Nesta

[aquaman4]

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

Italian Defenders were the best in the 80's remember Claudio Gentile vrs Maradona in the world cup .Catenaccio employed when teams go 1--0 up was perfected by the italian defenders .

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I honestly don't remember the 80s! I knew players etc, but rarely watched anything! 🙁

 

[Judge Jules]

On Beckenbauer, I always thought he was a better footballer than he was a defender. Baresi would certainly get in my side ahead of him in/behind the back four, though I might well have Beckenbauer patrolling in front of it. Another very fine Italian defender was Scirea.

 

[spider-Neil]

shoot me down in flames but I really rate pique and puyol because they are a big reason how barca are able play the way they do.
they defend so high up the pitch that barca are able to despatch 3 players to win the ball when they lose it. maybe I'm being optimistic but I think agger and skrtel will allow us to use our defensive line in the exact same manner.

 

[Judge Jules]

No fire from this quarter, neil. I think you're definitely on to something regarding Puyol and Pique, and I hope you're right about Skrtel and Agger too.

 

[Le Chacal]

Iniesta is the key player at Barca..
How he didnt get the Ballon d'Or in 2010 is just a scandal

 

[LeTallecWiz]

It's not really scandalous when you think he only scored 1 goal in 42 games (09/10) and 9 goals in 50 games (10/11) while Messi/Ronaldo were hitting 40+

 

[Judge Jules]

I'd agree with that if it were the Golden Boot we were talking about, but for the Ballon D'Or there shouldn't be such a concentration on goalscoring IMHO. Perhaps "scandal" is pushing it a bit, but overall I'd have awarded it to Iniesta that season as well.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

He wasn't the best player on his club or int'l team ... so while he was an important cog of both, he wasn't worthy of Ballon D'Or imo.

 

[Le Chacal]

He scored the winner for Spain in the WC final.
They gave it to Cannavaro 4 years earlier ffs.
Iniesta is a phenomenal player

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Where did I say he wasn't a phenomenal player?

Cannavaro had just left Juve as one of the top players in the world - he was captaining Italy ...

 

[Le Chacal]

Iniesta should have won the Ballon d'Or in 2010. He was the best Spain player in the WC and scored the winner in the final. They always used to give it to the best player of the WC winning side.
If not him, Sneijder or Xavi, but defintely not Messi.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Iniesta should have won the Ballon d'Or in 2010. He was the best Spain player in the WC and scored the winner in the final. They always used to give it to the best player of the WC winning side.
If not him, Sneijder or Xavi, but defintely not Messi.

I don't think Messi deserved it ... I think it should have been Xavi - he was Barca & Spain's engine

 

[keniget]

I didnt think Nesta was that great the other night. He looks a bit knackered now.

Milan defended reasonably well as a team but over the two legs I believe flattered by a Barca who were nowhere near their best.