Best collection of defenders in the League

Arsenal: Toure, Gallas, Eboue, Djourou, Clichy, Lauren, Senderos

Chelsea: Cole, Boulah, Terry, Carvahilo, Ferrarri, Geremi, Bridge

Liverpool: Agger, Risse, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Auerllio, Palletta

Man United: Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Silvestre, Evra


Spurs have some very good defenders as well.

Oh dear....

I predict a thread with lots of >>>>>>> and

Who do you think, Parks?

Both Liverpool and Man U lack decent RB cover IMO.

Robert >>>>>>> Roger

Arsenal have a strong partnership in Toure and Gallas. Eboue is a very good attacking player but a weak left back.

Chelsea has 3 very good CB's in Terry, Boula and Carvalho. Cole and Bridge are but international class left backs so no problem there. Weak spot: RB. Ferraira and Geremi aren't good enough for a club like Chelsea. Boula is a CB although still excelent as RB.

Liverpool has a very strong defence but the weak spot here: RB. The CB's are no worry with Carragher, Hyppia, Agger and Paletta(?). LB's are on par with Chelsea's. Who is gonna cover for Finnan? Stupid move to sell Kromkamp.

ManUnt has the best X1 defence in: Neville/Brown-Ferdinand-Vidic-Heinze/Evra. I think ManUnt doesn't really have problems in defence but the fact that Silvestre is playing proves me wrong. For me on paper the best defence.

Despite statistics - I think on Raw talent, Man United have the best stable of Defenders.

And you don't need a specific defensive system to get them playing well either.

I would choose Chelsea. Although this year its ridicullous the lack of CD in their squad. Having to play Ferreira as CD, when you spend so much money on strikers is just nonsense. I really admire Mourinho, but in this point he is not covering his a$$.

But Teamspirit is right about something - the ammount of coverage from the midfield can influentiate our opinions.

Woodgate, Riggott, Pogatetz, Taylor, Huth, Parnaby, McMahon, Bates

If Woodgate can manage to be fit for 25 games this season he'd be a good shout for our next target from our feeder club Boro....

We're less of a feeder club and more a club you like to practice your tapping up techniques on.

You say potayto, I say potahto....

Roger_Hunt wrote:Oh dear....

I predict a thread with lots of >>>>>>> and

Who do you think, Parks?

Both Liverpool and Man U lack decent RB cover IMO.

Brown's not bad at right back. I'd say we basically have:

Neville -- Rio -- Vidic -- Heinze as first choice, Brown able to cover right back and centre back, Silvestre able to cover left back and centre back (poor centre back though) and Evra able to offer a more attacking threat down the left.

I certainly think this season Liverpool and Man United can certainly match Chelsea in terms of first choices defences and beat them in cover as well, mainly due to the likes of Gallas leaving and Johnson going on loan.

We have Carra to cover RB, but I definitely think

Finnan>Carra (at RB)
Neville>Brown (at RB)

Having said that it's interesting that everyone seems to have more strength in depth at LB than RB.

United in terms of the strength of the players individually. Ourselves or Chelsea in terms of strength collectively.

Arsenal are miles infront in over-all potential. Especially if they get Clichy playing or a good leftback.

@ Roger

Not sure about Arsenal.

They have Lauren and Eboue for right backs, Stronger I feel than Clichy and using Gallas left back and weakening the central area.

In my opinion (which can be biased) and this is where the > come in -

Neville > Eboue > Finnan = Boulah

Toure = Ferdinand = Agger = Carvahilo

Gallas > Terry > Carragher/Hyypia = Vidic

Risse > Heinze > Cole > Clichy

TeamSpirit™ wrote:Despite statistics - I think on Raw talent, Man United have the best stable of Defenders.

And you don't need a specific defensive system to get them playing well either.

The same can be said about our defenders too.

@ Parks

Remarkably balanced assessment.

Nice of you to put Aggs=Ferdinand. Too soon to judge IMO. Could be WC ( Obispo), could be a morning glory.

I wouldnt rate Nev>Eboue and Finnan, but I probably would rate Heinze = or > Riise. Hyypia looks past it now, as well - OK against a mid-table team without pacy strikers.

Shittu,Demerit,Mackay,Stewart,Carlise,Powell,Doyley,Mariapaa

Roger_Hunt wrote:@ Parks

Remarkably balanced assessment.

Nice of you to put Aggs=Ferdinand. Too soon to judge IMO. Could be WC ( Obispo), could be a morning glory.

I wouldnt rate Nev>Eboue and Finnan, but I probably would rate Heinze = or > Riise. Hyypia looks past it now, as well - OK against a mid-table team without pacy strikers.

I put Agger equal with Rio, as a couldn't be bothered to argue with Obispo about it. He still looks like a very good player though. Can't see a fault in his game so far.

I didn't rate Heinze as highly as Riise, as I think it will take a while for him to get back to his form of two seasons ago and Riise is much better attacking wise (not sure about defensively).

Parks Lives wrote:
I think it will take a while for him to get back to his form of two seasons ago and Riise is much better attacking wise (not sure about defensively).

I like defenders who defend though... that's why I like Carra

For me:

Neville>Finnan=Eboué>Ferreira

Touré=Ferdinand=Carvalho>Carragher

Gallas>Terry>Agger>Vidic

Heinze>Riise=Cole>Clichy

For back up taken as a whole category then:

Chelsea>Man Utd>Arsenal>Liverpool

Eboue>Finnan>Neville>Ferreira

Toure>Rio=Carvalho>Carragher

Gallas>terry>agger>Vidic

Heinzi>Riise=Cole>Clichy

arsenal has the best defense

Hopefully Vidic can change your minds by the end of the season.

I think he can get to Terry's level eventually.

Parks Lives wrote:
I think he can get to Terry's level eventually.

Don't write him off before he gets started.

Vidic looks good from what I've seen but I don't think he can be rated above the other three based on half a season, thats all

But apparently, Eboue can be...

Apparently so.

CL final may have a lot to do with it, certainly no club bias

I think its fair, Vidic only played 10 games and hardly any high profile one's.

Eboue must of played around 25 and featured in all of there Champions league run in games.

Parks Lives wrote:I think its fair, Vidic only played 10 games and hardly any high profile one's.

Arsenal at home isn't high-profile anymore?

Edit: neither is Liverpool away in the cup?

Obispo wrote:

Parks Lives wrote:I think its fair, Vidic only played 10 games and hardly any high profile one's.

Arsenal at home isn't high-profile anymore?

Edit: neither is Liverpool away in the cup?

I didn't want to bring up the Fa Cup game, as it was only his 3rd or 4th game and he didn't even have Rio next to him, who is much better at guiding through a player than Wesley Brown.

Against Arsenal he was ace.

Obispo wrote:
Edit: neither is Liverpool away in the cup?

Keep up Obispo, League Cup > FA Cup now.