Reading's best ever left-back?

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Nicky Shorey a bargain at £25k from Orient

[SCIAG]

Harte was a great free kick taker but a long way from our best ever left back. Probably our worst first choice left back since pre-Shorey. Armstrong, Bertrand and Bridge are certainly ahead of him, the only questionable one is Obita - and I don't think it's questionable if you compare them when they were playing with McAnuff.

It's comfortable Shorey for me. I don't really remember Kerr too well but he was good. I'd probably stick him at fifth. Bridge immediately behind Shorey, then Armstrong, then Bertrand.

Armstrong ahead of Bertrand? Really? Can't pack that one away.

Armstrong: player of the season, we finished 4th
Bertrand: 3rd player of the season, we finished 9th

Don't think there's much between them, don't think it's ridiculous to say Armstrong was better.

How on earth can Bridge come into the reckoning. He only played 12 times!

Yeah, and he was great!

Did he achieve much with us, no, but he was arguably the "best" we've had. Oozed class. See also: Carrico.

[blueroyals]

We've been incredibly lucky with left backs this century.

1. Shorey
2. Bertrand.
3. Armstrong
4. Harte
5. Obita

for me.

How on earth can Bridge come into the reckoning. He only played 12 times!

Spot on

[loyalroyaldaz]

I would have to put Matt Robinson in there somewhere. Probably above Harte.

[P!ssed Off]

Harte was a great free kick taker but a long way from our best ever left back. Probably our worst first choice left back since pre-Shorey. Armstrong, Bertrand and Bridge are certainly ahead of him, the only questionable one is Obita - and I don't think it's questionable if you compare them when they were playing with McAnuff.

It's comfortable Shorey for me. I don't really remember Kerr too well but he was good. I'd probably stick him at fifth. Bridge immediately behind Shorey, then Armstrong, then Bertrand.

Armstrong ahead of Bertrand? Really? Can't pack that one away.

Armstrong: player of the season, we finished 4th
Bertrand: 3rd player of the season, we finished 9th

Don't think there's much between them, don't think it's ridiculous to say Armstrong was better.

How on earth can Bridge come into the reckoning. He only played 12 times!

Yeah, and he was great!

Did he achieve much with us, no, but he was arguably the "best" we've had. Oozed class. See also: Carrico.

No he wasn't.

[RoyallyFcuked]

SHOREY FOR ENGLAND!!! Nicky at No1 for sure, he was a class act and an absolute bargain, loved him. Will always remember his two free kicks in successive matches in the 106 season, home to Norwich and away at Crewe. Also us (him espeicially) running riot against West Ham in the 6-0 a season later, setting up all the goals.

Special mention to Ian Harte, who was an important figure in the side that made a run to the play off final in 2011 and the side that made a run to the title in 2012. Unlucky for him we went up the second time round as he lost a year and was already getting on a bit which didn't help when his lack of pace being exposed (particularly in the PL). He made up for it though with good positioning and reading of the game down to his experience, and of course he had an absolute wand of a left peg that got us plenty of important goals from free kicks and set pieces.

To be fair, Ryan Bertrand did also look really good in his season on loan here.

[Ian Royal]

I don't like including loanees they don't feel properly ours. So it's obviously Shorey. And I'd put Armstrong clearly ahead of Harte too.

[howser]

Most likely would be Shorey cheap buy to England international, was a good gamble that one. For the level we were playing at the time Colin Meldrum was pretty useful.

[Old Biscuitman]

Has to be Ray "Bomber" Reeves.

He was a centre half.

[genome]

I would have to put Matt Robinson in there somewhere. Probably above Harte.

Now we're just naming left backs.

[strap]

Has to be Ray "Bomber" Reeves.

The only one to come close to Nicky Shorey. Bomber may just shade it as he scored more but Shorey played in higher leagues.

By coincidence, Bomber made 284 league starts for RFC, and Nicky Shorey 283+1. Reeves had 29 league goals to Shorey's 13, but then Reeves was the regular penalty taker.

In "other" games, Reeves made 33 starts scoring 3 goals, whilst Shorey made 31 starts and 1 goal.

Reeves played for RFC for 9 seasons .... as did Shorey.

As Shorey played in higher divisions, and of course got an England cap, he just gets the nod I think.

For what it's worth, Harte made 85+3 league apps scoring 15 times in 3 seasons. Matt Robinson made 62+3 league apps, no goals, in 3 seasons.

[North Somerset Royal]

Personally I always liked Dennis Butler

[notloyalenuffroyal]

I'm going to throw Dariusz Wdowczck out there.

Probably wasn't the greatest, but he did a decent job as far as I can remember.

On a side bar... what is the science behind left backs being such good free kick takers.?

Harte, Shorey, Bridge I think I've seen take a few, now Obita...

Beyond us over the years, Stuart Pearce, Roberto Carlos....

Any logic? I can't think of any famous right back free kick takers. Someone will though!!!

[Jackson Corner]

Steve Richardson mark White shorey Armstrong Bertrand Harte Dylan Kerr . We have been blessed with some great left backs over the years.

[Struggle Pig]

We've been incredibly lucky with left backs this century.

1. Shorey
2. Bertrand.
3. Armstrong
4. Harte
5. Obita

for me.

How on earth can Bridge come into the reckoning. He only played 12 times!

^
This for me.

Unfortunately I cannot comment much pre 2000/2001, any decent left backs pre Mad Stad?

[Aubery Boyce]

I'm going to throw classy Centre back Dariusz Wdowczck out there.

[M Brook]

Has to be Ray "Bomber" Reeves.

The only one to come close to Nicky Shorey. Bomber may just shade it as he scored more but Shorey played in higher leagues.

By coincidence, Bomber made 284 league starts for RFC, and Nicky Shorey 283+1. Reeves had 29 league goals to Shorey's 13, but then Reeves was the regular penalty taker.

In "other" games, Reeves made 33 starts scoring 3 goals, whilst Shorey made 31 starts and 1 goal.

Reeves played for RFC for 9 seasons .... as did Shorey.

As Shorey played in higher divisions, and of course got an England cap, he just gets the nod I think.

For what it's worth, Harte made 85+3 league apps scoring 15 times in 3 seasons. Matt Robinson made 62+3 league apps, no goals, in 3 seasons.

Shorey got two England caps but I'd still go for Stevie Rich. Shorey's last season before he left us the first time left a lot to be desired. He clearly wanted away. Richardson's commitment to the club was never anything less than 100%.

[Edelston & Brice]

Has to be Ray "Bomber" Reeves.

He was a centre half.

Sorry, Old Biscuitman, but Bomber was quite definitely a left-back. Most of the time he played for us the centre-half position was filled by either Bill Davies or Dick Spiers.

[bobby m's syrup]

Most likely would be Shorey cheap buy to England international, was a good gamble that one. For the level we were playing at the time Colin Meldrum was pretty useful.

You beat me to it there. Meldrum was a solid performer, always gave 100% and was club captain IIRC

[MoorgateRoyal]

Bertrand was always a cut above in the season he played for us. You could just see his class.

My favourite may well be Dylan Kerr, I was very young when he played, but I used to watch the VHSs of the seasons between 93-95 endlessly and he featured heavily, of course. You could see his personality when he played, which is rare, and was always solid. A likeable guy and a decent player.

Hat tips to both Shorey and Harte, too. I always wanted Golbourne to do well for us but it was a shame he never really got off the ground.