Fastest centre backs?

[blunstone]

These days pace is essential for a top flight centre back.

Who were the quickest centre backs in our history? (which for me, being an old fart, is about 40 years!)

Millen was pretty damn quick. But I think Alan Nelmes was half a yard quicker?

 

[maddogging]

Sodje will be up there

 

[Ghost]

Karleigh is pretty quick

 

[JPince]

Danis Salmon

 

[Ghost]

Darren Powell was quite fast IIRC or was it just his gangly legs that he used to be able to execute very good recovery tackles.
Marcus Gayle was very fast as a winger but would he count??

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Danis Salmon

Good in the air as well.

 

[Gee Bee]

Millen was pretty damn quick.

Was he? I always thought his lack of pace hindered his overall ability.

Herman was/is pretty quick so is James Wilson.

 

[oddbod]

I have eliminated Leon Townley from this thread.

 

[dbee3]

Mark Phillips.

 

[Ghost]

Terry Evans was also rapid

 

[ChinaBee]

Danis Salmon

My first thought also
didn't he win a london club sprint challenge


If you are talking fastest to the bar then look no further than Pat Kruse

 

[Paul O'Brien]

Terry Evans was also rapid

That worried me. For a moment I read that with an ''e' in 'rapid' instead of an 'i'. Than I put on my glasses.

 

[Paul O'Brien]

Salman was pretty fast but more extremely blessed with stamina. Powell was quite fast with his long legs. Has to be Sodje though in my time

 

[Ghost]

That worried me. For a moment I read that with an ''e' in 'rapid' instead of an 'i'. Than I put on my glasses.

lol

prey.. who by FFS?!?!?! The Predator!?

 

[GP200]

Mark Phillips.

..............at Exeter????................

 

[bees66]

Roger Joseph and Jason Crowe were fast

 

[North London Bee]

Roger Joseph and Jason Crowe were fast

but not centre halves !!

 

[GEOFFBEE]

Herman, and Ingar must have been up there with the quickest, during their days at BFC?

 

[GP200]

.........................Sammy Dodger...................

 

[Wise old Bee]

Nelmes was very quick over the first few yards which is what counts for a CB. Herman and Sodje were pretty quick as well.

 

[TW3Bee]

These days pace is essential for a top flight centre back.

Who were the quickest centre backs in our history? (which for me, being an old fart, is about 40 years!)

Millen was pretty damn quick.

You'll never beat Keith Millen.

If you are talking fastest to the bar then look no further than Pat Kruse

....and he was only cruising.

 

[North London Bee]

Legge seems pretty damn quick to me.

How about the slowest - I will start us off with Messrs Droy, Evans and Townley.

I also don't think that Millen was blessed with a lot of pace but got by with his great reading of the game

 

[blunstone]

yes, on thinking back you are right re millen. he was our bobby moore!

nelmes remains my nomination.

we have had a few donkeys over the years at the back mind.

 

[beebopalula]

peter gelson, then Herman

 

[TW3Bee]

Slowest Centre Backs?

Alan Whitehead

 

[Brain-dead Bee]

Salman for me, though he played more as a right back, I think. Sonko seemed pretty quick to me

 

[Ken Richardson]

As a pure centre half, Peter Gelson

 

[KGB]

Sorry, can't agree about Gelson. Great player & a true legend, but he wasn't fast. In fact Mel Scott, who played alongside him was faster.

Sodje & Powell were both pretty quick, as was Salman who played a lot of his football at right back as he was a bit short for a centre half.

Got to agree that Sonko was pretty quick too.

 

[vcmazz]

Danis Salmon

Fast, but he wasn't a CB.

Was he? I always thought his lack of pace hindered his overall ability.

Herman was/is pretty quick so is James Wilson.

Agree with you Gee Bee. I wouldn't have thought Keith Millen was known for his speed - Herman was the quickest I reckon .

 

[Ghost]

Herman, and Ingar must have been up there with the quickest, during their days at BFC?

Ivar was painfully slow and ran like a constipated puffin. However, his positional sense, awareness and anticipation made him look quicker than he was.

 

[Moysy]

I take it that Mickey Droy does not qualify

 

[vcmazz]

I take it that Mickey Droy does not qualify

Oh I don't know. I'd have a fiver on him over 100m against a constipated puffin :yes:.

 

[GEOFFBEE]

Ivar was painfully slow and ran like a constipated puffin. However, his positional sense, awareness and anticipation made him look quicker than he was.

Well, our 'constipated puffin' did pretty well against some of the Premiership's top strikers, for a while, and ,a few years later, still managed to keep up with a certain Mt Torres...

 

[Ghost]

Well, our 'constipated puffin' did pretty well against some of the Premiership's top strikers, for a while, and ,a few years later, still managed to keep up with a certain Mt Torres...

Oh I totally agree, and Ivar was one of my favourite ever Bees players but he wasn't quick.

 

[bonafidebee]

ivar was my man of the match in the replay at liverpool. outstanding player.

 

[PLE]

I take it that Mickey Droy does not qualify

Or Clive Goodyear

 

[TW3Bee]

Leon looks PDQ to me.

 

[bonafidebee]

phil bater was no linford

 

[EASTBRISTOLBEE7]

Danis Salmon

 

[rebus]

phil bater was no linford

Surely not slower than Marshall and Chorley at Bournemouth in the League Cup!

 

[westwing]

I take it that Mickey Droy does not qualify

Mickey Droy was the first to spring to my mindrofl

 

[Sandhurstbee]

danis Salman for me, and he originally played a Centre Back/Sweeper role.

 

[Beefletch]

Stewart Houston when he played Centre Half was quick.As for slow Scott Marshall takes some beating!

 

[blunstone]

danis Salman for me, and he originally played a Centre Back/Sweeper role.

or did he start as a full back then move inside? i forget!!!

yes he was very fast.

 

[TW1Bee]

Mel Scott was pretty quick but any lack of pace was made up by sheer class.
Probably the classiest player I have ever seen at GP even though I was quite young an naive in those days.

 

[Infatuated Bees Alter Ego]

Fast, but he wasn't a CB.

Danis as a youngster played at centre back for us at Wembley.

Herman is my quickest centre back.

 

[NW USA Bee]

Wrong position

These days pace is essential for a top flight centre back.

Who were the quickest centre backs in our history? (which for me, being an old fart, is about 40 years!)

Millen was pretty damn quick. But I think Alan Nelmes was half a yard quicker?

Alan Nelmes played full back

 

[GEOFFBEE]

Alan Nelmes played full back

He was a centre back for most of his Bees career, but IIRC he played a few games at full back initially, and was put back there towards the end of his time with us.
I was never a great fan of his, but, yes, I reckon he was pretty quick.

 

[Inappropriate Smilies Bee]

Perry Groves and Roger Joseph :thetruth:

 

[vcmazz]

Perry Groves and Roger Joseph :thetruth:

What about them?