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12 Greatest Centre Halves 09:08 - Sep 10 with 6529 viewsChurchman

Following the Axel arrival and forwards 12 let’s try best CHs

1. Allan Hunter
2. Kevin Beattie
3. Terry Butcher
4. Russell Osman
5. Bill Baxter
6. Andy Nelson
7. Tony Mowbray
8. Mark Venus
9. Jason De Vos
10. Hermann Hreidarsson
11. Derek Jefferson (Chopper)
12. Luke Chambers

Honourable mentions to Macauley, Berra, Smith, McGreal, Linighan and apologies to the pre 1960s players who I know by name only. John Wark could easily be included, but he goes in 12 best midfielders so I’ve cheated a bit. I’ve no doubt people will put Beattie above Hunter, but I just feel Big Al was a more important player for us over a longer period.

There’s a lot of good players there.
[Post edited 10 Sep 2023 9:52]
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12 Greatest Centre Halves on 09:02 - Sep 11 with 801 viewsChurchman

12 Greatest Centre Halves on 08:35 - Sep 11 by solemio

Anyone who doesn't put Kevin Beattie at No 1 doesn't know what they are talking about.


Brilliant though KB was, I would argue that Hunter was more important to Ipswich. He came here when the team was struggling and was a cornerstone of the side for the next seven or eight years. He was a much better player than he looked on tv. Nobody took liberties with him. Big Al could easily go in the underrated thread.

The trick though was the pairing, as Robson pointed out many times. Hunter and Beattie were the perfect combo and absolutely minced their opponents at times - I’m not sure Malcolm MacDonald enjoyed playing against them for example.
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12 Greatest Centre Halves on 14:01 - Sep 11 with 749 viewsChampionsofInnsbruck

1. Terry Butcher
2. Kevin Beattie
3. Allan Hunter
4. Russell Osman
5. Bill Baxter
6. Tony Mowbray
7. Mark Venus
8. John McGreal
9. John Wark (after converting)
10. David Lineghan

Special shout: Titus Bramble

How people are listing players like De Vos, Chambers, Cundy, MacAuley and co. when they never kicked a ball in the top flight at Ipswich at centre half I do not know. Claus Thomsen, the Danish midfielder being listed... come on...
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12 Greatest Centre Halves on 17:22 - Sep 11 with 717 viewsredrickstuhaart

12 Greatest Centre Halves on 14:01 - Sep 11 by ChampionsofInnsbruck

1. Terry Butcher
2. Kevin Beattie
3. Allan Hunter
4. Russell Osman
5. Bill Baxter
6. Tony Mowbray
7. Mark Venus
8. John McGreal
9. John Wark (after converting)
10. David Lineghan

Special shout: Titus Bramble

How people are listing players like De Vos, Chambers, Cundy, MacAuley and co. when they never kicked a ball in the top flight at Ipswich at centre half I do not know. Claus Thomsen, the Danish midfielder being listed... come on...


Titus > Mcgreal and Venus.
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12 Greatest Centre Halves on 18:25 - Sep 11 with 703 viewsTrequartista

Brian Gayle was decent although not really here long enough to trouble the top 10

Poll: Who do you blame for our failure to progress?

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12 Greatest Centre Halves on 18:41 - Sep 11 with 696 viewsPhilTWTD

12 Greatest Centre Halves on 08:35 - Sep 11 by solemio

Anyone who doesn't put Kevin Beattie at No 1 doesn't know what they are talking about.


Ray Crawford rates Bill Baxter as better than Beat.
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12 Greatest Centre Halves on 18:51 - Sep 11 with 690 viewsChurchman

12 Greatest Centre Halves on 18:41 - Sep 11 by PhilTWTD

Ray Crawford rates Bill Baxter as better than Beat.


And who are we to question the great man? I am old enough to have seen Baxter play in his later years with us, but too young to remember what he was like as a player.

I don’t think he was particularly tall, but very combative and could play from what I’ve read and the footage of him.
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12 Greatest Centre Halves on 07:45 - Sep 12 with 636 viewsmikeybloo88

12 Greatest Centre Halves on 09:02 - Sep 11 by Churchman

Brilliant though KB was, I would argue that Hunter was more important to Ipswich. He came here when the team was struggling and was a cornerstone of the side for the next seven or eight years. He was a much better player than he looked on tv. Nobody took liberties with him. Big Al could easily go in the underrated thread.

The trick though was the pairing, as Robson pointed out many times. Hunter and Beattie were the perfect combo and absolutely minced their opponents at times - I’m not sure Malcolm MacDonald enjoyed playing against them for example.


Allan is the reason I support Ipswich. He played for my hometown club Coleraine although I was only a few years old when he left for England. When he signed for Ipswich in 71 I was at an age where I was searching for a team to follow and instead of going for Man U or Liverpool like most Northern Irish lads, I went for Ipswich as his transfer there was big news in Coleraine. Was also taught to play golf by his brother Victor who was golf pro at Portstewart.
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12 Greatest Centre Halves on 07:52 - Sep 12 with 629 viewsChurchman

12 Greatest Centre Halves on 07:45 - Sep 12 by mikeybloo88

Allan is the reason I support Ipswich. He played for my hometown club Coleraine although I was only a few years old when he left for England. When he signed for Ipswich in 71 I was at an age where I was searching for a team to follow and instead of going for Man U or Liverpool like most Northern Irish lads, I went for Ipswich as his transfer there was big news in Coleraine. Was also taught to play golf by his brother Victor who was golf pro at Portstewart.


My dad met Allan a few years ago and had a long chat with him. He found him interesting and an all round great guy - and my dad wasn’t the easiest bloke to impress.
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12 Greatest Centre Halves on 08:22 - Sep 12 with 609 viewsitfcjoe

I always find these lists so hard to - where do you split the balance between ability, longevity, impact, favourtism, standard we were playing at etc.....

Obviously no one I've seen could touch the Ramsey or Robson era for quality, there are players at different points of career who may have done like a Titus Bramble or Adam Webster but not even close to what they did here in being like that.

Poll: Club vs country? What would you choose
Blog: What is Going on With the Academy at Ipswich Town?

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12 Greatest Centre Halves on 08:32 - Sep 12 with 604 viewsChurchman

12 Greatest Centre Halves on 08:22 - Sep 12 by itfcjoe

I always find these lists so hard to - where do you split the balance between ability, longevity, impact, favourtism, standard we were playing at etc.....

Obviously no one I've seen could touch the Ramsey or Robson era for quality, there are players at different points of career who may have done like a Titus Bramble or Adam Webster but not even close to what they did here in being like that.


Ahhh, but that’s the fun of it isn’t it?

There’s also the added jeopardy of comparing players from different eras and missing those from the past that you never saw and/or there’s no footage of.
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12 Greatest Centre Halves on 11:39 - Sep 12 with 556 viewsChampionsofInnsbruck

12 Greatest Centre Halves on 17:22 - Sep 11 by redrickstuhaart

Titus > Mcgreal and Venus.


In season 2000/1 yes, in 2001/02 not so much, he was far more ropey and seem to recall he found our own net a few times that season. McGreal and Veno were just class footballers all round too.
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