Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

sandman
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Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by sandman » 16 Apr 2020 13:29

Does what it says on the tin.

Out of the players you have seen in your lifetime supporting the club and excluding players from that brilliant 05/06 team, what is your Best Reading XI.

Hislop

Griffin
Williams
McPherson
Kerr

Kebe
Parkinson
Sigurdsson
Mcanuff

Forster
Quinn

Tough choices for me were at right back where apart from Murts there isn't a stand out for me. I know it's probably Gunter on longevity but I'm not going to be a hypocrite and put him in when I've criticised him for years. Would probably put Yiadom in there if he carries on the way he has since he's been here.

Centre Midfield was also tricky. Had to get Gylfi in there, even if he isn't a 442 style centre midfielder but Parkinson can do the defending for him.

Left wing was between Jobi and Michael Gilkes but went with Jobi as he got promoted and was Captain as well.

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by One87One » 16 Apr 2020 13:49

Forster's goals to game ratio wasn't actually that great. He was superb on his day, but I always found him frustratingly greedy. But his turn of pace was something else.

sandman Left wing was between Jobi and Michael Gilkes but went with Jobi as he got promoted and was Captain as well.

Gilkes scored and won the Simod Cup, and narrowly missed out on auto promotion to the Premier League in 1995 when we finished 2nd. I'd argue Gilkes edges McAnuff.

Anyway, for me:

------------------------------- SHAKA ----------------------------------

BRIDGE --- UPSON ----------------- WDOWCZYK --- HARTE

TAYLOR ---- OSBORN ---------- SIGURDSSON ---- GILKES

---------------- CURETON --------- QUINN ------------------------

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Franchise FC » 16 Apr 2020 14:48

I've excluded loanees, except where they became permanent
Keepers :
Death or Hislop - Shaka by a neck

Right Back
Griffin

Centre Backs
from Hetzke, Hicks, Gorks, Wdowczyk
Wdowczyk & Gorks

Left Back
Mark White, Chris Armstrong, Ian Harte - Chalky (although a real soft spot for Stretch)

Right Midfield
Kebe (by a mile)

Central Midfield
Gylfi Sigurdsson - easily the best I've seen in a Reading shirt
Webb, Sanchez, Beavon, Osborne, Liegertwood, Swift, Ejaria
Some that should have been better than they turned out
And the winners are ... Osborne & Swift

Left Midfield
Michael Gilkes

Strikers
Jimmy Quinn, Robin Friday, Jason Roberts,
Gone with Quinn & Roberts

Really found it hard to find any more recent players. And I really tried.

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Barney » 16 Apr 2020 15:16

Jason Roberts (6 goals in total for RFC) beats Friday, Senior, Dixon etc to make the BEST EVER RFC XI ?????

I am assuming this is a massive woosh. Apologies for taking the bait.

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Franchise FC » 16 Apr 2020 15:54

Barney Jason Roberts (6 goals in total for RFC) beats Friday, Senior, Dixon etc to make the BEST EVER RFC XI ?????

I am assuming this is a massive woosh. Apologies for taking the bait.

Not a whoosh. Roberts was much, much more than just goals and took a decent squad by the scruff of the neck and dragged us into the PL.
That's the way I see it.
must admit, I didn't think of KD. Again, I still believe Roberts was the better player although Kerry's scoring record was sensational for a relegated side


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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by South Coast Royal » 16 Apr 2020 15:57

An impossible task but here goes with something like a very attacking 3-5-2:

Shaka Hislop

Keith Curle
Adie Williams
Dariusz Wdowczyk

Mick Gooding
Phil Parkinson
Simon Osborn
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Michael Gilkes

Robin Friday
Kerry Dixon

Subs:-
Steve Death
Johnny Walker
Martin Hicks
Jimmy Quinn
Denis Allen
Trevor Senior
Kevin Bremner

I don't rate many of the regular full-backs over the years so have gone with the 2 wing-backs.
Notable absentees:-
Lawrie Sanchez
Neil Webb (didn't play for long enough)
Tommy Jenkins (didn't play for long enough)
Jimmy Kebe (too in and out for me)
Jimmy Wheeler
Richie Bowman
Colin Meldrum
George Harris
Last edited by South Coast Royal on 16 Apr 2020 15:58, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Barney » 16 Apr 2020 15:58

Franchise FC
Barney Jason Roberts (6 goals in total for RFC) beats Friday, Senior, Dixon etc to make the BEST EVER RFC XI ?????

I am assuming this is a massive woosh. Apologies for taking the bait.

Not a whoosh. Roberts was much, much more than just goals and took a decent squad by the scruff of the neck and dragged us into the PL.
That's the way I see it.
must admit, I didn't think of KD. Again, I still believe Roberts was the better player although Kerry's scoring record was sensational for a relegated side


Each to their own guvnor. Roberts actually only played the full 90 minutes 14 times for Reading.
Just a little surprised that Friday (enough said) or Senior (over 150 goals in over 300 games) or Dixon couldn't get in ahead of a player that only made 28 appearances for us. Hey ho.....like I say, each to their own.

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Franchise FC » 16 Apr 2020 16:00

Barney
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Barney Jason Roberts (6 goals in total for RFC) beats Friday, Senior, Dixon etc to make the BEST EVER RFC XI ?????

I am assuming this is a massive woosh. Apologies for taking the bait.

Not a whoosh. Roberts was much, much more than just goals and took a decent squad by the scruff of the neck and dragged us into the PL.
That's the way I see it.
must admit, I didn't think of KD. Again, I still believe Roberts was the better player although Kerry's scoring record was sensational for a relegated side


Each to their own guvnor. Roberts actually only played the full 90 minutes 14 times for Reading.
Just a little surprised that Friday (enough said) or Senior (over 150 goals in over 300 games) or Dixon couldn't get in ahead of a player that only made 28 appearances for us. Hey ho.....like I say, each to their own.

I presume you agreed with all the others ? :wink:

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Zip » 16 Apr 2020 16:14

One87One Forster's goals to game ratio wasn't actually that great. He was superb on his day, but I always found him frustratingly greedy. But his turn of pace was something else.

sandman Left wing was between Jobi and Michael Gilkes but went with Jobi as he got promoted and was Captain as well.

Gilkes scored and won the Simod Cup, and narrowly missed out on auto promotion to the Premier League in 1995 when we finished 2nd. I'd argue Gilkes edges McAnuff.

Anyway, for me:

------------------------------- SHAKA ----------------------------------

BRIDGE --- UPSON ----------------- WDOWCZYK --- HARTE

TAYLOR ---- OSBORN ---------- SIGURDSSON ---- GILKES

---------------- CURETON --------- QUINN ------------------------



The problem with Curo is he didn’t do it for us at Championship level. Great at lower League level


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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Jack Celliers » 16 Apr 2020 16:30

Hislop

Gunter
Kerr
Mills
Moore

Karacan
Caskey
Kebe
Sigurrdson

Senior
Friday

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Zip » 16 Apr 2020 16:39

South Coast Royal An impossible task but here goes with something like a very attacking 3-5-2:

Shaka Hislop

Keith Curle
Adie Williams
Dariusz Wdowczyk

Mick Gooding
Phil Parkinson
Simon Osborn
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Michael Gilkes

Robin Friday
Kerry Dixon

Subs:-
Steve Death
Johnny Walker
Martin Hicks
Jimmy Quinn
Denis Allen
Trevor Senior
Kevin Bremner

I don't rate many of the regular full-backs over the years so have gone with the 2 wing-backs.
Notable absentees:-
Lawrie Sanchez
Neil Webb (didn't play for long enough)
Tommy Jenkins (didn't play for long enough)
Jimmy Kebe (too in and out for me)
Jimmy Wheeler
Richie Bowman
Colin Meldrum
George Harris


I like your starting line up particularly the three centre backs. Fully agree on your five in midfield especially Gilksey to give the side pace. Didn’t see Friday play so can’t comment but agree on Dixon.
The only surprise is that Chris Gunter is not in your side.

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Snowflake Royal » 16 Apr 2020 16:48

Shaka
Griffin
Bertrand*
Wdowzyck
Upson*
Norwood
Gooding
Sigurdsson
Kebe
McAnuff
Quinn

*if loanees excluded then I'll go Harte and Williams

Honourable mentions to Caskey, Gilkes, McPherson, Pearce, Gorkss, Parkinson and Leigertwood

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by South Coast Royal » 16 Apr 2020 16:50

Zip
South Coast Royal An impossible task but here goes with something like a very attacking 3-5-2:

Shaka Hislop

Keith Curle
Adie Williams
Dariusz Wdowczyk

Mick Gooding
Phil Parkinson
Simon Osborn
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Michael Gilkes

Robin Friday
Kerry Dixon

Subs:-
Steve Death
Johnny Walker
Martin Hicks
Jimmy Quinn
Denis Allen
Trevor Senior
Kevin Bremner

I don't rate many of the regular full-backs over the years so have gone with the 2 wing-backs.
Notable absentees:-
Lawrie Sanchez
Neil Webb (didn't play for long enough)
Tommy Jenkins (didn't play for long enough)
Jimmy Kebe (too in and out for me)
Jimmy Wheeler
Richie Bowman
Colin Meldrum
George Harris


I like your starting line up particularly the three centre backs. Fully agree on your five in midfield especially Gilksey to give the side pace. Didn’t see Friday play so can’t comment but agree on Dixon.
The only surprise is that Chris Gunter is not in your side.


As I said, I haven't seen many orthodox full-backs over the years that have been much good, apart from Murty and Shorey.
At least I have put one token Welshman in the side. :wink:


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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Forbury Lion » 16 Apr 2020 17:18

Barney Jason Roberts (6 goals in total for RFC) beats Friday, Senior, Dixon etc to make the BEST EVER RFC XI ?????
We were not asked for the best ever RFC XI, we were asked for the best XI seen in our lifetime...... So you may see a player who played 5 games and consider him to be a better player than someone who played 100 and won us promotions, however a player who plays 5 games for a club isn't going to feature in any Best ever XI (unless they were 5 cup finals).

There is a flaw here.......If you only saw Mass Sarr play once against Luton, I guess you'd have to include him in your best Reading XI, even though he effectively only had one great game for us.

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Forbury Lion » 16 Apr 2020 17:26

Shaka Hislop

Andy Griffin
Adie Williams
Dariusz Wdowczyk
Ian Harte

Gylfi Sigurdsson
Phil Parkinson
Darren Caskey
Jimmy Kebe

Trevor Senior
Jimmy Quinn

Subs
Adam LeFondre
Jamie Cureton
Mick Gooding
Phil Whitehead
Adie Viveash

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Zip » 16 Apr 2020 18:11

South Coast Royal
Zip
South Coast Royal An impossible task but here goes with something like a very attacking 3-5-2:

Shaka Hislop

Keith Curle
Adie Williams
Dariusz Wdowczyk

Mick Gooding
Phil Parkinson
Simon Osborn
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Michael Gilkes

Robin Friday
Kerry Dixon

Subs:-
Steve Death
Johnny Walker
Martin Hicks
Jimmy Quinn
Denis Allen
Trevor Senior
Kevin Bremner

I don't rate many of the regular full-backs over the years so have gone with the 2 wing-backs.
Notable absentees:-
Lawrie Sanchez
Neil Webb (didn't play for long enough)
Tommy Jenkins (didn't play for long enough)
Jimmy Kebe (too in and out for me)
Jimmy Wheeler
Richie Bowman
Colin Meldrum
George Harris


I like your starting line up particularly the three centre backs. Fully agree on your five in midfield especially Gilksey to give the side pace. Didn’t see Friday play so can’t comment but agree on Dixon.
The only surprise is that Chris Gunter is not in your side.


As I said, I haven't seen many orthodox full-backs over the years that have been much good, apart from Murty and Shorey.
At least I have put one token Welshman in the side. :wink:


I would go with your side apart from Friday as I didn’t see him play. I’d bring Fozzy in alongside Dixon.

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Tony Le Mesmer » 16 Apr 2020 18:16

Shaka Hislop

Andy Griffin
Adrian Williams
Keith Curle
Ian Harte

Scott Taylor
Simon Osborne
Glyfi Sigurdsson
Michael Gilkes

Jimmy Quinn
Nicky Forster

Keith Curle is a player not often talked about as one of the best we've ever had. Went on to play for England. Have we ever had a good right back bar Murty?

Going for Gilkes > McAnuff is probably being a bit sentimental. Cant help it!
Last edited by Tony Le Mesmer on 16 Apr 2020 18:23, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by tidus_mi2 » 16 Apr 2020 18:19

Excluding the 106 team, well that's an interesting challenge! I started watching in the first season back in Division 1 under Pardew so...

Federici
Griffin, Upson, Moore, Bertrand
Kebe, Leigertwood, Swift, McAnuff
Sigurdsson
Roberts

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by Snowflake Royal » 16 Apr 2020 19:56

Not exactly a ringing endorsement for the spine of McDermott's promotion team that the grand total picks of keeper through to striker so far is:

Federici - 1
Pearce - 0
Gorkss - 1
Leigertwood - 1
Karacan - 1
Roberts - 2
NHunt - 0
Le Fondre - 0

Those flanks though. Whooo mama.

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Re: Best XI in your lifetime. (Excluding the 106 team)

by SCIAG » 16 Apr 2020 20:07

Surprised nobody's included Long - surely wouldn't get in for 05-07 but a contender for that playoff season.

Gonna play 4-2-3-1 for Gylfi.

Shaka
Gunter, Pearce, Dariusz, Armstrong
Leigertwood, Norwood
Kebe, Sigurdsson, McAnuff
Fozzy

Subs: Al-Habsi, Mariappa, S. Kelly, Swift, Beerens, Gilkes, Long

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