This week, the city of Manchester is hosting a showcase of England's past, present and future left-backs. Following Ashley Cole's fine performance in Roma's 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad, this weekend Old Trafford is the venue for Leighton Baines versus Luke Shaw.
The left-back debate provided the main discussion point ahead of England's ill-fated World Cup adventure this summer. None of the trio boasted significant experience of playing in other positions, which meant manager Roy Hodgson needed to make a difficult choice.
The decision to axe Cole was surprising. While the veteran endured a frustrating season at Chelsea, generally behind Cesar Azpilicueta in the pecking order, he continued to perform extremely competently when required, in big games against strong opposition. Hodgson wanted to evolve the side, and introduce youth players, but Cole remained, defensively, England's best left-back.
The World Cup campaign started awfully when England were repeatedly exposed down the left against Italy in a 2-1 defeat -- the major problem was the lack of protection from midfield, but Cole would have been more suitable than Baines in that position.
Still, the World Cup is over, and Cole's England career is too. Now, Hodgson has an interesting selection debate between two very talented footballers.
The major difference between Baines and Shaw isn't about playing style, it's about personality. Baines is notoriously quiet, shy -- a player who missed out on the 2010 World Cup squad because of concerns about his homesickness, and once ruled out a move to Bayern Munich on a similar basis. Baines is a thoughtful individual, highly intelligent by the stereotypical standards of footballers. He bonded with Hodgson in Brazil, somewhat endearingly, over Japanese author Haruki Murakami.
Shaw wouldn't have known who Murakami was. After all, this is a player who hadn't heard of Tony Adams -- one-time England skipper, Premier League-winning captain and Portsmouth manager while Shaw was coming through the ranks at Southampton. Shaw's age is a half-excuse, certainly, but the more you discover about the Manchester United left-back, the more he appears disconnected from the world.
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For example, pre-World Cup interviews revealed the first World Cup that Shaw remembered was: "The one when Frank Lampard took that shot and it went over the line and didn't count." Again, it could be a sign of age. However, does Shaw not really recall the 2006 World Cup, when he was about to turn 11? Can he not recall the actual year Lampard's shot happened in?
These are two very different men. Baines is one of those naturally timid people who observes the world, and perhaps questions his position within it. Shaw is, if not arrogant, unconcerned by events around him and focused upon himself. Perhaps this explains the difference between their career development, and the age at which they established themselves as England internationals. Baines is 30 by the end of the year, Shaw is still a teenager.
"How old is he? 18? He's going to be an England international for the next 12-15 years," said Baines of Shaw shortly before the World Cup.
"He has an amazing future in front of him. At 18, I was coming through at Wigan, my first game was starting in League One!"
Stylistically, Shaw and Baines are also extremely different. Shaw is more dynamic, speedier going forward with tremendous acceleration. Baines is a more consistent crosser from the left, and also an intelligent passer. Which is more suited to England?
Logically, it's Shaw. While Baines is a superb crosser, he depends upon a certain environment to produce his best football. He either needs to play in conjunction with strong aerial targets -- the likes of Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini benefitted from his crossing at Everton -- or in sides who dominate possession, allowing him to constantly take up wide positions on the overlap.
This is the problem for Baines at international level. England don't play with a classic No. 9. Furthermore, while they've developed into a more technical side, it's still doubtful whether England can command possession against top-quality sides. While the international retirement of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard makes sense, it leaves England short on midfield quality, with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshere and Ross Barkley all good technicians, but also direct players who prefer attacking quickly.
The same is true further forward: Daniel Sturridge has tremendous pace and Raheem Sterling is terrifyingly direct. England shouldn't be a pure counterattacking side, but certainly a direct, fast-paced side.
Shaw, with his direct, purposeful running from left-back, is better suited to that football. He's the type of player who can receive the ball in a defensive position, distribute neatly into midfield, then immediately find offer the option of a return ball on the overlap.
This only considers the players stylistically, however, and realistically, Shaw is yet to demonstrate Baines' consistency. The duo have dominated the left-back slot in the PFA Team of the Year for the past three seasons -- Shaw last year, Baines the two before -- but Baines is the more reliable performer.
Shaw, like his ex-Southampton teammate Adam Lallana, was slightly flattered by his position in the team, benefitting from playing in an extremely likeable Southampton side which didn't receive as much scrutiny as the big boys, meaning below-par performances went unnoticed. Shaw's experience with Manchester United has eventful so far, despite him starting only one match -- first criticised by Louis van Gaal for his lack of fitness, then praised for his commitment in training.
Interestingly, Shaw has been relegated to the under-21 squad, considered a useful option for the playoff against Croatia. Baines remains in possession of England's No. 3 shirt, with Kieran Gibbs his backup this time around. Danny Rose and Ryan Bertrand are also regulars for top-half Premier League teams this season, which means Hodgson has five serious options for that position.
Shaw, however, remains the man to watch. He possesses both the talent and the style required for this England side -- the next step is showing the consistency.