The controversy over who the very best Premier League centre-back of all-time has re-emerged this week, with John Terry and Virgil van Dijk on the centre of it.
Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant sparked the controversy on talkSPORT, claiming Van Dijk’s longevity within the recreation is a cause why he’s the very best, whereas additionally saying he would relatively face Terry in a one-on-one ‘day-after-day of the week’.
It garnered a reply from Terry by way of a TikTok video, filmed in entrance of his huge trophy cupboard, wherein the previous Chelsea captain advised Pennant to ‘get his stats proper’.
‘There’s just one one that has received probably the most targets as a defender in Premier League historical past and that is me. I even have probably the most clear sheets in historical past and when you’re evaluating myself and Virgil, then I’ve extra trophies than him as nicely.
‘Additionally, you introduced up a extremely good level. On the age of 34, within the season of 2014/15, I performed each single minute of each recreation for Chelsea, successful the league in that season with Mourinho as our supervisor.
‘So guys, that is over to you, I like the controversy, I like being amongst it, I am actually happy with what I’ve completed within the Premier League, but it surely’s clearly over to you guys to settle the controversy… I am simply joyful to be amongst it.’
Every day Mail Sport has now entered the controversy, with our reporters placing ahead their arguments for who’s the best defender of the Premier League period.
The controversy over whether or not Virgil van Dijk or John Terry is the best defender in Premier League historical past re-emerged this week
Terry, filming in entrance of his huge trophy cupboard, mentioned he was honoured to be within the dialogue however that it was as much as others to debate
Every day Mail Sport reporters have given their verdict on who they assume is the very best defender within the Premier League period
Nemanja Vidic
Some contend that Rio Ferdinand was the larger defender of the central pairing in Manchester United’s workforce of serial winners. However Vidic is the best of all for me, along with his absolute fearlessness and uncompromising strategy. What a warrior spirit. He thrived in a much more uncompromising period, accumulating 5 Premier League titles, a Champions League and Premier League Participant of the Season in 2009 and 2011.
For precise defending, Virgil van Dijk does not come shut, effective although his class and anticipation have been. John Terry? You are joking? For aerial energy, aggression and willingness to defend on the entrance foot, Vidic was vastly superior to him.
Ian Herbert
Nemanja Vidic is vastly superior to Terry, and Van Dijk’s defending ranges do not come shut
John Terry
Virgil van Dijk’s peak round 2019, when he completed second within the Ballon d’Or behind Lionel Messi, was maybe marginally increased than John Terry’s. I am going to hearken to these arguments.
However with regards to sheer longevity of sustaining their high degree – there have been greater than 10 years between his first and final two league titles – his half within the meanest Premier League defence of all-time, his management, his understanding of the sport, the sheer quantity of trophies, it is Terry for me. Ashley Cole runs him a detailed second.
The title I need to say, after all, is Wes Morgan. Leicester bias entrance and centre, the man performed each minute within the best triumph in Premier League historical past.
And, look, I interviewed Callum Wilson the opposite month, a person who is aware of loads about Premier League defenders, and he was requested to call the three hardest he’d confronted in his profession. The primary title off his lips? Massive Wes. I relaxation my case.
James Sharpe
Terry’s management, his understanding of the sport and the sheer quantity of trophies makes him the very best
Virgil van Dijk
John Terry might need extra trophies – he loved reminding everybody of them when sitting at house, recording his video for Jermaine Pennant – however Virgil van Dijk has extra class in his recreation.
Van Dijk was the signing that remodeled a soccer membership, the explanation Liverpool have been in a position to win virtually each piece of silverware that’s on supply from 2019 onwards. The actual fact Liverpool followers can point out him in the identical breath as Alan Hansen (the best of all of them) is the one proof you should see the standard the Netherlands worldwide exudes.
Van Dijk ticks each field – fast, sturdy, tactically adept, disciplined, good in possession, faultless in his use of the ball and a weapon within the opposing penalty space.
This, it have to be famous, is to not degraded Terry, who was completely excellent in a unique period. It is simply displaying that Van Dijk – on this observer’s opinion – has taken defending on a degree.
A phrase too, although, on Manchester Metropolis’s John Stones: have a look at his trophy assortment and the category that runs by way of his recreation. On his day, Stones was genuinely world class.
Dominic King
Van Dijk was a signing that remodeled Liverpool and led them to 2 Premier League titles
Rio Ferdinand
A gifted defender with tempo and panache in abundance who learn the sport beautifully over practically 20 years within the Premier League.
Ferdinand benefitted from taking part in alongside some effective central defensive companions at Manchester United – not least the rugged Nemanja Vidic – however he was a cornerstone of Ferguson’s final nice workforce and a star of England’s so-called Golden Technology.
Not many gamers can match his medal haul that features successful the Champions League and 6 Premier League titles.
Chris Wheeler
Ferdinand was a cornerstone of Alex Ferguson’s final nice workforce and was a gifted defender with tempo and panache in abundance
John Terry
That is a type of debates the place I believe you may make a whole lot of actually credible arguments for a handful of gamers like Virgil van Dijk, Nemanja Vidic and Vincent Kompany.
However I am going with Terry as a result of on the pitch he mixed elite degree play with the gold normal for management.
A five-time league champion who additionally maintained top of the range over an extended time period. Absolutely the gold normal with regards to Premier League defenders.
Nathan Salt
