How does this Reading squad compare with the class of 95?

[Bristol Paul]

Article from FootballFancast.com Dec 08

Football FanCast columnist Steven Woodgate wonders how the current Reading squad compares with of 1995.

As Reading sit pondering in the play off places I threw my mind back to their classic 1995 play-off defeat to Bolton Wanderers and debate whether which is the better team that 1995 team or the current one.

Reading famously went two up with goals from Lee Nogan and Adie Williams, before Stuart Lovell missed a penalty. That allowed Bolton to score two to take the game into extra time. Bolton eventually ran out 4-3 winners with Jimmy Quinn scoring the third for Reading. That heartbreak is often hard to take, but it was a superb season. Reading finished second behind Middlesbrough and had to go into the playoffs as the Premier League was reduced to 20 clubs from 22. Any other season we would have been playing in the Premier League.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City are currently in the driving seat and with Reading's inconsistency so far this season, a place in the playoff is on the cards. Of course, I would prefer to see us promoted automatically but a trip to Wembley. How could I turn that down?

I may have been the tender age of eight at the time of the 1995 final, but as an avid Reading fan I have passionately looked back and seen some of the play and been told many stories. The easiest thing I can do is compare every player in every position and debate whether who should take the starting line up spot. I will compare the 1995 play off final side to the current line up.

Shaka Hislop v Marcus Hahnemann

Shaka was one of the finest goalkeepers to wear the jersey for Reading and he led the mass player exodus following ‘that' defeat to Bolton in 1995 where Newcastle United snapped him up for £1.575 million a British record for a goalkeeper at the time. He became a runner up twice in the top division with Kevin Keegan's Newcastle.

He was a firm fan favourite and managed to earn the Royals Player of the Year award twice. Hislop was known for his speed and agility in claiming crosses and was a great shot stopper. Hislop's 20 clean sheets in the 1994/95 season were valuable as Reading took the division by surprise.

Marcus, like Hislop, has always been a fan favourite. Handing his goalkeeper's shirt to a member of the crowd after every match has given him a cult-like status where kids adore him and everyone else loves him. A fantastic shot stopper and brilliant dispatcher of the ball, he often creates attacks from his big kicks or long throws. Having played in over 280 games for the Royals and was the only one to play in the Premier League. He will be difficult to replace.

Andy Bernal v Liam Rosenior/ Graeme Murty

Bernal may not be remembered solely for his football, as he became a football agent and personal assistant for David Beckham.

His 187 appearances and two goals made him a regular at right back. He signed in 1994 from Ipswich Town. Bernal represented his native Australia 21 times before retiring at the age of 34.

Currently this season, Rosenior has been playing the role of right as Murty has been suffering from injury. Murty will forever be associated as our finest right back ever as he led the club to the Premier League for the first time in their history. Murty and Rosenior play in similar ways, as they both like to attack even though goals came too few and far between.

Dariusz Wdowczyk v Andre Bikey

Wdowczyk was originally the Polish national teams left back before reverting to one of three centre backs for Reading during the 1994/95 season. He was signed from Celtic after Reading supposedly offered him a derisory pay deal. He was able to deliver pinpoint passes and provided the front men with accurate cross balls.

Bikey on the hand is often reckless but with full concentration, he is one of the Championships finest. If he had ten seconds to do something, he will take nine of them and that is often nail biting watching on the terraces. Superb in the tackle and is an often a threat from set pieces.

Adie Williams v Ivar Ingimarsson

Two of the finest centre halves to ever grace Reading football club along with Martin Hicks, and both have been ever influential in the Royals success.

Williams played 398 games and was captain before Coppell ended his love affair with Reading. Since his first appearance in 1991-1992 season, he has played in every position from centre forward to emergency goalkeeper, wearing every shirt number 1-11 in the process. Dominate in the air and an elegant passer of the ball. He was pure genius.

Ingimarsson was Coppell's first signing and played a crucial since. He formed good partnerships with Williams (in his third spell with the club) and with Ibrahima Sonko, to become the king pin of the side. He took over the captain role from Murty where he has been injured.

Simon Osborn v Chris Armstrong

Osborn is naturally a midfielder but played at left wing back in the final due to the injury of Dylan Kerr. Osborn moved to Premier League club Queens Park Rangers before going into the lower league wilderness but what a fine player he was for Reading.

Armstrong has recently joined the club to replace Nicky Shorey and so far he has not done a great deal wrong as he has slotted nicely in the keeping of the back four.

Jimmy Kebe v Michael Gilkes

A race to the death, these two pace men are probably the fastest two players you will ever see in the hoops. Gilkes played in over 400 games for Reading as his right wing exploits made him a huge fan favourite as he went from the old fourth division to the brink of the top-flight. He was also a part of the 1988 Milk Cup winners squad that defeated Top division side Luton Town 4-1 in the final.

Jimmy Kebe, despite having a poor season in the Premier League, is playing full of confidence and he has made that right wing spot his own after the departure of Glen Little.

Mick Gooding v James Harper

Gooding spent eight years at Reading and was the joint manager for the remainder of the 1994/95 season with Jimmy Quinn as McGhee left controversially for Leicester City. He was a sitting midfielder and linked play very well, bringing in every teammate into the game. He was able to inspire.

Harper covers every blade of grass and certainly makes his presences felt. He joined from Arsenal and was trusted to start in the Walsall play off final ahead of Darren Caskey, since then he was ever present in the teams of Alan Pardew and Steve Coppell.

Keith McPherson v Kalifa Ciise

McPherson also played one the three centre halves and his power and determination has singled him out amongst the rest. He was ever present in the side during the 1990s before his transfer to Brighton.

Ciise plays a defensive position for Reading and he is known to pop up with the occasion goal. Similar in stature with McPherson, and has an uncanny resemblance to the way they both go in for a tackle.

Scott Taylor v Stephen Hunt

Taylor was a flying midfielder and has many attributes that Hunt has. After the playoff defeat, he refused a new contract and swiftly joined Leicester City. He was a trainee at Reading before playing in over 200 games for the Royals and was instrumental in our promotion to the first division in 1994.

Hunt was signed from Brentford on a free in the 2004/05 season, where he was mainly used as a substitute for Bobby Convey in his first season but he soon made that spot his own with an unusual style of flair and hard work. He is loved by Reading and hated by everyone else. Touted by Premier League clubs throughout the summer, he is one of prized assets.

Lee Nogan v Noël Hunt

Nogan came in half way through the 1994/95 season and hit 10 goals in 20 games to make sure Reading secured second spot. He began his career at local rivals Oxford United before moving to Reading via Watford. He scored the first in the playoff defeat.

Noel, Stephen's brother, have jumped straight into the starting line up and contributed massively to this seasons form. His goals have been constant, as he has sparked up a good partnership with Kevin Doyle. His move from Dundee United came about when Dave Kitson moved on to Premier League side Stoke City.

Stuart Lovell v Kevin Doyle

Lovell was unorthodox striker where he played most of the game trying to create rather than score. ‘Archie' had a modest goal scoring record for Reading where he scored 58 goals in 227 appearances before moving north of the border to have a relatively successful career in Scotland. Lovell captained Livingstone to an impressive third place in the Scottish Premier League.

What a sensation Kevin has been since his move from Cork City. In his debut season, he scored 19 goals in 51 appearances as we secured promotion, this term it looks like he will be doing better than that. His pace and ability to be at the right place at the right time is one of his finer skills. He works hard for the team as he is often played out of position to accommodate the team.

After remembering the whole squads there were a few I left out. I simply named the 1995 Playoff Final team but added to that -

Jimmy Quinn came on and scored whilst doing his job as joint manager but was in his autumn of his career.

Dylan Kerr was out through injury

Phil Parkinson was beginning to make end rows into the first team.

Jeff Hopkins came on as a substitute.

Adi Viveash played a few games that season.

Plus today's squad I am missing -

Marek Matejovsky is, par Robin Friday, the most natural gifted player we have had at the club.

Brynjar Gunnarsson

Leroy Lita

Shane Long

Bobby Convey

Plus a few others.



My Best Team (Putting both squads together) is:

1: Hislop

2: Murty

3: Kerr

4: Gooding

5: Williams

6: McPherson

7: Gilkes

8: Matejovsky

9: Doyle

10: Lovell

11: Hunt

Subs

12: Ingimarsson

13 Hahnemann

14: Harper

15: Osborn

16: Quinn

[papereyes]

Marek Matejovsky is, par Robin Friday, the most natural gifted player we have had at the club.

lol

[Row Z Royal]

Miles better.

[moo]

I'm really sorry, but is really, really bad...

[loyalroyal4life]

It doesnt compare

[PEARCEY]

Our current side definitely compares with the class of 95. Expectations are much much greater now than they were back then. No-one would have predicted we would end up 2nd that season...and did so courtesy of an Adie Williams goal late on in our last game of the season. Sure they were play off contenders all season but never threatened to win the league and had nowhere near the positive goal difference the current team has.
The class of 95 didn't half play some lovely football though. The current side dont ooze the class of that team but Coppell is a pragmatist and plays to the current teams strengths. Sure Wdowcyzk was a brilliant composed centre half the like of which we were not used to after years of Martin Hicks. Shaka was a brilliant goalkeeper. Osborn a cultured midfielder. Adie Williams was also a pretty decent centre back. As for Gilksey he remains my favourite Reading player but he had plenty of off days.
Lovell and Nogan up front...umm...compared to Doyle and NHunt/Lita no thanks.
We expect too much from the current squad which may have not been as strong from 1 to 11 as that of 95 but has one heck of a lot more depth to it...which is why this lot wil finish the season with more points than the 95 boys achieved and surely that is the acid test.

[W&E Royal]

Quite possibly the worst article i've ever read!!

[Ian Royal]

Can't be arsed to read all that, but our team compares well.

I didn't get to see much of the class of '95, but given the different directions the two teams came from my perception of the different strengths is fairly unsurprising.

For me McGhee's (and Jim & Mick's) lot were better organised as an overall team, with more free flowing football across the whole park. But then that would be a symptom of playing wing backs and 3 across the middle. You can't just get the ball to the wings and pelt down them for a cross. If leaves your defence woefully out of position if the other team breaks. So you rely more on going through the middle and crosses from deep.

Coppell's class of 2009 has better individual players, and quite possibly a generally more organised defence. But it has a fragility to its mental state and because of the very specific way in which we attack, it is more easily countered. Happily, you have to not only play a certain way to stop us, but be very good at playing that way. Unfortunately that style of system is becoming more common amongst English (and Welsh) teams.

[Ian Royal]

Article from FootballFancast.com Dec 08

Football FanCast columnist Steven Woodgate wonders how the current Reading squad compares with of 1995.

My Best Team (Putting both squads together) is:
1: Hislop
2: Murty
3: Kerr
4: Gooding
5: Williams
6: McPherson
7: Gilkes
8: Matejovsky
9: Doyle
10: Lovell
11: Hunt

Subs
12: Ingimarsson
13 Hahnemann
14: Harper
15: Osborn
16: Quinn

Where the hell is Wdowczyk! Gooding and Marek would be blinding though.

Just read most of that article. It's utter drivel. You can't compare the teams position for position because totally different formations were used. It's also riddled with factual inaccuracies.

Osborn did not play left wing back in the final. Gilkes was not a right winger. Unbelievable. Adie Viveash played in 94/95? My Arse did he.

[Woodcote Royal]

Where the hell is Wdowczyk!

Quite.

I wouldn't replace many of the current side with those from 1995 (McPherson! You can't be serious ) but I'd make an exception for Wdowczyk, class player for sure.

[Ian Royal]

Quite.

I wouldn't replace many of the current side with those from 1995 (McPherson! You can't be serious ) but I'd make an exception for Wdowczyk, class player for sure.

Players since '95 (at their Reading peaks) for me would make a team of:

Shaka (just)
Murty
Shorey
Wdowczyk
Ingimarsson (tough choice)
Little
Harper
Sidwell
SHunt
Doyle
Kitson

Probably harsh on the earlier players in midfield, but sadly I only saw Osborn and Taylor in 1 game.

[Woodcote Royal]

Pretty much agree although I don't think I could spilt Marcus and Shaka at their respective peaks nor Ivar, Sonks and Adie Williams.

[SLAMMED]

Article from FootballFancast.com As Reading sit pondering in the play off places

I read that and decided not to bother reading any more.

EDIT- Dec 08

[rabidbee]

I would have 95-era Wdowczyk, Shaka and Ozzie in my team any day. Ozzie was the last midfielder we had who could create something out of nothing, with a cheeky chip or sly pass. Shaka was immense, and Wdowczyk was sheer class.

I'd probably have Archie on the bench, too; partly from sentiment, and mainly because he's head and shoulders better than Long.

[SCIAG]

Quite.

I wouldn't replace many of the current side with those from 1995 (McPherson! You can't be serious ) but I'd make an exception for Wdowczyk, class player for sure.

Players since '95 (at their Reading peaks) for me would make a team of:

Shaka (just)
Murty
Shorey
Wdowczyk
Ingimarsson (tough choice)
Little
Harper
Sidwell
Convey
Doyle
Kitson

Probably harsh on the earlier players in midfield, but sadly I only saw Osborn and Taylor in 1 game.

Hahnemann, Sonko, Bikey, Caskey and Lovell all vying for spots.

[readingbedding]

Can we have one about the 1926/7 team and the present one please?

[Hoop Blah]

Not the best piece of writing I've seen on what is an interesting topic.

How the author has made some of the decisions he has, and some of the comparisons, I don't know but I guess his tender age at the time might explain some of it. It's especially tough to do as the two teams played totally differently and so comparing our functional 4-4-2 to the more fluid passing 5-3-2 we played for the majority of that season is a bit futile.

Shaka, Wdowczyk and Osbourn would be in any side I picked from the two squads though.

[Negative_Jeff]

I need the excuse of a few pints to go and watch the present lot home and away. I didn`t back in 94/95.
Actually, I had a sense of deja vu down at Swansea a couple of weeks ago because the opposition reminded me so much of the 94/95 team. Their centre forward did a very passable imitation of Quinny Jim.

[beno]

what was our style that season i only went to a few games.. but wish i went to more. did we play consistently good football or was there mostly scrappy games like they are these days? how would a team playing 5-3-2 passing style get on these days, no one seems to play 5-3-2 anymore. at one time it was very popular. was that a mcghee formation i thought he was a 4-4-2 man like coppell? was it jim and mick who started it? did we have a sweeper and an attacking midfielder out of the 3 DC and MC? interested to hear from anyone who saw the team regularly that season!

[Baines]

08/09 and 94/95 combined (based on performances in each season)

Shaka
Rosenior (with a heavy heart)
Dariusz
Doobs
Armstrong
Scotty
Osborn
Cisse
Gilkes
Doyle
Lovell

Subs
Marcus
Adie W
Gooding
SHunt
NHunt