From the days of Gary Neville and Lauren Etame Mayer to Glen Johnson, the English Premier League has not been short of top class right fullbacks.
The present class is also not lacking in quality.
Only a team like Man City can boast of two top performers in Sagna and Zabaleta. Van Gaal brought Darmian in to the Man United squad this season and the Italian has not done badly at all.
There's a funny but tactical situation at Chelsea with Ivanovic and Azpilicueta. While at Arsenal, youngster Bellerin is giving France international Debuchy a run for his paycheck. Liverpool depend on Clyne as much as Tottenham relies on Walker. There's a breathe of fresh air at West Ham with Jenkinson among the defense. And Coleman at Everton has to be the most underrated defender in the country.
So, which of this lot is the best in the top division?
That's hard. But it gets easier if I start with which of them is not?
It's definitely not Ivanovic who has been tormented by virtually every fast, tricky winger he's faced this season, bar Alexis Sanchez. That rules out Azpilicueta too who is undoubtedly one of the league's finest but has been mostly featured on the left side of defense.
Forget Darmian. For a couple of games at the start, he was solid before first Montero, then Sanchez made a salad of him. He's not been the same player since.
Spurs' Walker has got the potential to be great but his growth has stunted recently, probably due to injuries.
Under Klopp, Clyne may finally come alive but before the German arrived he had yet to replicate the form that made Liverpool shell so much greens for his signature.
Jenkinson has earned his mention but no more.
Finding the right balance is what's left for Everton's Coleman. The lad is awesome going forward but a few more rough edges have to be smoothened on the defensive side.
Which leaves me with Zabaleta, Sagna and Bellerin.
These three are thus the league's finest trio.
I know the Man City pair share league duties but Zabaleta just nicks ahead since Sagna is usually more preferred in the champions league matches than the EPL.
The Number One right fullback however is Hector Bellerin!
He's by far the fastest defender in the league. Hector is the most creative fullback when going forward and has created more goalscoring chances than the great pass master Cesc Fabregas, so far this season.
His defensive work needs a bit more improvement but he has grown in leaps and bounds.
Many expected him to suffer a second season syndrome after enjoying a rather fulfilling breakthrough campaign last term but the Spaniard has turned such scripts to pieces.
Now, he's on course to being the finest fullback in the world.
Good luck, Hector!
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