John Terry has been left OUT of a top 10 Premier League centre backs list and the names ahead of him will leave Chelsea fans absolutely fuming.
The Blues legend has been at the centre of the GOAT debate all week, with Virgil van Dijk recently naming him in his top five Premier League central defenders. But number crunchers WhoScored have dropped a bombshell that’ll have the Stamford Bridge faithful seeing red.
Their highest rated centre backs list is out and Terry doesn’t even make the cut. Not in the top 10. Not anywhere.
Instead, we’re looking at names like Brede Hangeland, Sylvain Distin and Richard Dunne being ranked above Mr Chelsea himself. Let that sink in.
THE NUMBERS GAME
Here’s the thing about stats, they don’t tell the whole story. And in this case, they’re missing the best bits.
WhoScored only started collecting data from the 2009/2010 season. That means Terry’s absolute peak those monster campaigns in 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 where he was head and shoulders above everyone else, simply doesn’t exist in their system.
We’re talking about a centre half who scored 41 goals for Chelsea, won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League. A man who made 492 Premier League appearances and captained England 34 times.
But because the data geeks weren’t watching properly back then, he’s behind players who wouldn’t lace his boots.
WHAT THEY’VE MISSED
Terry wasn’t just a defender, he was a proper footballer. Could tackle with his teeth, block with his face, head everything that moved. But here’s what gets overlooked, the bloke was classy on the ball too.
He could ping a 60 yard pass across the pitch with either foot. Either foot! How many centre backs today can genuinely claim that?
Reece James is still trying to learn from him even now, which tells you everything about the influence Terry has on that Chelsea dressing room.
In 2014/2015, when Terry was already 34, he was still putting in displays that most Premier League defenders could only dream about. Made the PFA Team of the Year. Won the title. Again.
THE LIST THAT’S CAUSING ALL THE FUSS
WhoScored’s top 10 highest rated Premier League centre backs (since 2009/2010):
Virgil van Dijk
Vincent Kompany
Rio Ferdinand
Nemanja Vidic
Toby Alderweireld
Jan Vertonghen
Sami Hyypia
Brede Hangeland
Sylvain Distin
Richard Dunne
Nothing against Hangeland, decent player for Fulham, won headers for fun. Distin was solid at Everton, Dunne a proper battler at Man City and Villa. But ahead of John Terry? Come off it.
THE FALLOUT
Chelsea fans have gone ballistic on social media, and you can see why. This isn’t just about stats, it’s about respect. Terry defined an era at Chelsea, was the heartbeat of that team under Jose Mourinho, and delivered trophies season after season.
Van Dijk might be the best of the modern era, and you can make arguments for Ferdinand, Vidic and Kompany. But to leave Terry out entirely while including players who never won a fraction of what he did?
That’s not data. That’s daft.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Terry might not have the fancy stats from before 2009. But he’s got the medals. He’s got the legacy. And he’s got every right to feel properly done over by this one.
Sometimes numbers lie. And this time, they’ve told a whopper.
this article is an opinion.
