- Virgil van Dijk’s mistake against Arsenal led to a center back row in the Premier League
- Mail Sport’s Ian Ladyman has revealed his top five picks from the summit’s history
- IAN LADYMAN picks his top five centre-backs of all time in the Premier League – It all starts podcast
Ian Ladyman has revealed his top five centre-backs of all time in the Premier League Mailsport‘s podcast It’s All Kicking Off – with John Terry in first place.
Virgil van Dijk’s mistake during Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal looks set to spark a fierce debate over the rankings of several defensive superstars, with Manchester United supporters rooting for Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand’s corner.
Both giants did indeed make Ladyman’s cut, albeit at opposite ends of the group, as did one Manchester City Premier League winner and a true Chelsea legend.
During the latest edition of the podcast, Ladyman presented his selections in ascending order, starting fifth and working his way up to the winner.
‘I’m going Vincent KompanyNemanja Vidic, Virgil van Dijk, Rio Ferdinand and no. 1, John Terry,” Ladyman told Chris Sutton. ‘They’re my five.’
Ian Ladyman has revealed John Terry is his all-time best Premier League centre-half
Manchester United duo Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are also in Ladyman’s top five
Ladyman’s debate sparked by Virgil van Dijk’s mistake in Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal
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When asked why Terry was placed at the top, Ladyman replied: ‘Simply because: what do I want from a center half? I want reliability. I want leadership.
‘And thirdly, I also want someone who can pass the ball in a straight line.
‘He couldn’t pass the ball as well as Rio Ferdinand, but if I wanted someone to defend my life in the last five minutes of a cup final I would want John Terry there.
‘Just because he would do the core work. He did it, he had a long life and he was a winner. He was a winner.
“I didn’t look up exactly how many trophies he has, but he won, okay? We know he’s had bad moments, we’re not going to remind him of Moscow and the penalty and all that, although I have now. But I’m just thinking because of the reliability it was him.’
Intriguingly, Van Dijk would have topped the Ladyman rankings two seasons ago.
“In terms of ability, I would have put Van Dijk number 1 two seasons ago,” he added. ‘But I think you have to look at longevity in these polls.
Van Dijk would have topped Ladyman’s list two seasons ago after an unprecedented campaign
Vincent Kompany, winner of the Premier League title with Manchester City, is also on the bill
Chris Sutton advocated the inclusion of Tony Adams due to his memorable spell at Arsenal
“That season Van Dijk had when Liverpool won the Champions League, that statistic that no one dribbled a ball past him all season, that season was probably the best central defense I’ve ever seen in the Premier League.
‘But due to the injury he subsequently sustained in a match at Everton (damage to the anterior cruciate ligament), his level is not yet quite at that level.’
Sutton, meanwhile, stated that he would have included Arsenal great Tony Adams.
“Well, it’s not my list, it’s not my concern, but I would have had Tony Adams in there, somewhere from the earlier period,” Sutton revealed.