Manchester United: Five Defenders For The Decade

With the decade coming to a close, editors everywhere are clamoring for the somewhat arbitrary articles ranking players and such.

Though perhaps not the most original articles, these types of pieces generally foster great debate, bringing clicks and double-views from fans across the globe.

In truth, there are several Manchester United defenders over the past decade who could vie for inclusion in my list. Some, perhaps, were nearing the end of their careers as the new millennium started, while others perhaps joined too closely to the next decade to be included in such esteem.

United won five Premier League crowns, two league cups, an FA cup, and the UEFA Champions League in the last ten years.

The rankings are based on the importance of the player based on performance in hindsight. Let's begin.

#5: John O'Shea

When it's all said and done, perhaps the most salient factoid from John O'Shea's career might be his nutmegging of Luis Figo in 2003.

But, along the way, the Irishman has been, and probably will continue to be, a very underrated component for the Red Devils.

Let's face it, he's boring. But he has two good feet, enough so that I couldn't really tell you which one he favors. O'Shea is a good footballer, but offers very little going forward (besides the odd nutmeg), as he is a mediocre passer of the ball and doesn't dominate as much in the air as his height would suggest.

However, over the course of the last decade, O'Shea has figuratively and literally done it all for United.

He started at center back throughout '03-'04 when Ferdinand was suspended. In early 2007, O'Shea played goalie when Van der Sar broke his sizable schnoz. In '07-'08, the Irishman played as an emergency striker, at times, meaning he's played every position during his tenure at United.

All in all, O'Shea racked up 356 appearances for United this decade, more than any other defender.

#4: Gary Neville

Right now you're probably surprised the Neviller doesn't feature further up the list.

Well, there's no doubt the elder Neville was a great influence over the last ten years, in the dressing room and on the pitch.

Gary compiled 291 appearances from 2000 to 2006 before injuries disrupted his last few seasons, making 331 total cameos in the 21st century.

Unfortunately, United weren't winning titles during the middle of the decade when Neville was actually healthy. In his heyday, he was considered one of the best in the world, without ever being the best.

Even today in 2009, he is still one of the better right-backs in the league. Despite lacking pace, he was more than serviceable as a great crosser and authoritative captain for the club he loves.

And his Dad's name is Neville Neville. No joke.

#3: Rio Ferdinand

If Rio is third, that means Blanc second, and... Johnsen first?

Ferdinand embodies a lot of what's good and bad about football.

First, the bad. He yells a lot. Especially when he makes mistakes. He yells at all the players around him in hope of deflecting accountability. And he does it ostentatiously.

Next, some good. He is one of the best footballing defenders in the world. His footwork is second to few while his passing is also top tier. He is dominant aerially when on form. However, his form is marked by inconsistency.

Back to some bad. In 2004, he was suspended for eight months for missing a drug test. He was probably smoking marijuana but the Englishman had many other excuses. Ultimately he had to serve the full term of the ban and missed all of Euro 2004 and disappointed many United fans.

In truth, much of Ferdinand's best years were at Leeds United when he was younger and played with a little more abandon.

To be fair, when he arrived at Old Trafford, he filled a much needed gap in central defense vacated by Jaap Staam in 1999.

But, like a former English teammate of his, perhaps fame went to his head which contributed to some complacency in the trophy-less seasons which followed.

Regardless, Ferdinand has generally always been considered a top ten defender in the world throughout his career, despite being a bit wonkish.

#2: Patrice Evra

Patty Evra joined United in January 2006 from AS Monaco, with whom he featured in the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final.

As the legend goes, upon arriving in Manchester, Evra asked Gary Neville where the nearest church was so he could "thank God he is playing for Manchester United."

His first game with the club, however, was his worst game. In fact, he looked quite ridiculous. Luckily, it was all uphill from there (or downhill, as the idiom goes).

Prior to the Frenchman's arrival, United started the decade with Dennis Irwin at left-back as his career twinkled away.

Phil Neville and Mikael Silvestre each had ample opportunity throughout the first half of the decade to make the position their own; each failed.

In 2004, United signed Gabriel Heinze, a natural left-back, from PSG. He became a fan favorite. However, Alex Ferguson wasn't satisfied with Heinze's attacking abilities, and, in January 2006, signed Evra.

Evra, despite his ragtag, 45-minute debut against Man City, is still a vital, underrated part of United's Championship side.

He is susceptible in the air, but only against Kevin Davies. He also has a tendency to get beat by Aaron Lennon. Otherwise, he is very willing to get stuck in and tackle tough, while having the pace and skill of a winger going forward.

He has become United's most effective and consistent attacker heading into the next decade, rarely finding equal among the opposition, always displaying a great engine and love for the badge.

It's no coincidence United broke their title drought after both Evra and a certain "monster" arrived.

#1: Nemanja Vidic

Nemanja Vidic transformed Manchester United as a football club when he arrived in January, 2006 with left-back Patty Evra.

Sir Alex Ferguson had long sought for a suitable partner for Rio Ferdinand without avail. Wes Brown, O'Shea, Johnsen, and Silvestre were often employed without great effect. Vidic arrived and the rest is history.

Three straight Premier League crowns and a European Cup later, the Serbian nicknamed "Monster" is the best central defender in the world.

In the air, Vida is absurdly dominant. On the floor he either tackles you or fouls you; that's sound defense, in'it?

He is a true competitor, enjoying putting his head right where it hurts against the world's best. He has constantly got the better of Didier Drogba—Fernando Torres, not so much.

Going forward, he is still growing, but has shown to be practicing his footwork, visibly improving with each foot in the last year and half, both in turning and passing.

Despite only being at United for four years of the decade, Vidic trumps all other United defenders because of the immediate effect he had on the side.

Without Vidic and his comrades at the back, United's attackers wouldn't have had license to get forward to win the recent glut of trophies. His partnership with Ferdinand is, at times, the best in the world, mainly depending on the variable form of the Englishman.

When United famously went 14 games unbeaten in 2008 and 2009, Vidic was the only defender omnipresent in the lineup. Though Van der Sar took home the accolades for the feat, the credit belongs to the fan favorite Serb.

He has been named in the PFA Team of the Year for three seasons on the trot.

If United can rebuff Barcelona's interest, Vida should continue to be the prime ingredient for United's success in years to come, and should end up the permanent captain once Neville retires.