Cristian Chivu to Milan?

[mk18]

no i dont think so... i still think maldini is the best... hes more solid there, nesta commits some mistakes at times

[Warro Bantan]

Maldini the best CB? Come on now...lets be real...he is an excellent ball winner and reader of the game, but very suspect in the air...his talent level overall tends to compensate for this, but he is often beaten in the air...and I remember an embarassing situation vs Korea in the WCup when he allowed a goal becuase he mistimed an arial challenge.

So, while he is still an excellent player, he is, IMO definately not the best CB in the world currently...nor will he be in the future. Unfortunately, his age alone prevents him from attaining this title.

[mk18]

i was expecting this kind of response from everyone... but i will always thik that maldini is the best CB in the world

[Laudrup]

He was - by far - the best center back a few years ago, the season where we won the CL and the old man was in third for the golden ball, a spectacular achievement for a defender.

Today, he's still among the best.

[Xudong]

I wouldn't want to trade a 40-year maldini for anybody else.

[Milan3869]

great post warro....maldini is suspect in the air....still a great player but not a typical CB people look for, like nesta!

[Mehdi]

If he is injured, which I doubt, why on Earth would we replace him with a cripple like Chivu?

[Xudong]

Originally Posted by Mehdi

If he is injured, which I doubt, why on Earth would we replace him with a cripple like Chivu?

Good point, chivu is indeed injury-prone.

[Laudrup]

Originally Posted by Milan3869

great post warro....maldini is suspect in the air....still a great player but not a typical CB people look for, like nesta!

I've seen Maldini neutralize Vieri - who's considered one of the best in the air in world football - live on two occasions.

He may not be Martin Laursen (thank God) but the aerial game isn't a weakness on his part.

"suspect in the air" - tsk tsk

[Warro Bantan]

Thanks Milan3869!

Ahh, Laudrup...do I sense the beginning of another in the series of our famous debates?

Defending against Vieri, is all well and good, but to allow a Korean, shorter than himself, to score because of a mistimed arial challenge, to score what I believe was the winning goal for S. Korea in a world cup quarter final(?) is to me the bigger issue, and only one example, but a glaring one, of his weakness in this area his defensive game.

I will not deny that in our CL winning season, he was brilliant at CB, but who did Juve have competing against him in the final (for example?)..and who did he face as real and significant arial threats in the lead up to that Manchester final?

Should I dredge up more hurtful memories: such as the Euro semifinal loss? If he want partly to blame for the last minute winner...then who was?

Neutralizing Vieri (the Inter version) is no big claim to fame in my book, as that version of Vieri was never really on top form. This new model Vieri may (and hopefully is) an improved, more motivated Vieri....but that is besides the point..

Let me also add that in the Depor debacle, he was distinctly responsible for one of the goals if not more (as far as I can remember, and Nesta was also at fault for one or 2)...

I am one of Maldini´s biggest fans, but I at least try to be honest in my assessment of him. He is a world class defender, where ever he choses to play in defense, but he is NOT the best in the world at CB, and as he ages, his unchallenge-able position as the world´s best LB is becoming more and more challenge-able.

Suffice it to say that Maldini is one of my favourite players, but he can only improve with age to a point...wine improves with age, until it turns to vinegar.

I just hope San Paolo will retire before CH3CH2COOH replaces the Maldini on the back of his jersey.

[Laudrup]

Should I dredge up more hurtful memories

I'd rather multiply those few examples with 100 and there you have all the glory.

Defending against Vieri, is all well and good, but to allow a Korean, shorter than himself, to score because of a mistimed arial challenge, to score what I believe was the winning goal for S. Korea in a world cup quarter final(?) is to me the bigger issue, and only one example, but a glaring one, of his weakness in this area his defensive game.

Maldini had only recently recovered from a bad injury, was very far from an ideal physical condition and as a consequence had a weak WC not only in the aerial game. As you could only expect the negative-minded were writing off the captain. I wonder if they felt stupid one year later.

I am one of Maldini´s biggest fans, but I at least try to be honest in my assessment of him.

Very good. But instead it seems to me that you let yourself become hypnotized by a few errors (the man has played for 20 + years, you could go on for a while if you were to list all of them).

Neutralizing Vieri (the Inter version) is no big claim to fame in my book, as that version of Vieri was never really on top form.

Ehm, Warro, 02/03 as an example Vieri scored 24 goals in 23 Serie A games. Not on top form? You shouldn't play down the form of Maldini that year. I had the privilege to attend the 2nd Serie A derby that season (1-0 Pippo) and hence was in a good position to see Maldini win 9/10th of all aerial challenges with Vieri (for the record it was like that until the point when Vieri chose to break Maldini's nose).

[Warro Bantan]

Originally Posted by Laudrup

I'd rather multiply those few examples with 100 and there you have all the glory.

naa..it isnt worth it...

Maldini had only recently recovered from a bad injury, was very far from an ideal physical condition and as a consequence had a weak WC not only in the aerial game. As you could only expect the negative-minded were writing off the captain. I wonder if they felt stupid one year later.

Writing off the captain is something I would never do..

it seems to me that you let yourself become hypnotized by a few errors (the man has played for 20 + years, you could go on for a while if you were to list all of them).

What I was listing Laudrup, were glaring examples of his arial weakness...there are too few errors when he has played at LB to speak about, and my argument remains focused on my belief that he is a better LB than CB, and as such IMO he isnt one of the all time great CBs.

Ehm, Warro, 02/03 as an example Vieri scored 24 goals in 23 Serie A games. Not on top form? You shouldn't play down the form of Maldini that year. I had the privilege to attend the 2nd Serie A derby that season (1-0 Pippo) and hence was in a good position to see Maldini win 9/10th of all aerial challenges with Vieri (for the record it was like that until the point when Vieri chose to break Maldini's nose).

Wont argue with you on this one however, that was one match...and ok, so it was vs an inform Vieri...fine with me...still doesnt totally erode my position Laudrup!

En garde!

[Milan3869]

hey laudrup, im not saying maldini is not good at CB, hes simply not the best...maldini made his name as a great LB....it was not until his age that he made the move to CB....maldini was and still is a great player!!!!!!!!

[Roger Nolli]

I think that Chivu or/and Cicinho will be great here.

[prifess]

cicnhio is gone to barcelona btw in januari. already setteled a deal with them, u can forget em.

chivu would be great or kompany. next year: +-20mil€ and we have em.

watch kompany against chelsea... 1ste match Champions league.

he vs crespo, drogba, joe cole, duff, ...
heheh