Nesta

[LeTallecWiz]

Despite injuries, he was always one of the best CBs out there. Watching him today, in his mid 30s, he's still quite dominant. Still reads the game well, still has his pace, still dominant in the air ... Where does he rank amongst the best of in the last 20 years?

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Didn't mean for that jinx! 🙂

 

[dmishra]

Despite injuries, he was always one of the best CBs out there. Watching him today, in his mid 30s, he's still quite dominant. Still reads the game well, still has his pace, still dominant in the air ... Where does he rank amongst the best of in the last 20 years?

Behind Sami.

 

[Le Chacal]

Italian defenders will never change their bad habits of shirt-grabbing on every corner

 

[Oncy]

One of the best mate. I love Nesta.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Behind Sami.

I love Sami (Dunno if as much as you), but Nesta in his pomp was just phenomenal. You couldn't beat him for pace (you could Sami), or strength, or anything.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Italian defenders will never change their bad habits of shirt-grabbing on every corner

Never realized Skrtel was Italian! 🙂

 

[Le Chacal]

Oh No one will ever reach italian level in that department.
I'd love to see refs giving penaltys every week for that offense. That might force players to stop and avoid the controversy.
I'd like to read the italian press tomorow if they're out because of this penalty

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Let's discuss the subject (Nesta) and talk about shirt pulling on another thread.

 

[Le Chacal]

Ha! sorry LTW and Nesta 😉

 

[Judge Jules]

I love Sami (Dunno if as much as you), but Nesta in his pomp was just phenomenal. You couldn't beat him for pace (you could Sami), or strength, or anything.

When he tried to push Milan Baros out of the way to run into the area after Xabi had originally missed his peno in Istanbul, Baros held him back long enough for Xabi to get to the ball and smash it in. Do you think Baros would have been able to hold Sami back? Nesta at his best was a tremendous player, but Sami was at least as good. Obv.Nesta was quicker, but Sami was stronger, better in the air, better at long passes and more of a goal threat.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Jules - That would be like me saying, "Do you remember the many days Drogba absolutely hammered Sami as if he was Phil Babb?" I never remember that happening to Nesta on any level. I don't like the idea of this going down into a Sami vs Nesta debate, but the only fans I ever hear rating Sami as if he was 'the best' are our fans.

 

[Fabio]

Nesta is a legend of the game

Sami, a legend of the club.

Perhaps it's the world cups and consistent CL performances, the world hold Nesta in higher regard

 

[Judge Jules]

Jules - That would be like me saying, "Do you remember the many days Drogba absolutely hammered Sami as if he was Phil Babb?" I never remember that happening to Nesta on any level. I don't like the idea of this going down into a Sami vs Nesta debate, but the only fans I ever hear rating Sami as if he was 'the best' are our fans.

"Many days" my giddy aunt. I remember one day and one only, when Sami was ill. And where was Nesta during the Six Crazy Minutes?

 

[Judge Jules]

Nesta is a legend of the game

Sami, a legend of the club.

Perhaps it's the world cups and consistent CL performances, the world hold Nesta in higher regard

That's if they do. I'd be interested in seeing some evidence for that proposition.

 

[Fabio]

That's if they do. I'd be interested in seeing some evidence for that proposition.

Purely based on things I've read of course . Sami gets little recognition from outside our fandom.

 

[Judge Jules]

Bully for them, Fabs. I've explained why I don't think that view stands up, however many hold it.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

"Many days" my giddy aunt. I remember one day and one only, when Sami was ill. And where was Nesta during the Six Crazy Minutes?

This is becoming a bit silly - where was Sami when Kaka and Crespo were tearing us a new one in the first 45 minutes?

Fabio sums it up nicely, and fairly, though.

 

[Markeh]

I don't think Sami would have committed that stupid foul tonight, just when his team had got back in the game. Nesta should feel a little embarrassed about that.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I don't think Sami, at 36, would have been able to play as well as Nesta did tonight ... Think about it ... Nesta at 36 is playing for one of the top teams in Europe, starting every game when healthy ... Sami was going on a free to Bayer Leverkusen ... This debate is getting a wee bit silly ... That being said, Sami is a club legend, one of our best ever .

 

[LeTallecWiz]

His honors (as per wiki):

• Serie A Young Footballer of the Year: 1998
• Serie A Defender of the Year: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
• UEFA Club Football Awards Best Defender: 2003
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2000
• FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2007
• FIFA 100 (ha ha - remember this list? With Spit!!!)

Sami (as per Wiki):

• UEFA Team of the Year selection: 2001[40]
• Premier League Player of the Month: November 1999[41]
• Goal.com Central Defender of the Decade: December 2009[42]
• Goal.com Team of the Decade selection: December 2009[42]
• Soccer Aid Winner – 2010

 

[Judge Jules]

I don't think Sami, at 36, would have been able to play as well as Nesta did tonight ... Think about it ... Nesta at 36 is playing for one of the top teams in Europe, starting every game when healthy ... Sami was going on a free to Bayer Leverkusen ... This debate is getting a wee bit silly ... That being said, Sami is a club legend, one of our best ever .

Sami's departure on a free was one of too many poor decisions by a manager losing the plot.

But hey, put two Jews together and you get half a dozen points of view. 😉

 

[Markeh]

He still cost his side a goal, which occurred at the worst possible moment. The third goal he also annoyed me by looking round at the linesman when he possibly could have done more.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Wasn't the decision partially because Sami (rightfully) believed he could play more games? We shouldn't have let him go, but the club went with Skrtel and Agger ... I hope he comes back to coach.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

He still cost his side a goal, which occurred at the worst possible moment. The third goal he also annoyed me by looking round at the linesman when he possibly could have done more.

That was Abate no? Abate actually stopped, raised his hand and then got close to Iniesta. Had he not stopped, he probably could have given Barca another penalty! 😀

 

[Markeh]

That was Abate no? Abate actually stopped, raised his hand and then got close to Iniesta. Had he not stopped, he probably could have given Barca another penalty! 😀

It wasn't Abate I was thinking of. I'm probably being super critical of Nesta, he looked round for the offside right at the moment when he could have maybe slid in or done something although it might have been too much to ask.

Those two really lazy traits annoyed me about him tonight because I really wanted Barca out. Shirt pulling instead of doing it right and not playing to the whistle, it's shit you teach 12 year olds. He played well aside from that.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

The only team, I think, that can knock Barca out are Madrid. Milan really had no chance ... 3-1 flattered them - though if they were more 'on' offensively (a lot of bad passes), they may have made it more exciting.

 

[Markeh]

The only team, I think, that can knock Barca out are Madrid. Milan really had no chance ... 3-1 flattered them - though if they were more 'on' offensively (a lot of bad passes), they may have made it more exciting.

Yea they were very nervous and scrappy in possession. Alonso v Mascherano... come on Xabi😀

 

[aquaman4]

Always thought Nesta was better than Cannavaro but Baresi was the the perfect sweeper second to the kaiser Franz Beckenbawer.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Baresi was phenomenal ... That Milan defense of him, Billy Costacorta, Tassotti and Maldini was just amazing