he's still the best. He won every battle with Ronaldo and all the other big names he's come up against.

So England have the best Goalkeeper and Left Back in the world?

Shame about the rest, other than Rooney.

I agree it's probably Cole at the moment but if anyone's actually watched Alaba this season then they would know that this guy is the real deal. Bayern know it, Austria know and thanks to the champions league run, now the world is starting to know it.

Cole by a long way. He's been so for the past 7 years. Those who pick Alaba are urinating in the wind and showing off their knowledge of foreign names and footballers.

well we all know what happens to over rated or over pressurissed teenagers- and its not allways good. good luck to him though.

Cole is an anomoly - allways plays well for club or country- a true pro that has never been affected by his offield antics, bad press,good press,outside annoyances,manager/player tiffs on the pitch. Beckham i am sure was abit over commited sometimes and it got to him on occasion in a bad way, scholes quit and has been known to have thrown the odd hissy fit at united,gaza drunk, lunged and kebabed himself out of a legend status, terry kneed some bloke in the recent semi, gerrad or lamps have never been consitant at an england level, rio obvious liked abit of sniff which resulted in a ban,rooney i suppose time will tell- but we all fear the worst dont we!!!

something to respect i suppose. Keeping it very seperate, if only our other top rated players that get into those situs could also do the same- england would be half decent.

azania wrote:Those who pick Alaba are urinating in the wind and showing off their knowledge of foreign names and footballers.

haha what a comment. There is more to the world than the premier league. Just sums up the majority of fans in england who have no idea about any other league in europe because there so blinkered in their vision and fascination with the premier league. It's funny that it was these people and pundits i might add that said Newcastle united were going to get relegated once we'd sold fat boy nolan, barton and carroll and replaced them with cabaye, ben arfa, ba........i can go on. These fans, so obsessed with england and showcasing their lack of knowledge embarrassed themselves by labelling us relegation candidates, when in reality we had just bought some of the most exciting european players around at a fraction of the cost in comparison to downing and henderson. Yes well done!

I'm not denying Cole has been the best in the world, however this isnt a 'who's been the best left back over the last 10 yrs debate'......its about now. Cole's form this year has been appaling at times and the reason he got dropped, he got destroyed in naples and numerous prem league game in particular by sessegnon at stamford bridge (you all should remember that seeing as your so obsessed with the premier league and no other league in the world).

The timing of this topic and vote was ridiculously timed, seeing as Cole had just played the final the night before and was probably MOTM and seeing as Alaba was suspended just heightens this fact.

cole hasnt been awfull this season at all. so not sure what you have been watching. Chelsea as a team has been abit awfull but during the money end of the season have done more than enough and cole has been one of the best. When we talk about the best in the world we need to consider how the players play in the big games and cole has shone v barca and bayern- so to pick him is almost a given and not just due to a final perfomrance(which is the ultimate measure any way)

Cole by an absolute mile. He has been for just short of a decade and still looks good for another couple of years.

How do people rate Baines?

For me excellent in a good team but unsure how he will do once the eventual move to a CL club takes off.

Lahm is the best right back and the best left back

Cole is a very good defender and gets forward well but his crossing is poor. Alba is obviously flavour of the month but IMO Cole is a better defender.

Alba is BY FAR the better defender all round IMO. Great pace going forward and has the stamina to do it all game round.

Also has great head game in terms of getting back and pressing the opposition.

The guy has really come into his own in the Euros, and its players that stand out in major tournaments that really tend to make a difference overall.


Alba by a nod, but only since the outstanding Euro performance.


His move to Barcelona will certainly put him up there as an all time great player in years to come.

Liam Ridgwell isn't on the list?

In all seriousness, Cole at the moment but I see Alba taking that title if he has a good season with Barca,