Worst ever Reading Player

[fozzy]

Colin Grodon was a lump, yes, but he was a trier ... and I remember him getting a cracking, back-heeeld goal at Chelsea in a League Cup match which we WON!!!

Technically we didn't. We lost 3-2, Gordon Durie had put them 3-0 up and they were coasting it. Colin popped up with 2 goals including the back heel to lose 3-2 but win the tie 5-4 after a 3-1 home win. God it aboslutely pissed down that night, standing in the old 'miles away from the pitch end' at Stamford Bridge.

I've never been so wet. Oh, hang on, QPR away about 10 years ago..... and last sunday before k/o waiting in that damn queue to get in! Maybe I have!

[Vision]

Not necessarily the worst player but i absolutely despised Robert Fleck.

A complete waste of space on the field and complete f***in idiot off it. I remember him dancing on tables in the Purple Turtle on the night Forest sent us down. Even James Lambert had more sense than that.

Never contributed a single positive thing that i recall unless you count chucking fortunes into the Shooters fruitie a positive contribution.

[bassavage]

Boris Mikhailov

[Fox5]

i cant beleive Paul Brooker has no mention so far

[From Despair To Where?]

Mark Whitlock was hardly Rio Ferdinand in the heart of defence, a possible candidate

Mere words cannot decribe how utterly shite Mark Whitlock was. In an era of truly shite Reading centre backs, he stood out like a turd on a wedding cake.

[Squelchy2507]

I can't believe that no-one has mentioned Hughie Cheetham. He was totally useless and takes the 'honour' for me - although John Halls is now running him very close.

[Muskrat]

Hughie Cheetham! - our record signing in 1979 for £25,000. I actually remember being quite excited when we signed him. And then I saw him play.

[Muskrat]

Colin Grodon was a lump, yes, but he was a trier ... and I remember him getting a cracking, back-heeeld goal at Chelsea in a League Cup match which we WON!!!

Technically we didn't. We lost 3-2, Gordon Durie had put them 3-0 up and they were coasting it. Colin popped up with 2 goals including the back heel to lose 3-2 but win the tie 5-4 after a 3-1 home win. God it aboslutely pissed down that night, standing in the old 'miles away from the pitch end' at Stamford Bridge.

I've never been so wet. Oh, hang on, QPR away about 10 years ago..... and last sunday before k/o waiting in that damn queue to get in! Maybe I have!

I was there as well. Got soaking wet stood in between The Shed and the old West Stand. Happy days.

[Muskrat]

Mark Whitlock was hardly Rio Ferdinand in the heart of defence, a possible candidate

Mere words cannot decribe how utterly shite Mark Whitlock was. In an era of truly shite Reading centre backs, he stood out like a turd on a wedding cake.

Oh yes Mark Whitlock. For some unknown reason I once found myself in Leyton on a Wednesday night watching Reading play Orient in some now defunct cup.

Can't even remember the score, but I remember Mark Whitlock playing. Always seemed too small to be a centre back. Didn't he end up in a bit of bother with the law when playing for Aldershot?

[Tilehurst Exile II]

Colin Bailey.

[Muskrat]

He was Thierry Henry compared to Mark Whitlock, believe me.

[Toadie]

Top three (in no particular order):

1. Robert Fleck (rubbish, and went and applauded the away fans last game at Elm Park!)
2. Lee Hodges (He's Lee Hodges!)
3. John Halls (Sneaks in as Peter Mate is currently injured!)

and Scott Murray didn't exactly set the place alight did he?!?

[Dirk Gently]

2. Lee Hodges (He's Lee Hodges!)

Oy you! Want to say that outside?

Lee may not have been the world's greatest player, but he's streets ahead of some named already. He spend most of his time played out of position, and he always gave his all - I won't hear a word said against him.

[Toadie]

2. Lee Hodges (He's Lee Hodges!)

Oy you! Want to say that outside?

Lee may not have been the world's greatest player, but he's streets ahead of some named already. He spend most of his time played out of position, and he always gave his all - I won't hear a word said against him.

Are you sure he wasn't 'drifting' out of position, as opposed to 'playing'???
Grafter maybe....footballer? Nope

[Royalcop]

Hodges also scored one of the greatest ever goals at the Mad Stad against Oldham in the 2000/01 season. Maybe not the most skilful player but he was always committed and was also versatile.

[URZZ]

Aren't we forgetting Asaba...

[alad]

Meaker was truely abysmal. His entire game was simply, get the ball, head down and run down the wing and fail to deliever a decent cross. What makes it more laughable was that he as valued at 250k as part of the deal that took Simon Osborn to QPR.

[International Royal]

It strikes me on this thread that we are talking about different eras. Some of the names mentioned are nowhere near the crap standard that the longer term followers have had to put up with. When things were really bad the fan base was nowhere near the size it is now.

New supporters since the move have no idea what crap actually is. I realise it's relative but believe me some of the names mentioned were not too bad given the circumstances of the time. People like Hodges, Jones, Asaba, and others were OK. To suggest Halls should be included is nonense, he would have been a star in other eras.

[Vision]

Hughie Cheetham! - our record signing in 1979 for £25,000. I actually remember being quite excited when we signed him. And then I saw him play.

I left Cheetham out simply because of my own ego. I've played against him and although he was sh*t for us , he was still 10 times better than me.

[79Royal]

Jim McIntyre

Granted, at first McIntyre was poor, but by the time he left Reading, he was like Del Piero!