Who was Reading's 'tidiest' ever player?

[Sport Economist]

Peter Grant is a candidate but possibly Stuart Beavon for me.

[Only one Trevor Morley]

Martyn booty....

[Born Again Royalist]

Has to be Steve Archibald, but he didn't stop too long at Elm Park

[King van der Kwaak]

Michael Thorp was the first person who came to mind and I always felt he should've played more for Reading than he did. Always did an admirable job when he did play.

I'd definitely also nominate Linden Jones, one of our better players during a very mediocre spell for us.

Ulises de la Cruz is a good shout, but I felt he had more quality than "not good, but not bad either".

[Gandalf Presley]

Apologies. late into this - will probably be discounted anyway as I haven't got 500+ posts where I either revel in my own self importance or simply bicker against the last reply.

However, returning to topic. Two stand-outs for me are:

Chris Makin: consistent performer whenever called upon during the 05-06 season. o

Ricky Newman: never a regular but barely put a foot wrong when in the starting XI

[southbank1871]

Good contribution Gandalf, but why so defensive

[Green]

Good contribution Gandalf, but why so defensive

Yeh, is that borne of a bad experience on here Gandalf

[Ark Royal]

John Murray

Ever see John Murray drinking in the Spread? The antithesis of tidy.

[Pepe the Horseman]

BUMP

[Royal Lady]

Michael Barnes - always tucked his shirt in and stuff.

[higher]

This ones got Darius Wdowczyk written all over it.
When all around were losing their heads during an opposition raid he with ice cool aplomb would acquire possession and send a 40 yard ball on a sixpence (oh the memories?). Well that's how I remember him and I`m sticking to it. Tidy man.

[Eaststandman]

This ones got Darius Wdowczyk written all over it.
When all around were losing their heads during an opposition raid he with ice cool aplomb would acquire possession and send a 40 yard ball on a sixpence (oh the memories?). Well that's how I remember him and I`m sticking to it. Tidy man.

This! (IMHO)

[leon]

Mick Gooding

[UpThePrem]

Brynyar Gunnarsen. Came in and did a job when needed.

[genome]

Steve Brown

[11.30 from paddington]

As above - Chris Makin, Ricky Newman, Neil Smith, Steve Brown, Jay Tabb all fit my definition of a tidy player.

For the most part, they're normally a central midfielder. Not the most spectacular, but can put in the effort, are technically solid without being consistently spectacular, careful with possession and their decision making is normally sound. They'll never dominate a game like Kevin Watson/Guthrie/Caskey with their passing range, but they'll consistently contribute to the team and will end up winning something like Players' Player of the year at the club.

James Harper was a very tidy player for us (although I think he sacrificed a bit of his showboating to play that role for us).

I'll say that Baird is a tidy player for us at the moment, Deshamps was a tidy player for France and Busquets is Barcelona's most tidy player.

[howser]

Another name to throw into the hat, that will be remembered by those of us who have more grey hairs than we would care to admit to is Tony Wagstaff, very tidy player

[marekisgod]

Tidy = Chris Armstrong


Cant believe nobody else has mentioned him !

[Super Kevin Bremner!]

Caskey

[Cripple Creek]

Seeing Didier Dechamps mentioned here raises the question as to whether a "tidy player" is the same as a "water carrier"?