I wanted to make a big topic where I would first present a whole bunch of players and then pick out the top 10 but instead I'm just going with my own top 3 and hopefully it works well.

Top 3 in no particular order

Ricardo Carvalho

2004-2010 Chelsea (210 appearances in all competitions)

Titles:

Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10

Football League Cup: 2004–05, 2006–07

FA Community Shield: 2005, 2009

Individual awards*:

UEFA Team of the Year: 2004

Chelsea Players' Player of the Year: 2008

He was one of the key players during the 2004/05 season where Chelsea conceded only 15 goals in 38 games.

 

 

 

Nemanja Vidić

2006-2014 Manchester United (300 appearances in all competitions)

Titles:

Premier League: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13

Football League Cup: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10

FA Community Shield: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013

UEFA Champions League: 2007–08

FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

 

Individual awards*:

PFA Team of the Year: 2006–07 Premier League, 2007–08 Premier League, 2008–09 Premier League, 2010–11 Premier League

Premier League Player of the Season: 2008–09, 2010–11

Premier League 20 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2011–12)

Fantasy Teams of the 20 Seasons (Public choice)

Premier League Player of the Month: January 2009

Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2008–09

Manchester United Players' Player of the Year: 2008–09

ESM Team of the Year: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11

 

 

John Terry

1998-2017 Chelsea (717 appearances in all competitions)
2017-2018 Aston Villa (36 appearances in all competitions)

 

Titles:

Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17

FA Cup: 1999–2000, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12; runner-up: 2001–02, 2016–17

Football League Cup: 2004–05, 2006–07, 2014–15; runner-up: 2007–08

FA Community Shield: 2005, 2009

UEFA Champions League: 2011–12; runner-up: 2007–08

UEFA Europa League: 2012–13

Individual awards*:

Chelsea Player of the Year: 2000–01, 2005–06

Premier League Player of the Month: January 2005

Alan Hardaker Trophy: 2005, 2015

PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2004–05

PFA Team of the Year: 2003–04 Premier League, 2004–05 Premier League, 2005–06 Premier League, 2014–15 Premier League

FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07,2007–08, 2008–09

ESM Team of the Year: 2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10

UEFA Club Defender of the Year: 2005, 2008, 2009

UEFA Team of the Year: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009

FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006

PFA Team of the Century (1997–2007😞 2007

*I didn't take in count all individual awards, I don't care about some Fifa awards and domestic awards such as Portuguese/Serbia federations awards and so on. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 20206 yr by Gol15

Vidic is no. 1 in my book, with JT no. 2.  No. 3 is a tough one: Rio, Ashley ?

as to Carvalho, I never saw a defender physically grab players in the box on corners like he did. I kept thinking if the ref would only just focus on him, we would get a penalty called against us every time.  Don’t think he was ever caught though, so perhaps I don’t give him enough credit for being able to hide his antics from the ref.  That and the way he would always go straight in with his tackles, and I kept thinking red card here we come.

So No, in my book Carvalho is nowhere near the top three.

 

Carvalho worked well in partnership with JT I thought. He also did well at Madrid and also with Portugal. Certainly under consideration but agree not sure he is top 3. I'd probably have Desailly ahead of him as a Chelsea CB from the PL era tbh.

For me Terry is very hard to go past. For a guy never blessed with great pace he always knew where to be, his ability to marshall others is another thing that he was just superb at. Cahill, Luiz and Alex all looked better players next to him. 

Will always be a shame for me that we lost the only European final he played in. Lesson forever is check your boots before a pen!

JT, who else?

JT and Carvalho. After that they're all almost equally the same level just with different characteristics

Edited May 3, 20206 yr by Deino

17 hours ago, Phillip said:

Vidic is no. 1 in my book, with JT no. 2.  No. 3 is a tough one: Rio, Ashley ?

as to Carvalho, I never saw a defender physically grab players in the box on corners like he did. I kept thinking if the ref would only just focus on him, we would get a penalty called against us every time.  Don’t think he was ever caught though, so perhaps I don’t give him enough credit for being able to hide his antics from the ref.  That and the way he would always go straight in with his tackles, and I kept thinking red card here we come.

So No, in my book Carvalho is nowhere near the top three.

 

Not sure if Vidic was even United's best defender, Japp Stam? Even Fergie said he made a mistake letting him go to early, as for best defender JT for everything he bought to a team. 

This is a trick question isn't it ?  Surely everyone knows the best defender ever is Virgil van Dijk ?

18 hours ago, Phillip said:

Vidic is no. 1 in my book, with JT no. 2.  No. 3 is a tough one: Rio, Ashley ?

as to Carvalho, I never saw a defender physically grab players in the box on corners like he did. I kept thinking if the ref would only just focus on him, we would get a penalty called against us every time.  Don’t think he was ever caught though, so perhaps I don’t give him enough credit for being able to hide his antics from the ref.  That and the way he would always go straight in with his tackles, and I kept thinking red card here we come.

So No, in my book Carvalho is nowhere near the top three.

 

Well, Vidic is the only defender in history of the Premier league that had been the player of the season more than once, when taking in count pure defending he's probably the best.
But he was the captain of his team maybe for what, 1-2 seasons? He was good in that 1 system and for that 1 man, Sir Ferguson.

JT was a natural captain that could perform under so many managers and over a much longer time period, Vidic spent a significant amount of time in his last few years in the PL being injured. Even if JT was slightly behind when it came down to chasing down an attacker in comparison to Vidic, he was a much better passer and much better at positioning himself.

I believe that a good argument can be made for Ashley Cole, he was a big part of that "untouchable" Arsenal that never lost a game and for us he was nearly flawless at some point.

 

6 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

This is a trick question isn't it ?  Surely everyone knows the best defender ever is Virgil van Dijk ?

One of the main reasons why I wanted to make this topic is because of this!

Terry is clearly number 1 for me. Usually defenders, especially CB's, don't start becoming world class until their late 20's, Terry was already world class in his early 20's and kept on getting better for the next 10 years. He didn't have much pace, but he made up for it with his positioning, stength and ability to read the game. He could pass, score important goals and would never shy away from putting him body on the line if it meant we could win a game of football. Terry also proved the importance of having a strong captain, you'll never find a better one. Terry is a once in a lifetime player, we'll never see another CB as good as he was play for us again.

Absolutely agree with you - it´s the one and only JT, and, by the way, pace is only important, when your positioning is subpar.

21 hours ago, Phillip said:

as to Carvalho, I never saw a defender physically grab players in the box on corners like he did. I kept thinking if the ref would only just focus on him, we would get a penalty called against us every time.  Don’t think he was ever caught though, so perhaps I don’t give him enough credit for being able to hide his antics from the ref.  That and the way he would always go straight in with his tackles, and I kept thinking red card here we come.

So No, in my book Carvalho is nowhere near the top three.

I agree with you on Carvalho I also expected us to concede penalties too.

Besides JT thought Vidic was good and also Ruddock.

 

 

5 hours ago, nominator said:

JT, who else?

Saves me saying it !

Ashley Cole second

Third, Vidic, Rio, Gary Neville ?

 

John Terry was a superb central defender all round. Jaap Stam hasn't been mentioned but he was rightly called the one-man defence and I would pick him ahead of Vidic.

You´re right - JS was a superb defender and one of the greatest of all times.

 I know he was Liverpool, but I rated Jamie Carracher as a defender.

There said it !

Edited May 3, 20206 yr by erskblue

Ashley Cole and JT have to be the first names on any 'best defender' list.

Such a shame Gallas ruined his legacy with us by playing for Arsenal and Tottenham - at his best he was something else (and part of the Premier League's best-ever defence).

No doubt that van Dijk has been awesome since he signed for Liverpool (and was very good at Southampton too) - I think he still has more to do before he can be considered though.

As for the third there are plenty of candidates: Vidic, Adams, Campbell. Hyypia was another player I always rated very highly but who I feel is underappreciated by history. I suppose he is tarnished somewhat by never having won the title. Normally in this type of thread, someone (usually @Liam) comes in and inists that Paul McGrath was the best defender they ever saw.

23 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

Normally in this type of thread, someone (usually @Liam) comes in and insists that Paul McGrath was the best defender they ever saw.

It could have been worse ... they could have said Ledley King !

When JT retired Carragher wrote an article in which he thought him to be the greatest defender in PL History. ( Carragher himself was decent and would have had scores more caps if JT hadn’t kept him out)

In one of Peter Crouch book he mentioned he was very cute in buttering up refs in the tunnel- calling them by their first names, asking how family was etc

15 hours ago, Stretford Ender said:

John Terry was a superb central defender all round. Jaap Stam hasn't been mentioned but he was rightly called the one-man defence and I would pick him ahead of Vidic.

Hoped you would give your opinion on this Stretford, I did mention earlier I thought Stamp was potentially Utd best defender and Fergie regretted selling him

On 02/05/2020 at 20:13, Phillip said:

Vidic is no. 1 in my book, with JT no. 2.  No. 3 is a tough one: Rio, Ashley ?

as to Carvalho, I never saw a defender physically grab players in the box on corners like he did. I kept thinking if the ref would only just focus on him, we would get a penalty called against us every time.  Don’t think he was ever caught though, so perhaps I don’t give him enough credit for being able to hide his antics from the ref.  That and the way he would always go straight in with his tackles, and I kept thinking red card here we come.

So No, in my book Carvalho is nowhere near the top three.

 

Vidic wasn't even Utd's best ever CB. As for better than JT? No chance. 

JT will forever be number 1.

My view is that, while they were all top defenders and organisers whose commitment could never be faulted, Stam, Vidic and Carjacker were not in JT's league as footballers. JT was the ultimate defender in terms of reading of the game, positioning, toughness, commitment, aerial ability, composure, touch, chest control, two-footedness and passing ability. Throw in his trophies, disciplinary record (very few red cards and suspensions, given the number of games he played) and unequalled goal-scoring, and there is noone to touch him. 

Apart from VvD obviously.

On 03/05/2020 at 13:33, erskblue said:

 I know he was Liverpool, but I rated Jamie Carracher as a defender.

There said it !

He was brilliant. Scored twice for us at Anfield once.

What is it with Liverpool lads. Their voice is very high pitched and the way they talk is just doesn't sound very intelligent... Carragher being on television for those reasons is weird for me.

JT for me.