[Fillipo Simone]

Nesta level? No. He never was or will be, not even in his best days. Nesta is as unique as Franco, Billy and Paolo. It's sad however that with Sandro the legacy ends.

As for Zambrotta - maybe more was expected. But the circumstances weren't right. Milan signed him late, he still had it in him but Milan had a terrible team. As the team grew stronger and stronger through the season, he started deteriorating - which most fullbacks do.

I still think he was good here and had his fair share. I too expected more, but watching nowadays the likes of Abate, Antonini and Mesbah...

[kurtsimonw]

It's sad however that with Sandro the legacy ends.

Yep. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[acid911]

Ah, maybe I should have phrased myself better. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I meant, that I expected Zambrotta to be as good as Nesta is in the twilight of his career. Maldini played like a Trojan warrior till the very end, always gave his best even in his last match. Nesta not as much, and he isn't as old as Poalo (or Billy, for that matter) but still he has been immense.

I expected Zambrotta to match that performance level in his 30s, not that he can ever match Nesta in his peak. That'll be like comparing a regular Dell laptop to an Alienware beast (in technical terms), or the Sun to the Moon (in non-technical). They just can't be compared, their best can't be compared. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) I was comparing their last years.

As in how they carried themselves in the last three, four years. I sured did expect more from Zambrotta.

[Zed.D]

Well, Zambro is just not in the same league as Paolo, Billy or Nesta. just as Nesta isn't exactly in the same league as Paolo. at least as long as longevity goes. every footballer's unique.

[acid911]

Yeah, I guess so. I still terribly miss Maldini. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cry.gif) They never make them like him anymore. In fact, the documentary series I posted a few days back, Paolo Maldini was the only Italian that made the cut. Out of the 25 other names. Here is the episode of the documentary, which I've of course downloaded and saved:

Football's Greatest Paolo Maldini

75 likes with 0 dislikes. And the opening minute or two are totally epic, fitting tribute to the god of football.

[kurtsimonw]

And people say Sky Sports have no appreciation for anything outside of England. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[acid911]

And people say Sky Sports have no appreciation for anything outside of England.

Touche'. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Well I for am grateful that they produced these, all are pretty well made. Only the Ronaldo (R99) one did not feature interview from the player himself (I'd reckon he was injured then), but the production value, writing and included footage is of top, top quality. Undoubtedly top quality. Here's the full list:

Football's Greatest

6 Brazilians, 1 Italian, 3 Argentine, 2 Danish, 3 Dutch, 2 French, 2 German, and 1 each of Northern Ireland, Portugal, Scotland, English and Hungary. That makes 25 episodes, they created one more for players who were notable, but did not make the cut as full episodes. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) I've seen almost all of them.

[Danny]

Luca was played out of position almost his entire time at Milan. tbh a robust decent and reliable defender with no frills, he did more or less what was on the tin.

Pity we rarely saw him at RB.

[han2503]

Luca was played out of position almost his entire time at Milan. tbh a robust decent and reliable defender with no frills, he did more or less what was on the tin.

Pity we rarely saw him at RB.

Zambro in his best years at Juve played at LB

He's not naturally left footed and plays both sides very well. But I've always thought of him as a LB due to what he did at Juve

[X-Offender]

Zambro in his best years at Juve played at LB

He did? I can't remember well. In fact, I can't remember who that fourth man in defense was, along with Zambro, Thuram and Cannavaro.

[acid911]

I've always thought Zambrotta to be one of the very few blessed players who could play well both at the left and right, and deliver comparable performance at both positions. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) It doesn't matter for me where he plays (or played) he did pretty well at both LB and RB. Surely, couldn't replicate those high standards here at Milan, but oh well.

The most vivid memories I will have of him would be his two goals, and how he lay down on the pitch in desperation to save a goal in a match (against Inter) when he just signed up for us. Vintage performance in the earliest of days.

[KillerMax]

From what I remember he actually played as a left winger for Juve and he had long hair back then.

[kurtsimonw]

He did? I can't remember well. In fact, I can't remember who that fourth man in defense was, along with Zambro, Thuram and Cannavaro.

Looking back at numbers of appearances through those years, it just seemed to be about 4/5 players starting randomly over a number of years. Montero, Pessotto, Birindelli, Iuliano, Zebina.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: May 12 2012, 09:01 PM

[X-Offender]

Looking bad at numbers of appearances through those years, it just seemed to be about 4/5 players starting randomly over a number of years. Montero, Pessotto, Birindelli, Iuliano, Zebina.

Hm, yeah, I guess that's why I couldn't remember.

[han2503]

He did? I can't remember well. In fact, I can't remember who that fourth man in defense was, along with Zambro, Thuram and Cannavaro.

He did, I remember Zebina at RB mostly from the latter years of Zambro's Juve carrer

From what I remember he actually played as a left winger for Juve and he had long hair back then.

You're think waaay back though. He started as a winger but Lippi pushed him back to LB. The last time I can remember Zambro play LW is either the 2000 Euros or the 2002 world cup (due to Paolo still being with the NT)

Looking back at numbers of appearances through those years, it just seemed to be about 4/5 players starting randomly over a number of years. Montero, Pessotto, Birindelli, Iuliano, Zebina.

All of those primarily being RBs IIRC