I'm not going to pick holes in your line up, after all it is yours.
I feel Derek Johnstone was a hostage to his versatility.
Three Scottish Cup badges in three different positions in 1973, 76 and 78.
A classy centre half, but I reckon Butcher in his prime was better.
The difference between DJ and Hateley is fine, fine margins.
I thought and still feel that I saw Hateley score two goals at the cesspit that DJ couldn't have.
Aug 91, when Stuart McCall stuck him a slide rule pass to run onto and round Bonner. - That's the one Derek Whyte launches himself into the net when the ball is already in the back of the net. Comedy Gold.
Ne'erday 94, when he latches onto Gordon Durie's pass in the first minute and we were off and running.
Again, just my opinion.
Frankly, every word you've posted here, I agree with.
Butcher was amongst the best in the world in his heyday, probably at he 86 world cup.
As much a fanboy as I was, am, regarding Johnstone, he was never at that level.
Actually, he might not be in my top three centre backs, as in considering nothing more than the qualities you look for in a centre back, for Rangers.
Gough would be ahead of him and I always thought Tom Forsyth was a player I wouldn't have wanted to play against.
Hateley had pace that Johnstone could only dream about.
However, using the same measurements, as in only considering the qualities you'd want in your centre forward, I'd have Johnstone ahead of Hateley by, as yor put it, the finest of margins.
Your versatility comment, some years ago, I had a discussion with a few old-timers.
A comment by one of them has always been in my mind regarding Johnstone.
He described Johnstone as a "Daley Thompson of football".
Yes, there were better centre backs, midfielders and centre forwards as well, but put them all together and nothing, nobody came close.
This was around the time when Hateley thought he could "extend his career" by dropping back to centre back.
That's an error of judgement straight away.
Beyond ignorance and disrespect.
Before though, the day he did play there , against Kilmarnock down there and we were thumped 0-3.