Favourite Ever Player...

Favourite: A tie between the two Tommys, Mooney and Smith.
Mooney - a great committed servant during the best and worst times of Watford FC, and of the few players to give 100% throughout, an integral part of the amazing run at the end of 1998/99 to achieve promotion, and top scorer in the otherwise disappointing 2000/01 season.
Smith - home grown, always committed, not really top flight quality and not a prolific scorer (IMO his best position was on the wing), but a consistently good and skillful player for the level we were mostly at, scored some crackers, and was one of the highlights of those otherwise dreary mid-table finishes.
At the end of 2015/16 I would have picked Deeney, but his erratic performances and questionable temperament has made him slip down a bit in my estimation since, still a vital player though.

Best: Kinda surprised no one's picked Capoue. Sure he's had his dips in form like all of our players in the Pozzo era, but on the whole he's been our best all-round player, most consistent, reliable and loyal. I reckon that our team with Sarr but without Capoue would be even weaker than the current one minus Sarr with Capoue in it.

 

Pat Jennings

 

Mooney

 

Not TC ??

 

My mistake it was Cliff Holton he spoke about...

 

What was Cliff Holton like? Before my time and probably before most peoples time!

 

Anyone who saw Luther's entire career for Watford couldn't possibly vote for anyone else. He was so enthusiastic and WFC through and through - still is!
We've been lucky to watch some lovely players in more recent times but Barnes is still way ahead in the 'best' category. As a 17/18 year-old he was phenomenal.

 

I have no doubt Barnes was better, but that's no slight to Sarr. Barnes was pretty much the complete forward player . I think the overall standard was lower in Barnes' day so in some respects he was made to look even better by the standard of those he played against, though.

Sarr would have to improve a fair bit to reach Barnes' level, but time is currently on his side. He's certainly the most promising player we've had since Barnes left and I wouldn't be surprised to see him hit the same heights.

 

Vydra for me. The best finisher I’ve ever seen. Every time he got 1 on 1 I knew it was buried. Can’t believe we have Gray and not Vydra. I truly believe he would be real asset playing off Deeney with service from Deulofeu and Sarr.

 

Suffice it to say he was seriously considered for England despite playing for 4th Division team!

He had a devastating shot - hardest I've ever seen and was always the dominant player on the field. There were varying views about his personality off the field.

 

Favourite: Blissett - for the reasons already discussed.

But only just - Ross Jenkins (the original model, not the 'meh' more recent shorter version) runs Luther close for me, with the Division Three season of 78-79 seeing him score 37 goals and Luther 'only' 28. Jenkins was described by GT as a giraffe when he first became manager but he had a good touch for a big man (cliche). I love that he scored goals from Div.4 to Div.1 including in that 7-1 Southampton win, on our promotion night win against Wrexham to Div.1 and in our 4-1 League Cup win against Forest, then European Champions. Of all the legends wheeled on to our pitch at half time in recent years I was genuinely excited when he visited last year.

Oh and best player? Barnes, no contest.

 

Same, Barnes was a bit before my time. I still remember him as a player but it was towards the latter end of his career. All I remember was that he was always a massive flop for England, and people accused him of being overrated and not doing much at all for Liverpool other than stay in the centre circle.

 

Now that makes sense...would have played for England but refused to go full-time.

 

And he scored a fair few goals when he was forced to play CB due to injuries in the squad...

 

When I was young I used to convince everybody that Callaghan was technically better than Barnes at the time. I loved watching him though sure I was probably wrong

so many heroes in that early 80s team..

 

I know what you mean. Nige was somehow more - flamboyant? Is that the right word? Maybe it was the hair. I do think Barnes was a technically better player, though.

McClelland was immense, too. As was Coton. And Mighty Mo should get a shout. Saw his debut game - gosh, we could use a finisher like that now!

 

Marlon King. Genuinely. Was an absolute god during that promotion season, which was probably my favourite season as a fan. Pace, power, swagger, great touch, some spectacular finishing. He had everything and I think he could have really kicked on as a Premier League striker if not for the injury. Shame he was such a **** as well.

Abdi is a very close second.

 

Favourite Luther and Ross Jenkins, the later had very difficult start didn’t score for 25 games, but ended up scoring for fun!

Best John Barnes

 

I believe he assisted more than Barnes. Scored some screamers too. Away to Newcastle I think first game of the season and won goal of the season. Many moons ago so I could be mistaken.

 

Gary Plumley

 

Abdi favourite .

Luther best.

Barnes best if you count his Liverpool days but am only considering whilst they played for Watford .

Honourable mentions to Ross Jenkins as favourite and Vydra as best . ( only counting his Watford performances )

 

How about worst ? To qualify they must have played over 50 games for Watford .

I’m gong to ruffle a few feathers and say Gavin Mahon .

 

You’re in luck, Willis!

 

Favourite: Mooney. I also randomly loved Nordin Wooter and really wanted him to do well.
Best: Capoue
Worst: Jordan Stewart

 

Barnes’ form dipped in his last season for us because he was uncertain about leaving and where he would go, but he was terrific in his first season for Liverpool and for some years afterwards.
Always remind people that, when he scored ‘that goal’ in the Maracana, he was a Watford player.

 

I am glad a couple of people have mentioned Callaghan ahead of Barnes. The most talented winger never to have played for England (and be an Englishman, of course). Barnes was brilliant, Cally was better - more two footed, more assists than Barnes. A bit of a flawed personality, though.
Holton was a highly-rated First Division player who signed for Fourth Division Watford! Astoundingly he was an all rounder and a part-time player. He rated his best position as centre-half and yet scored 48 goals in one season for us. Read Oli Phillips' tribute in the Watford Observer. A thunderous shot in either foot and a bullet header.
Comparing different positions from different eras is just about impossible. Was Pat Jennings better than Tony Coton? Was he better than Marlon King? I just can't say.
Some players, though, stood out as something special for the Club. They could set the game alight. They were the ones that national journalists and don't-know supporters of other clubs would go on about. Like Deeney in these days, for instance.
And when they were on the ball the crowd woke up, expectation rose, the atmosphere became electric. To be honest, they tend to be strikers. Barnes, Callaghan, Jenkins, Mo Johnston, Kevin Phillips, Marlon King could do it. Holton could certainly do it.
But to do it for so long at our Club, and for his special attachment to the Club, for me it has to be Blissett.

 

I have always said Cally was better than Barnes and I still think so, I'm glad that I'm not the only one on here that thinks so

 

Favourite : Gary Porter
Best : John Barnes

 

Worst is impossible, there are so many candidates!

The one who disappointed me most was a chap (?attacking midfielder?) signed by GT in the 99/00 season, about 1/3 of the way through? Made his home debut as a sub against Leeds, I think? I thought he was a Scot but just looked on Wiki and didn’t spot the name. I’d been quite pleased about his signing but when he came on I just remember thinking how fat he was (several others in the Rookery said the same).

Anyone help an old bloke with fading memory with the name?

 

Charlie Miller

 

That’s the fella! Cheers.

(Very much enjoy your work with the Human League, incidentally).

 

Jurado

 

Favourite - Helguson. I don't think ever seen anyone love scoring as much. The one where he shakes the net at the rookery end - think it was his second debut - sticks in my mind.
Best - Capoue. The overall contribution to the team is immense. Breaks up attacks and is so often the player to play the pass before the assist - like the first on Saturday.

Barnes and Blissett are before my time.

 

I have been told that Willis was the worst, (how many games he played I don't know).