Players who started off terrible then got worse

Crusader Royal
Member
Posts: 587
Joined: 24 Dec 2023 14:07

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by Crusader Royal » 08 Jan 2025 13:12

Snowflake Royal
Crusader Royal
Snowflake Royal Ray Houghton

Expected the talented bustling international who scored a wonder goal against Italy...

Got a clueless crab who contributed nothing.

Also same period, Keith Jones, similar crab who took three touches for every one he needed.

Paul Bodin, accidentally sent off in a case of mistaken identity, not a peep from a Reading player in protest.

Paul Booker - streak of yellow piss who bottled everything

Bongani Khumalo, the worst defender I've ever seen. Including Bodin


Couple of those are a bit unfair !
Keith Jones did a decent job for us, but people thought he was brought in to do a different one. He won the ball and passed it on, unspectacular but important. Much like Harps got criticised because he did what was needed, not what people thought he should do.
The Bodin sending off was bizarre. Not surprised no one on the pitch said anything because they probably hadn’t a clue. IIRC we had just 2 fit sentry backs and if we’d appealed we’d have been stuffed defensively so we decided not to, Bodin took one for the team and the fact that he never made a fuss suggests it was a ‘tactical’ decision. He certainly wasn’t a poor defender. The Chris Gunter of his day - must be the Welsh who make good escapegoats.

I hated the way Jones played. Endless dithering, nothing like Harps.

Bodin was near universally hated and a dreadful defender. Not a sentry back either. A left back. At least Gunter could win a freekick and get up and down the pitch.


As I said, people just got confused as to what Jones was there to do
We’ll have to disagree on Bodin, his career suggests he was far from a dreadful defender, but like Gunter he was a target for a section of the crowd ( full backs are easier to shout at I imagine).

User avatar
From Despair To Where?
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 25183
Joined: 19 Apr 2004 08:37
Location: See me in m'pants and ting

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by From Despair To Where? » 08 Jan 2025 13:37

I think with Bodin, the combination of Welsh, past his prime and ex Swindon meant he was always on a hiding to nothing.

Linden Jones' Tash
Member
Posts: 572
Joined: 20 Jun 2009 12:03
Location: north of the river...

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by Linden Jones' Tash » 08 Jan 2025 15:31

Clyde1998
Pepe the Horseman Jordon Mutch.

There's a name I'd repressed. Had a look at what he did after leaving us and he somehow managed to get a loan to Vancouver in the MLS (playing 830 minutes over eighteen matches)!

He went on a worldwide tour to end his career: Gyeongnam (South Korea; 844 mins/13 matches); Aalesund (Norway; 14 mins/1 match); Western Sydney (Australia; 427 mins/13 matches); Macarthur (Australia; 1221 mins/21 matches); Crawley (League Two; 241 mins/4 matches); Gold Coast Knights (Australian second tier; no data).

Jordon Mutch did make me think of Danny Drinkwater, although I think Drinkwater picked up a little bit at the end of that season and was one of the better players in the final couple of months.


+1

just didn't seem interested and was such a disappointment

User avatar
stealthpapes
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 8216
Joined: 05 Jun 2013 13:25
Location: proverbs 26:11

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by stealthpapes » 08 Jan 2025 16:22

Not a player for this thread, but I was doing a deep dive into some recent seasons.

Tyrese Fornah.
I watched maybe 11 games live that season, and I have literally no memory of the name, any performances, nothing.
Did I just pick the games he missed?

User avatar
Snowflake Royal
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 44375
Joined: 20 Jun 2017 17:51

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by Snowflake Royal » 08 Jan 2025 17:48

Crusader Royal
Snowflake Royal
Crusader Royal
Couple of those are a bit unfair !
Keith Jones did a decent job for us, but people thought he was brought in to do a different one. He won the ball and passed it on, unspectacular but important. Much like Harps got criticised because he did what was needed, not what people thought he should do.
The Bodin sending off was bizarre. Not surprised no one on the pitch said anything because they probably hadn’t a clue. IIRC we had just 2 fit sentry backs and if we’d appealed we’d have been stuffed defensively so we decided not to, Bodin took one for the team and the fact that he never made a fuss suggests it was a ‘tactical’ decision. He certainly wasn’t a poor defender. The Chris Gunter of his day - must be the Welsh who make good escapegoats.

I hated the way Jones played. Endless dithering, nothing like Harps.

Bodin was near universally hated and a dreadful defender. Not a sentry back either. A left back. At least Gunter could win a freekick and get up and down the pitch.


As I said, people just got confused as to what Jones was there to do
We’ll have to disagree on Bodin, his career suggests he was far from a dreadful defender, but like Gunter he was a target for a section of the crowd ( full backs are easier to shout at I imagine).

Thanks for the footballsplaining :roll:

I'm well aware what players are there to do.


Crusader Royal
Member
Posts: 587
Joined: 24 Dec 2023 14:07

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by Crusader Royal » 08 Jan 2025 17:52

Snowflake Royal
Crusader Royal
Snowflake Royal I hated the way Jones played. Endless dithering, nothing like Harps.

Bodin was near universally hated and a dreadful defender. Not a sentry back either. A left back. At least Gunter could win a freekick and get up and down the pitch.


As I said, people just got confused as to what Jones was there to do
We’ll have to disagree on Bodin, his career suggests he was far from a dreadful defender, but like Gunter he was a target for a section of the crowd ( full backs are easier to shout at I imagine).

Thanks for the footballsplaining :roll:

I'm well aware what players are there to do.


That’s a very odd comment ! Makes no sense in any context !

AthleticoSpizz
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 24960
Joined: 15 Apr 2004 19:49
Location: A Hicks Hoof from Coley Park

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by AthleticoSpizz » 08 Jan 2025 18:05

Crusader Royal
Snowflake Royal
Crusader Royal
Couple of those are a bit unfair !
Keith Jones did a decent job for us, but people thought he was brought in to do a different one. He won the ball and passed it on, unspectacular but important. Much like Harps got criticised because he did what was needed, not what people thought he should do.
The Bodin sending off was bizarre. Not surprised no one on the pitch said anything because they probably hadn’t a clue. IIRC we had just 2 fit sentry backs and if we’d appealed we’d have been stuffed defensively so we decided not to, Bodin took one for the team and the fact that he never made a fuss suggests it was a ‘tactical’ decision. He certainly wasn’t a poor defender. The Chris Gunter of his day - must be the Welsh who make good escapegoats.

I hated the way Jones played. Endless dithering, nothing like Harps.

Bodin was near universally hated and a dreadful defender. Not a sentry back either. A left back. At least Gunter could win a freekick and get up and down the pitch.


As I said, people just got confused as to what Jones was there to do
We’ll have to disagree on Bodin, his career suggests he was far from a dreadful defender, but like Gunter he was a target for a section of the crowd ( full backs are easier to shout at I imagine).
add in Matt Robinson (not that he ‘got worse’ it just sounded that way (listening to our discerning fans of the day).
Colin Bailie, another one.

User avatar
Brogue
Hob Nob Super-Addict
Posts: 14132
Joined: 02 Mar 2021 20:38
Location: Getting things done

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by Brogue » 08 Jan 2025 19:43

Can we have a most overrated player thread? If so I’m going for Chris Armstrong.

User avatar
maffff
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 5461
Joined: 25 Nov 2010 09:22

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by maffff » 08 Jan 2025 21:51

Good list.

Shout in Mutch.

Add Bongani Khumalo and Jeff Hendrick to the list.


User avatar
Horsham Royal
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 1110
Joined: 29 Mar 2006 16:09

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by Horsham Royal » 08 Jan 2025 22:15

Boris Mihaylov's haircut.

User avatar
Vision
Hob Nob Addict
Posts: 5169
Joined: 15 Apr 2004 20:53

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by Vision » 09 Jan 2025 00:44

Linden Jones' Tash
bakerlou WRTtOP as Brayson has already had a mention, Jimmy Crawford.


in my 39 years of watching Reading, I can honestly say that Jimmy Crawford was singularly the worst player I have ever seen don the hoops


Only because Mark Reilly was so anonymous that everyone forgets him.

Sutekh
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 21077
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 14:05
Location: Undiscovered pyramid somewhere in Egypt

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by Sutekh » 09 Jan 2025 07:59

Vision
Linden Jones' Tash
bakerlou WRTtOP as Brayson has already had a mention, Jimmy Crawford.


in my 39 years of watching Reading, I can honestly say that Jimmy Crawford was singularly the worst player I have ever seen don the hoops


Only because Mark Reilly was so anonymous that everyone forgets him.


Mark Reilly, couldn’t take the warmer climes and went back to Kilmarnock after a couple of months leaving behind numerous (well a small handful anyway) of very forgettable performances only ever vaguely recalled whenever the words Mark and Reilly are used in a sentence.

Stranded
Hob Nob Subscriber
Hob Nob Subscriber
Posts: 20412
Joined: 14 Apr 2004 12:42
Location: Propping up the bar in the Nags

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by Stranded » 09 Jan 2025 08:30

stealthpapes Not a player for this thread, but I was doing a deep dive into some recent seasons.

Tyrese Fornah.
I watched maybe 11 games live that season, and I have literally no memory of the name, any performances, nothing.
Did I just pick the games he missed?


There was something about Fornah but he simply didn't seem to be able to get it out of himself.

Did score a decent long ranger to give us a 1-0 win - I want to say against Boro but I could be wrong but otherwise was very much a nearly player - doing well at Salford at the mo which is probably about the right level for him at this time.


User avatar
The Cap
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 1093
Joined: 26 May 2008 18:22
Location: 'Avin a larf

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by The Cap » 09 Jan 2025 10:08

Horsham Royal Boris Mihaylov's haircut.


:lol: Excellent

Sutekh
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 21077
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 14:05
Location: Undiscovered pyramid somewhere in Egypt

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by Sutekh » 09 Jan 2025 10:20

The Cap
Horsham Royal Boris Mihaylov's haircut.


:lol: Excellent


He got a toupe cut? :shock:

Paid him too much obviously.

User avatar
Dirk Gently
Hob Nob Super-Addict
Posts: 12110
Joined: 08 Sep 2005 13:54

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by Dirk Gently » 09 Jan 2025 10:43

Mass Saar. One reasonable performance at the start of his Reading career and nothing much of note after that.

Sutekh
Hob Nob Legend
Posts: 21077
Joined: 12 Feb 2014 14:05
Location: Undiscovered pyramid somewhere in Egypt

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by Sutekh » 09 Jan 2025 11:18

Looked at those that passed through Reading while Tommy Burns was manager and there were some real :roll: in there....

Mass Sarr
Peter van der Kwaak
Elroy Kromheer
Alan Maybury
Sean Evers
Jimmy Crawford
Andy Wright

But there were some really good players there too...

Phil Whitehead
Chris Casper
Graeme Murty
Mark McKeever

Then there was the "what was that one all about?"...

Tony Barrass

Out of interest the "academy" at the time (1999) was bringing us Chris Smith, Phil Hadland, Alex Haddow, Adam Lockwood, Neville Stamp, Jamie Ashdown, Ricky & Shaun Allaway, Darius Henderson and Nathan Tyson amongst others.

User avatar
The Cap
Hob Nob Regular
Posts: 1093
Joined: 26 May 2008 18:22
Location: 'Avin a larf

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by The Cap » 09 Jan 2025 12:02

Sutekh
The Cap
Horsham Royal Boris Mihaylov's haircut.


:lol: Excellent


He got a toupe cut? :shock:

Paid him too much obviously.


The lads in the Southbank used to refer to him as 'Bobby the slap' and we'd all stand there slapping our foreheads :lol: Great times.

grey_squirrel
Member
Posts: 954
Joined: 19 May 2011 21:28
Location: Y24

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by grey_squirrel » 09 Jan 2025 12:13

Naseem Bashir

Maybe a bit harsh given that he only played 3 games but distinctly remember him inexplicably missing a sitting duck open goal from 6 yards against Chester at the Tilehurst End. He was instantly hauled off and never played again.

grey_squirrel
Member
Posts: 954
Joined: 19 May 2011 21:28
Location: Y24

Re: Players who started off terrible then got worse

by grey_squirrel » 09 Jan 2025 12:16

The Cap
Sutekh
The Cap
:lol: Excellent


He got a toupe cut? :shock:

Paid him too much obviously.


The lads in the Southbank used to refer to him as 'Bobby the slap' and we'd all stand there slapping our foreheads :lol: Great times.


He allegedly signed for us after being shown the Simod Cup Final video thinking that played all our home games at Wembley. I distinctly remember him being often absent from the team sheet when the weather was forecast to be wild and windy!

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 126 guests

It is currently 19 Feb 2025 00:51