Carles Puyol

[-V-]

He is and has always been fantastic. The people who slag him off are the ones who never watch La Liga. He is the main reason Barcelona can attack so freely, they trust him to save them if the opposition counters

[Exiled_red]

I think he's a Carragher type defender, his style isn't pretty but it's effective, as such he's unlikely to make a list of great defenders as they tend to go for players with more elegance and grace in possession.

[Darkon]

I think he's a Carragher type defender, his style isn't pretty but it's effective, as such he's unlikely to make a list of great defenders as they tend to go for players with more elegance and grace in possession.

His skills in possesion are among the best in defenders, he passes well, controls the ball well and (almost) never hoofs it.

As an overall defender he is better than Carra and I have to agree with -V- that the people who slag him can't be seeing much La Liga. The only reason you don't see him control the ball as much as earlier now is that Pique has taken on that role for both barca and spain.

[Neil Young]

A few seasons ago he seemed always to stand 5 yards, at least, behind the rest of the defense playing people on side all the time. Since he has been partnered with Pique he seems not to feel the need to do that any more.

He does seem to be better with Pique although perhaps that's inevitable given his previous centre back partners at Barcap have been pretty ****, partly because they're central midfielders.

Although I can only remember Marquez and that steaming pile of cat crap, Edmilson.

[destinydude]

I would have said that too. Although he is obviously not an Agger, Ferdinand, Pique level defender with the ball at his feet he is much more composed than most.

I've never seen him play the ball well. It's just a myth like Carra said in his book.

[dww]

I've never seen him play the ball well. It's just a myth like Carra said in his book.

I'd disagree - He picks his balls into midfield really well. I'm not sure that Carragher would be the best judge of the quality of the pass out of defense given his own efforts