They don’t make any Paul McGraths anymore!

David Luiz doesn’t look like the first cousin of a defender…

It’s not that defenders are overated, I’d say the likes of Kompany Thiago Silva and Lahm are rather underrated. People prefer to see ball playing centre backs but then hang these players out to dry when there’s defensive problems. There is definitely a shift in how they play but if you teach a dog to chase a ball will he be able to climb a tree? If you teach a defender to be skillful and use the ball efficiently can you expect him to put in tough tackles and be a defensive mind player? The game would do well to remember its roots and try and amend the lack of ‘no-nonsense’ defenders

The best defensively set up team out there has to be Atletico Madrid. Simeone has organisation drilled into every player who starts, particularly in the back line. Can anyone name a better defender at defending than Diego Godin?

Great article.

Cannavaro had it all. He was irrational at times, but by god, he was brilliant.

On the one hand – the hard men at centre back was a great facet to the game.
On the other hand – Feck it, more goals per game.

I just wonder if the ever-decreasing tolerance for physicality in the game has simply lead to these types not being considered by scouts and coaches, in lieu of ball-players that’ll make defenders.

Good article, the all-nonsense David Luiz made me laugh.

I always loved Alessandro Nesta. A God of a defender!

Best article I’ve read here in a while…..Bravo!

Brilliant insight, had never thought of the Brazil/arsenal comparison.

I started reading this. I’m not long out if bed and a bit tired. Then I scrolled down and there was alot to read. So I stopped.