Best centre back

In terms of their performances at the level we were playing it's Pinnock for me. He was basically faultless for an entire season.

 

Tough one. Can't seem to remember Macca ever losing a header. Went on to form a fantastic partnership with Evans who was also class. Taggart and Fleming were a great pairing too. De Zeeuw and Davies/Moses as well. For me though it would have to be Futcher, an absolute Rolls Royce of a footballer very closely followed by Pinnock. We've had some good uns over the years.

 

This account coincides very much with what I recall re your great father, though I had forgotten, or never knew, about how close he came to being signed by Spurs. I have enjoyed watching a good number of our centre-backs, but Big Winnie has to be my all-time favourite. His partnership with Pat Howard was undoubtedly one of our very best, and, good as Howard was, I have to say that Winnie was the more impressive overall. I remember his being referred to as "Mr Barnsley" by reporters. I particularly remember a 0-0 draw at Fulham in my student days, when cross after cross kept coming in from the superb Cliff Jones, double -winner with Spurs, only for every one, or so it seemed, to be headed out by the magnificent Winnie. We would never have survived the relentless wave of attacks without him. McCarthy, Futcher and Pinnock are three others I loved to watch, especially the immaculate Futcher, but Big Winnie just gets the nod from me.

 

I'm a bit young to remember him playing for us week in week out but he used to live on same estate as my parents at some point during his time with Barnsley. He used to join in with me and other kids on street for a kick about every now and then until he left to join Wigan.

 

McCarthy
Evans
Futcher
De Zeeuw

 

There's a hell of a lot to choose from, some of whom were before my time supporting the Reds, but Arjan de Zeeuw is the one for me. I don't think it's a coincidence that his time with BFC almost perfectly spans the rise into the Premier League and the subsequent post-relegation decline.

His first appearance at the BFC Supporters Club open evening was the stuff of legend too, when some of the Dutch culture / Barnsley humour interactions turned it into something of a comedy event, such as trying to explain to him why he'd been nicknamed 'Chez' by his team-mates (IIRC Darren Sheridan was the one who thought of it).

 

I think you have summed up the difference between Winstanley and Howard quite well there. You will, no doubt, have seen what befell Winstanley, as described by Terry Nutkins in this thread.

 

I’ve known pat since I was literally born, and I was lucky enough to spend a match with him at Oakwell, with my dad only a year or so before his passing. He also came to my Dads memorial at the ground and at both times, categorically stated that he was the best player he played with, at Arsenal, Newcastle or Barnsley.

My Dads story is, in the modern day, unknown. I wished he would have gone to Spurs for him, but from a selfish point of view, I either wouldn’t have been born, or would have had a cockney accent.

Im happy how it ended up. It could have been years of turmoil with no silverware in the shadow of bigger neighbours at either club. But my Dads legacy makes me a proud Barnsley lad and I thank him immensely for that.

 

O'Neil Thompson was GOAT material

 

Pinnock - other worldly. Had everything.

And then there's dozens.

I never saw @Terry Nutkins dad play, bit before my time, when I started watching we had Mick McCarthy, who was so good. Just brilliant. And he was partnered with Ian Evans, who might have been even better. And then we got Futch, who just oozed class. Astonishing player. And Larry May, who was Premier League standard. Mark Smith was a hell of a player. And then it was Tiler and Taggart, proper players. Steve Davies took a while because of injuries, but he could bloody play. And then we signed this Dutch bloke called Chester Zoo who should have been captaining his country at the World Cup. Playing alongside him was the massively underrated Adie Moses. A lot of people don't like Morgan, I think he was a fantastic player. Chettle and Foster knew how to play football. And then we started selling players for Millions like Mawson and Roberts, who were, again, very good players.

I've undoubtedly missed some. I guess Mads and Helik will stand out for many people, but even though I like them both, I don't have the same sense of awe like I do for the above (maybe I'm just getting old). I'm actually tempted to include Fleming and Appleby for their outstanding performances as Sweeper, which was very much part of the back three. I also think Jordan Williams is hugely underrated at centre half. I think he's better in that position than any of the back three we had last season. His pace and his ability to get us out of trouble because of that pace is pretty much unrivaled in the entire league structure. Yes, we need some cohesion and a leader, but he's a hell of a centre half in a three.

We've had some amazing centre backs, but Ethan Pinnock was summat else.

 

Tough one. Can't seem to remember Macca ever losing a header. Went on to form a fantastic partnership with Evans who was also class. Taggart and Fleming were a great pairing too. De Zeuwee was another top defender but for me Futcher was a Rolls Royce of a player very closely followed by Pinnock.

 

I'm reluctant to Start a new thread because I dont think, (none that I can think of) there are any other challengers. But He's not been mentioned and played admirably at centre half when required. But the greatest ALL ROUND player for me, has to be Sir Bobby Hassell. Played in every position in an emergency. Defender. Midfield. Up front. Even went in goal on occasion if goalie went off injured. (The game at Rochdale. He was summat else.) Never let himself down wherever he played. Obviously Full back his regular position.
Winnie would have done a job up front as target man no doubt. Who can forget his hat trick.

 

Stones never played CB for us so I can’t count him. McCarthy and Futcher take some beating in my time watching The Reds and Futcher just edges it for me. Calmest player on the pitch.

 

Ian Evans, a thing whats not been mentioned about him yet was that he played with what appeared to be a trailing leg after breaking it after a challange by George Best.Still a fantastic partner for big Mick.

 

You are right to be proud.