In 1951, 1952 and 1953 who were the best three right side defenders, the best three left side defenders and the best three central defenders (year by year)?? I'm very curious.
Some possible names to look at. George Young Johnny Carey Roger Marche William Martinez Gyula Lorant Branko Stankovic Tomislav Crnkovic Juan Francisco Lombardo Erik Nilsson Sergio Cervato
Dear Tom, I know you can answer me. Could you list me, based on your knowledge, the first three for each of the following roles (central defender, right back, left back) in 1951, in 1952 and in 1953? PS. in my opinion, you should restore the post on the team of the year
2011 Dani Alves 2012 Sergio Ramos 2013 Thiago Silva 2014 Jerome Boateng 2015 Gerard Pique 2016 Sergio Ramos 2017 Sergio Ramos 2018 Virgil Van Dijk 2019 Virgil Van Dijk
That just looks a lot like "the most well-known defender in the team that won the big prize" list lol. Not saying you're wrong sir, but I do think there's plenty to dissect here. For example, I'd argue Godin could push himself into 1st spot, maybe in 2014.
A few names for possible consideration in 1951: 1951 Right Backs Stankovic - Yugoslav league winner Carey - Captain of Ireland Young - Captain of Scotland Ramsey - English league winner Matias Gonzalez - World Cup winner the year before Left Backs Happel - Austrian league winner Eusebio Tejera - World Cup winner the year before Marche Erik Nilsson Cervato Centre Halves Obdulio Varela - Uruguayan league winner and World Cup winner the year before Ocwirk - Austrian athlete of the year Nestor Rossi - Colombian league winner Lantos - Hungarian league winner Danilo Alvim Jonquet Horvat Woodburn
1952 Right Backs Stankovic - Olympic Silver Djalma Santos - Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo winner Carey - English league winner Young - Captain of Scotland Ramsey Bergmark Left Backs Crnkovic - Olympic Silver Nilton Santos - Pan American Cup winner Happel - Austrian league winner Erik Nilsson - Olympic Bronze Lorant - Olympic Gold Marche Cervato Centre Halves Nestor Rossi - Colombian league winner Horvat - Olympic Silver Lantos - Olympic Gold Gustavsson - Olympic Bronze Carre - Belgian league winner Obdulio Varela Ocwirk Jonquet Lombardo Woodburn
1953 Right Backs Stankovic - Yugoslav league winner Segarra - Spanish league winner Young - Captain of Scotland, Scottish league winner Djalma Santos Dellacha Bergmark Left Backs Marche - French league winner Novak - Czechoslovak league winner Lorant - Mitropa Cup winner Nilton Santos Cervato Centre Halves Obdulio Varela - Uruguayan league winner Ocwirk - Austrian league winner Nestor Rossi - Colombian league winner Jonquet - French league winner Carey - Captain of Ireland Lantos - Mitropa Cup winner Carre - Belgian league winner William Martinez Horvat Lombardo
Based on the tactical systems used in South America, Matías González and Eusebio Tejera were centre-backs, also Pedro Dellacha and William Martínez. Those who served as side-backs were the wing-halves. In those years in Uruguay they were Víctor Rodríguez Andrade and Schubert Gambetta (also Francisco Lombardo in Argentina). Obdulio Varela, Néstor Rossi and Danilo Alvim they were more in the modern mold of midfielders.
Yes, partly for that reason they were labelled right/left backs and centre-halves here rather than side and central defenders. Obdulio Varela's famous performance against Brazil in 1950 was notable mainly for defence.
Yes, I think the Hungarians numbered players in defence from right to left (2, 3 and 4) didn't they. That might have misled Peterhrt a bit re: Lorant and Lantos. I think actually I've noticed Varga playing left back wearing number 4 as late as about 1986 in the Hungarian national team (against Brazil IIRC) but I'm not saying the tradition continued with no exceptions until that time. The right half (eg Bozsik) wore number 5 and left half wore number 6 of course.
I think that Happel played either CB/ CH in the 3 at the back as said already, or RH, like Wright did too. Happel also was used at RB during a little while in NT iirc about what I read (Wright, I don't know).
I think Austria was a bit different to Hungary and others in those years, because they still played the older-fashioned back 2 and then a centre-half midfielder (Ocwirk) and two wider wing-halves I think didn't they? Then Ocwirk changed to playing as a new-style wing half, and sometimes inside forward (but in effect still midfielder) later on in his career I think.
From the Argentine League I'd add: Juan Carlos Colman (CB - Boca Juniors, especially in 1953) Higinio García (CB - Racing Club, especially in 1951) Ernesto Gutiérrez (LH - Racing Club, especially in 1951) Also: Raúl Pini (CB - Millonarios, for 1951, 1952 and 1953)
If you want to adapt Pyramid players to a Back-3 (WM system), then you should considering (Not exactly the same, but the closer role): RFB/LFB in Pyramid = CB in WM (2 men for 1 spot) RH/LH in Pyramid = RB/LB in WM Basically Austria and South Americans (excluding Brazil and Chile) were still playing 2-3-5 around 1951-53. With this consideration, I'd place in a Back-3 (with the other names) RB - Lombardo, Rodríguez Andrade CB - M.Gonzalez, Happel, Tejera, Dellacha, W.Martínez, JC.Colman, H.García, Raúl Pini LB - E.Gutiérrez Mids - Varela, Ocwirk, Rossi, Danilo
1954 Right Defenders Djalma Santos, World Cup Team of Tournament VR Andrade, Uruguayan league winner Lombardo, Argentine league winner Stankovic Left Defenders Lantos, World Cup runner-up Nilton Santos Byrne Marche Crnkovic Central Defenders Santamaria, World Cup Team of Tournament Liebrich, World Cup winner Lorant, World Cup runner-up Happel, Austrian league winner Wright, English league winner Horvat, Yugoslav league winner Dellacha Jonquet William Martinez Carre