Our last pacy centre-back?

[neo_Villan]

It came up in a discussion I was having about our defence. Just who was our last centre-back with genuine pace?

[PaulWinch again]

Not sure of real genuine pace, but speed of thought is more important.

[peter w]

Probably Curtis Davies

[ktvillan]

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.

[mal]

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.

pushing water uphill wth a fork? I can well believe it.

[ktvillan]

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.

pushing water uphill wth a fork? I can well believe it.

Thanks for your contribution Roger Irrelevant.

[Ad@m]

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.

[ktvillan]

You're not alone Ad@m, but I think too many judge Davies on the 4 or 5 shockers he had for us and conveniently forget he had quite a few good games for us too - more, dare I say, than I've ever seen Clark or Baker have.  I don't think anyone thinks pace is all you need, but it's important in the premier league.  Clark lacks not only pace but strength and positional nous as well.  If he were quicker he might be able to recover from some his many mistakes a bit more often.

[mal]

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.

pushing water uphill wth a fork? I can well believe it.

Thanks for your contribution Roger Irrelevant.

and yet you think Davies is a Premier League quality centre half.

[Dante Lavelli]

You're not alone Ad@m, but I think too many judge Davies on the 4 or 5 shockers he had for us and conveniently forget he had quite a few good games for us too - more, dare I say, than I've ever seen Clark or Baker have.  I don't think anyone thinks pace is all you need, but it's important in the premier league.  Clark lacks not only pace but strength and positional nous as well.  If he were quicker he might be able to recover from some his many mistakes a bit more often.

Yes but Clark and Baker cost us next to nothing, whereas at 8m (or whatever) you'd hope to be buying a player considerably better than Clark, Baker or Davies.

[pedro25]

Dunne's deceptively quick imo.

[barrysleftfoot]

 Mellberg and Laursen.

 Beye was pretty quick as well, but never really got the opportunity to play CH.

[Ross]

I'd go Mellberg, certainly when he arrived.

[Mouse Potato]

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.

Mellberg was quick.

[brian green]

John Sleeuwenhoek.   Built like a greyhound ran like whippet.   Great lad.   Martin Keown was quick but I air brush him from my memory because he has airbrushed Villa from his.