Yep, we've got a half decent squad now. Maybe after the summer it will look even better. We are Watford, not Real Madrid. Even Madrid might have had a few duds. Who are the worst players that we have had?? We could even form a worst 11... In my memory a few stand out: 1. Jason Lee - but I am not sure if he was that bad or if it was Skinner and Baddiel who made him seem worse. I think I remember him scoring a shin roll flick type goal from 2 yards out though ! 2. Devon White - I was young but I remember a few of his performances when I first started going to the vic, I thought I might be able to make it as a pro after watching him. 3. Ramon Vega - In fact there could be a few from the Vialli era...He was bunk. What do you think?
A couple frokm the 60's spring immediately to mind: 1) Derek 'Dire' Irvin - the worst player I've ever seen, for any team not just Watford. Two left feet and half a brain doesn't do enough to describe how bad he was. He may still be the holder of an unusual record though - the only player to score for us without ever starting a game. What Furphy was thinking when he signed him was anyone's guess. 2) Another Furphy flop - Jimmy Lawton. A snip at £4000, which equated to around £270 per stone. Hefty of build and slow footed were his two main assets and he delivered exactly what everyone thought he would - nothing.
If we're not talking loanees, coz i can think of a fair few duffer loanees, then Ellington has to be right up there.
In terms of his overall effect on the club it has to be Ellington. What I will say in his defence is that the financial aspect was not his fault. That doesn't excuse the fact that he was a poor player though.
But at least he had a Premiership/Championship pedigree. Irvin came from a club whose only claim to fame was that they were one of the three Scottish clubs to have body parts in their names.
Lloyd Doyley was good then he was not and now he is again. I use him as an example that if the question was asked three or four years ago the answers, except for the obvious, might have included Lloyd. For some football players having a few unlucky games could give them a bad label.
For a keeper with over 100 caps and 2 World Cups, Tony Meola's only game for us in a Full Members Cup tie was an absolute shocker - how we only conceded 2 that night I will never know. Put it this way - for their showing in a Watford shirt, I'd take Gilmartin over Meola.
Nice try there - makes me realise that I didn't include the word 'League' after Scottish. Will give you half a point for that - and another clue. You're in the right area.