Liverpool FC Forum

[RobinHood6969]

i think Titus Bramble also deserves a top ten place in this list 

[stmichael]

And Vidic has been playing in this country for how long???

[tubby]

I wonder what Alan Hansen must have thought if he has seen this.

[Owzat]

10. 70s-80s Mark Lawrenson (Preston, Brighton, Liverpool)

9. 00s Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)     

8. 80s-90s Stuart Pearce (Coventry, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, West Ham, Manchester City)

7. 80s-90s Des Walker (Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday)

6. 80s-90s Paul McGrath (Manchester United, Aston Villa, Derby, Sheffield United)

5. 90s-00s Jaap Stam (Manchester United)

4. 70s-80s Alan Hansen (Liverpool)

3. 90s-00s Rio Ferdinand (West Ham, Leeds, Manchester United)

2. 80s-90s Tony Adams (Arsenal)

1. 60s-70s Bobby Moore (West Ham)

I take such lists with a pinch of salt. I've banged in their eras (roughly), obviously whoever compiled the list has heard of Bobby Moore (most of us have!) but other than that all his top 10 (have) played between 1984 and 2009 ie have played in the past 25 years. Christ I've seen FOUR of them play for England, and England weren't so good I'd expect there to be that many from our past 25 years -  especially as we've reached just TWO semis since 1966.

As with a lot of lists it stinks of recency. It's almost impossible to do this objectively since, even if you have seen all candidates play - or at least footage - then you will remember the more recent ones better and probably in more context. And the guy seems obsessed with Man Utd - Vidic, McGrath, Ferdinand and Stam. To have two current players in a top ten is risky enough, to have two from the same team still playing is seriously questionable. How long has Vidic played in England? 2-3 seasons? Hyypia has been a solid CB for TEN YEARS.

The top ten is often what a list of this kind is judged by. Overambitious sorts will go for a top 100, but the key in any is to be sure the top ten is realistic if not definitive. If you can do what I've done and state nine out of the top ten played in the last 25 years then it is probably flawed.

[Boocity]

Anything that comes out of the Mail these days you have to take with a pinch of salt, they are so biased towards ManU it is unreal (I know I read it everyday for my sins). Last week they ran a double page with all of their jounos giving their thoughts on who will win the league, who should be player of the year etc and only one did not say Man U and most went for a ManU player as PoY. The timing was a joke, it was basically a gee up to ManU (c'mon boys we still believe in you).

I think I will get the Times instead for the game.

[JBG]

There's no way Tony Adams should be that high.

I'm not saying he was a bad player and indeed at the end of his career he played some good stuff but come on, for large parts of his career he was well dodgy.

[Boocity]

'dodgy', shouldn't that be donkey

[maypaxvobiscum]

such a rubbish list. growing up though, Stuart Pearce was my fave defender. i love his ferocity and determination.

[NANNY RED]

As i said hes havin a laugh were the h.ell is the likes of Mick Mills of Ipswich an Colin Todd, of Derby great great defenders.