Ashley Cole (Ashley Cole)

Member Name: ajbluestar

Product:	Ashley Cole
Date:	24/04/09 (115 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great defender , pace , tackling

Disadvantages: off field antics/controversy

Ashley Cole is a footballer who currently plays for Chelsea and England as a left back. He was born in Stepney,London on the 20th of December 1980. He started his career at Arsenal as a teenager and made his debut in November 1999 in a game against Middlesbrough aged 18. He established himself as Arsenal's first choice left back after an injury to Sylvinho towards the end of the year 2000.

He had great success at Arsenal winning the premier league twice (2002 and 2004) and the Fa Cup three times (2002,2003 and 2005). He also played in the Champions league final for Arsenal in 2006 as they lost out to Barcelona.

He made a controversial move across London to rivals Chelsea just after the beginning of the 2006-07 season. Before the transfer took place Chelsea were found guilty of tapping up the player and having negotiations without Arsenal's permission for which the club and Ashley Cole were fined by the Premier League. The move was made though with William Gallas going the other way with an extra £5 million paid to Arsenal.

Since moving to Chelsea he has established himself asthe first choice Left back at the club ahead of the now recently departed Wayne Bridge. He has won the Carling cup in 2007 (he was injured for the final ) and was also Fa cup winner that year with Chelsea. He was also involved in the Champions league final in 2008 where Chelsea lost out to Manchester United on penalties.

Ashley Cole is probably one of the hated celebrities in the country mainly for his acts off the pitch as well as sometimes on it (the Mike Riley incident v Tottenham where he turned his back on the referee). Also his off field antics including allegations of cheating on his wife (Girls Aloud beauty Cheryl Cole) and recently being arrested for being drunk and disordely. Also for his acrimonious departure from Arsenal.

If you actually consider him though as a football player and as a football fan you will mostly see a very good player, arguably the best left back in the world. I may be a little biased but I have watched alot of Chelsea's matches this season and he alongside Frank Lampard has been one of Chelsea's most consistent and solid performers. He is a very quick player and runs up and down the wing. He is also a solid tackler and is pretty good at marking very good players out of a game. Many times he has been able to keep the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo at bay with his pace and reading of the game and tackling. He is also good at getting forward and providing support at the other end of the pitch but does not score goals very often. Since moving to Chelsea he has scored only 1 goal in just under three seasons.

I can understand opposition fans booing and chanting against him but what I don't understand is when England 'fans' do this. I do not understand how booing a player on a team who you are meant to support will actually help the guy or the team you would like to win. This has maybe explained somewhat his slightly nervous performances for England lately.

Ashley Cole is a top player, his off field antics may not make him endearing to alot of people but as always the media and tabloids can blow things a bit out of propotion especially being married to one of the most glamorous women in the world in Cheryl Cole.

You don't have to like him but what you can't take away from him is that he is a very good footballer!

Summary: great footballer with off field baggage!