Worst ever Reading FC X1

[OldBiscuit]

This is a team that will get you relegated all the way to league 2 or worse. All players selected need to have been part of the team. Picking a player that perhaps made an appearance in a 'Sherpa Van Trophy" cup tie does not count, these players have to have had a run in the team to be selected for the 'Worst Reading FC X1 Ever'.

Simon Shepherd
Paul Bodin
Mark Whitlock
Ray Wallace
Steve Swales
Nicky Platnauer
Mick Conroy
Jimmy Crawford
Colin gordon
Nigel Vaughan
Keith Scott

[AthleticoSpizz]

Scott scored a few...especially one on PANTS DAY threw knickers back into the east stand ...and why not?

Shepherd saved a few penalties...took the piss with some great goalkeeping on Gilksies testimonial
.
Vaughn was a dwarf....so free passes for him

‘Arthur Scargill’ Gordon had his moments and popped up with a couple of important goals at the right time....Chelsea away?

Bodin was just hated for being Bodin

Apart from that, spot on

[Nameless]

Who was the guy we signed to replace Terry Hurlock as our mindless thug ? Long hair, came from Exeter (?). No footballing ability at all.
Just remembered - Danny Bailey

[Old Man Andrews]

None of the suggestions can be taken seriously unless you have selected Paul Brayson up front.

[OldBiscuit]

None of the suggestions can be taken seriously unless you have selected Paul Brayson up front.

He was certainly considered for a place in the starting line up but due to the amount of front men already in the team, I decided to put him on the bench.

[Simmops]

This is a team that will get you relegated all the way to league 2 or worse. All players selected need to have been part of the team. Picking a player that perhaps made an appearance in a 'Sherpa Van Trophy" cup tie does not count, these players have to have had a run in the team to be selected for the 'Worst Reading FC X1 Ever'.

Simon Shepherd
Paul Bodin
Mark Whitlock
Ray Wallace
Steve Swales
Nicky Platnauer
Mick Conroy
Jimmy Crawford
Colin gordon
Nigel Vaughan
Keith Scott

not seen any of them play at all

for me it will be

Virginia
halls
halford
sodje
mate (harsh but cannot think of anybody else)
fae
rasiak
mooney
Þorvaldsson
savage
morgan

[Franchise FC]

Any worst eleven that doesn’t include Malcolm Swain is just not trying hard enough

[Dr_Hfuhruhurr]

Jimmy Crawford could have been a half decent player but we simply didnt know where to play him. He lost all confidence and we gave up on him. Of that era, Andy Mclaren was a more noticeable bad player as he played less than 10 times, got loaned out and failed a drugs test.

I think more recently, we have to single out Pogrebnyak. For four years, it was felt we had to play him as he was on star player wages, so must come good sometime, right. But star players win you games and he didnt win us any games - instead he doggedly held onto his contract when we got relegated and, despite being bought to be a good player in the premiership he ended up being below average in the championship. Given this was a period of the club hemmoraging money - its all unforgiveable really.

[muirinho]

Jimmy Crawford could have been a half decent player but we simply didnt know where to play him. He lost all confidence and we gave up on him. Of that era, Andy Mclaren was a more noticeable bad player as he played less than 10 times, got loaned out and failed a drugs test.

I think more recently, we have to single out Pogrebnyak. For four years, it was felt we had to play him as he was on star player wages, so must come good sometime, right. But star players win you games and he didnt win us any games - instead he doggedly held onto his contract when we got relegated and, despite being bought to be a good player in the premiership he ended up being below average in the championship. Given this was a period of the club hemmoraging money - its all unforgiveable really.

Crawford is before my time supporting Reading, but one piece of trivia of which you may be unaware - he is now managing the FAI U21 team, i.e., John O Shea's boss.

I think objectively worst players, and worst players for the money they are on are different things. Similarly, players may be worse in absolute terms, because they played for us in Division 3 as opposed to the PL.

So - is this a list of "worst players relative to the standard they should be at, based on what they were earning and the division they were playing in"?
Or just "worst players"?

Pog could be in the first list, but definitely is not in the second list.

[Barney]

None of the suggestions can be taken seriously unless you have selected Paul Brayson up front.

Hit the nail on the head. One goal in 42 appearances (albeit some as sub). Brayson is THE first name in the team. Kromheer from that era also.
And back to circa 1990...Mark Whitlock, Karl Elsey and Paul Franklin spring to mind.

[sandman]

Simon Sheppard

Greg Halford
Tony Barras
Elroy Kromheer
Marcus Williams

Michail Antonio
Emerse Fae
Sean Evers
Andy McLaren

Paul Brayson
Robert Fleck

[Snowflake Royal]

Simon Sheppard
Liam Rosenior
Paul Bodin
Matt Mills
Bongani Khumalo
Paul Brooker
Mark Reilly
David Meyler
Royston Drenthe
Paul Brayson
Joseph Mendes

[Snowflake Royal]

Simon Sheppard

Greg Halford
Tony Barras
Elroy Kromheer
Marcus Williams

Michail Antonio
Emerse Fae
Sean Evers
Andy McLaren

Paul Brayson
Robert Fleck

Nice PTR bait.

[Fox Talbot]

There were players in Div 4 in the 1970s you wouldn't believe. Martin James, Hugh Cheetham, Mick Hollis, Malcolm Swain as mentioned … we're talking sub Evers, Brayson, Kromheer.

But each of us to our own eras for our choices.

[Snowflake Royal]

Yeah, can only really pick players you've seen.

I only go back as far as '95, so only have 4 seasons of 3rd tier football to draw from.

[AthleticoSpizz]

There were players in Div 4 in the 1970s you wouldn't believe. Martin James, Hugh Cheetham, Mick Hollis, Malcolm Swain as mentioned … we're talking sub Evers, Brayson, Kromheer.

But each of us to our own eras for our choices.

can barely remember him myself, but Alan Scarrott came in for a lot of criticism iirc

[Fox Talbot]

There were players in Div 4 in the 1970s you wouldn't believe. Martin James, Hugh Cheetham, Mick Hollis, Malcolm Swain as mentioned … we're talking sub Evers, Brayson, Kromheer.

But each of us to our own eras for our choices.

can barely remember him myself, but Alan Scarrott came in for a lot of criticism iirc

He did, somewhat unjustly. Plenty of assists for Pat Terry and should be nowhere near anyone’s worst XI. Martin Britten however .... same position, no assists.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Thanks

[Broxroyal]

There were players in Div 4 in the 1970s you wouldn't believe. Martin James, Hugh Cheetham, Mick Hollis, Malcolm Swain as mentioned … we're talking sub Evers, Brayson, Kromheer.

But each of us to our own eras for our choices.

This. A toss up between Martin James and Malcolm Swain for the absolute worst.
I actually felt a bit sorry for Martin James. Div 4 players were not well paid back then and James gave up a decent job because the club convinced him that he could make the grade as a pro. He was so bad it was unbelievable and he didn't last.
Hugh Cheetham was dreadful, Hollis was slightly better but not by much.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

Bit harsh on Shepherd.... he was majestic at Lecicester away in the reunion with the FSB. For that I will ever be thankful.

Malcolm Swain... absolute pony.

Brayson obvs has to be on the list.

The young chap who FSB brought on at Bradford away and subbed him off after 15 minutes. Giacommetti or summat?

Most of Burns's "magnificent seven."

Dare I add Bas?