Is Max Kilman the worst centre back in your memory - name worse?

[camel-with-3-humps]

In light of the horrific display at Wolves, is Max Kilman the worst centre back we've had? There is probably worse, but I can't remember. 

Gary Breen was pretty bad. He didn't make as many mistakes as Kilman, but he was weak -  like a road cone easily bypassed. 

Views?

[Billy Blagg]

Did we get Cushley because we couldn't get Maurice Setters?

Yes Far, Bobby Moore talks about the purchase in his biography. Fascinating story about Greenwood's man-management skills. Mooro was furious about it. He wanted Setters, but Greenwood had already decided for Cushley. After seeing Cushley dish it out in a pre-season tournament in Germany. Moore was very happy. Cushley was kicking Ziggi Held (World Cup finalist in 66) from pillar to post, and Held just run the flag up. Moore and the team were effusive in their praise, but Greenwood took Cushley aside and berated him for kicking Held and said he needed better skills to use on a respected International, not just kick him. In Moore's words, Cushley said to Moore 'the Boss doesn't like me and he [Cushley] never kicked another ball for West Ham'. 

In answer to the original question. Senior WHOers will probably give you a long list of worse centre-backs. Centre-forwards and CB's have been an issue from long before I first started watching the team. My Grandad used to complain about it and he watched them in the 40s! In terms of expectation, I'd say Gary Breen. He'd had a fantastic World Cup and he looked an obvious buy. Some were just poor buys from the off, though. 

[easthammer]

Did we get Cushley because we couldn't get Maurice Setters?

 

Possibly, I don't remember much more than he took over from the great Ken Brown. A big act to follow but Cushley really wasn't up to it despite appearing to be a decent bloke.

[Far Cough UKunt]

Did we get Cushley because we couldn't get Maurice Setters?

[easthammer]

How many of you remember John Cushley?  38 games between 1967 - 70, Scottish played for Celtic before joining us. Not the biggest centre back well under 6ft. 

I once shared a treatment room at the Boleyn Ground with him and the great Bobby Moore, and to this day, I would claim I was not the worst defender in the room

[fraser]

You must remember Gary Breen, Truly one of the worst I've seen and I had to put up with the piss taking from Gillingham fans after we signed him (Breen was a former Gillingham player). But yes, Kilman is definitely up there.

Free v £40 million and £120k a week for 7 years... There's no contest 

[twoleftfeet]

You must remember Gary Breen, Truly one of the worst I've seen and I had to put up with the piss taking from Gillingham fans after we signed him (Breen was a former Gillingham player). But yes, Kilman is definitely up there.

All 6 goals we conceded against Man Utd in the FA cup at Ood Trafford involved Gary Breen. 

[Fat, Bald n 50]

You must remember Gary Breen, Truly one of the worst I've seen and I had to put up with the piss taking from Gillingham fans after we signed him (Breen was a former Gillingham player). But yes, Kilman is definitely up there.

[eusebiovic]

Gary Breen is close for me. The thing about Max is he is afraid to head the ball, yet goes up the other end for every friggin’ corner. 

can’t pass, can’t head, can’t tackle.

 

 

He's zero threat from a corner so he should just stay on the halfway line and concentrate on his main job. Todibo looks the same - he can pass the ball but I don't recall him being much of a threat going up for a corner either. Mavro is good at sticking his massive fucking head on it but that's about all he seems to do quite well. The new Colin Foster. 

[Vexed]

He reminds me most of Upson who is a pathetic cowardly cսnt of a man. But I think Kilman is actually worse, the bloke is itchy ring AIDS personified. A fucking disgrace. Get the antibiotics on the cսnt. 

[honky cat]

Breen gave it his all. Kilman doesn't seem to give a fuck.
Breen cult hero for Rep of Ireland. He commentates over here and he's great for west ham games, and he's a Kerry man as well 

So shut your mouths about Gary. Him and Maxi are not the same.

[northbankboy68]

Makes Garry Strodder look world class.

[kylay]

Matty Upson was dogshit the year we were relegated and the worst captain in memory to boot.

[WHUFCUSA]

Gary Breen is close for me. The thing about Max is he is afraid to head the ball, yet goes up the other end for every friggin’ corner. 

can’t pass, can’t head, can’t tackle.

[Gaffer58]

It’s not that he’s just shit but the transfer value was diabolical, £40 million, even Man City don’t pay that much for their players, and most of them are already internationals.

[zico]

At least Breen was a free, for 40 million Kilman is easily the worst, you could have bought 24 Christian Dailly's for that!

[GBHammer63]

some I couldn't stand - breen, dailly, r.song, upson but all better compared to this gutless fucker

Agree, I’d also say Upson is probably the worst captain we’ve had, there was nothing about him.

[yngwies Cat]

Gary fuckin Breen.

He was dog shit.

 

[Godwinson]

Kilman is the worst I’ve seen. Gary Breen was up there, but the lack of confidence across the team under Roeder probably accounted for that. I seem to remember reading a report on here that some Wolves fans were laughing at us for buying Kilman. In any case, he’s the worst defensive signing at that price.

Rigobert Song looked decent when he was shifted to right back. I saw Richard Hall once at Upton Park - he looked class but had terrible luck with injuries and retired at 27.

 

[Keep dreaming]

Yes
And by a margin too.

Not only poor technically, but body language, positioning, and agility is far below u21 standard 

[eusebiovic]

In light of the horrific display at Wolves, is Max Kilman the worst centre back we've had? There is probably worse, but I can't remember. 

Gary Breen was pretty bad. He didn't make as many mistakes as Kilman, but he was weak -  like a road cone easily bypassed. 

Views?

There have been much worse - we all know it

However, for the transfer fee, wages and length of contract (7 years!) he wins hands down by a country mile. 

[Mex Martillo]

I find it a bit weird. He was captain at Wolves. With us he is just rubbish and shows absolutely no leadership. How is it possible?

[F 129 Row66]

We've had numerous shit CBs over the years, but with Kilman there are two things that set him apart. 

1. He cost 40 million quid
2. He is surrounded by other duds.

The most disastrous signing in living memory. Thanks Loppy.

[twoleftfeet]

How were Webster and Hall shocking, one hardly played due to a bad injury and the other didn't play at all 

Both played, both were blighted by injury therefore both were bad signings although in Websters case his leg was fucked up by Julian Dicks.

I saw both play and neither filled me with confidence.

[claypole]

Was gutted about Hall, highly thought of at Southampton and an England u21 captain as well from memory.

[fraser]

How were Webster and Hall shocking, one hardly played due to a bad injury and the other didn't play at all