[Football] Enjoying defending…

[jcdenton08]

Does anyone else really enjoy watching world class defenders just as much as forwards?

Thinking back to the likes of Puyol, Maldini, Baresi… sometimes it’s a thing of absolute beauty.

I get particularly half-mast when Dunky does that beautiful diving chest back to Sanchez, or Veltman pockets his winger.

Defending is a real art, and while there are some real lummoxes still around (Mings, Maguire) some of the defending in the PL is absolutely exceptional. Thiago Silva, at 38, is masterful IMHO.

 

[OzMike]

3 weeks to go

 

[Justice]

Last time I watched Tiago Silva he was getting rinsed at the Amex.

 

[Icy Gull]

@One Teddy Maybank is going to be all over this thread

 

[Guinness Boy]

Yep, me. *raises hand*

In my very limited playing "career" I was a centre back and really enjoyed it. Most other kids wanted to beat people, score goals, take all the throw ins and free kicks. I just wanted to tackle, block, head and pass it to someone who could play.

Today I have been known to remark to my son during a game about the quality of a beautifully straight offside line, last minute tackle, the absolute shithousery of Veltman and even when we (but never the opposition) commit a "take one for the team" foul to stop a quick break at the risk of a yellow card. It does have to be us doing it though.

It's one of the reasons I struggle with the current England team, as much as I'm an England fan. We have several high quality right backs when they're all fit and that's it. There have been some wonderful centre backs in international football in the past including England ones (Adams, Campbell, old clips of Bobby Moore).

I have to agree with @Justice though. Silva was taken to the cleaners at the Amex. De Zerbi just put him up against pace. He completed two goal line clearances which is probably up there with a penalty save, but ultimately at 38 his reading of the game couldn't cope with being swarmed by quicker, younger players.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

@One Teddy Maybank is going to be all over this thread

Definitely, not only defending but defensive systems as well . See Hughton and Don Howe……

Love Italian defending, even the dark arts part which still go on, then as per @jcdenton08 the cultured element of Baresi, Maldini etc…

Then our own Dunk, Webster and Veltman all slightly different, but all excelling in their own right.

Great thread….. come on @Icy Gull - if it’s 0-0 you’ve got a point

Yes, I like defending!!!

 

[Happy Exile]

I enjoy defending done as an art but I'm also one of those people who'll cheer like a goal has been scored when a defender makes a full-blooded challenge that knocks an attacker into the middle of next week. Especially if it's entirely unnecessary to go in so hard but utterly fair and not a foul. Bonus points if the impact takes them off the pitch.

 

[The Wizard]

Does anyone else really enjoy watching world class defenders just as much as forwards?

Thinking back to the likes of Puyol, Maldini, Baresi… sometimes it’s a thing of absolute beauty.

I get particularly half-mast when Dunky does that beautiful diving chest back to Sanchez, or Veltman pockets his winger.

Defending is a real art, and while there are some real lummoxes still around (Mings, Maguire) some of the defending in the PL is absolutely exceptional. Thiago Silva, at 38, is masterful IMHO.

Mings who always somehow turns into Prime Ferdinand ever time they play us, yet looks utter dog wash every other time I watch Villa.

As for the thread, I love good individual pieces of defending but I’m not a fan of overly defensive tactics and set ups, like the way Tottenham set up after they went 1/0 against us, you could argue they defended great, but it’s not exactly eye pleasing is it.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Much appreciate defending. although never played seriously (rugby playing school - boo) was always at the back in park kickabouts.
someone has already mentioned Dunk cheating back to the goalkeeper. I liked people like Bridge and Upson playing for us, even a Caicedo retrieving tackle - how did he get the ball without touching the player from there?

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Count me in, there is a clue in my username.

I was one of the few who found the 0-0 at Wolves under CH compelling to watch as a defensive masterclass and I love watching Veltman play.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Mings who always somehow turns into Prime Ferdinand ever time they play us, yet looks utter dog wash every other time I watch Villa.

As for the thread, I love good individual pieces of defending but I’m not a fan of overly defensive tactics and set ups, like the way Tottenham set up after they went 1/0 against us, you could argue they defended great, but it’s not exactly eye pleasing is it.

Take your point, but isn’t it up to the attacking team to break it down, perhaps in an imaginative way?

For me, that ingenuity is still what’s missing (despite our recent glut of goals).

 

[The Wizard]

Take your point, but isn’t it up to the attacking team to break it down, perhaps in an imaginative way?

For me, that ingenuity is still what’s missing (despite our recent glut of goals).

Indeed and I’m not disputing it as a tactic, it’s been proven to be extremely effective, the unfortunate aspect of defensive football is the time wasting and dark arts that accompanies it.

In some ways a last ditch tackle or a piece of one on one defending is more impressive than a defensive block of 10 players doing everything they can to ruin the flow of the game.

Put it this way, as much as I appreciate defending as an art, if you gave me the choice of a 0-0 and 4-4 game I know which one I’d choose, Albion game or neutral game with no interest.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Love quality defending, particularly the dark arts which Veltmam is just superb at.

 

[BNthree]

Good defenders don’t just stop opposition attacks but also start their teams own attacks as well. It’s not just lunging at the ball.

 

[jakarta]

Best WC Game ever featured the two Best Players in the World, one was a forward, the other a defender.

Clue it was in 1970...

 

[jakarta]

Good defenders don’t just stop opposition attacks but also start their teams own attacks as well. It’s not just lunging at the ball.

When he is on his game, his pin point long passes are one of the best things Dunk does. Slabhead by contrast find it difficult to pass 10 yards.

 

[Stat Brother]

As Albion fans are we all not predisposed to this?

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Indeed and I’m not disputing it as a tactic, it’s been proven to be extremely effective, the unfortunate aspect of defensive football is the time wasting and dark arts that accompanies it.

In some ways a last ditch tackle or a piece of one on one defending is more impressive than a defensive block of 10 players doing everything they can to ruin the flow of the game.

Put it this way, as much as I appreciate defending as an art, if you gave me the choice of a 0-0 and 4-4 game I know which one I’d choose, Albion game or neutral game with no interest.

I think everyone would prefer a 4-4, but if Albion were involved rather than critically analysing our poor finishing, we’d be bemoaning our poor defending . (Well I would anyway )

But I would argue that good defending is not about time wasting, or basically playing like Villa, it’s about reducing space, and making the attacking team be adventurous and work an opening.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Good defenders don’t just stop opposition attacks but also start their teams own attacks as well. It’s not just lunging at the ball.

Very good point and they do, especially when Hughton was manager.

 

[timbha]

A minute to go. Winning 1-0 away from home. An Albion defender (Butters) clips the ball into the far corner with OGH chasing it down who then slides through the defender who reached it before him. A punch up ensues. Ref blows for full time.

The Beautiful game.