Reading's best ever centre back?

[Ian Royal]

From what I can gather, the top 6 central defensive partnerships by games started is:

210 starts 1.48 ppg - Hicks/Wood
132 starts 1.45 ppg - Messer/Inglis
128 starts 1.33 ppg - Williams/McPherson
122 starts 1.73 ppg - Sonko/Ingimarsson
120 starts 1.72 ppg - Brice/Wicks
114 starts 1.60 ppg - Hicks/Hetzke

Can't find any others with 100 or more starts (should say that here I have treated loan spells as different from permanent).

Based in minimum 10 games started topgether, the best pairings have been

2.23 ppg from 13 starts - Upson/Williams
1.95 ppg from 20 starts - Shipperley/Hetzke (although Hetzke played RB for many of these games)
1.93 ppg from 14 starts - Whitbread/Viveash
1.91 ppg from 11 starts - Williams/Hunter
1.88 ppg from 42 starts - Williams/Wdowczky
1.83 ppg from 60 starts - Hetzke/Bennett
1.83 ppg from 29 starts - Barker/Lenarduzzi
1.79 ppg from 75 starts - Bennett/Hicks
1.78 ppg from 40 starts - Barker/Youlden

Hope this is of some interest!

So (unsurprisingly), given the number of starts combined with PPG, you essentiall have to go with Sonkomarsson. Especially seeign as they played at the highest level.

Although very impressed with the Hetzke/Bennett, Bennett/Hicks, Brice/Wicks & Hicks/Hetzke records

[jazz]

Alf Messer.

Unlucky never to play for England.

Kept Reading in Div 2 'single-handed'.

Went to Spurs in 1930 and our next 5 results were 1-7, 1-3, 1-4, 0-4, 1-8. Can't say he wasn't missed!

Good call, sport.

Next for me would be Stan Wicks and Gordon Bryce from the 50's.

[Franchise FC]

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

Although GB wouldn't need his pointy head testing as that's the very, very last thing he had

[JC]

From what I can gather, the top 6 central defensive partnerships by games started is:

210 starts 1.48 ppg - Hicks/Wood
132 starts 1.45 ppg - Messer/Inglis
128 starts 1.33 ppg - Williams/McPherson
122 starts 1.73 ppg - Sonko/Ingimarsson
120 starts 1.72 ppg - Brice/Wicks
114 starts 1.60 ppg - Hicks/Hetzke

Can't find any others with 100 or more starts (should say that here I have treated loan spells as different from permanent).

Based in minimum 10 games started topgether, the best pairings have been

2.23 ppg from 13 starts - Upson/Williams
1.95 ppg from 20 starts - Shipperley/Hetzke (although Hetzke played RB for many of these games)
1.93 ppg from 14 starts - Whitbread/Viveash
1.91 ppg from 11 starts - Williams/Hunter
1.88 ppg from 42 starts - Williams/Wdowczky
1.83 ppg from 60 starts - Hetzke/Bennett
1.83 ppg from 29 starts - Barker/Lenarduzzi
1.79 ppg from 75 starts - Bennett/Hicks
1.78 ppg from 40 starts - Barker/Youlden

Hope this is of some interest!

Would it not be more logical to look at goals conceded rather than ppg since the latter has as much to do with the forwards as the defenders

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

I'm not reading all that but my top three would be:

Darius - pure class.
Paul Bennett - much under-rated, solid, and no little skill.
Upson - but does he count as he was a loan?

[strap]

Would it not be more logical to look at goals conceded rather than ppg since the latter has as much to do with the forwards as the defenders

No, for any number of reasons, but whatever floats your boat ....



Although this does confirm my own gut instinct that Hulme/Youlden were very good. They were the first centre-back pairing since I started going to matches that were any good.

Enjoy.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

Would it not be more logical to look at goals conceded rather than ppg since the latter has as much to do with the forwards as the defenders

No, for any number of reasons, but whatever floats your boat ....



Although this does confirm my own gut instinct that Hulme/Youlden were very good. They were the first centre-back pairing since I started going to matches that were any good.

Enjoy.

This is as interesting as only Strap knows how.

Interesting that Hulme/Youlden - two of the nicest chaps one could ever meet - are right up ... (with Paul Bennett) but also surprised at how low Steve Wood, who was another class defender, is on the list. However, we were playing a slightly better opposition at the time.

[grey_squirrel]

Despite the stats, having seen them regularly, I would always have gone for Hicks/Hetzke. Hicks for the assurity in those those days and Hetzke for his prowess especially around dead balls.

Still can't deny Ingi and Sonks were without fail the best in the only league that matters.

Upson for his cameo to better things

And Dave Shipperley for his first (and only!) touch crunching tackle when he signed for us in 79 in the good ol days!

[grey_squirrel]

Paul Bennett (Club Captain) got transferred to Aldershot, didn't he, for a better deal?! lol!

[SCIAG]

surprised at how low Steve Wood, who was another class defender, is on the list.

Second placed Wood and third placed Steve

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

surprised at how low Steve Wood, who was another class defender, is on the list.

Second placed Wood and third placed Steve

Yup, Steve Wood would be fourth on my list - classy.... and he signed for a better class of footy at ... the 'Wall.

Agreed, too, Strap, with John and Tommy.... the last of the "gentlemen footy players" - with possible exception of Stewart Henderson, at RFC.