2016 has been a tremendous year for the Premier League; we’ve seen Leicester win the title with sharp and high-paced blitzes, a fresh influx of top players and coaches with high-pressing and tempo, as well as many high scoring and entertaining games in the most competitive league in the world.
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Of course, with this trend towards imposing an attacking philosophy, many teams are leaving themselves vulnerable at the back, and consequently, the defending has not lived up to the standards of yesteryear.
Also read: Ranking the Premier League's top 5 midfielders in 2016
While you won’t see the likes of Ferdinand and Vidic, or Terry at his pomp on this list, the following players have emerged above the crop as the most reliable (or maybe just capable) witnesses for the defence. Here are the top 10 PL defenders of 2016.
#10 Nicolas Otamendi
City really have had trouble dealing with the horrendous injury record of their captain Vincent Kompany in the past few years. Although they are still some way from returning to the Kompany led levels of their title winning campaigns, Nicolas Otamendi has been the best of the rest in the meantime.
A good all-round player who fits in well with Guardiola’s style of play, he has frequently been the man making the all-important clearances and providing the proverbial drums to City’s improvising orchestra. Though occasionally guilty of an odd solo riff, he is the most dependable defender on a team that expects to challenge on two fronts. Look no further than City’s win at Old Trafford for the proof on this one.
#9 David Luiz
The occasionally enigmatic Brazilian has been far from the free spirit that had Chelsea fans screaming for both joy and terror in his first run with the team.
Thriving in the libero spot in Conte’s system, his range of passing, ability to handle one on ones, and willingness to build from the back have been very important in Chelsea’s success the first half of this season. His pace at the back was something they were sorely missing at the start of the year and Luiz looks to be a fixture in the side in the coming years as the faces around him are set to change.
His heroics were on full display in the lucky escape at the Etihad at the start of December. Though he should have been sent off in the same game, his last ditch tackles and blocks kept Chelsea in the game before they were able to counter their way to victory. It remains to be seen if he can remain a calming presence as the last man when the pressure continues to mount.
(Video Courtesy: CFC Videos Youtube Channel)
#8 Chris Smalling
Although injuries have kept him out of consideration as among the league’s best, Smalling’s growth to essentially become Manchester United’s captain in the past 18 months deserves some recognition.
While most of his teammates have faltered, be they the attack, his midfield protection, or even his defensive partners, Smalling has taken the brunt of many opposition attacks and held up well.
Arguments to suggest Daley Blind or Marcos Rojo have faired just as well at centre back have fallen by the wayside. A number of ‘Man of the Match’ performances last season, most notably in the derby win against City, should leave no doubt who the best defender in red is.
If United can retain him and De Gea, it is hard to imagine Mourinho’s side remaining outside the top 4 and even title contention in the months and years to come.
(Video Courtesy: Matthews Football Youtube Channel)
#7 Virgil Van Dijk
Managers and players may come and go at Southampton, but their excellent defensive record always seems to remain. Snapped up from Celtic in 2015, Van Dijk has been a perfect compliment and frankly an upgrade on the also great Jose Fonte.
Certainly the most consistent partnership in the league, their excellent play saw Southampton qualify for the Europa League, and the continuing high standard of play from Van Dijk is attracting a lot of interest from the world’s biggest clubs.
Dominant in the air and increasingly relentless the closer an attacker gets to his goal, the Dutchman brings up memories of old-school warriors on the pitch, yet also has enough skill and composure to stand out as a potential upgrade for even the best clubs.
With standout performances aplenty it is hard to pick out a single highlight, but rubbing the salt into Spurs’ wounds at the end of last season at White Hart Lane, cancelling out Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, should take the cake.
Video Courtesy: Defense is an art Youtube Channel
#6 Danny Rose
Danny Rose has continually progressed to become the best full back in the league. Both an attacking dynamo and a consistent force in the league’s stingiest defence, Rose can do it all, and he has left potential competition for a spot on the national team in Bertrand, Shaw and Baines in the dust.
His stiffest challenger for No.1 full-back is probably his teammate on the opposite flank: Kyle Walker. Separating them is really a matter of perspective, one can lean towards the left since Rose tends to have less cover ahead of him in Lamela or Eriksen vs. harder working Son and Sissoko on the other flank. Despite this, Spurs’ No.3 owns the left side and has put in more tackles, interceptions and clearances than No.2.
His ability to influence the game from left-back has been on display many times, but his screamer against Swansea back in February kept Spurs in the title race, and keeps us wondering how good he might become.
Video Courtesy: M10Tavares1- Youtube Channel
#5 Ashley Williams
Were he just a few years younger, Ashley Williams would have been one of the hottest names in the transfer market this past summer for his performances with Wales and reputation as a strong centre back at an established PL club. As it is, he is 32, and he was snapped up from Swansea by Everton as a replacement for John Stones, and has only continued his impressive run as the league stats king in defending.
In American sports, they would have an array of nicknames for someone who blocks as often as Williams does, but perhaps his most noted indicator of value is his previous club’s fortune. Captaining them to a League Cup triumph and an 8th place finish in 2014-15, Swansea are no longer an established club, having conceded almost as many goals this season as in the entirety of all of their previous years in the top flight.
Meanwhile, Everton have moved on from a shaky defence tag, attached to them while Martinez was in charge, and thanks to Willliams’ performances are the next team after the heavy spending ‘big 6’.
Man City must be wondering why they paid so much for Stones when Williams was denying them time after time in their league game, and ending their 100% home record under their new boss.
Video Courtesy: Defense is an art Youtube Channel
#4 Cesar Azpilicueta
From an indispensible international starter to an international squad player, Azpilicueta seems to be doomed to play the Arbeloa-esque backup full back simply because he can play both sides. While Juanfran, Alba and Carvajal may shade him out for Spain, he is proving to be irreplaceable for Chelsea where he is again playing in a new position.
From left back, to right wing back, to ball playing centre back supporting Victor Moses, Azpilicueta seems to fit seamlessly wherever Chelsea’s latest manager has a hole to plug. This is not to diminish him as a player though, as his man marking is as close to shutdown as you see in England, and being adept on the ball helps as well.
Jamie Carragher described him as the best defender in the league following a recent clean sheet and assist against Crystal Palace. With the 3-4-3 formation making the Blues very tough to beat, many others may be saying that sooner rather than later.
Video Courtesy: GAEBBA Youtube Channel
#3 Wes Morgan
Leicester’s captain fantastic may be too high on this list for some, but the year he had leading the Foxes to perhaps the most shocking title win of our lifetimes, is something very few players will experience, and would be a travesty to downplay.
Even with Leicester’s slump in form in the latter half of 2016, the impression Morgan made seemingly game after game in the spring, be it through organisation, clearances, and even vital goals, could be held up as some of the most inspired in league history.
The epitome of leadership down the stretch, everyone appeared to buy into the belief that the impossible was going to happen, and his performance to push the team 7 points clear at the top against Southampton in April will certainly stay with Leicester fans for some time.
Video Courtesy: Fortaleza Productions
#2 Laurent Koscielny
It’s almost hard to believe that the same guy who had only played one year of top flight football in France, and had his struggles early on for Arsenal, would more than six years later become one of the best defenders in the league.
The undoubted master of the interception in 2016, Koscielny has the enviable ability to turn defence into attack swiftly, and is now at the peak of his powers for both the Gunners and the French national side.
He should get even more credit for maintaining his impressive form as his central defensive partners for club and country kept being downed by the injury bug. Mertersacker, Gabriel, Holding, Varane, Sakho, Mathieu, Umtiti can all be thankful for the experience and composure the veteran has been able to provide.
In the new season he seems to have found an ideal dance partner in Mustafi, a connection that might finally break Arsenal’s unfortunate legacy of struggles at the back and deliver some major silverware back to north London.
More performances like Koscielny’s against Diego Costa in September would certainly make it a real possibility.
Video Courtesy:Mathews Football
#1 Toby Alderweireld
The last name of my list compels me to say that the names and the order they appear above have been my opinion and naturally subject to the biases I may have as a football watcher. While narratives and/or stats can be tweaked to fit most arguments, the one selection I am bold enough to declare fact is that Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld was easily the best Premier League defender of 2016.
Possessing all the traits desired in a defender, it is his intelligence and remarkable consistency game to game that makes him head and shoulders above the rest (even his teammate Vertonghen). He boosted Spurs to the league’s best defensive record last season, playing with Vertonghen but also with newly minted Kevin Wimmer, as well as Pochettino’s full back carousel.
They began the season not conceding a goal from open play and thoroughly out working Man City (maybe I’m giving their attack too much credit). As Alderweireld falls, the rest of the team’s league form dips and they crash out of the Champions League.
The implication is clear, and the hope is that as he gets back into the starting lineup, Spurs return to their resolute best. Led by the top defender going at the moment, they can’t be ruled out of anything yet.
Video Courtesy: Mathews Football
Honourable mentions
Joel Matip
As my co-host on the ALPLP likes to tell me on a seemingly weekly basis, Liverpool’s defensive woes are overblown and this man Matip can cover them up on the way to the title. While he has had a very swift transition to the league from Germany, his limited appearances and lack of cohesion with the Liverpool backline cost him here.
Ben Gibson
Being nephew of the chairman really has nothing to do with it. The young man has continued his good form in the Championship from last season and is immediately paying back the new deal he signed in the summer. Middlesbrough have the best defensive record in the bottom half by a significant margin, and if the goals don’t come to keep Gibson in the league, big money from another club will.
