Best team in the world - Centre Backs

Ok there were a few more I couldn't fit onto the poll as you're only allowed a maximum 20 on this site.

Other notable additions include: Rio Ferdinand, Gary Cahill, Diego Godin, Juan, Simon Kjaer.

If you want to vote for any of them just post them and I'll add to them to the poll count at the end.

This time you're allowed 4 votes The two with the highest votes will be in the first team, the next two highest will be in the reserve team.

I'll give you 3 days to vote

Lucio, Nesta, Pique, Vidic

Close behind are Kompany, David Luiz and Thiago Silva. The latter two are of course the future.

If we're going to include perma-crips, why Agger rather than Ferdinand or Ledley King?

Gone for Vidic, Pique, Nesta, and Carvalho.

I do like Godin a lot. I think he can be a great central defender and all ready a good one. I also still believe that Gonzalo Rodriguez, on his day, is as good as anyone. David Luiz I think will be one of the four in a few years time.

Why do you put so many shit players in these polls?

As this dream team is gonna be very attacking, i'll think i'll arbitrarily exclude anyone who can't play in a defence with a high line. So unlucky Vidic, Samuel and Terry.

Lucio, Kompany, Puyol and Nesta.

If ther're not ball playing centrebacks, then can fuck off

Vidic,Samuel,Lucio,Nesta

My dream team would be more defense minded which is reflected in the players I chose. Pique and Carvalho were next in line for me. I haven't excluded playing Cb's though.

Thiago Silva and David Luiz are still green at the top level(CL football) but within the next year or two I'm guesing they will have taken over from some of these older guys.

no mertesacker, he plays for the shittest defence since years (well at least before vangaal took over bayern) and always was the best defender in the league, holger badstuber has not nothing done to deserve a nomination in this list

i hope he joins bayern next season, would be good for his reputation

though ill go with those 4, baised on form of the last 1-2 years:

poyul, vidic, carvalho, lucio

Samuel, Nesta, Carvalho, Lucio.

Murray wrote:Why do you put so many shit players in these polls?

Christ.

I'm sick of telling you, I just copy and paste these polls from RAWK because in general there's enough options there for a good debate. Just because a player is on that poll doesn't mean I rate him. Everyone votes for the players they do think are brilliant, so what's the problem?

As for your question Debbie, whenever Agger has been playing we've looked a lot more solid than when he hasn't and when he does play he's up there with the best IMO. Again though, why does it matter if Agger is in the poll to you and Rio isn't? Would you vote for either of them?

Nesta is the best CB I have ever seen, apart from perhaps Baresi (maybe even better than that)... but thats another discussion. That said, this is the first season I am seeing him so vulnerable, consistent injuries and age are finally getting the better of him. So for the first time in about a decade and half, I wouldn't call him the best or even name him in the top 4. There are CB's who at the mo are better.

I am always surprised to see Lucio leading such lists... I am a big fan, but Lucio isn't even the best defender at Inter (when Samuel is fit). He has different qualities though, a more ball playing CB, perhaps that why people rate him more.

Also I admit that I haven't seen that much of Carvalho this season, apart from a few games...

My picks: Samuel*, Thiago, Carvalho, & Lucio.... Pique & Vidic are also right up there, so it should be a top 6 really... some like Vermaelen, Chiellini, Luiz, Ranocchia, etc may get there sooner or later...

*assuming he is fit and playing like he was before his injury and Rafa's failed experiments...

Lucio plays really well in the big games too, whilst making silly errors in smaller games which get swept under the carpet. Samuel is more consistant over a whole season.

bluenine wrote:I am always surprised to see Lucio leading such lists... I am a big fan, but Lucio isn't even the best defender at Inter (when Samuel is fit). He has different qualities though, a more ball playing CB, perhaps that why people rate him more.

It's mainly because - as you say - Lucio has the ability to play well with the ball at his feet. He can not only defend, but create as well. That's an attribute that people always like, and indeed, is more beneficial to the team as a whole. Samuel is more of a last ditch, "tough and dirty" kind of CB, and doesn't give the same aura of class that someone like Lucio does. He's not able to play in a high defensive line either, likes to sit deep and just defend...whereas Lucio can do more.


Another important factor is that Lucio has proven to be more successful in a variety of different teams and tactics - Bayern, Inter, and of course Brazil. Samuel has not done anything outside his Serie A comfort zone. Indeed, many La Liga followers (including me) will never rate him as a top CB because of his one hapless season in Spain - he was an absolute fraud of a defender all year long, even after taking into account Madrid's general rubbish-ness that season. And at int'l level he's (through no fault of his own) associated with a malfunctioning Argentina team.

Nesta also wasn't never tested outside his comfort zone. I know he's great and all, but still...

stinger wrote:Nesta also wasn't never tested outside his comfort zone. I know he's great and all, but still...

Exactly - it means there's still some mystery - maybe he'd be good, maybe he'd be bad. With Samuel, there's no guesswork, just facts. And the facts are that he was utter garbage when playing in Spain.

fcb wrote:

bluenine wrote:I am always surprised to see Lucio leading such lists... I am a big fan, but Lucio isn't even the best defender at Inter (when Samuel is fit). He has different qualities though, a more ball playing CB, perhaps that why people rate him more.

It's mainly because - as you say - Lucio has the ability to play well with the ball at his feet. He can not only defend, but create as well. That's an attribute that people always like, and indeed, is more beneficial to the team as a whole. Samuel is more of a last ditch, "tough and dirty" kind of CB, and doesn't give the same aura of class that someone like Lucio does. He's not able to play in a high defensive line either, likes to sit deep and just defend...whereas Lucio can do more.


Another important factor is that Lucio has proven to be more successful in a variety of different teams and tactics - Bayern, Inter, and of course Brazil. Samuel has not done anything outside his Serie A comfort zone. Indeed, many La Liga followers (including me) will never rate him as a top CB because of his one hapless season in Spain - he was an absolute fraud of a defender all year long, even after taking into account Madrid's general rubbish-ness that season. And at int'l level he's (through no fault of his own) associated with a malfunctioning Argentina team.

Samuel is a massively overrated thug who no one outside of Serie A really rates, should have been sent off numerous times in the CL last season, was crap at Madrid.

If you are someone who like players who are able to make clean challenges and don't need to rely on brute force, then players like Samuel, Vidic, Terry will never be your cup of tea.

fcb wrote:

bluenine wrote:I am always surprised to see Lucio leading such lists... I am a big fan, but Lucio isn't even the best defender at Inter (when Samuel is fit). He has different qualities though, a more ball playing CB, perhaps that why people rate him more.

It's mainly because - as you say - Lucio has the ability to play well with the ball at his feet. He can not only defend, but create as well. That's an attribute that people always like, and indeed, is more beneficial to the team as a whole. Samuel is more of a last ditch, "tough and dirty" kind of CB, and doesn't give the same aura of class that someone like Lucio does. He's not able to play in a high defensive line either, likes to sit deep and just defend...whereas Lucio can do more.

That is very debateable, depends on perception / team style.

As a CB, Samuel makes less blunders, is more consistent/dependable, has a great read of the game. Lucio is better on the ball, and better going forward. So I can see why people pick Lucio, but there is no doubt who has been the better CB at Inter.

fcb wrote:
Another important factor is that Lucio has proven to be more successful in a variety of different teams and tactics - Bayern, Inter, and of course Brazil. Samuel has not done anything outside his Serie A comfort zone. Indeed, many La Liga followers (including me) will never rate him as a top CB because of his one hapless season in Spain - he was an absolute fraud of a defender all year long, even after taking into account Madrid's general rubbish-ness that season. And at int'l level he's (through no fault of his own) associated with a malfunctioning Argentina team.

I don't buy that. He has done more then enough in Serie A and that should be enough. One poor season in a different league (in a team which was in shambles organisation wise) is just that, one poor season... Many great players have had a poor season in a new league (Kaka, Bergkamp, etc) and many great players have never proven anything outside their comfort zone (Pele, Baresi, Maldini, Messi, need any more?). It does not make them any less great...

stinger wrote:Nesta also wasn't never tested outside his comfort zone. I know he's great and all, but still...

Nor has Pele, Baresi, Maldini, Zanetti, Bobby Charlton, Beckenbauer, etc etc... so whats the point?

bluenine wrote:

stinger wrote:Nesta also wasn't never tested outside his comfort zone. I know he's great and all, but still...

Nor has Pele, Baresi, Maldini, Zanetti, Bobby Charlton, Beckenbauer, etc etc... so whats the point?

Probably that I'm not so sure about Nesta class. Two other great Serie A defenders were tested in La Liga and both were more or less disastrous (they had some good alibi, but still...). That's why I probably rate Lucio higher or even Carvalho, but the latter also had his comfort zone with Mourinho coaching him for many of his senior years.

stinger wrote:

bluenine wrote:

stinger wrote:Nesta also wasn't never tested outside his comfort zone. I know he's great and all, but still...

Nor has Pele, Baresi, Maldini, Zanetti, Bobby Charlton, Beckenbauer, etc etc... so whats the point?

Probably that I'm not so sure about Nesta class. Two other great Serie A defenders were tested in La Liga and both were more or less disastrous (they had some good alibi, but still...). That's why I probably rate Lucio higher or even Carvalho, but the latter also had his comfort zone with Mourinho coaching him for many of his senior years.

and Lucio spent the majority of his career in the sub-standard Bundesliga...

I think Nesta proved himself in the Champions League and at International level. In Serie A he played for 2 relatively attacking sides and was great for both.

I don't see the relevance of Samuel and Cannavaro failing in La Liga, they are both different types of defenders to Nesta and had different circumstances.

fcb wrote:

bluenine wrote:I am always surprised to see Lucio leading such lists... I am a big fan, but Lucio isn't even the best defender at Inter (when Samuel is fit). He has different qualities though, a more ball playing CB, perhaps that why people rate him more.

It's mainly because - as you say - Lucio has the ability to play well with the ball at his feet. He can not only defend, but create as well. That's an attribute that people always like, and indeed, is more beneficial to the team as a whole. Samuel is more of a last ditch, "tough and dirty" kind of CB, and doesn't give the same aura of class that someone like Lucio does. He's not able to play in a high defensive line either, likes to sit deep and just defend...whereas Lucio can do more.

Samuel relies more on positioning and reading of the game. Cordoba was always the one who would do the last ditch stuff. He lacks pace, hence the problems with a high line and getting exposed 1 vs 1.

Noah and the Bale wrote:

fcb wrote:

bluenine wrote:I am always surprised to see Lucio leading such lists... I am a big fan, but Lucio isn't even the best defender at Inter (when Samuel is fit). He has different qualities though, a more ball playing CB, perhaps that why people rate him more.

It's mainly because - as you say - Lucio has the ability to play well with the ball at his feet. He can not only defend, but create as well. That's an attribute that people always like, and indeed, is more beneficial to the team as a whole. Samuel is more of a last ditch, "tough and dirty" kind of CB, and doesn't give the same aura of class that someone like Lucio does. He's not able to play in a high defensive line either, likes to sit deep and just defend...whereas Lucio can do more.


Another important factor is that Lucio has proven to be more successful in a variety of different teams and tactics - Bayern, Inter, and of course Brazil. Samuel has not done anything outside his Serie A comfort zone. Indeed, many La Liga followers (including me) will never rate him as a top CB because of his one hapless season in Spain - he was an absolute fraud of a defender all year long, even after taking into account Madrid's general rubbish-ness that season. And at int'l level he's (through no fault of his own) associated with a malfunctioning Argentina team.

Samuel is a massively overrated thug who no one outside of Serie A really rates, should have been sent off numerous times in the CL last season, was crap at Madrid.

If you are someone who like players who are able to make clean challenges and don't need to rely on brute force, then players like Samuel, Vidic, Terry will never be your cup of tea.

Here's a perfect example of Bernd talking out of arse, and hoping that if he repeats the same crap over and over again, it might actually become true!

bluenine wrote:

fcb wrote:

bluenine wrote:I am always surprised to see Lucio leading such lists... I am a big fan, but Lucio isn't even the best defender at Inter (when Samuel is fit). He has different qualities though, a more ball playing CB, perhaps that why people rate him more.

It's mainly because - as you say - Lucio has the ability to play well with the ball at his feet. He can not only defend, but create as well. That's an attribute that people always like, and indeed, is more beneficial to the team as a whole. Samuel is more of a last ditch, "tough and dirty" kind of CB, and doesn't give the same aura of class that someone like Lucio does. He's not able to play in a high defensive line either, likes to sit deep and just defend...whereas Lucio can do more.

That is very debateable, depends on perception / team style.

As a CB, Samuel makes less blunders, is more consistent/dependable, has a great read of the game. Lucio is better on the ball, and better going forward. So I can see why people pick Lucio, but there is no doubt who has been the better CB at Inter.

fcb wrote:
Another important factor is that Lucio has proven to be more successful in a variety of different teams and tactics - Bayern, Inter, and of course Brazil. Samuel has not done anything outside his Serie A comfort zone. Indeed, many La Liga followers (including me) will never rate him as a top CB because of his one hapless season in Spain - he was an absolute fraud of a defender all year long, even after taking into account Madrid's general rubbish-ness that season. And at int'l level he's (through no fault of his own) associated with a malfunctioning Argentina team.

I don't buy that. He has done more then enough in Serie A and that should be enough. One poor season in a different league (in a team which was in shambles organisation wise) is just that, one poor season... Many great players have had a poor season in a new league (Kaka, Bergkamp, etc) and many great players have never proven anything outside their comfort zone (Pele, Baresi, Maldini, Messi, need any more?). It does not make them any less great...

I think Bergkamp is a great example (though some people strangely seem to think it was Inter's fault). Ayala is another widely regarded great defender of his generation, who was underwhelming in Serie A, yet was brilliant in La Liga.

stinger wrote:

bluenine wrote:

stinger wrote:Nesta also wasn't never tested outside his comfort zone. I know he's great and all, but still...

Nor has Pele, Baresi, Maldini, Zanetti, Bobby Charlton, Beckenbauer, etc etc... so whats the point?

Probably that I'm not so sure about Nesta class. Two other great Serie A defenders were tested in La Liga and both were more or less disastrous (they had some good alibi, but still...). That's why I probably rate Lucio higher or even Carvalho, but the latter also had his comfort zone with Mourinho coaching him for many of his senior years.

Sorry, how old was Cannavaro when he went to Spain? And how is that extrapolatable to Nesta, Baresi, or Maldini?

You may rate Lucio or Carvalho more than Nesta at his best, thats your opinion. Buy that is a faulty arguement, surely you see that?

fcb wrote:

stinger wrote:Nesta also wasn't never tested outside his comfort zone. I know he's great and all, but still...

Exactly - it means there's still some mystery - maybe he'd be good, maybe he'd be bad. With Samuel, there's no guesswork, just facts. And the facts are that he was utter garbage when playing in Spain.

So Samuel was utter garbage for Real Madrid and Rafa Benitez's Inter?
He's very talented no doubt, but he's one of the worst offenders of shirt pulling I've seen. For that and his last-ditch tackles (which usually come about through being exposed for having a lack of pace) he shouldn't be regarded as one of the very best CBs in the world.

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:

Noah and the Bale wrote:

fcb wrote:

bluenine wrote:I am always surprised to see Lucio leading such lists... I am a big fan, but Lucio isn't even the best defender at Inter (when Samuel is fit). He has different qualities though, a more ball playing CB, perhaps that why people rate him more.

It's mainly because - as you say - Lucio has the ability to play well with the ball at his feet. He can not only defend, but create as well. That's an attribute that people always like, and indeed, is more beneficial to the team as a whole. Samuel is more of a last ditch, "tough and dirty" kind of CB, and doesn't give the same aura of class that someone like Lucio does. He's not able to play in a high defensive line either, likes to sit deep and just defend...whereas Lucio can do more.


Another important factor is that Lucio has proven to be more successful in a variety of different teams and tactics - Bayern, Inter, and of course Brazil. Samuel has not done anything outside his Serie A comfort zone. Indeed, many La Liga followers (including me) will never rate him as a top CB because of his one hapless season in Spain - he was an absolute fraud of a defender all year long, even after taking into account Madrid's general rubbish-ness that season. And at int'l level he's (through no fault of his own) associated with a malfunctioning Argentina team.

Samuel is a massively overrated thug who no one outside of Serie A really rates, should have been sent off numerous times in the CL last season, was crap at Madrid.

If you are someone who like players who are able to make clean challenges and don't need to rely on brute force, then players like Samuel, Vidic, Terry will never be your cup of tea.

Here's a perfect example of Bernd talking out of arse, and hoping that if he repeats the same crap over and over again, it might actually become true!

You mean like your constant garbage about Ferdinand?

I don't know how people can rate Samuel so high but not recognise Terry. Terry can do everything Samuel does with less hastle plus he is a great passer. Samuel was shocking in the CL last year. Should have been sent off as Noah has stated.

Quite suprised that Carvolho has had so few mentions actually. Played in a defensive wall for Chelsea, and is probably the main reason Madrid have looked so solid. Good on the ball, and great anticipation and tackling.

shazlx wrote:I don't know how people can rate Samuel so high but not recognise Terry. Terry can do everything Samuel does with less hastle plus he is a great passer. Samuel was shocking in the CL last year. Should have been sent off as Noah has stated.

Took me a long time to realise that Terry is quite competent on the ball.

Hlebagone wrote:

shazlx wrote:I don't know how people can rate Samuel so high but not recognise Terry. Terry can do everything Samuel does with less hastle plus he is a great passer. Samuel was shocking in the CL last year. Should have been sent off as Noah has stated.

Took me a long time to realise that Terry is quite competent on the ball.

It was only until Ancelotti arrived that most people(including me) realised how good he is on the ball, age/injuries/lack of stamina effect how much he can get around the pitch these days but given freedom Terry is surprisingly a very attacking defender, consistently supporting the midfield/attack. Now Luiz has joined it will be interesting to see how he re-develops his game to take a more calm sitting role. A lot of people have forgotten about Alex as well, will be interesting to see if Chelsea switch to a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 system next season if all their CB's remain fit.