In his final years, when asked to play at left back, he was a complete liability. God forbid I have a different opinion, people can't take me seriously because I'm not a sheep and can think for myself. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)


No, I never saw Maldini in his prime years. But I did state "Ashley Cole is the best left back I have ever seen". I never thought much of Carlos defensively.

Lahm was awful in the KO stages of Euro 2008. Yes, he got MotM against Turkey because he scored the winner, but look at both Turkey goals (admittedly Lehmann was part to blame for one) and tell me which defender got completely schooled for both. He was als at fault for the goal in the Final. He's a much, much, better right back.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Apr 19 2011, 09:32 PM

I think Luca Antonini is way better then any of the mentioned players. He'd kick Coles @ss (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Carlos was just a flashy name, who could score these mad free-kicks, defensively he was not great. Maldini better than A.Cole? Definitely.

You would be better off as a sheep.

Nah.

RC was solid defensively and great attacking. Not just a flashy name at all. You don't have a glorious career like he had just because of free kicks. He and Cafu on flanks for Brazil was a great thing to watch.

Cafu was good, but R.Carlos was like Dani Alves, good in attack, not that great defensively, had a wicked shot and that's why he got the hype, oh and he was Brazilian, it helps imo.

Of course he was much better attacking but not weak in defense at all. Many players are hyped, so what? hype alone won't make you be a Brazil starter for 15 years and over 10 years at Real Madrid. I can argue that because some parts of his game were flashy (like free kicks), some people couldn't see beyond that.

Poor old Kurt taking a beating for criticising Paolo at LB. Guess what, he's right!

Paolo was a God for years for us, but towards the end of his time, his timing went, his positioning was screwy, and he gave away a lot of cheap fouls, mostly in the LB position.

I love Paolo - possibly the greatest defender of all time, but I do suspect some remember him from his glory days and erase the slightly negative end to his career at Milan.

It's rare I back up the Cole lovin' Walker, but there ye go!

Oddly enough I agree with this. But I can't stand Cole on any level so maybe I'm biased.

No, he is not right. There is a huge difference between not being at your best and being awful. If anything, the words Kurt used to describe Maldini are not ones I will agree with.

It seemed to me he was getting pelters for criticising Maldini on any level. It didn't appear to be make a difference if he was saying he was beyond awful or just not great.

If you're all upset over 'beyond awful' then it's subjective. I remember screaming at the screen at times when he gave away silly fouls and got his timing badly wrong. Things which can only be described in negative terms.

I won't get into whether 'beyond awful' is fair, but will still say Maldini was anything but imperious by the end. Bit of a shame how it finished for him really.

It would have to me.

That's as well as maybe, but I still say the team from my OP is the best (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I might add Gattuso into mine, just to annoy Kurt.