RFC flops XI

[Ian Royal]

did i fall asleep and miss something that's kept grant brebner out of this conversation so far?

He was really good when he played (for the level we were at) and it was a travesty that we flogged him for so little just because he got home sick and we were shit.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

GK: Van der Kwaak
RB: Gurney
LB: Bodin
CB: Kromheer
CB: Khumalo
CM: Evers
CM: Reilly
LW: Crawford
RW: Fae
CF: Brayson
CF: Mooney

Can't even remember exactly where Evers, Crawford and Reilly played, but it was somewhere in midfield and they were crap. How the likes of Houghton, Jones, Fleck, Scott and Sheppard have avoided getting in my team I'm not entirely sure.

Fae was never a winger / right sided midfielder. He was a central (defensive) midfielder we played out of position.

Drop Dave Mooney (or Brett Williams / Karl Sheppard) for Les Ferdinand?

Sekou Baradji? (barring one cross)

Cedric Baseya? Eric Obinna Chukwunyelu? Benik Afobe (did f/k all - although wasn't needed to really).

Houghton was sh/t.

True, but I was struggling for right wingers and that's where he started for us. Replace him with Brooker. Ferdinand looked a bit like Roberts this season IMO. A cut about what we have, but never likely to actually score a goal. Baradji was only ever really a short term cover signing, so I don't think he was a flop, no one expected much, he had high quality competition and true to expectations he's disappeared quickly.

None of those really played much or were expected to play much. I've tried to keep my picks to players who were intended to improve the first team squad (either straight away or soonish)

I've edited the team to "improve" it slightly.

GK: Van der Kwaak
RB: Gurney
LB: Bodin
CB: Kromheer
CB: Khumalo
CM: Evers
CM: Reilly
LW: Crawford
RW: Brooker
CF: Brayson
CF: Fleck

Subs: Sheppard, Scott, Savage, Houghton, Holsgrove (how the feck could I forget hoof it Holsgrove!!?)

Bit harsh on Holsgrove and from memory was a free transfer - did a good back up role when we got to play off final in 1995 - cracking winning goal at Middlesboro (champions that season)

[Mid Sussex Royal]

I'd def have Steve Moran and Craig Maskell up front. Both record signings at £250K plus that practically put us out of business (until SJM came along) and both were complete dog on the pitch.

[Got the T-Shirt]

Howie (could not kick a ball).
Mass Sarr
Andy Legg (sure he was the one with the long throw!!)
Carl Asaba

[Royalclapper]

Pat Earles was terrible.
Barry Hunter

[sputnik]

Pat Earles was terrible.
Barry Hunter

The same Pat Earles who was our top scorer in the 78/79 4th Division championship winning team ?

[AthleticoSpizz]

as the song went:


Earles a winger (he scores goals)

[Franchise FC]

Sean Evers in for Cisse in midfield, definitely.

Would also argue that, whilst unpopular, Mills was not a complete flop - he was pivotal in our run to the play off final (would exclude him for that epic performance at Cardiff in the semi-final alone).

RB - Greg Halford? Signed for big bucks, did nothing of note bar give away a penalty on his debut, left soon after.

Halford never really got a sniff ...... oh !

[West Stand Man]

Pat Earles was terrible.
Barry Hunter

.... and on that basis alone I will ignore anything else you utter as you clearly know nothing.

[Samrfc01]

Scott Murray anyone?

[AthleticoSpizz]

again?

IIRC he had a couple of decent games

[royalsroyalsroyals92]

Omar Daley

[AthleticoSpizz]

Kim Sainsbury

Michael Barnes


good players, but flops for Reading

[Terminal Boardom]

The key word is FLOP. My take is the amount of hype surrounding a signing coupled with their performances. So, in no particular order, my selections would include the following:

Mikhaylov
Meaker
Sarr
TB1's Magnificent Seven - every one of them except McIntyre who came good under Pardew
Evers
David Shipperley
Caskey - I said after his first couple of games with us that we would never win anything with him in the team. I was right.
Murty - until he started playing at right back. The majority of Nobbers give Rosenior a really hard time which is totally unjustified. He replaced a legend and you never gave him a chance
Neale Cooper
Hugh Cheetham
Halford
Fae
Brooker

[MeMeMe]

Mark Reily - Tommy Burn's wonder signing!!

wow, yes... I remember this useless fart drifting around midfield, only played about 6 games in the end I think. The worst player to wear the shirt that I have seen in my 16 years supporting Reading

[Terminal Boardom]

Pat Earles was terrible.
Barry Hunter

You Sir, are a cock.



One of the great floodlit nights at Elm Park.

[Terminal Boardom]

Kim Sainsbury

Michael Barnes


good players, but flops for Reading

But what was the level of expectation when they played? NONE! So how could they possibly be flops? Plus, when Micky Nutton played alongside Barnes, his game improved immeasurably.

[AthleticoSpizz]

just regailing some of the other names mentioned


....and some are well wide of the mark!

[CJC]

Van Der Kwaak

G Halford
E Kromheer
P Mate
S Gray

A Mclaren
M Reilly
S Evers

P Brayson
R Fleck
K Scott

The majority from the Burns era, All a complete waste of space

[Ian Royal]

The key word is FLOP. My take is the amount of hype surrounding a signing coupled with their performances. So, in no particular order, my selections would include the following:

Mikhaylov
Meaker
Sarr
TB1's Magnificent Seven - every one of them except McIntyre who came good under Pardew
Evers
David Shipperley
Caskey - I said after his first couple of games with us that we would never win anything with him in the team. I was right.
Murty - until he started playing at right back. The majority of Nobbers give Rosenior a really hard time which is totally unjustified. He replaced a legend and you never gave him a chance
Neale Cooper
Hugh Cheetham
Halford
Fae
Brooker

I guess you could do an alternate - not shit players but total disappointments team. That's a lot harder, I don't feel there was often a lot of weight of expectation on players before our big success time

GK: Mikhaylov
RB: Halford
LB: Marcus Williams
CB: Duberry
CB: Khumalo
CM: Evers
CM: Fae
RM: Murray
LM: Sarr
CF: Ferdinand
CF: Lita

That's a far far better team than the just plain old shit players one.
Might be being harsh to Doobs and Lita.