Best defender in EPL

[thedefender23]

State your choice and reason why

[Qamle]

Boca... because he's American!

edit: I'm joking (though I think he's good)

[Treetaliano]

Boca... because he's American!
that didn't take long... :rolleyes:

[tomo]

I'd go for Ricardo Carvalho, although he hasn't proved a thing in EPL.

Gallas is a good second, then Campbell, King, Terry,Ferdinand,...

[manc_sean]

It's got to be Gary Neville or Rio (even though he is a c0ck.)

[Arsenal_fanUK]

Sol Campbell is the best centre defender in the world, his peformances for club and country prove this. And you only have to look at which team had the best defensive record in the premier league, being Arsenal. hes stoped the best strickers in the world, because the premier league has the best forwards.

its then tuff, you have rio ferdinand and terry. These two come in 2nd and 3rd. Woodgate was in there too but hes at madrid so it'll be tight between toure, cavalhio and gallas.

but sol campbell is the best over all at the mo.

[The Double]

Sol Campbell is the best centre defender in the world, his peformances for club and country prove this. And you only have to look at which team had the best defensive record in the premier league, being Arsenal. hes stoped the best strickers in the world, because the premier league has the best forwards.

its then tuff, you have rio ferdinand and terry. These two come in 2nd and 3rd. Woodgate was in there too but hes at madrid so it'll be tight between toure, cavalhio and gallas.

but sol campbell is the best over all at the mo.

Sol Campbell may be one of the best in the EPL, but in the world I'd have to say Ayala.

[Alan_V]

Rio's currently not in the Premiership so he's out of it. May well come back to be though. Of those listed, I give Campbell the nod over Terry.

[royalstilton]

Sol Campbell is the best centre defender... hes stopped the best strikers in the world, because the premier league has the best forwards.
Im not sure you would get universal agreement here. Certainly EPL has a lot of talent up front, but the best striker in the EPL is Henry and he plays with Campbell, who was not successful in pulling England past France in Euro2004. RVN is high on the list of world class forwards, but I think that there would be some argument that Serie A has the equal of EPL for strikers. Sheva, Totti, Cassano, Trezequet and Vieri, not to mention Gilardino from Parma. Scoring is easier in La Liga, so I would not compare.

In the EPL you have Anelka, Shearer, Angel all with more than 20 goals internationally and RVN, so it looks like a wash.

France also had 5 20+ scorers including Morientes, Drogba, Cisse and Pauleta. After this season, with Drogba and Cisse in the EPL, I think maybe the EPL is stronger, but not last season.

[Robert25]

What where is Pascal Cygan ? :confused:

Okay since there is just these guys to pick from, i have to choose Rio ferdinand with a honorable mention to Sol campbell. Campbell needs to intro. Ferdidnand as well, I think he is just more of a complete centreback and very good in taking the ball forward and helping to get attacks going.

[SiempreDepor]

I'd definately say Naybet in Tottenham! He's very experienced and so far he has proved to be one of the best defenders (IMO THE best). No defender in EPL can pass the ball as well as he can, also his sliding tackles are perfect and he never loses in the air.

[Colm]

Naybet should of been there but on the pole i voted Campbell.

[BladeFENOM]

Cambell is the Best Defender in the EPL. He is the Reason Arsenal went unbeaten last year. Lehmann should GO!!

[Mackannovic]

Gary Neville is head and shoulders above any other defender in England. My god do I hate the man but he is an excellent right back. Very Little gets past him it's unbelievable, his passing is excellent and his crossing is up there with some of the best widemen in the league. He used to be the victim of ridicule for some high class mistakes but over the past three years I can hardly remember one. I can understand why people make him out to be such a bad player through his annoying rat-like features and constant whinging but he is one of the best right backs if not "the best" right-back in Europe.

God I hate him!

[royalstilton]

Gary Neville is head and shoulders above any other defender in England.
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there must be some reason the little weasel gets the nod over other right backs in the England selection. oh, yeah. there are no other decent right backs. sorry.

let's hope ledley king matures into one of the aforementioned quickly.

[Alan_V]

I'd definately say Naybet in Tottenham! He's very experienced and so far he has proved to be one of the best defenders (IMO THE best). No defender in EPL can pass the ball as well as he can, also his sliding tackles are perfect and he never loses in the air.

He needs to prove himself (in England) a bit more, but it's looking very good so far. Shame he's not got a bit more pace though.

[Middle Of The Shed]

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there must be some reason the little weasel gets the nod over other right backs in the England selection. oh, yeah. there are no other decent right backs. sorry.

let's hope ledley king matures into one of the aforementioned quickly.
Erm, Glen Johnson?

[royalstilton]

Erm, Glen Johnson?
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Glen Johnson was not selected for England Euro2004, which is not to say that he cannot play football, just not at an international level, in Ericksson's view, which seems to be the one that counts now. He has played as a sub in one match for England in which he managed a yellow card. Chelsea played him against Zlina, which maybe could be considered international competition, though Zlina lost in aggregate 5-nil.

He has played 7 U-21 matches for England, not exactly decisive.

Having said all this, I shall grant that he has football skills, and as a barely 20 year old may foot the bill, and OK, he is a decent right back, just not quite good enough to be picked for national team play on a consistent basis.

Come back next year.

[sendorange]

Johnson played against Ukraine last month and looked the part. He has exceptional talent, just needs more defensive experience. That's why he is played in the U-21s, not because that's his level, fact is he's far too good for it, but because that's a team where they can play him at centre back to increase his defensive experience and make him captain in an England jersey.

[royalstilton]

Johnson played against Ukraine last month and looked the part. He has exceptional talent, just needs more defensive experience. That's why he is played in the U-21s, not because that's his level, fact is he's far too good for it, but because that's a team where they can play him at centre back to increase his defensive experience and make him captain in an England jersey.
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When the Ukrainians took Sheva off, Ericksson could have put Mick Yost or Nigel Pruss in and the result would have been the same. I saw the match on TV and I thought Johnson commended himself well enough (it was the Ukraine, though ), but I think he's not going to be playing that much in WC2006 qualifying. I could be wrong. I am lots.