Whos the best defender of all time ever?

[ericjarvis]

Anyone who claims that any player other than Baresi is the best ever defender has either never seen footage of Baresi in action, or is looking at a favourite player through rose tinted spectacles. I'd love to be able to honestly say that it should be Bobby Moore, Dave Mackay, Clive Wiggington, or somesuch. It wouldn't be honest. Nobody has ever combined skill, tenacity, athleticism, awareness, and sheer determination to fuck up the opposition, in the way Baresi did.

 

[jcsd]

I look at that list and for me it's actually Rio Ferdinand. This is not a joke.

 

[Sootysoots]

Richard Dunne

 

[Sootysoots]

Or on a more serious note Stuart Pearce

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I look at that list and for me it's actually Rio Ferdinand. This is not a joke.

 

[Streathamite]

It's B-A-R-E-S-I- FFS, kained!

 

[isitme]

barry venison

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

barry venison

what a mullet

 

[mattie]

Julian.



Actually, Bobby Moore, a bit slow, not that strong, but it didn't matter as he just understood football inside out and had all the skills.

 

[rapattaque]

Jason Perry

 

[Dr. Furface]

It's blates McGrath though.

Wot he said

 

[zaphod22]

Wot he said

What they said.

 

[marksims68]

Kevin Beattie.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Frank Leboeuf

 

[stavros]

I just judged on those I've seen, and Maldini took it for me, but very close behind were Baresi, Desailly, Thuram and Cafu. Frank de Boer is worth a mention too.

 

[Flashman]

Baresi nominated McGrath when asked.


It's Paul.

 

[Flashman]

It's between:

McFarland
McGrath
Baresi

and for pure defending it's McGrath.

 

[stavros]

How about Paul Breitner? One of only four men to score in two World Cup Finals. I never saw him but for a predominant defender he had an absolutely awesome scoring record (66 in 146 games for Bayern Munich).

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

bubble perm tho?

 

[strung out]

Jason Perry

haha, he's a fucking nutter

 

[Gym Beam]

Frank Baresi - most composed defender ever!

 

[editor]

Where's Nobby Stiles?

 

[Biffo]

Has to be Torben Piechnik no?

 

[stavros]

Where's Nobby Stiles?

He was more of a holding midfielder, used as insurance for club and country to allow Charlton to roam. I don't think he ever moved backwards later in his career, a la Beckenbauer, Matthaus, Desailly, etc.

 

[kabbes]

Frank Leboeuf

He's here, he's there, he's every-fucking-where.

 

[kabbes]

I think I'm going to have to go for George Best.

 

[kained&able]

He's here, he's there, he's every-fucking-where.

no no no, hes here, hes' there he doesn't want us to swear!

This is a family show


dave

 

[Steel Icarus]

Gaetano Scirea.

 

[JimW]

Shaun Smith (from the halfway line).

 

[Ich bin ein Mod]

Owen Archdeacon

From the list I went for Costacurta but any from that Milan defence could get it.