Who is the best central defender at the World Cup? With goals galore in Brazil, defending is (thankfully) not the defining aspect of the current tournament, but Liverpool legend Alan Hansen insists that Belgium's Vincent Kompany is the World Cup's 'outstanding' defender.
In his column for The Telegraph today, Hansen bemoans the 'dearth of top-class central defenders' at the World Cup, and makes a bold claim about Kompany's transfer value. He observes:
"If I was a Premier League manager with £100 million to spend, I would probably spend it all on Vincent Kompany.
"City are so fortunate to have Kompany, because there are very few world-class defenders around at the moment."
£100m? Kompany is an excellent player, but I doubt that any club will ever pay £100m for a defender. At £50m, ex-Chelsea star David Luiz is (inexplicably) the world's most expensive defender, and that fee is cheap compared to the big bucks clubs are willing to splurge on attackers.
That's not to say that Kompany isn't worth a massive transfer fee. He is a superb player, and a great leader; a real man, unlike the legion of preening ladyboys who populate top-flight football these days. If Mamdou Sakho is worth £18m, then Kompany is arguably worth at least three times that.
This is not the first time Hansen has lavished praise on Kompany. Last season, he raved:
"Make no mistake, at £6 million, Vincent Kompany is arguably the best transfer market buy of all time [and] he has shown why he is on course to become the best defender of the Premier League era".
The best transfer buy of all time? I'm sure even Man City fans would have trouble accepting that. As for being the best defender of the Premier League era - Kompany could definitely go on to reach that level, but he first needs to consistently prove himself in the Champions League.
To be honest, I've never heard Hansen rave about a Liverpool defender in this manner, and in the Premier League era, there's one Liverpool defender who deserves the same level of praise, and that is Sami Hyypia.
The big Finn is the greatest defender I've seen in my lifetime, but despite ten years of consistently excellent performances, he remains criminally underrated, and rarely features in the discussion of the Premier League's best ever central defenders.
From the league to the Champions League, Hyypia proved his class in every competition, and if Kompany can maintain his form at the highest level for ten years, then and only then will he be on the same level.
That said, if Liverpool had Kompany last season, the Premier League trophy would almost certainly be nestling in the Anfield trophy cabinet right now.
Author: Jaimie K
In his column for The Telegraph today, Hansen bemoans the 'dearth of top-class central defenders' at the World Cup, and makes a bold claim about Kompany's transfer value. He observes:
"If I was a Premier League manager with £100 million to spend, I would probably spend it all on Vincent Kompany.
"City are so fortunate to have Kompany, because there are very few world-class defenders around at the moment."
£100m? Kompany is an excellent player, but I doubt that any club will ever pay £100m for a defender. At £50m, ex-Chelsea star David Luiz is (inexplicably) the world's most expensive defender, and that fee is cheap compared to the big bucks clubs are willing to splurge on attackers.
That's not to say that Kompany isn't worth a massive transfer fee. He is a superb player, and a great leader; a real man, unlike the legion of preening ladyboys who populate top-flight football these days. If Mamdou Sakho is worth £18m, then Kompany is arguably worth at least three times that.
This is not the first time Hansen has lavished praise on Kompany. Last season, he raved:
"Make no mistake, at £6 million, Vincent Kompany is arguably the best transfer market buy of all time [and] he has shown why he is on course to become the best defender of the Premier League era".
The best transfer buy of all time? I'm sure even Man City fans would have trouble accepting that. As for being the best defender of the Premier League era - Kompany could definitely go on to reach that level, but he first needs to consistently prove himself in the Champions League.
To be honest, I've never heard Hansen rave about a Liverpool defender in this manner, and in the Premier League era, there's one Liverpool defender who deserves the same level of praise, and that is Sami Hyypia.
The big Finn is the greatest defender I've seen in my lifetime, but despite ten years of consistently excellent performances, he remains criminally underrated, and rarely features in the discussion of the Premier League's best ever central defenders.
From the league to the Champions League, Hyypia proved his class in every competition, and if Kompany can maintain his form at the highest level for ten years, then and only then will he be on the same level.
That said, if Liverpool had Kompany last season, the Premier League trophy would almost certainly be nestling in the Anfield trophy cabinet right now.
online survey
Author: Jaimie K
david luiz is the most expensive, cost 50 mill.. if thats the case kompany is well worth 100!
ReplyDeleteYeah, you're right. I forgot about that one.
ReplyDeleteSurprised that Tony Adams is not leading the vote.
ReplyDeleteJaimie what do you think of Sakho's World Cup so far ? He's a fan favourite here in France and Deschamps and the players see him as one of the leaders of the squad,
ReplyDeleteI think Sakho looks better for France because the pace of international football is slower. It's more akin to Ligue 1, which is leisurely compared to the Premier League.
ReplyDeleteIn a frenetic, fast-paced environment, Sakho is not as assured, and if you put him under intense pressure, he crumbles.
Jamie what are your views of Robben's admittance that he "dived"?
ReplyDeleteI think it's appalling and FIFA need to punish him and make that the precedence worldwide. It needs to be consistent across the border.
There should be bans for diving. If a player dives and the ref spots it he should get a yellow card and come off for 15 mins.
This makes me so mad. I don't care if you play for Liverpool or not, players need to stop diving.
Totally agree. It's a disgrace, and Robben should be retrospectively banned. He's admitted diving, so there's no excuse not to take action.
ReplyDeletePS Kompany is indeed a great defender. I think Terry in him pomp was the the best. Aldo Ferdinand and Hyppia and Carra.
ReplyDeleteAdams etc...were just that tad before my time.
Last season was Sakho's first season in the Premier League he'd obviously need time to adapt and being often injured in the process and having not spending preseason with the squad surely doesn't help. I'm certain we'll see a much better defender next season.
ReplyDeleteOn top of that, if he keeps on performing well as France progress, I don't see why he wouldn't be able to perform at the same level in the PL. After all the WC is the highest level of the game, isn't it ? All of Englands players are world beaters in this frenetic, fast-paced environnement (PL) yet looked like fools in the World Cup.
Even
ReplyDeleteIt is so darn unfair to Jamie Carragher to include him in that list. I demand a separate poll to vote for The Hoofer The Game Has Ever Witnessed!
ReplyDeleteRubbish.
ReplyDeleteHe might not have had too much quality but he tried really hard and was a committed player. It's a little harsh to say he was rubbish.
ReplyDeleteI thought word Hoofer is used for a player just kicking the ball out, a player with no real quality(IS IT?). So I think that Rob's comment is rubbish.
ReplyDeleteNot a native speaker...
Hard to disagree with that. My son (impressionable lad) thinks Suarez's full name is Luis-Suarez-Who-Racially-Abused-Manchester-United's-Patrice-Evra-In-2011.
ReplyDeleteI honestly think the media are one step away from calling for the player's forehead to be branded with a scarlet letter R, and for his jaw to be wired shut.
Yes that is what is meant by hoofer and it probably is a bit unfair.
ReplyDeleteI doubt though if there is any where else other than this website in the entire universe where JC would be considered among the top 3 premiership defenders
He probably is not, but he helped us as much as Maldini helped AC Milan. Did us a bit more harm, but still- a great player he was.
ReplyDeleteHe'll do his penance and play. An effective appeal may reduce the ban. The US team has had two players receive broken noses from an intentional elbow and a high boot. The entire Italian teams dives with regularity and over the top drama. It is counter-productive to hold one foul to such a standard as to hold a player back for so long. Chiellini was right to say the ban was too harsh. He just wanted a standard red card and accompanying one match ban. Suarez came close to losing a couple of teeth from Chiellini's reactive elbow...which would have been apropo. Can't bite with no teeth.
ReplyDeleteThe drama of the silly season is in full swing. I hear Sanchez is a done deal, Sanchez prefers a move to the Emirates, and Sanchez wants to fight for his place at Barcelona. Dizzying, really.
ReplyDeleteAgree with everything you said. But I am saying can we keep him not thinking about wheather he will contribute enough next season or not becouse I KNOW HE WOULD, I just think he doesn9t deserve our shirt anymore...
ReplyDeleteIt is ridicilous, and we all know it. Yet all of us will continue to read everything we can find on all the players we allegedly want untill the window closes. And than we will start with the winter window...
ReplyDelete'described by Per Mertesaker as...'
ReplyDeleteReally Jaimie, sometimes you use quotes that don't mean that much.. You could use DerBaumMann- it would mean more... Even me...
True. Every summer I follow all reports, get frustrated, and vow to not pay attention next summer. Next summer comes around and I do the exact same thing.
ReplyDeleteHere's what I find curious. Fans believe what they don't want to hear, but don't believe what they do want to hear. E.g, 'Sanchez to Liverpool done deal'- "Believe it when I see it! More made up stories!"
ReplyDelete'Sanchez wants Arsenal move'-"Farout! Come on Ayre! What's happening!?"
We smashed the f**kers 5-1 ;)
ReplyDeleteNo, Luis is a unique element of morals in his own right. There's the bad, the ugly, and the suarez.
ReplyDeleteRicardo Carvalho
ReplyDeleteHansen is wrong to sat MCFC are lucky to have him. He came as a midfielder as CITY developed him into the player he is today. Typical scouse always moaning. Lmfao
ReplyDeleteBiting is no more socially unacceptable than breaking someone's leg. I'm pretty sure I would know what you would like me to do to you if you had to choose. What should be the punishment? How many games do other players get the third time they get a red card for violent conduct?
ReplyDeleteHahaha. Good one.
ReplyDeleteWell he apologized to Ivanovic within hours - and I believe it was sincere. He must know he's done wrong.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there will be a statement, possibly get Chielini to acknowledge it, done and dusted.
I've read the article and Lawro says that "it looks like they will sign Lovren in the next few days", this is massive news, I haven't seen any other article out there that comes close to this assertion and it's reasonable to assume that Lawro might have some info that we don't have. Can anybody else shed some light?
ReplyDeleteBreaking someone's leg is socially unacceptable if you set out to do it deliberately. It is though very difficult to prove intent with a tackle or other foul play - less so for a bite. And whilst a bad tackle could theoretically break someone's leg very few actually do and therefore you cannot punish a badly timed tackle on the same basis as you would for someone deliberately breaking someone's leg.
ReplyDeleteI still don't know whether you would just let off a serial biter with a warning or how long any ban should be for someone who continues to bite and pretends it was an accident. You have to have some rules and some sanctions otherwise there is no point having rules.
Why do you say he MUST know he's done wrong when so far he has claimed it was an accident and everyone else around him has defended him and claimed he is being hounded. That is to say nothing of the President's comments. Not the sort of backdrop that would have me believing in the sincerity of any apology.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe Jaap Stam only got 7%. He was my choice. Kompany is the best defender in the world right now IMO. I love Hypia as much as the next Liverpool fan and whilst he was an excellent defender he was nothing like as good as kompany is on the ball. Sami alas, had very few tricks or turns in his locker the way kompany does
ReplyDeleteJohn Cross can kiss my hairy arse
ReplyDeleteThe presidents comments that followed after the sound bite of "old sons of bitches" were - "give him a sanction, but not a fascist sanction".
ReplyDeleteLugano's comments were - he "commited a crime - but the punishment is too much" something like that.
The incident, and the fact that it is wrong isn't being denied. It's the punishment.
But I guess it is hard to read past a headline...
After the bite incident, it has made me think, and I feel that too many of is are in this bubble where we cannot see past suarez's awesome ability, is he the type of player we want at LFC? He dives, on three occasions has bit an opponent, and racially abused a player. Now if we are to win the league (or anything else for that matter) we want to do it right and proper and show everyone the "Liverpool Way". It is time for suarez to go...
ReplyDeleteYes, just keep making excuses. The behaviour of Suarez, Lugano, and the President of Uruguay is an utter disgrace, and an embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteB Rodgers should tell Barcelona and Real Madrid that L Suarez(27) will not be sold for no less than 85M.
ReplyDeleteB Rodgers should say he wants A Sanchez(25) and Pedro(26) and 40M Cash
B Rodgers should then add 25M to the 40m and bring in these three class quality signings: DM CM FD
1: DM: B Matuidi(27) Of PSG for 10-16M
2: CM: T Alacantra(23) Of Bayern Munich for 23-33M
FD: L Muriel(24) Of Udinese for 12-16M
If we are too sell and ship out L Suarez(27) as long as we replace him with some world class and class players.
As 5 years plus ago we finished 2nd, then sold Alonso, Mascherano and Torres when they were all at their peak and replaced them with poor average players.
And 5 years plus on the class quality centre midfield of Alonso and Mascherano has not been replaced.
B Matuidi(27) and T Alacantra(23) would change that.
The 'apology' just highlights the fact that Suarez lied to FIFA about what he did.
ReplyDeleteAmazing a totally complimentary piece by Hansen about one of your players and you manage to find fault. Nevertheless I will also pay a compliment at the risk of having it thrown back at me too.
ReplyDeleteIt is refreshing to see Man City's player development programme working so well. It would be all to easy to follow the path of other clubs with rich owners using their ill gotten gains to simply buy up the best mercenaries.
David Luiz's own manager didn't really consider him a defender.
ReplyDeleteGary Neville still had the best comment: "He plays like he's being controlled by a 10 year old on a Playstation"
I can remember when they called themselves "the gunners" - i must be getting old.
ReplyDeleteFor me it's hard to chose and I'd almost have to separate them into two generational columns. From the old guard it has to be Tony Adam for me. He's the type of player you want next to you in the trenches. Tough tackler, great in the air, and you know that Arsenal back four played every game as hard as they could because they were more frightened of Adams than the gaffer! - most importantly, he was unbelievably consistent.
ReplyDeleteAs for recent defenders, as much of a shite he is, Terry is hands down the best....simply the total package as a defender. Will get you 4 or so goals a season, marshals the defence well, and gets stuck in with the best of them. He's a cut above the rest although I do think Kompany is on the right track to seriously compete for that title if he can replicate this last season a couple more years.
Fun Facts: Since the 01'-02' season, Chelsea have only been out of the top 3 teams with the least goals conceded at the end of the season twice...one of those they were 4th - Terry became a regular first team player the season prior and will probably break the all time scoring record for a defender, most impressively, without taking penalties for Chelsea.
I can only repeat what I said after the Ivanesevic incident:
ReplyDeleteTo be fair I have read the fulsome apology from an obviously severely chastened and sincere Luis Suarez and have to say it brought a tear to my eye. I am confident he will never anything like that again.
By me saying this, I am not condoning or trying to lessen the bad nature of Suarez's actions...
ReplyDeleteHowever, I believe that Robben's actions in yesterday's game (particularly at the end) had a more severe impact on the outcome of the game than Suarez's bite did.
In that sense, in my opinion, FIFA should deal just as harshly with the dive (and he tried multiple times) as they did with Suarez's actions.
FIFA did a great job of ensuring that anyone who bites a fellow player is going to feel the wrath, and it's going to eradicate the action from the game.
If FIFA is that adamant about dealing with diving and trying to get rid of it as well, they should deal with it harshly.
I thought skertel had his moments. Pepe is a brute.
ReplyDeleteFor me one of the Premier leagues best defenders is not on the list. Aside from Hyppia, Ledley King was a brilliant player. It was a shame injury blighted he's career.
ReplyDeleteWell you don't really need to break someone's leg to be on par do you? Chiellini could play on with his bite so it's hardly serious assault. It's not because something is weird or different to what we've grown accustomed to that's it's automatically worse.
ReplyDeleteHe has finally listened to his advisers who have issued a carefully worded statement regarding his involvement …… too much of a coward to fess up and make a proper apology for HIS actions just admitting that 'Chiellini suffered the physical result of a bite in the collision he suffered with me ‘
ReplyDeletePlease - will anybody ever trust this guy again ? Was he telling the truth over the racial abuse incident with Evra - Is he genuinely fouled or does he dive ? Does he want to stay or go ? Vows that there will never be another incident like it ….. err where have I heard that one before ? Are we to be taken for mugs again …... NOW will he apologise to LFC and the supporters for letting them down after all their previous help and support in the past and whilst on international duty from the club ? Also for not being available for 13 matches at the start of next season including CL which we have just returned to after 5 years . Not good enough Luis LFC standards are much higher . This is probably to facilitate a move to Barca . Time to say ‘ Adios Amigo ' and better luck in La Liga .
He didn't admit to diving for the pen if that is what you are intimating. He said he dived in the 1st half.
ReplyDeleteI personally think the pen at the end was a clear penalty.
Good shout. Deserves to be up there.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that John Terry is joint 4th shows the bias in the poll results (to be expected that a club's fans would favour their own players) and how poor his reputation is.
ReplyDeleteHe is still a tremendous defender and was the best league last season. In his pomp, around 2005-7, he was better than any listed in the poll.
Are you serious? He's a serial biter and if he does again the consequences will be far worse than a 4 month ban, including for the club he plays for. Hopefully you can see the risks associated with signing him are now greater than they were a week ago, and perhaps next time you can engage your brain before you dismiss a rational point as complete and utter nonsense...
ReplyDeleteSuarez defence was ridiculous, but understandable in that they were so desperate to avoid a suspension at any costs.
ReplyDeleteTonight's apology has taken Liverpool and Barca by surprise. Liverpool should hold out for the release clause amount, if it actually exists.
Maybe we get Sanchez, but I doubt it, doesn't bother me either way. There's plenty of players out there.
£60 million at this stage for Suarez would be grand......
Sorry, should have been more clear.
ReplyDeleteHe admitted to diving in the first half.
But when a player is so blatantly diving, there's no way he deserves the benefit of the doubt in a close game like that yesterday.
1. He failed to draw a penalty by diving on a least 2 occasions, and in my opinion 3 occasions.
2. When he got the call in stoppage time, he flailed about. I understand that there was some contact. It wasn't a foul, and if Robben needed to jump up like he did, that enhances my thought even more so that he wasn't fouled.
3. For the official to bail him out there was ridiculous. For one, Robben was going away from the goal. Two, he was surrounded by 3 Mexican players. Three, considering the fact that he was looking for a foul all game, how the ref could give it then is beyond me, especially when the ref actually waved off one of his dives earlier in the game.
I swear, when Robben got the ball in the box at the end of the game, I said to myself... "He is going to dive".
Was there contact? Yes. Was it a foul? No. Did Robben dramatize the contact to draw the foul? Yes. Is that a dive? In my book, yes.
Suarez doesn't get the benefit of the doubt because of his diving. And I am fine with that. He reaps what he sows.
I just wish other players were held to the same level of standard.
* Tonight's decision has taken Liverpool and Uruguayan FA by surprise *******
ReplyDeleteI'm not having that Algeria have technically better players than England. It just goes to show what tactical and motivational management can do. They have looked really good in this game up to now even though now they are lacking some of that earlier energy.
ReplyDeleteFordinand too. Had pace as well as technical ability. He was an excellent defender that made Visit look better than he was. Not a popular shout aroubdythese parts no doubt but objectively an excellent defender.
ReplyDeleteI named my grey tiger,born in 2008, 'Robbie' after Mr, Keane,They both darted around like headless chickens,
ReplyDeleteoh yeah
ReplyDeleteWho are they?
ReplyDeleteWhat do 90% of footballers do after every foul they commit? They deny it. 90% of the time.
ReplyDeletewhere were the excuses?
ReplyDeleteYeah, at his peak Ferdinand was excellent. Him and Vidic circa 2009 were a formidable partnership.
ReplyDeleteI think Ferdinand's peak was short-lived though as he took quite a while to properly mature (though he was always good, even at a young age) and then suffered with injuries a fair bit once he had peaked.
I disagree. I think the tackle at the end of the game is a classic example of an incident where it is a dive and a penalty. Robben certainly flails and makes the most of it but if you look closely you can see Marquez does clip the top of Robben's toe. There isn't a great deal of contact, but Marquez's full weight is in that foot.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I understand what you are saying in terms of getting the benefit of the doubt and not necessarily being deserving of it based on your conduct but whilst it is only human to make such considerations and from a practical perspective it is inevitable, the referees shouldn't do it.
When an official assesses a foul he should pay no mind to the participants. He should judge the incident on its own merits. The only additional context that should be factored in is the way the referee has treated similar incidents in the same game, so that his overall performance is consistent.
I suppose is more debatable than I initially suggested and Robben is undoubtedly a serial diver, but I think this particular decision was just.
Ivenisevic? The retired tennis player? Suarez didn't bite him as well did he?
ReplyDeleteAfter the 5-1 defeat a more appropriate term is 'the goners'
ReplyDeleteApologise to LFC?? for what? for scoring 30+ goals and almost delivering the PL single handed. Such an ungrateful fan........
ReplyDeletewell.....they gave him player of the year because they had no choice really. They didnt have an excuse to give it to the second best like last year.
ReplyDeletelooool its called sarcasm, he's obviously just trying to make a point. Stop writing rubbish articles just to circulate drivel, u fukin retard
ReplyDeleteWow, you can do it twice! You seem to forget that Suarez is a Liverpool player on a Liverpool contract. We determine the price we'll sell at. Not Barcelona. If they want him, they will have to pay and any risk involved is theirs to shoulder and not ours.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't dive for the penalty and never said so, plus he should have gotten a previous penalty at the end of the first half.
ReplyDeleteLet's see what happens with our £100m star (who we were previously wouldn't consider selling). If we come away with Sanchez + £30 - £40m, I will be relieved.
ReplyDeleteThat is his job and for which he is paid exceptionally well to do . Loyalty is a double sided coin - we owe him nothing .
ReplyDeleteI think you ll find Sturridge played a big part in it as well ! There is much more to wearing a Liverpool shirt than scoring goals !
Oops - he should have just hit him back with his racquet - Suarez is obviously now completely out of control.......
ReplyDeleteThat's a deal worth 70 million which is a lot more than the 40 million cut price rubbish that has been going around the internet
ReplyDeleteYep what happens on the field should certainly not stay on the field i am thinking a 6 month ban should cover it.
ReplyDeleteFifa are just a bunch of criminals worse than the mafia in fact because they pretend they are there for good means.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is Uruguay is poor and cannot afford payoffs that is why you are suffering.
He got clattered by 2 players at once in the first half and no penalty, dived Twice aswell but the one in the last minute was a penalty, stupid defending by giving him the opportunity and 99% of players would take that contact in a World Cup last 16 game as enough.
ReplyDeleteIt's hilarious to see the hypocrisy of fans here when Suarez is the worst diving offender in the PL... Robben should get more of a ban than Suarez biting Chielini!? What is wrong with you, he should be locked up in a Brazilian prison for AOABH!
If dives were punished with bans Suarez would of played about 3 matches last year, probably the ones against other top 4 clubs where he did absolutely sod all!
You write " I doubt any club will ever pay £100M for a defender".
ReplyDeleteThey once said no one would pay £1M for ANY player. The £100M defender wll undoubtedly happen and probably within 2-3 years at the rate at which transfer prices have risen over recent years.
I am reluctantly forced to admire your resolute defence of Suarez. I totally disagree and would not defend anyone in that way but I can see that in many ways it is a good quality.
ReplyDeleteCan't tell if you are talking about Suarez or Robben in this comment, it applies to both!
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed that neither of Sol Campbell or (our own main man! :-)) Kolo Toure are in there. Formed Arsenal's Invincibles and both were brilliant in their day. Toure must also be one of the only CBs to win the prem with two different clubs (and nearly a 3rd with us)
ReplyDeleteCampbell especially took over from Adams almost seamlessly and played in a far more football orientated team. Excellent player and a brilliant leader.
The other names that should be there are Ledley King and Ricardo Carvalho; if not for his knee troubles I genuinely think King could have been considered the best CB this country has ever produced. Quick, strong, natural leader, brilliant reader of the game, leader and could play a bit too.
Overall though, I would say Jaap Stam was the best of the lot; he just commanded the back four better than anyone else I've seen. His positional play and reading of the game meant he didn't need to do much else. Can imagine that if I was playing against any of them it would be him I would have been most scared of. Half teh battle won before you even step on the pitch.
I can remember when they were the Woolich Arsenal.
ReplyDelete