Roy Keane: very few defenders burst onto the scene.
Alessandro Nesta, how good was he?
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Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) discuss United's fantastic win away against Athletic Club in the semi-final of the Europa League.
They also pick out the positives of United's 4-3 loss away at Brentford, and Nik reviews a day out at Old Trafford watching Manchester United Women qualify for the Champions League.
I wanted him before we bought Ferdinand in 2002.
One of the best of the bests of his generation
One of the best of the bests of his generation
Nesta did, thats how good he was
Best defender since Beckenbauer.
He has had some great partnerships, and I think they played so well together because of Nestas ability to read the game. And he didnt really have any weaknessess
He has had some great partnerships, and I think they played so well together because of Nestas ability to read the game. And he didnt really have any weaknessess
Nesta and Cannavaro were immense ... of course cannavaro had that outstanding world cup (when nesta was injured in the group stages)
Personally though I always rated Nesta (slightly) higher out of the two ...
played alongside Cannavaro, Staam and Tiago Silva... and for me was the better defender in all of those partnerships ...
Personally though I always rated Nesta (slightly) higher out of the two ...
played alongside Cannavaro, Staam and Tiago Silva... and for me was the better defender in all of those partnerships ...
Fantastic defender. The likes of which you don't really see anymore. I agree with the posters putting him above Cannavaro. Cannavaro was an excellent defender. However, people remember him is as if World Cup 2006 was his day in day out level. It wasn't. I'd take Nesta over Cannavaro any day. Bigger, stronger, raking legged tackles.
Not sure there are many Italian defenders better than Nesta. I'd rate him above Chiellini and Bonucci. Much better defender against pace than either of those two. Not sure how many centre backs I would actually rate above Nesta to be honest. Genuine marvel.
Not sure there are many Italian defenders better than Nesta. I'd rate him above Chiellini and Bonucci. Much better defender against pace than either of those two. Not sure how many centre backs I would actually rate above Nesta to be honest. Genuine marvel.
Taking my bias of Italy and United into account because I’d be a liar if I didn’t.
I’d rank my top CB’s that iv witnessed as:
Cannavaro
Nesta
Rio
Stam
Vidic
Bonnuci
Chiellini
Maldini was unbelievable at both CB and LB but for me was the best LB Iv ever seen and I’d have him a hair in front of Irwin. R.Carlos, Evra, Cole etc just a notch below those two.
I’d rank my top CB’s that iv witnessed as:
Cannavaro
Nesta
Rio
Stam
Vidic
Bonnuci
Chiellini
Maldini was unbelievable at both CB and LB but for me was the best LB Iv ever seen and I’d have him a hair in front of Irwin. R.Carlos, Evra, Cole etc just a notch below those two.
You break my heart, harms.
I'm sadder now than I was a minute ago! (and that was very sad!)
Did we have this discussion before? I know I went on a crusade for Nesta as #1 all-time before. Can't remember if it was with you.
Never seems to come up as frequently as others when the greatest defender debate comes up. Maybe because he never left Italy.
I don't think the topic comes up much in the mains. If it does, you're probably only going to see Baresi, Beckenbauer, Maldini and Moore mentioned with a smattering of Cannavaro and a dab of Nesta, I think.
Meanwhile, Figueroa, Kohler, Nesta, Scirea are not going to get much of a mention.
The World Cup is probably the determining figure there, that and the imperious AC Milan backline.
It's an interesting topic, though, especially so when it's harder to isolate a CB to an individual contribution outside of the partnership(s) he was in.
I shouldn’t drink again if I forget Bobby Moore of all people
Yeah, he’s obviously in the top tier as well.
Rio is truly underrated among English fans.
Nesta was at par to Rio if it wasn't for his injuries
Nesta was at par to Rio if it wasn't for his injuries
I think he was easily the best defender of his generation (that contained Cannavaro, Thuram, Rio, Terry, Carvalho, Pyoul, Vidic amongst others). Likely the best pure CB in my lifetime (Maldini was kinda a mix between CB and LB, and Ramos might have been the overall better player considering that he scored 130 senior goals, including some extremely important ones).
He was a good defender but an even better iced tea
I’m not sure if that was me, but I have a very set opinion on this, even more so than with attackers or midfielders. Beckenbauer is the best non-attacking player of all-time and the only defensive player that has a claim in GOAT discussions. Baresi is the best pure defender that ever existed. Figueroa is someone that I rate just below them but he’s the only one who can possibly challenge them without having enough footage to back his claim.
Nesta is pretty much a perfect center back, so I can’t really blame anyone for picking himas the best ever, but in my book it’s still Beckenbauer -> Baresi (Figueroa?) -> Nesta, Scirea, Moore
I think it's set in stone for each of us - if it was you I argued this with, I said at the time that it's Nesta because: there's not a type of forward I'd put against him and say they have advantages on him from the outset.Beckenbauer - power and physical mass
Baresi - height, irrespective of his leap as there are forwards out there with a relatively spectacular one on a considerably taller frame.
Figueroa, I get, as he's the one I'd put directly up against Nesta for #1 for being just as impervious to 'types' of forward.
We can say Baresi's reading and perception of play is second to none - no dispute from me.
We can say Beckenbauer's the best non-attacking player of all-time, again, no dispute from me at all with that.
But if I want a single man to deal with any threat and not be delimited from the outset, I ain't picking either of them as the CB, but I'd have no qualms at all putting them next to Nesta or Figueroa.
My all-time xi has Beckenbauer in midfield amd I flit from Figueroa and Baresi next to Nesta on any given day.
Buttttt.... as stated these things are set in stone and nobody budges from their position, so I'm not trying to convince you otherwise, but it is Nesta!
United fans in general no just english.
I loved it when we signed Rio in 2002. I remember though during his first season because of the price tag a lot of fans were on his back!
Being from London as well meant it took him time to win over fans from up north..
then you had the missed drugs test, then talking o Chelsea in 2005....
it wasnt until 2006-07 when a majority of fans took to him tbh.
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I've always thought Rio was better than Nesta. Talk about underrated, I don't think there's been a better English CB than Rio.
Him and Cannavaro were brilliant. Maldini at left back and Buffon in goal. Perfect defensive unit. Didn't he miss 2006 world cup injured though?
Best defender I've seen play.
I on the contrary think some United fans overrate him. Rio was bloody talented but I will take Vidic 2010/11 over him anyday.
Nesta is one of the best defenders I've ever seen and sadly being forgotten slightly about instead of Cannavaro based on Cannavaro winning the Ballon d'Or in 2006.
So unlucky with injuries at tournaments for Italy - injured in 1998 knockouts, missed Italy's last 16 game against South Korea in 2002 they lost, then injured for the entire knockouts of their 2006 World Cup.
Such a pure defender for Lazio and AC Milan, good at everything you'd want a defender to be good at, closest thing in the game to him today would be Van Dijk.
So unlucky with injuries at tournaments for Italy - injured in 1998 knockouts, missed Italy's last 16 game against South Korea in 2002 they lost, then injured for the entire knockouts of their 2006 World Cup.
Such a pure defender for Lazio and AC Milan, good at everything you'd want a defender to be good at, closest thing in the game to him today would be Van Dijk.
Could not lace Rio's boots
Fair summary. Like Harms I have Baresi and Beckenbauer as the top two. Baresi because his defensive brain is unmatched where his reading of the game is a notch above everyone for me. And Beckenbauer for his ability to dominate in multiple phases of play and areas of the park. We know enough about Figueroa to put him in this company, probably not quite enough to firmly place him right at the top or the next notch down. Nesta is next on the list for me, marginally ahead of Scirea, Moore and Passarella. As you say Nesta and Figueroa are the most bulletproof, insofar as you could plonk them into any team, alongside any partners, and up against any opposition, and they’d look like a seamless fit.
Beckenbauer - power and physical mass
Baresi - height, irrespective of his leap as there are forwards out there with a relatively spectacular one on a considerably taller frame.
Figueroa, I get, as he's the one I'd put directly up against Nesta for #1 for being just as impervious to 'types' of forward.
We can say Baresi's reading and perception of play is second to none - no dispute from me.
We can say Beckenbauer's the best non-attacking player of all-time, again, no dispute from me at all with that.
But if I want a single man to deal with any threat and not be delimited from the outset, I ain't picking either of them as the CB, but I'd have no qualms at all putting them next to Nesta or Figueroa.
My all-time xi has Beckenbauer in midfield amd I flit from Figueroa and Baresi next to Nesta on any given day.
Buttttt.... as stated these things are set in stone and nobody budges from their position, so I'm not trying to convince you otherwise, but it is Nesta!
He really was an incredible player.
I was lucky enough to see him live vs Barca in the CL and he was just class. His reading of the game was unmatched and was just a smooth silky operator. Loved him as a player.
The only black mark against him is his injury problems and it effecting the amount of games he played. If he played more, I’d have him above Rio (but as Rio had a career at the top for a lot longer, I’d have him just below).
The only black mark against him is his injury problems and it effecting the amount of games he played. If he played more, I’d have him above Rio (but as Rio had a career at the top for a lot longer, I’d have him just below).
Best CB I’ve seen in my life, comfortably.
I never saw Beckenbauer or Baresi but at least since I started watching football (in the mid 90s), Nesta has to be the number 1. Cannavaro was actually a great defender but that WC boosted the perception that people have of him.
Puyol probably finishes my top 3.
Since the mid 90s - Nesta > Puyol > Cannavaro would be my top picks.
Puyol probably finishes my top 3.
Since the mid 90s - Nesta > Puyol > Cannavaro would be my top picks.
Rio 07/08 vs Vidic 08/09 or 10/11? Splitting hairs at that point.
Go away, we're talking about actual defenders here, not "great players who happened to play at CB"
Don't forget Rio fully power-blasting a ball into the face of a harmless old woman at Old Trafford.
Looks, elegance, anticipation, intelligence, tackles, command... he was complete. I think Sir Alex once said of him something like, even alone in defence he can do the job.
I remember One of those AC Milan Vs Barcelona games around 2005 or 2006 or maybe it was 2007 i think, it was played at the San Siro, Milan wore their traditional color, while Barca with Ronaldinho and Co wore a lemon away Jersey, there's this Scene in the game which would tell anyone whocares to know what Nesta is all about.
Since i can't post Media, I'll go through the painful exercise of trying to paint the picture in words, Ronaldinho was running the show with dribbling and fancy skills on the Night, there was a point he lobbed over Gattuso, Pirlo then Gattuso again before trying to lop pass Nesta, Nesta quickly block off the space Ronaldinho intended to run to after the lob, before doing a Scorpion kick on the ball back into an area Ronaldinho shouldn't have reached, but Ronaldinho was at his best then he somehow improvised a pass doing his own Scorpion kick towards Eto but he blaze his shot over the bar. Anyone who recalls this moment please do share the video it was an amazing peice of Attack verses defending.
Since i can't post Media, I'll go through the painful exercise of trying to paint the picture in words, Ronaldinho was running the show with dribbling and fancy skills on the Night, there was a point he lobbed over Gattuso, Pirlo then Gattuso again before trying to lop pass Nesta, Nesta quickly block off the space Ronaldinho intended to run to after the lob, before doing a Scorpion kick on the ball back into an area Ronaldinho shouldn't have reached, but Ronaldinho was at his best then he somehow improvised a pass doing his own Scorpion kick towards Eto but he blaze his shot over the bar. Anyone who recalls this moment please do share the video it was an amazing peice of Attack verses defending.
Easily the best defender in the world during his era. If I were to choose the best XI I’ve ever seen, he would be there.
oh yay such an iconic nugget of play
here at 2:37
(match was Milan Barca 0-1, 05/06 CL semi first leg. Jaw dropping Ronaldinho assist for Barca goal also in that game)
TSK TSK - for your information, watching Bramble and Boumsong as a partnership was probably one of the highlights of the P.L-era. No matter how boring the game was, how poor the opponent was - you knew there was a moment of madness coming.
Rio is my favourite player of all time.
Nesta was marginally better.
Nesta was marginally better.
One of the 5 best "pure" defenders of his era(Maldini, Stam, Rio and Thiago Silva are the others)
I'd take VVD and Ramos over him though
I'd take VVD and Ramos over him though
Rio was brilliant, he was the perfect pairing for Vidic, but Nesta was both of them rolled into one.