left back in decline

by shamr9pato Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:52 pm

in the last decade or so there have been a handful of players to whom we could pin point as a great or world class LB.. in todays footballing world there isnt a single WORLDCLASS left back imo.. the likes of paolo Maldini and Roberto Carlos's shoes are yet to be filled in todays world.. why are there so little progress in this department in the footballing world?? every "WORLDCLASS" team you look at the weakness is always spotted at LB position.. except for RM (MY HONEST OPINION)

by la bestia negra Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:55 pm

lahm ??

by nichabr Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:58 pm

defenders overall not just left backs aren't as good as the past.

by Onyx Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:59 pm

Abidal, Evra, Cole, Clichy and Lahm?

Also there's LB's such as Jordi Alba, Cissokho, Criscito, Coentrao and Nagatomo.

Maybe it's they aren't great LB's like Roberto Carlos and Maldini.

by Vibe Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:00 pm

Left back is an endangered species,been saying this for a while.And as said above,defenders are generally not as good is in the 90's ad early 00's.

by B-Mac Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:08 pm

Roberto Carlos wasn't even that good defensively he just got massive attention for his free kick ability and ability going forward....that's usually the case with most lb's or rb's usually are very good at either defending or going forward you dont see them equally as good at both

by rwo power Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:09 pm

In the 90es, defenders could even bite into the calves of the attackers or mow them down without getting booked, so they had a somewhat easier life then. Now a defender risks getting booked when he just gives the attacker an evil eye, so they need to be far more careful.

by Lord Hades Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:14 pm

nobody to fit into roberto carlos shoes?

hmm

by Ganso Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:17 pm

diptiman wrote:nobody to fit into roberto carlos shoes?

hmm

by hrealmadrid Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:20 pm

Agreed that defenders aren't as good as they used to be

by guest7 Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:26 pm

Marcelo >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

by rwo power Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:27 pm

I think defenders need to be much better technically nowadays than earlier due to the faster bookings. They have to figure out a way to defend that doesn't allow an attacker to dive, thus they cannot tackle as hard as earlier. Especially as even clean tackles nowadays might get penalized with a freekick or penalty if in the penalty box.

by Eman Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:31 pm

Besides just quality-wise, numerically there aren't that many good LBs these days either. Right now we (Arsenal) are in desperate need of a LB for the short-term, but our options are slim to none.

by Valkyrja Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:40 pm

Marcelo

by Sushi Master Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:43 pm

Right backs are pretty meh, too.

Basically it's down to Alves, and Lahm if he feels like playing there for the season.

Although there is hidden class like Srna.

by halamadrid2 Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:45 pm

Alves has got to be one of the most overrated defenders ill ever see....

so yeah RB is in decline

by windkick Fri Jan 13, 2012 8:29 pm

shamr9pato wrote:in the last decade or so there have been a handful of players to whom we could pin point as a great or world class LB.. in todays footballing world there isnt a single WORLDCLASS left back imo.. the likes of paolo Maldini and Roberto Carlos's shoes are yet to be filled in todays world.. why are there so little progress in this department in the footballing world?? every "WORLDCLASS" team you look at the weakness is always spotted at LB position.. except for RM (MY HONEST OPINION)

Are you insinuating that Marcelo is the best LB right now? I disagree, dude is great at attacking but he isnt an attacker he is a defender. And as a defender is isn't really that good imo. People really over rate him because of his good game going forward but defending wise he isn't as great as some peopl bill him to be.

I'd take Lahm over him any day