As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
SWLGooner wrote:Sagna is arguably the best right back in the world, don't think Dixon ever reached that level.
This must be a joke.
Have you ever seen a decent cross from him? His attacking abilities are substandard, his defensive skills are okay, but only slightly above average imo.
Seriously guys, Sagna is a good defender but no more. Still wanders off to join the attacking players when not appropriate (mostly to little effect) way too often for a supposedly defensive minded and experienced player, rather than assessing the options and making the right decision for each particular situation (like Dixon often used to). He just appears 'great' because a) he's not Eboue; b) he's better than the left back and his other defensive team-mates.
(Tin Hat firmly on!!)
Pound for pound Sagna is far and away the best in his position I've seen playing for Arsenal. Dropped into a better back four, he would excel far greater than, I for one think, he currently does.
Dixon I think is remembered too fondly and as part of THE back four has a reputation enhanced by at least 50%. I remember well how much he was slated for his crossing ability back in the day. Far worse than Sagna does these days.
And the thing that sticks out the most with Dixon, Paul fucking Parker used to get picked ahead of him in the England squads.
And I would argue Number 5 that Sagna is hardly renowned for putting in great crosses himself and, futher more, that Dixon was the better defender with superior organisational skills. Now I'll submit the point that had Sagna experienced the benefit of playing with the old back 4 and George Graham's coaching then this discussion would probably not even be taking place. But he didn't, which is sad because then we possibly would be talking abut the best right back in the world. So to conclude, based purely on what I want from my defenders, I'd have to pick Dicko ahead of Sagna every time.
Dixon falls down on the crossing more in my eyes because at the time, pumping balls into the box early and often was something we reallly played to. Whereas today its more of an after thought. And thats even if there is a player in the box in the first place. Both weren't the greatest at crossing but Dixon needed to be better purely from a tactical standpoint.
Right Back was my first position as a 9 year old and Dixon was my favourite player for a long time.
Perhaps its because we don't see quality defending on a regular basis these days, so when I do see it, it stands out more but I really like Sagna and have done from his first few games with us. His awareness, recovery ability and all out rock solid bastardness appeal to me.
I Hate Hleb wrote:Where's Djourou? Seriously though, it would be between Rice and Dixon - although I obviously didn't see Male, who allegedly was superb. Perhaps olgit can fill us in on how good he was?
You forgot Viv Anderson .. he would have had my vote .. he was like an exrta Center back when defending and a winger on attack ... i was gutted when Man Utd tapped him up.
