Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players

[Sproggy]

Unless I've missed it no mention of England International Nick Pickering - surely an oversight

We still haven't seen the best of Nick Pickering

[Stan Tastic]

Lee Dixon is light years ahead of Les Thompson even though the latter is -quite rightly- much more fondly remembered among us.

I can remember being annoyed that Bond had given Lee Dixon away when I rated him.

I can also remember remarking that Les Thompson was non-league standard when he played for us. I don't know anyone that remembers him fondly.

[ClaretTony]

I can also remember remarking that Les Thompson was non-league standard when he played for us. I don't know anyone that remembers him fondly.

Lancasterclaret - the only one I know.

[Sausage]

Bit of a cock up on the best-players-who-played-for-us-in-the-34d/4th-tier front

By whom, Rowls? Me or Wokingclaret?

[ClaretTony]

I've just swiftly put a team together which I know I'd probably change if I gave myself more time. I haven't found a left back worthy of a place so have asked Brian Laws to play there because he would have been in the team but for Lee Dixon and his career at Arsenal.

I can't believe that I've left out either Steve Davis at the back or even Syd Cowans or Steve Thompson in midfield and there was no place for the brilliant Paul Cook either. And how can I put Andy Payton in when there is Ian Wright and Kevin Reeves? There's not even a place for Adrian Heath with those two. Tommy Hutch doesn't even get a place either because of Taffy.

Here's my first stab at it.

Woods
Dixon Overson Phelan Laws
Waddle Steven Dobson James
Wright Reeves

[ClaretTony]

We still haven't seen the best of Nick Pickering

He never crossed my mind to be honest but he was a good player at Sunderland and Coventry. By the time we signed him his career was all but over because of injuries.

[BenWickes]

Geoff Palmer - played most of his career in the top flight with Wolves and won two League Cups with them. Played for the Clarets in 84/85 as we slid into the Fourth Division.

Not sure he deserves to be in our best list but I thought he was fabulous alongside Judi Dench in As Time Goes By.

[Wokingclaret]

Woods
Dixon Overson Phelan Laws
Waddle Steven Dobson James
Wright Reeves
[/quote]

I'd have Donachie in there

[ClaretTony]

Woods
Dixon Overson Phelan Laws
Waddle Steven Dobson James
Wright Reeves

I'd have Donachie in there
[/quote]

I said it was a quick stab at it and I never thought of Willie Donachie. Straight in for me ahead of Brian Laws at left back.

[Rowls]

By whom, Rowls? Me or Wokingclaret?

It's a Geoffrey Palmer reference.

[Culmclaret]

That's the one I always remember at Carlisle and him apologising for it - he'd gone, he was no longer of any use but just 32 at the time. I think he only played a couple of more games and one more would have seen him equal John Angus and Jimmy McIlroy as having played the most post-war league games for us.

Although unlike Carlisle when his mistake cost us two crucial points, the first half at the Baseball Ground against relegation rivals Derby was also a horror story, because you could see Alan’s lack of confidence transmitting to the rest of the team. I remember him doing one of his trademark ‘leaves’, which in happier times were judged to perfection, and the ball smacking against the inside of the post.

[ClaretTony]

Although unlike Carlisle when his mistake cost us two crucial points, the first half at the Baseball Ground against relegation rivals Derby was also a horror story, because you could see Alan’s lack of confidence transmitting to the rest of the team. I remember him doing one of his trademark ‘leaves’, which in happier times were judged to perfection, and the ball smacking against the inside of the post.

That was his last game I think. We brought Billy O’Rourke in for the rest of the season. Hard to believe such a good goalkeeper lost it so quickly.

[BenWickes]

That was his last game I think. We brought Billy O’Rourke in for the rest of the season. Hard to believe such a good goalkeeper lost it so quickly.

My earliest recollection of Billy O' Rourke was that 7-0 defeat at QPR (had to put up with it again on TV later that night) and by all accounts he didn't actually have a bad game.