Evra had a massive influence as well. And having a world class keeper with great distribution certainly helped the clean sheets stat. Perfect storm of signings to mix with a world class defender, Rio, and a top class right-back, Neville, though the injury bug began for him.
Vidic, Terry, Rio, Stam, Van Dijk
- Thread starter The holy trinity 68
- Start date
There's actually a lot of debate and ultimately comes down to which type of defender you like more.
Rio was better in the first two seasons they played together (06/07 and 07/08 where he was the best in the world both seasons), but unfortunately the back injury he suffered just as he was at his absolute peak ended him at the truly top level. He was still very very good of course, but he was obviously a level or two below where he'd been previously.
On the other hand Vidic reached his peak that same season that Rio started struggling, and from that point forward he was better most (maybe even all?) seasons. The fact that he instantly stepped into the 'best in the world' category when Rio fell away shows how spoiled we were back then though. Especially when we had Evra who was the best leftback in the world for a good 3-4 seasons there as well.
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Where was this vote held? The Liverpool Echo?
And the reason why there's so much debate over the likes of Rio, Vidic, Terry (massive
) is because the standard of defender was much higher during their peek. When VVD probably was considered the best in the league (because no he wasn't even considered the best in the world outside of England) look at the state of the City, United and Chelsea defencesLast season City had Dias and he was then considered the best in the league
I agree, if we are ignoring the context and come up with "signing VVD changed everything" posts, same can be said for Vidic too. He was also piece of puzzle after signing players like Salah, Mane.
Prime Rio was the best. Prime Stam was fearsomely good as well.
For consistency over a long period Terry and Vidic probably take it. VVD is arguably in the same class as those two but, in my opinion, a clear notch below prime Rio, and he’ll have to do it for a few more years to stand alongside Terry and Vidic.
For consistency over a long period Terry and Vidic probably take it. VVD is arguably in the same class as those two but, in my opinion, a clear notch below prime Rio, and he’ll have to do it for a few more years to stand alongside Terry and Vidic.
Rio and Terry were world class
Vidic Carvalho a level below. VVD is very close to these two.
Haven't seen much of Stam to rate him.
Vidic Carvalho a level below. VVD is very close to these two.
Haven't seen much of Stam to rate him.
Stam was the best. Three seasons, three titles, one treble, all without a settled, top class partner. He was as strong and fearless as Vidic but could read the game and play the ball like Rio. Incredible player who suffers in rankings for not being in England very long, a long time ago.
After that:
Rio
Vidic
Terry
Adams
VVD
VVD needs more longevity to climb the list.
After that:
Rio
Vidic
Terry
Adams
VVD
VVD needs more longevity to climb the list.
Rio's probably the best CB I've seen.
Stam basically had two three seasons at his very peak. After that, he was merely very good.
Stam didn’t spend enough of his peak in England really. Similar to VVD, he was amazing for 3 years but the players we are comparing him to did it for twice as long or even more.
If he’d stayed here his whole career, he might be in contention because he was an absolute animal. I think a lot of forwards today would be intimidated playing against him.
If he’d stayed here his whole career, he might be in contention because he was an absolute animal. I think a lot of forwards today would be intimidated playing against him.
Of course, he was brilliant, played 40+ games a season until he was 35/36. Top scoring Man Utd defender of all time, every bit as good as John Terry at defending and scoring. Not getting picked for England was a disgrace. No idea why he gets overlooked. He was top class. Him and McGrath were the best in the PL for the first few years.
Don't forget the 3 PL titles and 2 league cups after Torres 'ended him'. Oh and Vidic was named PL player of the season that season and again in '11, along with being in FifPro XI '09 & '11, PFA team of the season the same seasons too.
That's good insight.
You really were spoilt during that mid to late 2000's era. It's no wonder you won 3 consecutive titles and went to 3 CL finals in 4 seasons.
Stam is at the top despite only being at United for 3 seasons but Van Dijk needs longevity to climb the list?
True, but that three years was so incredibly good that nobody else has since come close.
Because Stam was so good in those 3 years.
High line/low line, possession ball or long ball, stopper type Vs sweeper type, etc. There are many variables.
If I was camped out at the edge of the box all game, Terry and Vidic are top two probably, but the others aren't necessarily that far behind.
Playing on the half way line, you'd want one of the other three, and Vidic and Terry would be a bit further away.
But one thing is for sure, I don't like stats in these comparisons.
If I was camped out at the edge of the box all game, Terry and Vidic are top two probably, but the others aren't necessarily that far behind.
Playing on the half way line, you'd want one of the other three, and Vidic and Terry would be a bit further away.
But one thing is for sure, I don't like stats in these comparisons.
Rio
Vidic / Stam / Terry
Kompany / Carvalho / Adams / Campbell / VVD (if he keeps it up)
Vidic / Stam / Terry
Kompany / Carvalho / Adams / Campbell / VVD (if he keeps it up)
Imagine Stam and Vidic in the same side
Phil Jones is the greatest and it is not even close.
He was. Rio and Campbell was England's best CB pairing imo.
Definitely rate Carvalho ahead of Terry too.
Think I'd rather Rio+Stam in both their primes. Probably can't go wrong either way but Stam had the whole package in defending and SAF's ego ruined what could have been a fascinating partnership for 3-4 years. Stam+Vidic would have bullied opposition into submission.
Whisper it softly but I always thought Terry was horribly overrated. However comparing centre backs is even tougher than comparing attackers. And it’s even more pertinent to consider who is playing alongside them and behind them. Defenders operate as part of a unit.
This hurt my head to read. What utter nonsense
Terry was undoubtedly a quality player, but I do find it interesting how history seemingly remembers some players more fondly than others. Yeah, I would agree with Rio and Campbell being England's best pairing. Campbell was a genuine world class defender. It's all a bit strange.
Carvalho was quite a slick, modern type of defender. The Rio to Terry's Vidic. Really good player.
Yeah, I think he got an extra 10-20% out of the defenders around him too.
Honestly, I think seeing all these posts with a top 3 PL defenders of Stam, Rio and Vidic is probably as off as the Liverpool fans stating that Van Dijk is the best of the PL era (not that either are that far fetched - certainly all would be in my top 10, Rio at number 1 and Vidic in the top 5 but the likes of Adams and Terry shouldn’t be overlooked and both would be in my top 3)
Imagine opposing forwards thinking that they have to go up against stam & Vidic
Currently, VvD is the closest thing I've seen to the likes of Rio/Vidic/Terry and that in itself makes VVD the best CB in PL since 2015? (when Terry was no longer the player he was) .. there is was clear lack of top level CBs until VVD stepped into Liverpool defence.
I also include Stam, Carvalho and Campbell, and to some extent Kompany to the likes of Rio, Vidic & Terry
I also include Stam, Carvalho and Campbell, and to some extent Kompany to the likes of Rio, Vidic & Terry
There were forwards who would terrorise the best defenders, R9 was a nightmare to Serie A defenders back when that league has the best defenders.
Dias was the best player in the league last year so not sure where he's come up with that from. VVD was injured for a lot of the season but was average when he was fit.
Steve Bruce was a Man United great but there's no way he's comfortably the best defender to have played in the Premier League. As you say he never even got a cap for England. There's no way he's better at football than Rio and that's only for starters
Rio’s the best cb of the PL era for me. Terry and Vidic were both immense as well, but I just prefered Ferdinand’s style.
I’d argue that VVD’s peak was as good as any of them, but him being at the top for such a relatively short time means that he isn’t quite there in terms of all time greats. Maybe in two, three years if he gets back to his best and we win a couple of trophies.
I’d argue that VVD’s peak was as good as any of them, but him being at the top for such a relatively short time means that he isn’t quite there in terms of all time greats. Maybe in two, three years if he gets back to his best and we win a couple of trophies.
Im not saying they’d stop everyone, that’s unrealistic, but that they’d scare quite a lot of the opposition before they even step on the pitch
Indeed that much is true, they'd be very fearsome duo at the back
In this order:
Rio Ferdinand
Tony Adams
Jaap Stam
John Terry
Nemanja Vidic
Sol Campbell
Vincent Kompany
Ricardo Carvalho
Virgil Van Dijk
Marcel Desailly
A bit harsh for Desailly but yeah.. it's not much separating them as you go lower down the list.
Rio Ferdinand
Tony Adams
Jaap Stam
John Terry
Nemanja Vidic
Sol Campbell
Vincent Kompany
Ricardo Carvalho
Virgil Van Dijk
Marcel Desailly
A bit harsh for Desailly but yeah.. it's not much separating them as you go lower down the list.
I dunno, I've Cavalrho over Terry.
He's so under rated.
It was a disgrace he never played for England and that's what goes against him a lot.
He was as every bit good a defender as any of them on the Op. Never injured played 60 games one season, was top scorer in another. Despite what people may say or think he was very good with the ball too, he could play football. He was an intelligent player, he was great at reading the game and he could score goals. A wonderful defender and leader, absolute gem of a player.
Yes, and Rio played a season next to Evans after Vidic did his cruciate and they were terrible.
That fiasco against Everton cost them the title, not to mention the 6-1 against City.
Only by people who don't understand defending.
The only explanation I can think of for Rio being rated higher is that most fans didn't watch every game and mainly watched the Champions League games. Rio was very inconsistent but usually raised his game for the big games. The Champions League games were also far less physical which suited him better.
Week to week, when you need consistent top class defending, Vidic was peerless in the EPL for almost a decade.
The United defence with and without Vidic was like chalk and cheese. The defence was a mess without him. When Rio was out, they broke the EPL record.
It makes me laugh when the Torres thing keeps being brought up with Vidic. It was one game, and actually one mistake. Torres rarely troubled Vidic outside of that. Meanwhile, Rio regularly struggled against the likes of Heskey, Kevin Davies, Duncan Ferguson and Craig Bellamy. Drogba caused him huge problems too.
Vidic and Stam were levels above Rio in everything but self promotion.
Van Dijk is the best CB in PL history, yes. At least in terms of peak performances over a single season. It's not just how good he is defensively but also in attack, he's a high level DLP and a top, top defender and an incredible leader, all rolled into one player
His 2018/2020 levels are up there with the likes of Baresi or Scirea for me.
His 2018/2020 levels are up there with the likes of Baresi or Scirea for me.
If it's based solely on their time in the PL, then it's actually generous on Desailly rather than harsh. He was past his prime when he went to Chelsea. Gary Pallister would take his place on the list above imo. You could make the case for someone like Sami Hyppia over Desailly as well.