Up and coming Centre Halves

[Shaggy]

Erm....don't you remember Metzelder playing for Germany in the World Cup last year?
He was outstanding. He would be a truly great signing - would not come cheap, but definitely cheaper
than an English counterpart.

I meant in club football mate.

[dww]

That Mathijssen or whatever his name was who played for Holland was really good too. So was Heitinga, but I think he might have been a right back.

Heitinga was one of the people I was thinking of, I think he has played both positions. I like the way that a lot of Dutch defenders and midfielders are so versatile and good on the ball. I guess that it is unfair to say that because the most physical of their current national team defenders (Boularouhz) has had a poor start in the PL that they would all have problems.

[dirty_sanchez]

Yeah, but Boularouhz hasn't really had much time to settle in either don't forget. He was brilliant against Barcelona.

[Maestro]

I meant in club football mate.

Oh, ok.
I've only seen him play a few times this season myself, and he has been class.

[Shaggy]

Oh, ok.
I've only seen him play a few times this season myself, and he has been class.

I don't even know who he plays for. Is he still at Dortmund? If so it would maybe explain why I've not seen him - Dortmund don't seem to have featured in European competition for a while.

[Maestro]

I don't even know who he plays for. Is he still at Dortmund? If so it would maybe explain why I've not seen him - Dortmund don't seem to have featured in European competition for a while.

Yes. Ve get ze German Bundesliga in Wienna, so I am sumtimes seeing him playing for zem.

[Red_Polo]

Metzelder has long since struck me as a class player - seems to be injury prone though. Same with Johnny Heitinga. Bouma I do not rate at all tbh. Will be interesting to see how Kompany does give all the hype that's surrounded him.

[tomasjj]

Heitinga was one of the people I was thinking of, I think he has played both positions. I like the way that a lot of Dutch defenders and midfielders are so versatile and good on the ball. I guess that it is unfair to say that because the most physical of their current national team defenders (Boularouhz) has had a poor start in the PL that they would all have problems.

Now, maybe the physicality isn't the problem here, maybe it is just Boularz who is rash in the tackle and has bad positioning?

I don't think Agger is more physical than him, or harder for that matter.

Heitinga's progress was ruined by a couple of long term injuries. Before them, he looked like he was going to be a top player. I would still keep an eye on him.

Mathijsen, or what he is called, I don't know much about.

Mertesacker looked good in the WC.

[dww]

Now, maybe the physicality isn't the problem here, maybe it is just Boularz who is rash in the tackle and has bad positioning?

I don't think Agger is more physical than him, or harder for that matter.

I would accept that is every bit as likely, if not more so than the physicality thing. I was more commenting that I had sort of subconciously discredited the evidence I had of the Dutch defenders class because of Boularouhz. When I think about it rationally it is clearly the wrong thing to do, for the reasons both you and DS offered.

[tomasjj]

I would accept that is every bit as likely, if not more so than the physicality thing. I was more commenting that I had sort of subconciously discredited the evidence I had of the Dutch defenders class because of Boularouhz. When I think about it rationally it is clearly the wrong thing to do, for the reasons both you and DS offered.

What a mature response.
A breath of fresh air.