Reading's best ever centre back?

[wolsey]

Let's face it, we have been absolutely blessed with centre backs. Shame a list of strikers wouldn't be as hard to consider!

You'd come up with a very long list of good strikers...

Senior
Dixon
Friday
Quinn
Cureton
Kitson
Doyle
Forster
Butler
Goater

not forgetting: -


Ronnie Blackman (apparently)
Tony McPhee (ditto)
Les Chappell (no comment needed)
Percy Freeman (my first RFC "hero")
Dean Horrix (Probably the most under-rated RFC player ever)
David Crown (for one season)
Colin Gordon (for one cup match)
Mickey Hollis/Dennis Nelson (for no apparent reason apart from being transfer deadline signings that helped us over the line).
Ollie Kearns (as long as we ignore the missed sitters)
Lee Nogan (for one Wembley goal)


OK. Probably not best, but definitely most fondly remembered (by me anyway - apart from the first two obviously)

[Millsy]

Let's face it, we have been absolutely blessed with centre backs. Shame a list of strikers wouldn't be as hard to consider!

You'd come up with a very long list of good strikers...

Senior
Dixon
Friday
Quinn
Cureton
Kitson
Doyle
Forster
Butler
Goater

[Ian Royal]

Premier League quality at his best and scored 14 goals for us in his first season which was a pretty decent return. I'd say he counts as a quality striker. Certainly achieved more than most of the names on the list, if not with us.

[shoey]

best cb at reading fc i had the pleasure of seeing was matty upson, bar a shite debut, he went on to be fantastic for us, all be it on loan, he was amazing, i saw everyone of his games live, and it was like the ball was attracted to his head, he just cleared and tackled everytime spot on, fantastic

[bobbybottler]

i think mills has it in him to eclipse them all.

Disagreed.

I like Gorkss.

[cmonurz]

Never saw our Polish international play, but for me it's Bikey by a long way. Shame he doesn't quite have the mental side of the game, as a footballer we've had no equal in the centre of defence.

[Ian Royal]

Never saw our Polish international play, but for me it's Bikey by a long way. Shame he doesn't quite have the mental side of the game, as a footballer we've had no equal in the centre of defence.

TBH I'd say the mental side of the game is most important for a CB and if you haven't got it, you've got no chance no matter how good you are otherwise. Bikey wouldn't even make my top 5 for that reason, especially a few years on from his time here. He'd be lucky to make top 10 including loanees.

[RoyalJames101]

In 10 years time Pearce has the potential to be our best ever centre back.

[Focher]

In 10 years time Pearce has the potential to be our best ever centre back.

[RoyalJames101]

[Focher]

The only answer

[leicsRoyal]

No mention for Steve Wood yet?

In the lower leagues Steve Wood was a very classy defender. I think he won player of the season twice, maybe even consecutive years.

[Aubery Boyce]

No mention for Steve Wood yet?

In the lower leagues Steve Wood was a very classy defender. I think he won player of the season twice, maybe even consecutive years.

he did indeed. He and Hicks were a great partnership.

[bripps]

I never saw Steve Wood play for Reading but I caught the tail end of Martin Hicks Reading career and he was very good. My top three is 1) Adie Williams 2) Dariusz Wdowczyk 3) Ivar Ingimarsson.

[Dare to Dr£am]

Dariusz Wdowczyk, Ivar Ingimarsson, Adie Williams.

[Aubery Boyce]

I never saw Steve Wood play for Reading but I caught the tail end of Martin Hicks Reading career and he was very good. My top three is 1) Adie Williams 2) Dariusz Wdowczyk 3) Ivar Ingimarsson.

Hicksy was a proper old fashoned "Stopper". Unbeatable in the air, uncompromising on the deck and a MASSIVE HOOF up front everytime he got the ball. No finesse whatsoever.

Scored one of the best free kicks i've ever seen V Chelsea in the League cup circa 1989. Metgod-esque.

[leicsRoyal]

I never saw Steve Wood play for Reading but I caught the tail end of Martin Hicks Reading career and he was very good. My top three is 1) Adie Williams 2) Dariusz Wdowczyk 3) Ivar Ingimarsson.

Hicksy was a proper old fashoned "Stopper". Unbeatable in the air, uncompromising on the deck and a MASSIVE HOOF up front everytime he got the ball. No finesse whatsoever.

Scored one of the best free kicks i've ever seen V Chelsea in the League cup circa 1989. Metgod-esque.

Was that the one from about 25yards and never got above a foot off the ground?

[Vision]

I've not looked back over thread but I believe the answer you're looking for is Keith Curle. Just looke an absolute cut above not just the Reading side he was playing in but more importantly pretty much everyone he played against.

Honourable mentions for Dariusz, Sonkomarrsson and if Gorkks carries on the way he's going then I think he might just turn out to be the best of the lot.

[Aubery Boyce]

I never saw Steve Wood play for Reading but I caught the tail end of Martin Hicks Reading career and he was very good. My top three is 1) Adie Williams 2) Dariusz Wdowczyk 3) Ivar Ingimarsson.

Hicksy was a proper old fashoned "Stopper". Unbeatable in the air, uncompromising on the deck and a MASSIVE HOOF up front everytime he got the ball. No finesse whatsoever.

Scored one of the best free kicks i've ever seen V Chelsea in the League cup circa 1989. Metgod-esque.

Was that the one from about 25yards and never got above a foot off the ground?

The very same. BANG!

[Norfolk Royal]

Anyone who thinks the answer to this question is not 'Geoff Barker' needs their pointy head testing.