Defenders these days

[épieur]

Is there any defender around these days who wouldn't be second-tier in any other era of football?

 

I mean, go back 10-15 years - Cannavaro, Desailly, Thuram, Maldini, Nesta. Or guys like Campbell, Stam, Hyypia, Ayala, Hierro, Kohler. Seems to me all of that bunch could walk into any side in the world today and instantly be proclaimed the best defender in the world without challenge.

 

What happened?

[dorgie]

Johnny Evans and Phil Jones.

[The_MC]

Defender nominations for the Fifa World 11 for this year:

 

Jordi Alba (Spain, Barcelona)

Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham)

Giorgio Chiellini (Italy, Juventus);

Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea);

Dani Alves (Brazil, Barcelona);

David Luiz (Brazil, Chelsea);

Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United);

Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United);

Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund);

Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Chelsea);

Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Manchester City);

Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich),

Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid);

Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona);

Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid);

Gerard Pique (Spain, Barcelona);

Carles Puyol (Spain, Barcelona);

Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid);

John Terry (England, Chelsea);

Thiago Silva(Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain).

 

Pretty mediocre standard compared to, as you say, other generations. I mean Rio Ferdinand in there? Says it all. David Luiz? Cole and Evra are shadows of their former selves too. Bale's good but doubt he's played many as a left back this year. That leaves you with, for the most part, Barcelona defenders; a team renowned for their attacking rather than defence.

[muleskinner]

Chiellini is ace, and Hummels.

[Stevie H]

vidic has been very good. think kompany would be a better player and a real world class defender under a better manager than mancini.

[schmuckdonald]

Thiago Silva, Pique and Puyol are world class. Hummels, too. Beyond that and stevie h's, that's about it, mind.

[Stevie H]

what is bale doing in that list by the way? that's just silly.

[Bailo]

Piqué is brilliant (and automatically accented by the iPhone), Hummels, Chiellini. Agger and Skrtel should be on that list if f***ing Luiz is.

[Benzo-13]

Neven Subotic is good too.

Then you've Bonucci.

Though both are more dark arts types.

[muleskinner]

Luiz is in the list purely because of his hair. He is an awful defender. Ivanovic is a good solid player but he isn't among the worlds best.

[Stevie H]

carvalho's old school by the way. would have been good in any era.

[smithdown]

The world could do with a Sammer to come along and remind everyone what can be done. Shame another player like that hasn't really come along who could switch there and play football through all the lines. Gerrard would have been interesting there but I guess his chance of that went a while back.

[John am Rhein]

too much has been done to tip the balance in favour of attackers and against defenders. That's why you get the nonces running riot

 

would be great to see a good old fashioned career-ending injury

[Earl Hafler]

Further proof that FIFA are full of s***.

[Rich Gobey]

too much has been done to tip the balance in favour of attackers and against defenders. That's why you get the nonces running riot

 

would be great to see a good old fashioned career-ending injury