Our last pacy centre-back?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Yep Curtis is reasonably quick which is why I thought a move for him in the window might be an idea.  We really lack pace all over the pitch, Gabby apart.

Still haven't forgiven him for Vienna.

Rich Kids with Glen Matlock was much worse.

Yes Curtis was the last one with pace, not sure if he's still as fast.

[Toronto Villa]

Curtis Davies is quick, and was very good at times next to Laursen. It all fell apart when Laursen got injured and he was asked to be the primary CB and he just became marginally better than a pub player

[Rip Van We Go Again]

As an aside, I believe the fastest recorded player was ex-postman John Williams from Cradley Heath. Played for Swansea and Albion and could do 100m in less than 11 seconds.
Also wrote the theme from the Deer Hunter.

[supertom]

Curtis Davies is quick, and was very good at times next to Laursen. It all fell apart when Laursen got injured and he was asked to be the primary CB and he just became marginally better than a pub player

I'd still have Davies in our side at the minute. That's how bad we look.

I'd say Mellberg was the last decent and quick CH. He'd still roast Clark, Vlaar and Baker in a foot race even now I reckon.

[Toronto Villa]

Curtis Davies is quick, and was very good at times next to Laursen. It all fell apart when Laursen got injured and he was asked to be the primary CB and he just became marginally better than a pub player

I'd still have Davies in our side at the minute. That's how bad we look.

I'd say Mellberg was the last decent and quick CH. He'd still roast Clark, Vlaar and Baker in a foot race even now I reckon.

McGrath was deceptively quick, and even quicker was his mind. The great man is sorely missed.

[supertom]

Curtis Davies is quick, and was very good at times next to Laursen. It all fell apart when Laursen got injured and he was asked to be the primary CB and he just became marginally better than a pub player

I'd still have Davies in our side at the minute. That's how bad we look.

I'd say Mellberg was the last decent and quick CH. He'd still roast Clark, Vlaar and Baker in a foot race even now I reckon.

McGrath was deceptively quick, and even quicker was his mind. The great man is sorely missed.

Yeah. McGrath was known for his pace before his knees began going. He could shift when he wanted, but had to pick his moments. But yeah with his mind he was able to pick the right moments to shift through the gears. If we could get a defender half as good as him we'd be in much better shape.

[Louzie0]

Could we sign that lad from the Ravens who caught a big kick-off and then ran through everybody from one end to the other, last night on the Superbowl?
11 seconds, apparently. One end to the other.  That's Olympic timing.

Ball at his feet instead of in his arms, no problem after a few days at Bodymoor. Jacoby Jones. The Villa are waiting.



oops wrong thread

[Matt C]

Dunne's deceptively quick imo.

He is. Especially when someone is opening a pack of biscuits.

[brian green]

Fastest centre back I have ever seen at Villa Park was John Charles.   Just as comfortable at centre forward of centre half.   Superb athlete.  These days he would retire on fifty million quid in the bank.   He was the last of the generation who got the license of a pub if they were lucky.

[cheltenhamlion]

Ah, memories. McGrath could have thought his way to the end of the 100 metres quicker than I could run it. Without moving more than an eyebrow.

[SoccerHQ]

Mellberg aswell.

Laursen was amazing at many aspects of defending but I don't really remember him as quick.

[KevinGage]

Earl Barrett or Steve Sims.

[Villafirst]

Ugo Ehiogu was deceptively quick - a  long loping stride from memory.

[robbo1874]

Yep Curtis is reasonably quick which is why I thought a move for him in the window might be an idea.  We really lack pace all over the pitch, Gabby apart.

Still haven't forgiven him for Vienna.

Whilst watching Baker run through treacle scares the crap out of me, as others have alluded to, pace isn't everything when it comes to defending.  Look at McGrath, Laursen and Mellberg - none of them were particularly pacey but they knew where to be and when to be there.

McGrath was very quick over 5-10 yards. With his exceptional awareness and positioning, that would 99 times out of 100 be enough to snuff out any threat.

Ridgewell had a bit of pace I think.

We're more in need of a big hard bastard who can stick to his man and attack the ball at corners and free kicks both at the back and score a few when we get them up the other end.

Collins used to get a few goals from corners- we've missed these types of goals this season.

[cheltenhamlion]

The likes of Nielsen and Mountfield were alwaus handy for a headed goal.