Geoff Scott is a funny one. He played his two games in 1982 and quite a few people thought he was really good (I didn't see either game). It was often said that his absence was one of the reasons we were near the bottom of the table but I've since watched the highlights of the game he played at Stamford Bridge (it's on YouTube) and he didn't look too clever and neither did Paul Elliott. I guess we supporters were a lot more tolerant in those days.
Ps; take a look at the youtube footage and see Colin Pates smash home a real screamer (for Chelsea).
It's funny how players improve the longer they have retired .I wish we had reactions from Charlton Life in the different eras. By far the best Charlton team I witnessed was 03/04 , but my favourite memories are scattered across my 40 years watching the Addicks .
Some players are memorable as characters others not so much as good players . An example in my view would be Steve Thompson . I notice he has made a few top 5's , whilst I wouldn't claim he was a bad player I do not think he was as good as to make the top 5. We also need to factor in the level that they played in . In my view Les Berry and Peter Shaw were a very effective pairing in Mike Bailey's 80/81 promotion team , but not when we moved up to the second tier.
Costa.....anticipating those tackles alone, was worth the entrance fee - deceptive though, because he was a wonderful reader of what was going on, and for all of his stockiness he was remarkably agile.
Ufton.....another excellent reader of the game -possessed silky skills, and would always excite. Gaining but a single cap for England was an injustice, but Charlton then as now was not fashionable.
Rufus.....athletic,cultured, and again although it has become cliched -had he played for a more fashionable club he would have been frequently capped.
Final two have Spurs connections. Both underrated, perhaps because they lacked a certain elan. If they failed to satisfy the eye, they compensated with wonderful tackling skills, always fearless, with a total disregard for reputations....so Paul Miller and Chris Perry
Costa.....anticipating those tackles alone, was worth the entrance fee - deceptive though, because he was a wonderful reader of what was going on, and for all of his stockiness he was remarkably agile.
Ufton.....another excellent reader of the game -possessed silky skills, and would always excite. Gaining but a single cap for England was an injustice, but Charlton then as now was not fashionable.
Rufus.....athletic,cultured, and again although it has become cliched -had he played for a more fashionable club he would have been frequently capped.
Final two have Spurs connections. Both underrated, perhaps because they lacked a certain elan. If they failed to satisfy the eye, they compensated with wonderful tackling skills, always fearless, with a total disregard for reputations....so Paul Miller and Chris Perry
Miller was another weird one. He was incredibly weak in the air for a centre-back (he didn't get very high off the ground) but could tackle and covered well. He also brought leadership and wasn't scared by any situation or by any opponent. He was an ideal partner for Shirtliff and an immensely shrewd signing by Lawrence.
Good shouts for the Rash, Thommo and Brown but I stick to my original selections. LOL for Bobby Goldthorpe, one of my favourites for trying to dribble out of 18 yard box.
Shippereley for the own goal scored from the halfway line against Orient. Probably the most comical moment I have experienced in my 47 years as an addick......
Are my top 5 in order for ability. But for commitment and enjoying seeing them play must mention Went, Reeves, Brown, Shirtliff, Youds, Thompson and Maxie Miller!
For commitment, surely it has to be Steve Brown then everyone else, no? He has to be the epitome of someone who played above himself by force of will.
Shippereley for the own goal scored from the halfway line against Orient. Probably the most comical moment I have experienced in my 47 years as an addick......
Comments
2. Shirtliff
3. Costa
4. Webster
5. Perry
The Tank
Roof
Les Berry
Paul Elliot
2. Costa
3. Elliott
4. Fish
5. Perry
It's funny how players improve the longer they have retired .I wish we had reactions from Charlton Life in the different eras. By far the best Charlton team I witnessed was 03/04 , but my favourite memories are scattered across my 40 years watching the Addicks .
Some players are memorable as characters others not so much as good players . An example in my view would be Steve Thompson . I notice he has made a few top 5's , whilst I wouldn't claim he was a bad player I do not think he was as good as to make the top 5. We also need to factor in the level that they played in . In my view Les Berry and Peter Shaw were a very effective pairing in Mike Bailey's 80/81 promotion team , but not when we moved up to the second tier.
Rufus
Elliott
Costa
Perry
Rufus
Pates
Shirtliff
Balmer (just for the own goals really)
Ufton.....another excellent reader of the game -possessed silky skills, and would always excite. Gaining but a single cap for England was an injustice, but Charlton then as now was not fashionable.
Rufus.....athletic,cultured, and again although it has become cliched -had he played for a more fashionable club he would have been frequently capped.
Final two have Spurs connections. Both underrated, perhaps because they lacked a certain elan. If they failed to satisfy the eye, they compensated with wonderful tackling skills, always fearless, with a total disregard for reputations....so Paul Miller and Chris Perry
Rufus
Costa
Elliott
Shirtliff
Caton.
extra favourite would deffo include the wonderful Webbo, and Steve Brown, and of course Les Berry.
Shirtliff
Rufus
Alan McDonald (if loanee's count ?)
Thompson
Miguel Llera
Greg Halford
Gary Rowett
Carl Tiler
4 Elliott
3 Costa
2 Rufus
1 Thommo
Man love for Thommo to this day.
2. Rufus
3. Shirtliff
4. Fish
5. Horsfield
2. Marvin Hinton
3. Paul Elliott
4. Jorge Costa
5. Gordon Jago
Shirtliff for '87 play-offs
Fortune for............do I need to say why
The other two I'll think about
Not in my top five though - preferred him at left back
2. Steve Brown
3. Richard Rufus
4. Steve Brown
5. Steven Byron Brown
Went - an absolute beast, with thighs like tree trunks.. A pity he missed a chunk of the 68/69 season with injury
Elliot - heartbreaking to lose him to Luton for 95K
Shirtliff - one of Lennie's greatest signings
Pates - a very cultured and under-rated central defender
Rufus - our best defender in the last 25 years