Carles Puyol is well under 6 foot, as was Chris Perry, Baird was about 5'11/6'0. Not the biggest, but I don't recall them being dominated in the air. There must be more, but can't think of them off my head.
Check this just to emphasise the point: http://blog.sport.co.uk/Football/288/Top_Ten_Centre-backs_under_6_foot.aspx
Teach me to make a sweeping statement, but as someone once said a good big'un will usually beat a good little'un. Another sweeping statement. I'd still rather have a 6'2-6'4 CB. You have to be a top class player to overcome a height disadvantage in defence.
At the same time you could be 6'6'' and win eveything in the air but you could have the pace of a snail and get beaten on the ground everytime - it's swings and roundabouts really. You need a balance, somewhere in between, much like Jose Fonte. Some of the best centrebacks in the world are the tallest and fastest - they're just plain lucky! Every other quality centre-back has to meet in the middle somewhere.
Our style needs technically sharp players that know how to play the ball. Fonte and Hooiveld when he gets some match practice are two of those. Don't knock ithe small guys though, they can be just as good.
Just as a little side note a mate who plays for our academy and has played along side Reeves JWP etc etc says that Reeves has always been a natural left back for as long as he can remember...
Players change position at a young age all the time, and even sometimes as they get older. Dion Dublin certainly wasn't always a centre back - despite starting and ending his career as one.
he's not a natural left back. when he start with us he was a CM but because of his left foot we converted him to left back.
look at the size of the barca side, I can only think of Pique 6ft 4 and the keeper that are over or near 6ft. yet they play to thier stengths and keep it on the the floor, much quicker and free flowing. This is the way that the kids and reeves included are being trained. upper body strength and energy are more important. The only weakness in a small side is at corners and indirect freekicks, but the players must stay goalside and attack the ball, both basic things
