John Terry

[Tielemans63]

Just been watching Chelsea's game with Valencia and JT was caught flat-footed four or five times in the second half and is lucky Valencia's forwards couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo.

I've never really been overly impressed with JT and wondered if I was the only one who thought that? He's a good player (obviously) but nowhere near as good as he's made out to be. For me, Rio and a fit Ledley King are far better defenders. Terry's reputation has been built on his 'lionheart' attitude but would he get into the Spain side? Holland? Brazil? Italy? No chance -technically he's average.

[Guest MattP]

Ledley King isn't fit to lace Terrys boots.

Rio has been dreadful for a couple of years now, at fault for a goal every game I see him play.

Phil Jones looks the best English youngster by a mile.

[MikeyT]

He used to be very good, but the last couple of seasons he has been very mediocre in my opinion and i'm not sure warrants a starting place in the England 11 when fit.

[One Arm Babba]

He never had pace and his legs have gone. I've always said John Terry would not be able to maintain a career at the highest level due to his lack of pace. If Chelsea had some pace at the back apart from Ashley Cole they would be a much stronger team. I think this could be JT's last season as a regular.

[purpleronnie]

Agree with previous posts the last 2 years he looks half the player he was, same with rio.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Dont like Terry btu he is much better than Ferdinand. I actually think he is shit, most over rated defender ever.

[Charl91]

I don't rate Terry OR Rio, both seem over-rated.

[somebum]

When Terry first came onto the scene, he reminded me a lot of Lothar Matthäus, especially the way he came forward with the ball and ran at the opposition. It was around 3 seasons ago that I started losing faith in his ability; he became like Jamie Carragher and relied too much on barging people out of the way. Right now i'd consider him a liability in the Champions League.

I find Ledley King a much better player. Rio lost the plot a few seasons back and had his best ever season in 2002 when he and Sol Campbell were the best defenders at the World Cup.

[Tielemans63]

Interesting to hear other's views. Surprised to read some people's opinion of Rio - although I'd say that he has waned in the last couple of years like JT. Agree with the comment that Phil Jones is the future - he's going to be awesome.

I'd still maintain that a fully fit Ledley King would have 80 caps by now - he's a more all round player IMHO. Same goes for Jonny Woodgate - he could have been an England great had he remained injury-free.

[Guest Bilo]

Not what he was that's for sure.

Time to hand over to the new generation so far as England are concerned.

[Guest BlueBrett]

Time to hand over to the new generation so far as England are concerned.

Absolutely. The 'Old Guard' have had their chances and blown them. Only fair now that the next generation gets a crack at taking on the world and their chances of success will only improve the sooner they are given the responsibility and the chance to develop together as a squad rather than feeling like they are in somebody else's house when they turn up for England duty with the likes of Terry and Lampard.

[Tielemans63]

Think he (JT) is a problem for Villas Boas & Chelsea. He's such an icon there but his best days are behind him now and he's slowly becoming a bit of a liability to the team. But how do you drop a guy who is that popular with the fans even if you wanted to? Look at the hysteria when Lamps was rested for one game and he's not Mr Chelsea like JT is. He's made himself just about undroppable.

[Austin]

Think he (JT) is a problem for Villas Boas & Chelsea. He's such an icon there but his best days are behind him now and he's slowly becoming a bit of a liability to the team. But how do you drop a guy who is that popular with the fans even if you wanted to? Look at the hysteria when Lamps was rested for one game and he's not Mr Chelsea like JT is. He's made himself just about undroppable.

Kind of like Carragher with Liverpool.

Because a player is idolised by the fans it makes it very hard to drop them from the starting 11 .. I do agree about JT, his best days are most definitely well and truly behind him!

[CKB]

Terry's reputation has been built on his 'lionheart' attitude but would he get into the Spain side? Holland? Brazil? Italy? No chance -technically he's average.

There aren't many English players especially defenders that are "techincally gifted" i could go on a rant about grass roots football but i won't, i don't wanna bore you all haha

Agreed though about JT, he still has something to offer i think but he isn't what he was! Soon i think he will find himself down the England pecking order.. Jones, Cahill are certainly the future.. It's such a pity Ledley King had such a horrible run with injuries because he would have been first choice i reckon and JT may have not even got a look in much!

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Ledley King isn't fit to lace Terrys boots.

Rio has been dreadful for a couple of years now, at fault for a goal every game I see him play.

Phil Jones looks the best English youngster by a mile.

Agree with the last two points, Ferdinand looks like he may well have had his day, but there's no doubt in my mind that, were it not for injuries, King would've usurped one of either Terry or Ferdinand's centre half places for England.

Such a shame he's a sick note, incredible talent.

[Finnegan]

He's no Danny Gabbidon.

[Fox92]

Good job Gary Neville isn't signed up, he would be calling for Wes Brown

[FoxyPV]

Never been his biggest fan.

Seems to embody the throw your body on the line but with little other skill type defender.

He has the turning circle of a double decker bus.

Never understood the hype but maybe it's be cause he shows ppaassshhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuuuuunn.

[Fox92]

Never understood the hype but maybe it's be cause he shows ppaassshhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuuuuunn.

I think thats why. He will always put his body on the line, I remember last years World Cup when he put his head in the way of a shot.

I do think most English National players are abit overrated, the National Team always fails to deliver. But then again, this can fall into the debate that our coaches don't work on technical stuff with the players at a young age. Anyway, in another topic, wasn't Terry included in the Worst England Team ever?

[James.]

I think thats why. He will always put his body on the line, I remember last years World Cup when he put his head in the way of a shot.

It does puzzle me why people focus on (and remember) things like this. Surely any respectable defender should put whatever he can in the way of a shot.

We should also not forget that he is an utter cunt so his demise can't happen soon enough for me.

[Fox92]

It does puzzle me why people focus on (and remember) things like this. Surely any respectable defender should put whatever he can in the way of a shot.

I agree. I was just making the point that this maybe one of the reason's people rate him highly, but I agree that all defenders should defend a shot in whatever way, such as blocking.

There are some English defenders that are under-rated and I think could play for England, such as Roger Johnson.

[GLC]

Laughed hard at this at the time

[BrummieFOX]

Ledley King isn't fit to lace Terrys boots.

Rio has been dreadful for a couple of years now, at fault for a goal every game I see him play.

Phil Jones looks the best English youngster by a mile.

Ledley King when fit is easily England's best centre back. Such a shame for him and us that he has so many problems with his knee. He doesn't event train.

Phil Jones looks a good prospect yea, but he's only received rave reviews because of his charges forwards. No one has even cared to discuss his defensive merits. From what I saw of him a Blackburn and few games at United he looks competent but surely too hard to tell whether he's going to go on to be a 'great' player.

Everyone said the same about Jonny Evans when he first broke in to the United team.

[Guest MattP]

Ledley King when fit is easily England's best centre back. Such a shame for him and us that he has so many problems with his knee. He doesn't event train.

Phil Jones looks a good prospect yea, but he's only received rave reviews because of his charges forwards. No one has even cared to discuss his defensive merits. From what I saw of him a Blackburn and few games at United he looks competent but surely too hard to tell whether he's going to go on to be a 'great' player.

Everyone said the same about Jonny Evans when he first broke in to the United team.

Agree on Jones, I said "prospect" - not even close the finished article yet.

Sorry I don't get the King love, yes he's a good player but I've seen him at fault for so many goals,, never at any point did I view him as an international centre back. I remember Hskey tearing him to bits on a couple of occasion.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Sorry I don't get the King love, yes he's a good player but I've seen him at fault for so many goals,, never at any point did I view him as an international centre back. I remember Hskey tearing him to bits on a couple of occasion.

I don't like defenders who hold the shirts of other players. The only defender here who doesn't do that and sometimes still gets the ball off my feet easily is Ledley King. He is the only guy who doesn't hold players. He will get the ball off you without you even noticing. For me, that is a great defender. He plays without any contact yet is somehow still strong and gets the ball without doing any fouls.

Thierry Henry - The finest striker the Premier League has ever seen.