I'm not sure @Chris was being mean-spirited in suggesting an alternative 'worst' team, even if that's the interpretation of some. I've never followed the orthodoxy that our own players are beyond criticism, especially if you're happy to give praise. Abuse is very much separate, even if sometimes the line can get blurred.
As @YorkshireBlue says, 50 appearances is a high threshold to be not very good. It's also subjective, and allows for nuance. As I said I'd knock a team up, here it is:
My team: 4-4-2 (appearances in brackets)
Scott SHEARER
Jason KAVANAGH - Michael FORSYTH - Nicky MOHAN - Andy BEETON
John WILLIAMS - John CORNFORTH - Stuart LEWIS WING - Chris ZEBROSKI
Jo KUFFOUR - Paul READ
SHEARER (68) - One of three promotion winners on the list. There was that howler against Col U in Gary Waddock's first game and then his final game (4-1 home defeat to the pig fuckers) which was so bad Waddock got shot of him. Would have been Brian PARKIN but he only played 29 games,
KAVANAGH (101) - one of only two players on the list to have played over 100 games. The first of seven players that we paid a fee for (£25,000). He clearly wasn't the worst right-back ever but don't remember any outstanding performances and never seemed to have the spirit of a Wycombe Wanderers player.
FORSYTH (60) - Paid another fee for him (£50,000) but he's on the list for non-playing reasons. Don't wear blades, what damage are they gonna do?
MOHAN (70) - John Gregory incredibly paid £85,000 for Mohan, who was your archetypal journeyman centre-back. My memories of him are being clumsy and getting out as soon as he could when Lawrie Sanchez took over.
BEETON (68) - probably the one that does feel mean-spirited. Don't think the Liverpool rumours helped. He found himself in a struggling team too. I think he should be proud that he made 68 appearances as a professional footballer.
WILLIAMS (60) - What a waste of £150,000. Imagine what Martin O'Neill could have done with that money? This is the legacy of Ivor Beeks ego writ large. Had pace and not a lot else. Of course he was responsible for the challenge that ended Paul Hyde's professional career too.
My two central midfielders were the most difficult to choose. I really struggled, however I need to pick two as it's part of the challenge.
CORNFORTH (57) - He had an exquisite first touch and control, which is probably why we paid £50,000 for him. Unfortunately we got him too late in his career and he was often immobile, his style felt lazy and provided no protection to the back four when we came under pressure, especially away from home.
LEWIS (168) - Another with a promotion winners medal to his name, so 'worst' really is a misnomer. I think it's really because his drop off in 2013/14 was so stark compared to the previous season, and how it played a role in our slide towards the likelihood of relegation out of the Football League. There was never any doubt about his commitment.
WING (63) - I really want to include him in this team. Clearly not on ability, but for leaving Wycombe Wanderers to sign for those biscuit-eating pricks. It's such an utter shit-for-brains move. Sod it, swap him for Lewis.
ZEBROSKI (55) - Peter Taylor spent £20,000 on a player who couldn't even control a football. That's probably the least of his crimes.
KUFFOUR (61) - I just remember turning up to game-after-game-after-game to find his name on the scoresheet and knowing he / we wasn't going to score. It's remarkable he made 61 appearances with his strike-rate (6 goals). Somewhere there's a cow field with a shit-tonne of banjos.
READ (68) - I remember turning up game-after-game-after-game with everyone just willing Paul to succeed. The £35,000 paid to Arsenal looked like a good move at the time. It just never happened for him, scoring just 12 goals.
I was torn between Paul and Gavin HOLLIGAN. He has to be one of the most frustrating players I have ever watched. He just meets the criteria, making exactly 50 appearances. He did score 10 goals though, so has a better strike-rate than Read, hence the call. That last-minute sitter he missed in the goal-less draw at Q.P.R. will never leave my memory though.
If you were to do a proper worst team, the appearance threshold would need to be lower. Because Brian Parkin absolutely has to be the goalkeeper. Get your sheets out lads.
A striker. He was famous for winning some sprint challenge with Coventry.
Unfortunately for us he was part of the Smith long ball days, so had a thankless task of having to sprint after aimless long balls all game and simply didn't have the stamina for it.
Comments
I'm not sure @Chris was being mean-spirited in suggesting an alternative 'worst' team, even if that's the interpretation of some. I've never followed the orthodoxy that our own players are beyond criticism, especially if you're happy to give praise. Abuse is very much separate, even if sometimes the line can get blurred.
As @YorkshireBlue says, 50 appearances is a high threshold to be not very good. It's also subjective, and allows for nuance. As I said I'd knock a team up, here it is:
My team: 4-4-2 (appearances in brackets)
Scott SHEARER
Jason KAVANAGH - Michael FORSYTH - Nicky MOHAN - Andy BEETON
John WILLIAMS - John CORNFORTH - Stuart LEWIS WING - Chris ZEBROSKI
Jo KUFFOUR - Paul READ
SHEARER (68) - One of three promotion winners on the list. There was that howler against Col U in Gary Waddock's first game and then his final game (4-1 home defeat to the pig fuckers) which was so bad Waddock got shot of him. Would have been Brian PARKIN but he only played 29 games,
KAVANAGH (101) - one of only two players on the list to have played over 100 games. The first of seven players that we paid a fee for (£25,000). He clearly wasn't the worst right-back ever but don't remember any outstanding performances and never seemed to have the spirit of a Wycombe Wanderers player.
FORSYTH (60) - Paid another fee for him (£50,000) but he's on the list for non-playing reasons. Don't wear blades, what damage are they gonna do?
MOHAN (70) - John Gregory incredibly paid £85,000 for Mohan, who was your archetypal journeyman centre-back. My memories of him are being clumsy and getting out as soon as he could when Lawrie Sanchez took over.
BEETON (68) - probably the one that does feel mean-spirited. Don't think the Liverpool rumours helped. He found himself in a struggling team too. I think he should be proud that he made 68 appearances as a professional footballer.
WILLIAMS (60) - What a waste of £150,000. Imagine what Martin O'Neill could have done with that money? This is the legacy of Ivor Beeks ego writ large. Had pace and not a lot else. Of course he was responsible for the challenge that ended Paul Hyde's professional career too.
My two central midfielders were the most difficult to choose. I really struggled, however I need to pick two as it's part of the challenge.
CORNFORTH (57) - He had an exquisite first touch and control, which is probably why we paid £50,000 for him. Unfortunately we got him too late in his career and he was often immobile, his style felt lazy and provided no protection to the back four when we came under pressure, especially away from home.
LEWIS (168) - Another with a promotion winners medal to his name, so 'worst' really is a misnomer. I think it's really because his drop off in 2013/14 was so stark compared to the previous season, and how it played a role in our slide towards the likelihood of relegation out of the Football League. There was never any doubt about his commitment.
WING (63) - I really want to include him in this team. Clearly not on ability, but for leaving Wycombe Wanderers to sign for those biscuit-eating pricks. It's such an utter shit-for-brains move. Sod it, swap him for Lewis.
ZEBROSKI (55) - Peter Taylor spent £20,000 on a player who couldn't even control a football. That's probably the least of his crimes.
KUFFOUR (61) - I just remember turning up to game-after-game-after-game to find his name on the scoresheet and knowing he / we wasn't going to score. It's remarkable he made 61 appearances with his strike-rate (6 goals). Somewhere there's a cow field with a shit-tonne of banjos.
READ (68) - I remember turning up game-after-game-after-game with everyone just willing Paul to succeed. The £35,000 paid to Arsenal looked like a good move at the time. It just never happened for him, scoring just 12 goals.
I was torn between Paul and Gavin HOLLIGAN. He has to be one of the most frustrating players I have ever watched. He just meets the criteria, making exactly 50 appearances. He did score 10 goals though, so has a better strike-rate than Read, hence the call. That last-minute sitter he missed in the goal-less draw at Q.P.R. will never leave my memory though.
If you were to do a proper worst team, the appearance threshold would need to be lower. Because Brian Parkin absolutely has to be the goalkeeper. Get your sheets out lads.
Can't believe you've got John Williams in here after his goal at Layer Road in the FA Cup.
I'm too young to remember John Williams. Did he orchestrate things in midfield?
A striker. He was famous for winning some sprint challenge with Coventry.
Unfortunately for us he was part of the Smith long ball days, so had a thankless task of having to sprint after aimless long balls all game and simply didn't have the stamina for it.
Think he scored at least 1 hattrick though.
I was making a joke 👀
https://youtu.be/GuPicYaZ2fQ?si=r7Q6dKGJam14r3vN&t=1878
For once, I thought you actually were too young to remember a player! As this must have been about 96, deffo before your time :)
I'm still baffled by one of our posters calling himself the Andy Graham Fanclub, so have no idea if there's a more famous John Williams!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Williams?wprov=sfla1
So much to ponder here.
Who is the renowned Gasroomer celebrating in the away end?
Who exactly is playing John Williams onside?'
Why did play continue, resulting in ColU's consolation goal, during a pitch invasion?
One for the elderly.
Oh dear, I fear the young ones will be hunting down some YouTube links to make sense of it.