A lot of our play back then didn't revolve around crosses, it was a lot of full back overlap and cutting inside and finding a midfielder near top or corner of the box, Baines and Pienaar were exemplary at it but Coleman and Osman would link up well too.
For what it's worth, Irwin is the best PL fullback there's been imo, Baines and Cole were as good as each other. Irwin was revolutionary.
They did link up well, but again, the final ball was often a bit behind/ahead - I don't mean a cross only as a cross from deep, any kind really. A lot of times with attacks that ended up over/underhit you'd ask yourself how as it was easier to put it in but he just didn't look up every time. Remember Lukaku being very animated about those
as he was for most things he didn't like. Either way, that's a lifetime ago now and he's in the (sad) twilight of his career and he won't improve anyway.
I only know
of Irwin to be honest, and from the praise from other players, as he's a tiny bit before my time. I honestly don't agree with the Cole shout at all but that's down to opinion as well and he did win quite a lot and had the media with him. I just never got the hype as I saw/was around for more or less his entire career and he was obviously good, but, "best ever"...?
