Whos the best centre half you have seen for the lads...,

nestegg said:
For all those who saw him Dave Watson by a country mile for me. A brave no nonsense defender who could also play a bit
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Watson was good BUT there is only one...……………...Charlie , Charlie Hurley, Charlie Hurley is his name.
My second life said:
Todd was the greatest defender I ever saw play at RP. But he wasn't a centre half within the context of the game at that time. Had to be Watson or Hurley for me with honorable mentions for Clarke, Mensah, Bould.
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This is what I was going to say. Most of the others are rock hard centre halfs while Todd was more a sweeper/floating defensive midfielder cleaning up in front/behind the back line. Much like the late, great Bobby Moore never a centre half but boy, what defenders, who could play a bit as well.
 
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Since the mid-eighties when I started Bould was a big leap up from anyone else I ever saw but unfortunately we never saw enough of him. After that, Thome impressed me the most, very few of the top players could get the better of him and his passing was far better than some on here would have you believe because now and again he would hit an exocet above everyone 60/70 yards straight into the stands
 
Johnny Evans. The difference he made to the defense (Nuggsy in particular) was amazing for a bairn. One promotion, one PL survival.

One of the biggest mistakes we ever made not signing him permenantly.
 
Dave Watson was an exceptional Centre Half but it was Charlie Hurley who pioneered the role of the modern Centre Half. Dave would have never been allowed to go up for a corner and score all those goals if it had not been for Charlie. I believe that this gives Charlie the edge on Dave
 
Mensah when not being fixed by autoglass...

Kone when not being a grade A bellend.....still love watching that tackle on Yaya...
 
Mackemjmc said:
Watson was good BUT there is only one...……………...Charlie , Charlie Hurley, Charlie Hurley is his name.

This is what I was going to say. Most of the others are rock hard centre halfs while Todd was more a sweeper/floating defensive midfielder cleaning up in front/behind the back line. Much like the late, great Bobby Moore never a centre half but boy, what defenders, who could play a bit as well.
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This ^^^
But, tbf, the OP did say " .. you have seen .." , so fair play to those nominating others who did not have the chance to see THE King!
Dave Watson is obviously the best i have seen after that.
 
Sack Fatto said:
Dave Watson was immense. Could hang in the air. Fantastic header of the ball.
Also loved Jeff Clarke-very underrated .
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Live Hurley and Watson.Also think Clarke was very underrated.

At the 3- 2 loss at Man Utd having a bit of discussion with their supporters if Holton was better than Watson.We agreed that not seeing the other centre half most weeks it would be hard to judge.

When Holton played for Sunderland near the end of his career I could see what the Man Utd fans saw.Very canny

Elliot was good.

Mensah,I only saw him on telly,class that bloke.

Jackie Ashurst was probably the fastest,saw him give McDonald a five yard start and catch him in 10 yards.
 

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