Best Defensive Midfielder Ever?

Claude Makalele or Edgar Davids or?

Originally posted by GinoJ
Claude Makalele or Edgar Davids or?

Not Davids, he would try to win the ball too often, good short passes but long ones?.

Viera and Keene were better than Davids.

Makalele is awesome, but he is playing with great players.

England always have been weak in that position, Ince was about our best, very underated.

Originally posted by petrosianpupil
Not Davids, he would try to win the ball too often, good short passes but long ones?.

Viera and Keene were better than Davids.

Makalele is awesome, but he is playing with great players.

England always have been weak in that position, Ince was about our best, very underated.

I like Paul Ince, and of course Viera is very good but he get lots of red cards. I would not want him in my team.

Originally posted by GinoJ
I like Paul Ince, and of course Viera is very good but he get lots of red cards. I would not want him in my team.

Viera got better about the red cards. He was so strong and a better team player than Davids. Those legs would take balls that were never his.

Why did Madrid sell Claude??????

Roy Keane or maybe Roy Keane

Originally posted by derbrad
Roy Keane or maybe Roy Keane

Amen.

D

Originally posted by Ragnorak
Amen.

D

Roy Keane had such a will to win it was frightening. It was no wonder Man Utd never gave up.

Facing fergie in the dressing room or Keane in the tunnel after you failed to give your all, what would be worse? At least fergie might forgive you at some point in the next decade.

I think that Viera was the more natural athlete, Keane made himself an athlete.

Originally posted by petrosianpupil
I think that Viera was the more natural athlete, Keane made himself an athlete.

The only thing that gives me pause in naming Roy Keane the best defensive midfielder in the world is the fact that this under rates his ability. He was quite simply, the best midfielder in the world. Only his own mind (helped by his growing age) and his manager, pigeon holed him as a defensive midfielder. His aerial ability (for a small lad 5' 10"😉 was unreal (goal against Juve in '99 stands out). His ability to play the killer pass is only surpassed by Paul Scholes and Fabregas. And his shooting ability was great.

I remember when we beat Arsenal 2-0, Keane made up yards to get back at the younger Vieira with a superb tackle, and managed to score 2 goals.

Paul Ince thought himself a great all rounder. His lack of discipline got him the boot from Old Trafford after refusing to obey Ferguson's orders to only play a holding role in the Nou Camp, when we got hammered 4-0. Keane's professionalism never allowed him to go against the team's requirements.

Roy Keane: Greatest Midfielder Ever, Greatest Captain Ever, Greatest Player Ever, and my prediction: Greatest Manchester United Manager Ever. 🙂

D

Originally posted by Ragnorak
The only thing that gives me pause in naming Roy Keane the best defensive midfielder in the world is the fact that this under rates his ability. He was quite simply, the best midfielder in the world. Only his own mind (helped by his growing age) and his manager, pigeon holed him as a defensive midfielder. His aerial ability (for a small lad 5' 10"😉 was u ...[text shortened]... Greatest Player Ever, and my prediction: Greatest Manchester United Manager Ever. 🙂

D

That was the best lesson Fergie gave Ince. He learnt that great players often want you to try and tackle them. He did learn this lesson in the end.

Keane was better, but still Ince was brilliant. i think England's best defensive midfielder, unless you play Gerrard in defence.

Its like Veron, he went to Utd when they had Giggs, Scholes, Beckham and Keane. Veron is slagged off unfairly because he was compared to the best midfield British football had seen.

Originally posted by Ragnorak
Keane's professionalism never allowed him to go against the team's requirements.

Crippling Alf-Inge Haarland?

I agree with most of what you said about him as a player. It's as a person I had problems with him.

Sorry Keano-fan-boys, but Lothar Matthaus wins.

Originally posted by Palynka
Sorry Keano-fan-boys, but Lothar Matthaus wins.

This is the trouble with best in the world claims.

Matthaus was awesome when I saw him but I only saw him play a handful of matches.

There does seem to be a very narrow section of names coming up here. Two players I never saw play, but have huge reputations, are Nobby Stiles and Norman Hunter. A couple of more recent ones who've impressed me in the few games I've seen are Didier Deschamps and Dunga.

Bobby Moore was a giant among these mentioned here. Without a doubt, THE BEST. Tony Adams was pretty good too.

Originally posted by Mong
Bobby Moore was a giant among these mentioned here. Without a doubt, THE BEST. Tony Adams was pretty good too.

...if only Tony Adams was not a central defender.