Who was Reading's best ever 'shielder' of the ball?

[Cripple Creek]

I remember years ago when one of the highlights of Match of the Day on a Saturday night (in fact of watching the then English First Division in general) was having the opportunity to witness the sublime ability of Kenny Dalglish (still one of my favourite players of all time). Now I am not a football purist nor do I pretend to have any great technical knowledge but those pundits who liked this sort of thing (step forward Jimmy Hill and John Motsom) would always say "and, oh yes, Dalglish is such a great 'shielder' of the ball', "well, yes that's right, Jimmy" etc. etc. etc.
Did Reading ever have a player who was gifted in this rarely heard about area of expertise? My brother who is a little older than me says that Mike Kearney was the man for this kind of thing but there is every chance he is making this up.

[sawyers left arm]

Kevin Bremner or Trevor Morley

[BraisingsteakRoyal]

Prob. Jason Roberts.

[Hugo Boss]

Jimmy Kebe.

[From Despair To Where?]

Morley is the one that springs to mind who was able to combine the two skills of shielding the ball with feigning a jump for a high ball. Either way, he drew a lot of fouls through the defender clattering through the back of him*


* no Ian Bishop pun intended

Another that springs to mind is Francis Joseph, courtesy of his prodigiously large arse.

[Norfolk Royal]

Steve Death. He was a goalkeeper but when he saved a shot he seemed to pull it into himself and the ball would vanish from view. Anyone who saw him would agree with this I think.

[SPARTA]

Prob. Jason Roberts.

I'd say so as well. He was dirty. He knew how to use his body well, but he was clever with the elbows and buying a decision off the ref. Horrible to play against but the sort of player you love in your team.

I can only go back to the early 90's though..

[No Fixed Abode]

Morley for deffo. I'm sure the foreign striker of today learned to go down easy when getting a slight touch. Morley was the master of it and made it look pretty convincing.

[BR2]

Never took to Morley because when he was in the side it was all about trying to get free-kicks when only a year before we had the pace and movement of Archie and Nogan.
We went from a McGhee-built passing team to a desperate way of playing under Jim and Mick from which it took years to recover.
It always surprised me that Jim and Mick individually were terrific players for us but once Jim's mate Morley arrived the football became turgid.

[St. Brynjar]

Gotta be Roberts.

[savage 4 england]

James Harper shielded it with his crab claws.

[Cape Town Royal]

Steve Death. He was a goalkeeper but when he saved a shot he seemed to pull it into himself and the ball would vanish from view. Anyone who saw him would agree with this I think.

I only saw him at the end of his career, but he was brilliant, his catching ability was incredible, never seemed to drop anything, which given his height and the era he played was remarkable..

I agree re Roberts..

I always thought Trevor Senior was pretty good at taking the ball with his back to goal and linking the play...

[Tazewell Royal]

There's only one . . .













ROBIN FRIDAY













No apology for shouting.
Thank you

[nailseabiscuitman]

Dick Habbin, first Reading centre forward I saw who spent nearly all the time with his back to goal

[loyalroyal4life]

Keith Scott

[PistolPete]

Really rated Ledge for this 'attribute'

[harry]

Steve Death. He was a goalkeeper but when he saved a shot he seemed to pull it into himself and the ball would vanish from view. Anyone who saw him would agree with this I think.

And he was only about 5 foot 7 or 8.

[harry]

Never took to Morley because when he was in the side it was all about trying to get free-kicks when only a year before we had the pace and movement of Archie and Nogan.
We went from a McGhee-built passing team to a desperate way of playing under Jim and Mick from which it took years to recover.
It always surprised me that Jim and Mick individually were terrific players for us but once Jim's mate Morley arrived the football became turgid.

He'd always have his back to goal, back into the defender like he wanted some love action, before dropping to the floor like he'd been shot. I wasn't a fan. But then he probably didn't rate me either.

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Trevor Morley and in the present squad Guthrie.

[billybraggsbeard]

bremner, roberts, morley, long & pog(only joking)