who is the best left back in the world?

poiuy1 wrote:

bluenine wrote:Very under rated... infact like most of Liverpool's defense, which I have been saying for years, is one of the best in europe.

Riise, Hyypia, and Caragher, all are among the best, and people (inclludin myself) just stop short of mentioning them in the top 5 in the world.

Infact, there was a time I used to consider Hyypia as the best defender after Nesta (4 years ago I think)... but after that he had some shaky performances....

but all 3 of them would make my top 10 in the world for those positions.

COTR wrote:poor riise rarely gets a mention on these lists... what is your opinion on him sheva/bluenine

I'm not so sure about that, they fit the system are adept at playing it but play either Hyppia or Carragher in a system say like United's and they wouldn't cope.....

right back on topic.. would be an achievement to turn this thread into a man u liverpool one

Yeah, around that time... Finnan and Hamamn were decent, but Hyppia was mindblowing and by far the best defender in the premiership... I often used to wonder how differently he would have been regarded if he were Italian or something... he could easily have broken the Nesta-Cannavaro partnership for the Azzurri at that time.... or even if he were playing in Serie A (no disrespect, but I feel that defenders are given more importance/limelight in Serie A) he would ve been a much bigger star. I still remember my top 5 defenders of that time (1. Nesta, 2. Hyypia, 3. Samuel, 4. Cannavaro, 5. Stam).

Obispo wrote:

bluenine wrote:
Infact, there was a time I used to consider Hyypia as the best defender after Nesta (4 years ago I think)

2000-2002, when we won 5 trophies and came second in the league, and got the champions league quater final. He was amazing.

I can now see why Finnan is called our unsung hero. Without meaning to generalise, I've seen very few people who watch football on the continent mention him as one of the better rightbacks in the premiership.

Man U beat Liverpool in the squad defence line-up. Dont get carried away now...........

COTR wrote:

poiuy1 wrote:

bluenine wrote:Very under rated... infact like most of Liverpool's defense, which I have been saying for years, is one of the best in europe.

Riise, Hyypia, and Caragher, all are among the best, and people (inclludin myself) just stop short of mentioning them in the top 5 in the world.

Infact, there was a time I used to consider Hyypia as the best defender after Nesta (4 years ago I think)... but after that he had some shaky performances....

but all 3 of them would make my top 10 in the world for those positions.

COTR wrote:poor riise rarely gets a mention on these lists... what is your opinion on him sheva/bluenine

I'm not so sure about that, they fit the system are adept at playing it but play either Hyppia or Carragher in a system say like United's and they wouldn't cope.....

right back on topic.. would be an achievement to turn this thread into a man u liverpool one

I'm not trying to it's what i honestly believe Liverpool play a high line and a pressing game and are very organised, with one player dedicated to winning the ball the other to sit infront of defence as a playmaker...

Carragher and Hyppia are both adept at playing this system and have excellent positional sense heading ability, reading of the game and are great in the air. However play them in a side like United they would simply lack the pace and ability with the ball at their feet to show their best form....

Rafa has done a great job playing to the strength's of the team he had at his diposal but i think to be a truley great world class defender you have to be adaptable and be able to cope with all kinds of situations and systems, It's not a case of being Bias i just don't think Carrahger or Hyppia tick those boxes although they are very good at what they do.....

bluenine wrote:Yeah, around that time... Finnan and Hamamn were decent, but Hyppia was mindblowing and by far the best defender in the premiership... I often used to wonder how differently he would have been regarded if he were Italian or something... he could easily have broken the Nesta-Cannavaro partnership for the Azzurri at that time.... or even if he were playing in Serie A (no disrespect, but I feel that defenders are given more importance/limelight in Serie A) he would ve been a much bigger star. I still remember my top 5 defenders of that time (1. Nesta, 2. Hyypia, 3. Samuel, 4. Cannavaro, 5. Stam).

bluenine wrote:
Infact, there was a time I used to consider Hyypia as the best defender after Nesta (4 years ago I think)

Marcus Babel was our right back at the time rightback at the time. He was awesome when we won 5 trophies but then got a serious illness and never really recovered. This is Finnan's 4th season with us - it still amazes me that he was on the edge of being sold when Rafa arrived.

I agree with you with regards to Hyypia. He's adapted to different systems brilliant. Under Houllier we used to defend deep, on the edge of our box, with Henchoz and Hyypia and their lack of pace was never caught out. People always assumed that when Hyypia was forced to play further forward, the gaps he'd leave in behind would be exploted by a quicker defender, but he's such a great reader of the game that they never appear to be.

Last season was his last really season of top notch performing though, I fear. Agger is taking over now - he will be even better

piouy i admire ur effort in trying to justify what u have said but i am not reading anything that has any sort of logic to it im afraid... perhaps if u differentiated between united's and liverpool's 'systems' a bit more than that one line

However play them in a side like United they would simply lack the pace and ability with the ball at their feet to show their best form....
it may help ur case.....

but im off to bed so look forward to reading it 2moro

COTR wrote:piouy i admire ur effort in trying to justify what u have said but i am not reading anything that has any sort of logic to it im afraid... perhaps if u differentiated between united's and liverpool's 'systems' a bit more than that one line

However play them in a side like United they would simply lack the pace and ability with the ball at their feet to show their best form....
it may help ur case.....

but im off to bed so look forward to reading it 2moro

At United it has always been particualy defensively down to individual talent rather then defending as a team. If you look back at when Keane was in the side, he was the man that held it all together, we relied so much on his individual talent rather then the day sides like Liverpool under Benitez and Cheslea last season anyway, under Mourinho. These sides are heavily drilled on putting pressure on the ball, every player knows exactly what he is doing defensively even the attacking players. Every player is required to put in this effort for the good of the team.

Compare this with the current United team, Ronaldo is given so much freedom on the right hand side he is almost played as a third striker he never tracks runners or attempts to win the ball. He is in a sense not required to, we rely heavily on the experience of Neville and work rate of players like fletcher in order to cover the gaps. United have always leaked goals as a consequence of this attitude.

hence it is important that the team has a lynch pin such as Keane someone with the intelligence to read the game and cover up the cracks. Our defence relies heavily on one individual and this is blatently obvious when he is missing RIO FERDINAND. We rely heavily on his individual talent rather then a collective dfensive system.

Heinze!

Sort yourself out boys!

Now I see why Kimbo et al get frustrated with all the Man. Utd. - Liverpool excess on this board. This thread really has become all about the two clubs.

Anyway, I'm assuming this thread was started in response to the BBC keeping up their high standards of unbiased reporting by writing in their article about Cole's transfer that he is the best left-back in the world. Although IMO he's probably up there amongst the top 5, there's no way he's the best. As for who really is, I'm not sure. Zambrotta and Heinze are probably up there, and Lahm still needs a couple more years of consistent performances till he can be included. Maybe Maldini, he does still count as a currently playing left-back doesn't he?

Agooner wrote:@ sheva7

we signed denilson( brazil u-19 capptain as u might know) from sao paolo yesterday but there are conflicting reports as to what his main position is, could u please clarify that for me? And what's your view on him?

He is a defensive midfielder. I´ve never watched him playing, probably he has never played a professional match. According to the press, he is a very good player.

nah he made like 18 appearences for sao paulo

If John Arne Riise made that list, I don't see why Young-Pyo Lee shouldn't either (Fantastic in 2004-05 CL) .

Ashley Cole's crossing is pathetic - I can only remember one decent assist from a cross of his (for Pires vs. Chelsea in 2003-04 CL). He's a tremendous athlete and defender, but his natural talent is over-rated, including dribbling.

LYP = More natural ability than Ashley Cole

Abidal, Heinze, Zambrotta, Grosso, Pasquale, Lahm >>>>>>>>> A.Cole.

Why should Javier Zanetti be more highly rated than Gary Neville ?

Abidal was poor in the world cup

Why should Zambrotta be more highly rated than Silvestre??

Different questions, same answer...

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Why should Javier Zanetti be more highly rated than Gary Neville ?

TeamSpirit™ wrote:If John Arne Riise made that list, I don't see why Young-Pyo Lee shouldn't either (Fantastic in 2004-05 CL) .

Because he was average last year? I don't think a good CL campain in 2004-2005 is up there with 5-6 years of solid performances. plus, he didn't score that goal against utd.

Well i see we've got to the point where everyone is just naming the players at their clubs, and because of that i'm going to throw Olivier Bernards hat into the ring... or name into the hat... i can't remember what the saying is.

But seriously, Zambrotta is in a league of his own here IMO. Prime Zambrotta > Prime Roberto Carlos.

u knw

agree! Zambo is Maldini's true successor! Lets see how many more years he cankeep up tho... maybe 2 more I think..

Kimbo wrote:Well i see we've got to the point where everyone is just naming the players at their clubs, and because of that i'm going to throw Olivier Bernards hat into the ring... or name into the hat... i can't remember what the saying is.

But seriously, Zambrotta is in a league of his own here IMO. Prime Zambrotta > Prime Roberto Carlos.