Honestly can not think of the last full back we've had that could defend first and foremost beyond Flanno.
Probably going back to Stevie Finnan. and Arbeloa. Before that Robbie Jones. THAT'S how badly the position has been neglected on both sides.
This modern day shift to full backs that can attack first and foremost has contributed to the woeful overall standard of defending in England right across the board. Give me a defender that can defend, what should be his primary role, first and foremost ANY day of the week over an athletic player that can bomb up and down, contributing more in an attacking sense. Phil Neal redefined the attacking full back role. But he never lost sight of his primary role being to defend. If you then can find a Neal-esq one like Clyne who can defend properly and contribute in attack you have the perfect fullback.
A lots changed as the games progressed and a lot not for the better.
Little aside, but this makes reading Utd fans wanting Alves all the more amusing to me. They have a woeful set of centre halves, are on the verge of losing the main contributor to getting them in the Champions League in nets; and many are wanting Alves who is attack minded first and pretty darn suspect defensively however folk like to make out he isn't brought into the mix.
One can only hope Van Gaal is as foolish to be thinking the same.