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What with Kolarov allegedly abusing members of the crowd and Clichy signing a new contract, there has been quite a lot of left back discussion on here along the lines of 'I loved when Michael Ball stamped on Ronaldo', 'at least Stephen Jordan would have attempted a tackle' and 'Thatcher would have killed him'.

It got me thinking about the left backs I have seen in my time as a fan (basically, since the start of the Premier League era) - so I've ranked the top ten that I actually remember and encourage you to do the same, or at least slate my list and question how long I have actually been a fan. My rankings are based on my opinion of their playing skills:

1. Clichy 2. Phelan 3. Tiatto 4. Kolarov 5. Ball 6. Jensen 7. Tarnat 8. Pearce 9. Garrido 10. Granville

It would also be interesting to hear about some of the guys too poor to make this list. Thatcher, Jordan, Frontzeck all instantly spring to mind. (Edit - remembered Wayne Bridge but I'm going to pretend he didn't happen)
Not much behind this other than a bit of light relief and a belief that we have probably never had it better at left back.

roblues wrote:What with Kolarov allegedly abusing members of the crowd and Clichy signing a new contract, there has been quite a lot of left back discussion on here along the lines of 'I loved when Michael Ball stamped on Ronaldo', 'at least Stephen Jordan would have attempted a tackle' and 'Thatcher would have killed him'.

It got me thinking about the left backs I have seen in my time as a fan (basically, since the start of the Premier League era) - so I've ranked the top ten that I actually remember and encourage you to do the same, or at least slate my list and question how long I have actually been a fan. My rankings are based on my opinion of their playing skills:

1. Clichy 2. Phelan 3. Tiatto 4. Kolarov 5. Ball 6. Jensen 7. Tarnat 8. Pearce 9. Garrido 10. Granville

It would also be interesting to hear about some of the guys too poor to make this list. Thatcher, Jordan, Frontzeck all instantly spring to mind. (Edit - remembered Wayne Bridge but I'm going to pretend he didn't happen)
Not much behind this other than a bit of light relief and a belief that we have probably never had it better at left back.

Garrido that low down & below Ball. You've had a mare there...

1. Kolarov

2. Tiatto

3. Stuart Pearce

The end.

Mase wrote:1. Kolarov

2. Tiatto

3. Stuart Pearce

The end.

Mase i know you have big man love for Kolarov but he is total shite for the job he is employed for and that's defending.

The End.

SteveHPage wrote:

roblues wrote:What with Kolarov allegedly abusing members of the crowd and Clichy signing a new contract, there has been quite a lot of left back discussion on here along the lines of 'I loved when Michael Ball stamped on Ronaldo', 'at least Stephen Jordan would have attempted a tackle' and 'Thatcher would have killed him'.

It got me thinking about the left backs I have seen in my time as a fan (basically, since the start of the Premier League era) - so I've ranked the top ten that I actually remember and encourage you to do the same, or at least slate my list and question how long I have actually been a fan. My rankings are based on my opinion of their playing skills:

1. Clichy 2. Phelan 3. Tiatto 4. Kolarov 5. Ball 6. Jensen 7. Tarnat 8. Pearce 9. Garrido 10. Granville

It would also be interesting to hear about some of the guys too poor to make this list. Thatcher, Jordan, Frontzeck all instantly spring to mind. (Edit - remembered Wayne Bridge but I'm going to pretend he didn't happen)
Not much behind this other than a bit of light relief and a belief that we have probably never had it better at left back.

Garrido that low down & below Ball. You've had a mare there...

I could be wrong about this, but did Sven not drop Garrido in favour of Ball? They both lacked pace, Garrido was better on the ball but Ball's positioning and tackling was superior and he, along with Mpenza, settled us down under Pearce when things were threatening to go wrong

Scott Hiley and Craig Russell also had spells at LB for us. And were shit.

I'd have Jensen and Pearce high up the list.

I remember left backs of the quality of Glyn Pardoe and Willie Donachie. Both were terrific beyond description.

Paul Power was, at times, used in that position and performed admirably, whilst young Tommy Caton occasionally filled in there when necessary.

In the 1980s we had Bobby McDonald who was a fine, cultured player and we also had Clive Wilson.......and who could ever forget Andy Hinchliffe !!??

I'd love to have any of these characters in the team today; they'd be a revelation alongside the quality already there.

people forget how shit we were! kolarov only looks shit now, because everyone around is so much better.

Zabba at Lb beats half that list easily.

Pretty Boy Lee wrote:Zabba at Lb beats half that list easily.

Until we signed Clichy, he was our best left back in the squad. Now he's just the second best. Followed by Lescott, Barry, Nasri, Silva, Aguero, Hart and Kidd.

Yep, just rechecked that list and there's no current left backs missing.

Blue Since 76 wrote:
Until we signed Clichy, he was our best left back in the squad. Now he's just the second best. Followed by Lescott, Barry, Nasri, Silva, Aguero, Hart and Kidd.

Yep, just rechecked that list and there's no current left backs missing.

Hahaha cover your eyes before you're mased!

roblues wrote:What with Kolarov allegedly abusing members of the crowd and Clichy signing a new contract, there has been quite a lot of left back discussion on here along the lines of 'I loved when Michael Ball stamped on Ronaldo', 'at least Stephen Jordan would have attempted a tackle' and 'Thatcher would have killed him'.

It got me thinking about the left backs I have seen in my time as a fan (basically, since the start of the Premier League era) - so I've ranked the top ten that I actually remember and encourage you to do the same, or at least slate my list and question how long I have actually been a fan. My rankings are based on my opinion of their playing skills:

1. Clichy 2. Phelan 3. Tiatto 4. Kolarov 5. Ball 6. Jensen 7. Tarnat 8. Pearce 9. Garrido 10. Granville

It would also be interesting to hear about some of the guys too poor to make this list. Thatcher, Jordan, Frontzeck all instantly spring to mind. (Edit - remembered Wayne Bridge but I'm going to pretend he didn't happen)
Not much behind this other than a bit of light relief and a belief that we have probably never had it better at left back.

Swap Pearce and kolarov's rankings and the list would be more accurate

Pearce moving up seems to be a popular one, I only had him down at 8 as he never got any playing time against Premier League opposition for us, at least in the league. I didn't include Zab, Edghill, Lescott, Russell or Paul Ritchie as they aren't orthodox left backs.

Tony Vaughan played left back for a bit. He was also shit though.

buy luke shaw and loan him back to soton

Neil Pointon, who was shat on when he asked for a deserved rise

Shocking that there's no mention of Andy Hinchcliffe in this topic. Better than anyone mentioned here.
Clichy is second, Pearce third. I liked Jensen and Tiatto as well. Ball did job for us considering the circumstances. Rest were shit. I never liked even Garrido much.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:Shocking that there's no mention of Andy Hinchcliffe in this topic. Better than anyone mentioned here.
Clichy is second, Pearce third. I liked Jensen and Tiatto as well. Ball did job for us considering the circumstances. Rest were shit. I never liked even Garrido much.

I could have sworn I'd included him in my earlier post, in this thread.........

Wasn't Laurent Charvet a left back? I do know that he was shite.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:Shocking that there's no mention of Andy Hinchcliffe in this topic. Better than anyone mentioned here.
Clichy is second, Pearce third. I liked Jensen and Tiatto as well. Ball did job for us considering the circumstances. Rest were shit. I never liked even Garrido much.

Hinchcliffe was just before my time unfortunately, as far as City goes.
Garrido had probably the worst game any full back has had in a City shirt while I've been around, away at Chelsea in that 6-0 demolition, but I thought for the majority of the time that he was quietly efficient.