Best Defender of this generation

Mossin

This thread is inspired by Archimedes' thread..

Who is in your opinion is the best defender of the past 15 years?

Honestly I'd have to go with Paolo Maldini as the best defender I have ever seen. He played at such a high level and with such consistency for 15+ years. He was a joy to watch.

kaimera

Dennis Irwin

Aye, Paolo #1.

Thuram perhaps.

Cafu.

MrJoeSoap

Francis Benali, then Paolo Maldini.

Honourable mention to Gareth Bale of course.

redzerdrog

Dennis Irwin

I voted for Maldini but only because phil Babb wasnt included:D

MrPillowTalk

Dennis Irwin

I think Baresi and Blanc should definately be on that list and probably our own black pearl Paul McGrath for an Irish option.

Maldini for me too hands down.

_blank_

Mathias Sammer

I voted for Thuram.

Even though he has a girls name, he is a quality defender.

Nalz

Dennis Irwin

1) Maldini
2) Baresi
3) Blanc
4) McGrath
5) Adams
6) Thuram
7) Cannavaro
8) Irwin
9) Terry
10) Zanetti

RE*AC*TOR

Baresi without a shadow of a doubt.

Chucky the tree

Dennis Irwin

Sol campbell?

fade2black

Sol Campbell

My vote was shamelessly biased.

Nalz

Dennis Irwin

fade2black wrote:

My vote was shamelessly biased.

Denis?? He's my favourite Man Utd player of all time...and I was tempted to vote for him too. But in fairness as solid and reliable as he was, there was alot better. Definite top 10

Mossin

Dennis Irwin

Sol Campbell?

Why not him??

A solid defender, still possibly one of the best in England.
* Member of FIFA World Cup All-Star Squad – 1998
* Member of FIFA World Cup All-Star Team – 2002
* Member of UEFA European Championship All-Star Squad – 2004

Won leagues and cups with Arsenal, and scored in the CL Final.

Mr. Presentable

Baresi, closely followed by Maldini

PHB

Dennis Irwin

I voted Maldini, but I think Stam has been one of the best

astrofool

Dennis Irwin

Would be interesting to give for each team, as Maldini is a class above all other tbh.

United: Irwin
Arsenal: Adams
Tottenham: Campbell

gosplan

Maldini I guess.

I do feel he's ben living on his and his families reputation for the last few years. Don't get me wrong, he has had an amazing career but he hasn't been at the top of his game since around the last euros and he's had quite a few gaffs.

He still get's it though.

Oddly enough I'd consider Baresi last generation but he played with Maldini so I guess he has to be included. If it was for centerback I'd give it to him.

Any mention of Hierro? I know he was only a really good defender, not a great one but he scored loads.

Also Michaelovic. Probably spelt that wrong. Not only is he a nazi but he scored a hat trick of free kicks once. Not bad for a defneder.

gosplan

Also I have to mention Cannavaro.

Maybe there's been better players over a career but he played perfectly during the world cup. It's hard to say that someone played the whole tournament perfectly but I actually don't think he made a single mistake.

Amazing performance

Roddy23

Dennis Irwin

My top 5 would be: (strangely enough -mostly Milan players)

1. Maldini
2. Costacurta
3. Baresi
4. Cafu
5. McGrath

iregk

Dennis Irwin

As this is saying the past 15 years in which Baresi was just nearing retirement then I'm assuming most people are counting him out of the running here. He had his best football outside this period.

That said I rate The General as the greatest defender the game has ever seen but for this poll, Maldini all the way.

youthacademy

Dennis Irwin

Out of that list above, hast to me maldini, apart from his skill and class, the longgevity of his career is extroardinary.

Cafu comes a close second.

with Phill Babb edging it in to third for the World Cup Defenfer of the year award he received in '94, although his career went somewhat downhill after his 'big-money' signing for the portuguese outfit, sporting Lisbon, a record transfer fee in the winter of '94 of 18.5 million Pounds ( 3,708,917,000 Escudo)

Nunu

I can't believe no one has mentioned Ayala:eek:

For me he's the best pure defender of this generation, simply awesome and hard as nails. He's also the greatest header of a ball I've ever seen - phenomenal leap!

He performed exceptionally in the last 3 (could be 4?) World Cups. He really deserves to have become a World Champion. Alas, he didn't otherwise he'd probably head this list.

Other than him, I give an appreciative nod to the great Maldini.

tdv

Dennis Irwin

1.Maldini (How can it not be Maldini?)
2.Costacurta (Where is he in the list? )
3.Ayala (Where is he in the list? Best CB in the world at the moment)
4.Cafu (Most Consistent player for Brazil over the past 20 years)
5.Zanetti (He's been the best full-back in the world for the last few seasons)

Others who deserve a mention

Baresi, Roberto Carlos, Stam, Irwin, Campbell,Thuram

tdv

Dennis Irwin

Nunu wrote:

I can't believe no one has mentioned Ayala:eek:

For me he's the best pure defender of this generation, simply awesome and hard as nails. He's also the greatest header of a ball I've ever seen - phenomenal leap!

He performed exceptionally in the last 3 (could be 4?) World Cups. He really deserves to have become a World Champion. Alas, he didn't otherwise he'd probably head this list.

Other than him, I give an appreciative nod to the great Maldini.

Yeah see, Ayala best defender in the world.

ziggy

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Big Ears

Dennis Irwin

ziggy67 wrote:

Looked at the poll, seen that Baresi's name was absent, decided to read no further. Joke not to have in in the list!!

Presumely it's because he's considered last generation and not this one .

ziggy

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Big Ears

Dennis Irwin

ziggy67 wrote:

Retired in 1997, is that not close enough??

Retired in 1997(10 years ago) and started in 1978(29 years ago) ya I'd consider that last generation .

Pepe LeFrits

Maldini is easily the stand-out defender of the last 15-20 years, though I wonder if he had retired a few years back would he be quite so prominent. Longevity is one of the measures of a player I suppose. In terms of talent if not achievement and realisation of potential you'd have to have McGrath up there too. From Italy you've got Baresi who was fantastic and more recently the likes of Cannavaro and Stam too.

Rightly mentioned are the likes of Ayala, Thuram, Blanc etc. With regards to English defenders, Sol Campbell is easily their best defender (or centre-back at least) in a long time. I include the likes of Terry, Adams, Pallister etc in that. He's had a bit of a wobble over the past season or two but for years he was an absolute colossus for club and country.

It's hard to compare wing backs like Cafu, as they are a totally different breed.

thebaz

Mossin wrote:

Why not him??

A solid defender, still possibly one of the best in England.
* Member of FIFA World Cup All-Star Squad – 1998
* Member of FIFA World Cup All-Star Team – 2002
* Member of UEFA European Championship All-Star Squad – 2004

Won leagues and cups with Arsenal, and scored in the CL Final.

Sol ahead of McGrath ?????

anyway my top 5 would be Maldinin, Baressi, McGrath, Cannavaro and John Terry

thebaz

oh i forgot about Desailly

Mossin

Dennis Irwin

Can ya stop arguing about Baresi not being in the poll, as it's been said he played most of his football in the previous generation. He retired 10 years ago, and if u class him as still being the best defender of this generation then ok, but stop all the whinging about his exclusion!! In my opinion he doesn't count as this generation. Maldini played alongside him and it should be testament enough to Baresi that Maldini is topping this poll so convincingly.

I have to agree that Ayala and McGrath should have been included, probably Zanetti too, but the poll can only include so many...

What is interesting is that no-one chose Desailly. I expected more votes for him.

Pro. F

It's too hard to define an era with 'the last..' 10, 15 years etc.
I'm going to say that this generation taken as players still playing and players retired within the last year.
Then, in order:
Maldini (when a full back)
Canavaro (has been great for a good while)
Ayala (even though he looks like a librarian)
Thuram (when a full back)

Atlas_IRL

Dennis Irwin

Maldini for me

Hiero should be on the list though, have Madrid won much since he left??

Carcharodon

Dennis Irwin

Probably Maldini with Baresi coming close
McGrath as a favourite player

Seaneh

Dennis Irwin

Paolo Maldini, the best Defender of all time.

Was the best left full in the world from the age of 19 untill the age of 32, and then for the following 3 years he was thr best centre half in the world.

He has been a world class defender for almost 20 years (made his debuet aged 17) and only now, because of injuries is he starting to show his age.

Seaneh

Dennis Irwin

How the **** did the rock go unmentioned untill thebaz?
madness!

Seaneh

Dennis Irwin

Atlas_IRL wrote:

Maldini for me

Hiero should be on the list though, have Madrid won much since he left??

Could be more to do with the lose of players like Claude Makélélé, Fernando Redondo and the rest of "that" midfeild.

Waster

Nunu wrote:

I can't believe no one has mentioned Ayala:eek:

For me he's the best pure defender of this generation, simply awesome and hard as nails. He's also the greatest header of a ball I've ever seen - phenomenal leap!

He performed exceptionally in the last 3 (could be 4?) World Cups. He really deserves to have become a World Champion. Alas, he didn't otherwise he'd probably head this list.

Other than him, I give an appreciative nod to the great Maldini.

Totally agree about Ayala. Streets ahead of most on that list. Like most argentine defenders, he's a master of the dark arts. I wouldn't say he's dirty but he'll do anything to stop a striker scoring. He showed in the summer that he still has it at the top level. I can't understand why Valencia are leting him go. If Chelsea have any sense they'll snap him up.

jank

Dennis Irwin

Has to be an Italian and so it has to be Maldini.

Greatest player never to win a world cup!?

Id say so.

kinaldo

Tony Adams.

Pigman II

Marcel Desailly

How can Cannavaro not be winning? :eek:

Also I agree that Ayala should be at least nominated.

Xavi6

Dennis Irwin

Ha ha can someone explain how Ivan Helguera made it onto the list? That's just ridiculous.

It's gotta be Maldini for pure consistency over such a long period. Also I think Costacurta was brilliant at centre half in that Milan team. Don't think he ever really got the recognition that was deserved in comparison to Maldini and Baresi.

stovelid

Dennis Irwin

Maldini, no contest

Nalz

Dennis Irwin

Xavi6 wrote:

Ivan Helguera

yeah, can say the same for Puyol. Think Lothar Matthäus deserves a shout, even though he played some of his career in midfield.

ziggy

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