Said it many times before. Ramage could have played for any team any where. If he gave a doggy doo. Massive potential. Just didn't want 'it' bad enough.
As a complete footballer,a great centre half and an incredible centre forward.The one and only Cliff Holton.
What about Pat Jennings? I know Keepers don't count. Then Stewart Scullion, he was a master on the wing.
You forgot Gavin and Blizzard He really reminded me of when Bruce Dyre first broke on the scene Yes Barnes was the best we have had. Would have walked into any side we've had since
Utter rubbish, I'm afraid. When Pereyra (whom I rate pretty highly) has played at the best level we've seen from him - fleetingly - so far, for around two seasons, will the comparison be valid. I saw pretty much every home game he played and a decent percentage of aways and, great though Cally was on his day, I've never seen his like, or anything close. Utter knøb, of course, but there you go.
"I seem to remember"?? Were you there? Complete and utter bollacks. If he had one poor game in 20, I'd be surprised. You have a reputation for talking out of your fundament, but you've excelled yourself here.
Absolutely spot on. I'd have steve sherwood over gomes too...and ben foster if he counts. No david james though because he's a scum ****.
The Times has been running a poll on players, according to skills. Barnes is top with his left foot and in as a dribbler too. Apparently his heyday was with Liverpool, but they mentioned that he also played for Watford, Newcastle and Charlton. I suppose Watford would have got more credit if he's made more than a fleeting 233 appearances for us.
The same thing happened to Alan Shearers career. The part of his career at Blackburn where he made a 170 appearances, and scored a measly 130 goals has been conveniently airbrushed from history. It must be a modern media thing where players can only be a legend at a single club.
He was at his peak at Blackburn Rovers - he won his only league title there - and was still their player at Euro 96 Those who are employed by the media are generally stupid. Gareth Bale has apparently been on his way to Man Utd in each transfer window for the last 5 years but it never happens.
When I think back at the best ever Watford XI, it virtually picks itself and is always the team from the early eighties. Only Tony Coton would break in and he's from the late eighties. We were garbage for an entire decade in the nighties, although Gibbs, James, Miller and Porter stand out from the dross. From the millennium to now, Mooney, Nielsen, Helguson, Deeney, Kennedy, Graham would all make an 18 man squad. So, my 25 man squad would be: Coton, Rice, Gibbs, McClelland, Sims, Rostron, Jackett, Nielsen, Callaghan, Barnes, Blissett, Jenkins, Porter, Mooney, HH, Deeney, Graham, Rankin, P Kennedy, Bolton, Young, Lohman, DeMerit, Mighty Mo, L Taylor. Special mentions to Rick Holden, Tommy Smith, Almen Abdi, Fessi, George Reilly, David Bardsley and Kevin Richardson who just missed the cut.
Wow. That is some analysis of our history and hard to pick holes in. I really have no memory of who Rankin is though. I might make a case for Richard Johnson or Micah Hyde over Neilsen. I would also want to promote Abdi in there somewhere. And maybe Paul Wilkinson. But that is a great squad you've picked.
John McClelland was the best not a flair player like Barnes but the best defender the club has ever had
Demerit, great rags to riches story, great goal v Leeds and he made some great last minute blocks but he was hardly the complete defender. IMO he shouldn't even be near that list.
We all adore Tommy Mooney, cut him and he bled yellow. But in the top 25 best squad? You're having a larf. Championship level striker, nothing wrong with that, and like I say, legend.
Based on 4-4-2 Coton. Easily the best keeper I've ever seen Gibbs McClelland Sims Rostron Callaghan Taylor Abdi Barnes Mighty Mo Luther There are so many others that could be mentioned but the list would just go on and on. Interestingly my favourite player of all time doesn't make the team. Sorry Mr Porter!!
Yes that about covers it.. but.. Coton came to Watford in 1984.. the same year as McClelland & as when Gary Porter made he's debut.
tbf ... England had Clemence and Shilton, both decent Actually scrub that it was Shilton and Chris Woods, the latter who I agree was inferior to Coton.
It was a shame that he was not capped for England as for me he was the best Watford goalkeeper I have seen. I think he suffered from similar typecasting to Troy Deeney. Hopefully Troy has enough time ahead of him to prove this wrong, and get in the England set up.
I was at that game, we lost 5-4 but Everton were very good that season, they won the league and European Cup Winners Cup.
