Who are the 5 best ball-playing CB's in the world (who can defend)?

Fortitude

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I don't think it's particularly difficult to name ball-playing defenders, but when actually being a competent - or even quality - defender is factored in, the exercise becomes incredibly difficult.

Pound-for-pound, all things considered, who are the 5 best CB's of this ilk active in the game?

I'm thinking when Sergio Ramos isn't being an absolute moron, he's probably numero uno in this category.
 
Ramos, Thiago Silva, Hummels and Boateng are top four in my opinion.
 
Something like Ramos, Hummels, T. Silva, Pique, David Luiz (yeah I know, but if you include Pique then this guy too)

Badstuber, Vertonghen and perhaps Benatia as outsiders?

Javi Martinez played CB for Bielsa, and maybe also a couple of times for Spain. I remember this one Bilbao vs. Barca where was brilliant as a CB.
 
Pique would be a good shout. A focussed Luis would be up there as well.

Varane has potential to be up there soon as well.
 
Hummels, Thiago Silva, Pique, David Luiz. The fifth one between Ramos and Boateng.
 
I can only honestly say Thiago Silva and Diego Godin who look consistently good. Other than those I'm a big fan of Smalling in his recent run of form.
 
I think Ramos, Varane, Boateng, Hummels and Pique are Tier 1. All of them are excellent at hitting it to midfielders' and strikers' feet and can hit a cross field ball pretty well.

Don't think Thiago Silva is quite the distributor they are, though he might be the best overall player.

I haven't seen a ton of him, but when I have Schar pops off the screen as able to do really great things on the ball, though also capable of an error when doing so.

Stones has the potential to get there. He's really comfortable in tight spaces for a CB.
 
The definition of 'ball-playing CB' is interesting when it comes to an era that doesn't use sweepers. I wouldn't class Thiago Silva as a ball-playing CB, I'm wondering why others are? Has he got the ability to hit consistent, distanced passes or play straight up and out of his defensive line with a forward pass?

I've not watched him in Ligue 1, but at international level and whilst he was in Italy, he tends/tended to just carry the ball up with a run and then lay it off to someone else, not saying that isn't a form of ball-playing, but it is a style I've never classed as ball-playing before.

Someone like Ramos has an amazing array of passes for a CB and he can cross a ball with serious whip, too. If he wasn't such a bone-head and twat, he'd be considerably higher rated, I think. His fundamentals are all sound and he can track a man solidly for 90 minutes if he's not being that idiot who gets sent off or loses his mind.

Pique was being called "Piquenbauer" for a time when he was at his very best for Barcelona, but his defending has always been hit and miss.

Not sure someone like Silva comes close to players like this with regard to technical acumen, even if he is a better defender than either of them.
 
John Terry is a very interesting one. He's a very good passer of the ball. I feel we'd have seen a lot more of his passing had he played in a less pragmatic club side than Chelsea.
 
Ramos, Hummels, Boateng, T. Silva, Pique are the best, imo.

I think Ramos and Boateng are the 2 best CBs in the world at this time. Hummels and Pique are probably the best with the ball at their feet.
 
Wednesday at Stoke said:
I can only honestly say Thiago Silva and Diego Godin who look consistently good. Other than those I'm a big fan of Smalling in his recent run of form.
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Godín and Smalling are hardly "ball playing".

On this season's form (or at least this year's form), Piqué has probably reclaimed his crown. Really impressive how well he's performed over the last few months.
 
Kompany is easily one of the best ball-playing CB's bar his past few months.
 
BobbyManc said:
Kompany is easily one of the best ball-playing CB's bar his past few months.
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What passes does Kompany hit that would warrant his inclusion as a ball-playing CB? I don't recall him doing anything that made me think of him in that way.
 
Pique, Ramos, Hummels, Boateng... Not sure about the 5th. Thiago Silva is a top defender but is he a ball playing center back really? His on the ball skills are decent, not too far better then normal though.
 
Fortitude said:
What passes does Kompany hit that would warrant his inclusion as a ball-playing CB? I don't recall him doing anything that made me think of him in that way.
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That's a notable example. But you can't seriously expect me to give specific examples of passes Kompany has done? He's a CB, not David Silva or Iniesta. But it's obvious from watching him he is very comfortable on the ball and has a good passing range. Don't forget he has played in midfield for a reasonable part of his career.
 
BobbyManc said:
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That's a notable example. But you can't seriously expect me to give specific examples of passes Kompany has done? He's a CB, not David Silva or Iniesta. But it's obvious from watching him he is very comfortable on the ball and has a good passing range. Don't forget he has played in midfield for a reasonable part of his career.
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The thing is, Kompany does stuff like that only when: unmarked, un-pressed and once in a blue moon (ahem) and certainly not enough of the time for it to be a notable part of his game, whereas true ball-playing CB's are a genuine threat that the opposition have to close down quickly or they'll consistently hurt them with rapier passes to intended targets. Can Kompany claim to have that level of ability?

I don't think playing in midfield as a ball-winner DM is indicative of a players' ability on the ball. For the most part, that's a very simple one-two job where you can get the ball off to a better outlet quickly and not have to do the spraying yourself. Kompany was never a deep-lying playmaker type ala Carrick or Pirlo who would sit at the base of midfield and ping the ball all over the place, so it's a pretty moot point.
 
Pique has been the best defender in the world this season.

He'd be joined by Ramos, Boateng, maybe Hummels but I'm finding it hard to rate him as a defender.

David Luiz should never make it anywhere near a discussion about the best defenders.
 
John Terry's ball-playing capabilities are terribly underrated. He's as good as any. Few are as equally competent with either foot.

Terry, Hummels, Badstuber, Boateng and Pique - albeit I maintain he's a very average defender - generally stand out. Luiz, likewise.
 
Fortitude said:
The thing is, Kompany does stuff like that only when: unmarked, un-pressed and once in a blue moon (ahem) and certainly not enough of the time for it to be a notable part of his game, whereas true ball-playing CB's are a genuine threat that the opposition have to close down quickly or they'll consistently hurt them with rapier passes to intended targets. Can Kompany claim to have that level of ability?

I don't think playing in midfield as a ball-winner DM is indicative of a players' ability on the ball. For the most part, that's a very simple one-two job where you can get the ball off to a better outlet quickly and not have to do the spraying yourself. Kompany was never a deep-lying playmaker type ala Carrick or Pirlo who would sit at the base of midfield and ping the ball all over the place, so it's a pretty moot point.
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Name me one player like that. There are some CB's who have a good eye for a pass but there is no one in the game who has the ability you're suggesting. A competent CB who also can split defences open at will? No chance.

And Kompany's past is not a moot point at all. He wouldn't have made a competent DM if he had no passing ability. Again, you seem to be suggesting he needs to be some sort of world class passer like Pirlo for that to be valid. Not many CB's can make the transition from CB to DM and the ones who do/did you can be sure are the ball-playing ones you seem to be describing.
 
Terry is exceptionally two footed, that is true, but he is hardly a ball playing CB.
 
any excuse to post this :drool:



not really ball-playing staff but to be fair he made the accurate pass in the end :D
 
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IMO probably only Hummels, Pique and Luiz are the standout CB's noted for their ball playing ability. The rest are just comfortable on the ball to which you can add other names like Terry, Cahill, Varane, Chiellini etc.
 
Are we classing Mascherano as a centre back? He plays there quite a lot and definitely deserves a mention.
 
Zoo said:
IMO probably only Hummels, Pique and Luiz are the standout CB's noted for their ball playing ability. The rest are just comfortable on the ball to which you can add other names like Terry, Cahill, Varane, Chiellini etc.
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Cahill seems to punt the ball as far as he can when pressed. He certainly has shooting technique and is a threat from set pieces, but since the arrival of Cesc and a more expansive style of football, he seems to struggle.
 
Obviously biased but I'd like to think Koscielny is up there. Especially if someone thinks Cahill counts as a ball playing CB.
 
Here's a name to keep in mind here, Jason Denayer. He's an excellent ball playing CB and he'll likely playing decent for City next year at age 20. He's a bit better than Kompany was at his age and a better athlete.
 
AllezLesDiables said:
Here's a name to keep in mind here, Jason Denayer. He's an excellent ball playing CB and he'll likely playing decent for City next year at age 20. He's a bit better than Kompany was at his age and a better athlete.
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Very hard to judge as he's playing in the SPL at present. Going by that basis, Van Dijk is also excellent on the ball. They both look like world class ball playing centre halves in the SPL but need to be tested at a higher level. I would be surprised if Celtic manage to keep Van Dijk past the summer. I can't see Denayer being anywhere near the City team next season.
 
Ramos Pique Miranda Garay Boateng Chiellini are the best ball playing CBs out there who are also good defenders. Out of all of them Boateng is the least error prone in my opinion both in terms of passing and without the ball as well.
 
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