LB - Left Back - Leighton Baines the best/world class?

[Timak]

There isn't a better left back then him out there.

The stats show that he has created more goals than any left back in Europe over the last 4 years. Of all defenders he was only out-created by Dani Alves who had Messi rather than Straqualrsi on the end of his passes.

His defensive stats are also pretty good.

Jordi Alba and Marcelo are the only ones I'd say match him going forward and I'd say he is a better pure defender than either.

 

[Tubey]

No, be honest here.
If he was a worldbeater we'd would have moneybags club trying to prise him away and making us an offer we can't refuse.

International class doesn't mean world class.

So I assume Buttner is a better player because Man Utd signed him then?

Silly logic.

 

[Allezfan]

He's not even the best English LB.

You can look at the Stats all day, but I would prefer to look at the football. Baines is good, but he is not world class.

I've watched just about every minute of football Baines has played in the last three years, either online or live. He's top class.

 

[evilwebby]

who is ashley cole? the stats dont even back that up maybe a few years ago but certainly not now

"Certainly" not now? Why, do you think anyone who reaches 30 is automatically over the hill?

Look, loathe him or loathe him, Cashley is still a brilliant footballer, and last time I checked his team are still above us.

 

[Allezfan]

There isn't a better left back then him out there.

The stats show that he has created more goals than any left back in Europe over the last 4 years. Of all defenders he was only out-created by Dani Alves who had Messi rather than Straqualrsi on the end of his passes.

His defensive stats are also pretty good.

Jordi Alba and Marcelo are the only ones I'd say match him going forward and I'd say he is a better pure defender than either.

Lahm is probably a better player if only because he can be top class at both LB and RB and Marcelo is a beast. But Baines is up there, certainly. Without a doubt world class.

 

[Bainaar]

With England?!

we have qualified for near enough every world cup

 

[Papa Shango]

who is ashley cole? the stats dont even back that up maybe a few years ago but certainly not now

Football isnt a stat based game. That said I would say they are very close these days.

As for best in the world and all that. Nah cant see it myself but the debate can certainly be made, im sure there are plenty of other good unrecognized left backs out there.

 

[Papa Shango]

we have qualified for near enough every world cup

For one of the top nations Englands qualification record is fairly average.

 

[Bainaar]

For me Baines has never carried on his Everton form to England form, which is why he'll never be world class.

 

[bluejock]

.... and last time I checked his team are still above us.

Which is entirely down to him of course.

So by your reckoning, Jonny Evans is better than Phil Jagielka?

 

[Brennan]

"Certainly" not now? Why, do you think anyone who reaches 30 is automatically over the hill?

Look, loathe him or loathe him, Cashley is still a brilliant footballer, and last time I checked his team are still above us.

So f***ing what lad ? Boswinga won the Champions League last season ffs.

And more often than not people say 'you can look at the stats BUT' because they don't want to accept that they're wrong.

He's as good defensively as Cole and light years ahead of him going forward, which is just as important in a modern fullback.

 

[Allezfan]

Cole's been poor for about three years by his own high standards. Last year he pulled it out for the big Cl games, which a lot of aging stars do and he was excellent in both that and the euros but week in week out he's not on Baines' level.

 

[Brennan]

For me Baines has never carried on his Everton form to England form, which is why he'll never be world class.

Messi hasn't been all that for Argentina.

 

[Del]

"Certainly" not now? Why, do you think anyone who reaches 30 is automatically over the hill?

Look, loathe him or loathe him, Cashley is still a brilliant footballer, and last time I checked his team are still above us.

So Anderson is a better player than Felliani then as Utd are above us in the League?

 

[Allezfan]

Messi hasn't been all that for Argentina.

This view bought to you by 2010.