Is John Terry The Best CB In The League?
It is said that strikers win you matches but defenders win you championships. With Chelsea on the cusp of lifting the Premier League title for the third time under Jose Mourinho, the spotlight is on the backbone of their defence, their captain John Terry. Following the goalless draw against Arsenal at the Emirates, Jose Mourinho claimed it was Terry’s best performance in a Chelsea shirt. Liverpool veteran, Jamie Carragher, also declared that Terry was the best defender the League had ever seen. So let us try and see if John Terry actually stands shoulders above the other defenders in the league.
Terry has spent the same time on the pitch as other defensive stalwarts in the league with the exception of Vincent Kompany who has been in too poor a form to be let loose on the pitch. The Chelsea skipper has the second highest passing percentage but then again Martin Skrtel has played 5 games less than Terry. Moving on to his defensive duties, Terry has performed them with due diligence but not better than the rest. 33 tackles and 27 interceptions are impressive but Everton’s Phil Jagielka has worked harder than him in recovering the ball this season with 37 tackles and 53 interceptions.
Discipline levels have been high though for John Terry, finding himself in the referees’ book just once in 33 games. But Jagielka has come up trumps again with zero bookings this entire campaign. Terry has been the most attacking of all the centre backs though, scoring 3 and having 17 attempts on goal which is a good return for a centre back.
When pundits and players praise John Terry, rivals fans begin talk of a certain ‘slip’ which was a defensive error that will stay with the Englishman throughout his career. This season though, he has been very focused faltering only twice to give the opposition a chance to score. Vincent Kompany has made only one defensive mistake but that mistake was critical enough to demote him to the bench.
The final verdict
As stats reveal, John Terry has been one of the most reliable centre backs of the season but the numbers do not rate him as the best. Terry has other qualities which compliment his numbers. He is a leader who has been tried and tested over many seasons and his influence in the Chelsea dressing room is enviable. He commands the Chelsea defensive line like a king and nobody questions his authority on the pitch. Terry plays in a position whose demands can still be fulfilled irrespective of age. His position and ability to read the game due to his vast amount of experience has made him an invaluable asset for Jose Mourinho this season.
John Terry definitely deserves his place in the PFA Team of the Year. He has been the best centre back all year long and not just on paper. He has matched the others in numbers but has also displayed captaincy that has taken the blues to the title.