[Danny]

Great to see him returning to form. It has been a slow road, perhaps a predictably slow road given his injuries, but as Tennie says, an average Nesta is still excellent.

An on form one is simply the best defender on the planet.

[TriniKing_CE]

Great to see him returning to form. It has been a slow road, perhaps a predictably slow road given his injuries, but as Tennie says, an average Nesta is still excellent.

An on form one is simply the best defender on the planet.

+ Infinity! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[il_diavolo_mtl]

Great to see him returning to form. It has been a slow road, perhaps a predictably slow road given his injuries, but as Tennie says, an average Nesta is still excellent.

An on form one is simply the best defender on the planet.

haha he has mastered the CB/AM role very well when needed, he provides exacly what we need at every game, today we needed him and Thiago to shut down arguably the worlds top attacking side, and they did, hell thiago even got a Goal (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Tennie]

(IMG:http://s5.tinypic.com/166gdah_th.jpg)


The Italian journalist Carlo Pellegatti has nicknames for all the Milan players. Nesta's nickname is 'Tempesta Perfecta', ie 'Perfect Storm'.

I think today we've really truly seen why. Excellent defenisve work - the clearance from Pellissier when they were one on one (if most other guys tried that it probably would've been a penalty) - and two rare but nicely taken goals. Haven't seen him play this well in a long time.

Fishdoll +1 cookie to Nesta.

[mishie]

Seems back to his imperious best and a good partnership with Silva to....bodes well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[MizNelson]

And to think that whether he would ever play again was the top story about Nesta not too long ago.

Report: Milan Defender Alessandro Nesta Considers Retirement
The ex-Lazio man played his last official game almost a year ago and is allegedly set to throw in the towel.

Milan’s 3-1 defeat by Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo on May 11, 2008, might have been Alessandro Nesta’s last Serie A appearance.

The 33-year-old has missed the entire campaign due to chronic back problems and La Gazzetta dello Sport reports this morning that he is considering quitting football.

The former Italian international featured in a friendly against Tiran last October and seemed close to making his comeback, but suffered a relapse and underwent surgery in February.

The rehabilitation process is now over and Nesta has resumed running at Milanello, but he has apparently not made much headway, despite the team's medical staff insisting that he is ‘clinically healed’.

Milan can’t wait on the defender forever and expect an answer from him over the next few weeks, as they will have to look for a replacement on the transfer market ahead of next season.

Nesta has represented only Lazio and Milan at club level and was capped 78 times by Italy.

--Goal.com, May 7, 2009

This post has been edited by MizNelson: Oct 26 2009, 01:20 AM

[Bluesummers]

nah he's got maybe 3 years left with the way he's currently playing if no injuries. I don't think he'll make it to 40 but 36 is certainly reasonable.

[Tennie]

Sportitalia has a long piece about Nesta's rebirth. it's really quite positive.

The Milannews editor is perhaps going a bit over the top in his praise -- he's calling for him to get the armband (which I think is fair given his on and off field behavior) but he's also comparing this year's Nesta to Franco Baresi. That..may be a bit much.

That said, he's really back. And right now, I think he's the most important player on the team.

[Bluesummers]

Sportitalia has a long piece about Nesta's rebirth. it's really quite positive.

The Milannews editor is perhaps going a bit over the top in his praise -- he's calling for him to get the armband (which I think is fair given his on and off field behavior) but he's also comparing this year's Nesta to Franco Baresi. That..may be a bit much.

That said, he's really back. And right now, I think he's the most important player on the team.

(IMG:http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00493/Jose_Mourinho_493685a.jpg)

[Dracoris]

Nesta is this club's MVP, no doubt. I would really like to see him or Pirlo made the official captain. No offense to ambro but....yea.

[BVR]

Milan are damn lucky that Nesta has made a full recovery and has found his old self. One place where Milan are well covered is CB. Nesta should be the captain, he is the better replacement for Il Capitano. Ambrosini should keep the bench warm as he has been useless this season aside from getting bookings. Neither is Gattuso, if he don't watch it Abbate will make him personal bench warmer.

[Zed.D]

The Milannews editor is perhaps going a bit over the top in his praise -- he's calling for him to get the armband (which I think is fair given his on and off field behavior) but he's also comparing this year's Nesta to Franco Baresi. That..may be a bit much.

Now goal.com's running a debate in which they declare him the world's best defender... (of course, it's Carlo Garganese (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) )

I mean, he surely is among the top 5 or 10 best defenders. but THE best? that's pushing it.

[Tennie]

Who's better, then?

[Zed.D]

Ah-oh (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think it'll be better if I don't. I didn't make myself clear enough in my previous post and I really should have. the more I try to explain what I really meant, the more I will worsen the situation for me!

Nesta's been amazing this season. that's all I can say.

[Tennie]

I think it's a fair enough question, zeddie, and Fishdoll won't bite you for answering. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Of the centerbacks currently playing in major leagues around the world, who else would you put in the top 5?