Zanetti and Maicon: Who Was the Better Right Back?

[Umbari]

Okay who was the better right back?
Zanetti or Maicon?

Zanetti:
Better defensive skill
Run faster
More versatile (He was able to play as left back/defensive midfielder)

Maicon:
More aggresive offensively
Harder shooting
Could score some spectacular goals

Let the poll begins!

 

[Stefan]

Longevity gives to Zanetti. He was still going full out at 40 till his injury. Maicon was completely done by 35 at most.

 

[.h.]

I feel like 'more versatile because he can play LB/DM' hardly qualifies as a reason for why someone is a better right back.

On their top forms, I'd take peak Maicon every day in RWB/RB position for Inter. But that's the same reason why people like Hakimi so much, attacking prowess. You need to look at the wider team to understand if you need an attacking RWB or a more defensive one.

Zanetti's inclusion is longevity and on specific tactical formations where we needed more defensive cover

 

[Jane The Virgin]

The only reason of why I'm choosing Maicon, is because at his peak prime, he made everyone else in his position look awful.

Zaneti never did that. He was constantly good. Constantly top 10/15, but never ever close to top3.

 

[brehme1989]

Zaneti never did that. He was constantly good. Constantly top 10/15, but never ever close to top3.

Erm.. sorry, what?

 

[K.I.]

The only reason of why I'm choosing Maicon, is because at his peak prime, he made everyone else in his position look awful.

Zaneti never did that. He was constantly good. Constantly top 10/15, but never ever close to top3.

Who are the top 15?

 

[brehme1989]

Who are the top 15?

He means every season, there were typically 9-14 better right backs than Zanetti

So the question is: Who are the top 15 in any given season?

 

[K.I.]

He means every season, there were typically 9-14 better right backs than Zanetti

So the question is: Who are the top 15 in any given season?

No, i think he meant he was constantly in the top 10-15 ever right backs regardless of any season. The wording with him saying constantly explains how u interpreted it.

 

[brehme1989]

No, i think he meant he was constantly in the top 10-15 ever right backs regardless of any season. The wording with him saying constantly explains how u interpreted it.

Exactly, but the -15 part makes it seem that Zanetti was barely part of this list

 

[Umbari]

I feel like 'more versatile because he can play LB/DM' hardly qualifies as a reason for why someone is a better right back.

You're kinda right. However it makes him the better all around player IMHO.

On their top forms, I'd take peak Maicon every day in RWB/RB position for Inter. But that's the same reason why people like Hakimi so much, attacking prowess. You need to look at the wider team to understand if

The same reason we love Perisic even though we already have Dimarco.

 

[Umbari]

The only reason of why I'm choosing Maicon, is because at his peak prime, he

Remember Gareth Bale on the day he embarassed Maicon?
At least JZ almost stopped him. Twice IIRC.

 

[Abu Bader]

The only reason of why I'm choosing Maicon, is because at his peak prime, he made everyone else in his position look awful.

Zaneti never did that. He was constantly good. Constantly top 10/15, but never ever close to top3.

I'm actually shocked at what I read. Yh Maicon scored goals and had assist but that's not all that attacking RB can do. Zanetti wasn't a defensive RB, he was balanced. He attacked as much as Maicon - maybe didn't score as much - and was constant threat on the line. His runs from one end to the other was always spectacular.

And Zanetti was always top 3 imo. I would like to know the 10 players that you think were better than him every season.

 

[kurt0411]

Prime for Prime Maicon is the only correct answer

 

[Abu Bader]

I don't think there was a RB better than prime Maicon - 2 seasons under Mou - in the 25 years I've watching football.

But overall I believe JZ4 was the better RB.

 

[Aries]

Remember Gareth Bale on the day he embarassed Maicon?
At least JZ almost stopped him. Twice IIRC.

To this day I don't understand why Maicon appeared so disinterested that game. IMO he made Bale look better than he actually was.

To topic-
At their peak - Maicon has to win it. Zanetti though was a lot more versatile and could play more positions.

 

[Kakaroto]

I love Il Coloso Maicon.

 

[afitafit]

We are talking about different breeds of RB here.

Zanetti is a legend, no doubt about it.
I'd put him in a category where there are other goats with similar "style", like Lahm, Cafu, Neville, Zambrotta, Thuram.

While Maicon, he was the best RB in the world like maybe 3 or 4 seasons, and that was it.
He was a flashy, spectacular, outstanding performer. Some kind of a legend himself, but not that legendary if you catch my drift.

 

[Umbari]

We are talking about different breeds of RB here.

Zanetti is a legend, no doubt about it.
I'd put him in a category where there are other goats with similar "style", like Lahm, Cafu, Neville, Zambrotta, Thuram.

While Maicon, he was the best RB in the world like maybe 3 or 4 seasons, and that was it.
He was a flashy, spectacular, outstanding performer. Some kind of a legend himself, but not that legendary if you catch my drift.

Great analysis, mate.

 

[Stefan]

Prime for Prime Maicon is the only correct answer

A players career isn't just his prime. If we only judge those years sure maicon is better but if we judge full careers then Zanetti wins by a mile.

 

[kurt0411]

A players career isn't just his prime. If we only judge those years sure maicon is better but if we judge full careers then Zanetti wins by a mile.

The question is who was the better RB? Technically speaking by the word itself Maicon was better. Sure we can factor in longevity and who had the better career but Maicon was the better RB by definition of the word itself