Paulo Maldini Vs Javier Zanetti

[bicycleheader]

Maldini would pretty much make anyone's all time greatest 11, Zanetti wouldn't. Dont get me wrong I love Zanetti but Maldini was different class

well from my time watching football...from mid/late 80s I think the right back slot would be up for grabs between Cafu and Zanetti.

Cafu again, would trump Zanetti as he is at least as good ability-wise but also has a decent medal haul to top Javier.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Me too! They were the original dumb multi-millionaire club really. They had some great players and won nowt.

Some of my favourites were Djorkaeff and Zamorano! Zanetti was just a level above for a club that rarely sustained consistent excellence from a player.

Still got my Zanetti top bought at the stadium, although I still haven´t seen a game at San Siro. Maybe the first will be as an away fan with the mighty toffees.

One of the few things I like about Jose, is that he got Zanetti the success he deserved.

I still remember getting all excited at the prospect of Bergkamp and Pancev playing together, and Inter somehow conspired to completely waste both of them. They were dark days

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Am I right in saying Cannavaro is the only defender to ever win Ballon D'Or/whatever was the equivalent at the time?

Beckenbaur won it, and I think Sammer was a sweeper when he won it, but it's certainly not common.

 

[Elong]

I don't think it's very fair to compare them to Hibbert, they've got no chance.

Imagine putting Seamus in this poll too, scenes.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

well from my time watching football...from mid/late 80s I think the right back slot would be up for grabs between Cafu and Zanetti.

Cafu again, would trump Zanetti as he is at least as good ability-wise but also has a decent medal haul to top Javier.

I'd say in terms of club football that Zanetti has a better medal haul. They've both got 1 CL, but Zanetti has more Serie A crowns. Obviously Cafu has a couple of World Cups, but it's hard to say that a right back had a big hand in winning a World Cup.

 

[bicycleheader]

I'd say in terms of club football that Zanetti has a better medal haul. They've both got 1 CL, but Zanetti has more Serie A crowns. Obviously Cafu has a couple of World Cups, but it's hard to say that a right back had a big hand in winning a World Cup.

Was going off the top of my head there, but surprised to realise Zanetti has more league titles!

 

[ah11984]

Maldini was the better defender but Zanetti was a fantastic footballer, played equally as well in midfield.

 

[bicycleheader]

Beckenbaur won it, and I think Sammer was a sweeper when he won it, but it's certainly not common.

I hate that Cannavaro won it. A horrible snidey defender who would regularly rake his studs down the back of attackers thighs. Has sent quite a few players off injured in his time.

 

[rascal]

Zanetti is certainly one of the best right backs of my lifetime, easily up there with Seamus Coleman.

 

[ArtetaMagic]

well from my time watching football...from mid/late 80s I think the right back slot would be up for grabs between Cafu and Zanetti.

Cafu again, would trump Zanetti as he is at least as good ability-wise but also has a decent medal haul to top Javier.

Yeah I think Cafu edges him personally, best RB of all time

 

[rascal]

Cafu rates Flanagan.

 

[RFUS]

Beckenbaur won it, and I think Sammer was a sweeper when he won it, but it's certainly not common.

It's because widespread recognition gets harder the further back you play.

Most fans just aren't that bright in my opinion. It's easy to look at goal statistics and rave about a player, but gauging a defender is harder. On top of that people just find attacking players more exciting.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Was going off the top of my head there, but surprised to realise Zanetti has more league titles!

Probably because Cafu spent arguably his peak years at Roma, where he managed just one title win. His most productive spell was when he moved to Milan, but he was already on the wane by that point imo, and was a lesser cog in an outstanding Milan side featuring the likes of Nesta, Maldini, Pirlo, Kaka and Shevchenko.

 

[bicycleheader]

Probably because Cafu spent arguably his peak years at Roma, where he managed just one title win. His most productive spell was when he moved to Milan, but he was already on the wane by that point imo, and was a lesser cog in an outstanding Milan side featuring the likes of Nesta, Maldini, Pirlo, Kaka and Shevchenko.

Very true, you are really jogging my memory here.

I reckon if Dani Alves had been at his best for longer than his Seville/First couple of seasons at Barça period he would have been a challenger. But he gave up defending properly, then slowly lost all ability in the final third. He used to be incredible though.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Maldini kind of helped to break the mould with fullbacks didn't he? When he first entered the Milan team, the full backs were very much of the Tassotti (sp) and Panucci school. They were defenders first and foremost, and if they could whip a cross in that was a bonus.

Maldini changed that though because he could do pretty much everything. He was unbeatable defensively, a supreme athlete, could play well with both feet, strong in the air yet skillful. Zanetti was similar, although probably slightly better going forward and less good defensively. Some of his runs were like a force of nature.

With regards to Cafu (and Roberto Carlos for that matter), I'm inclined to think that Jorginho and Leonardo were better fullbacks, but they were part of a weaker Brazil side so don't get the credit they perhaps deserved. Of course, in the 94 World Cup it was those two who kept Cafu and Roberto Carlos out of the side.