I think that we have been along this road before, but that doesn't matter as people join these pages without knowing what has gone before. I think that your choice will be generational, very often the players when you were in your teens will seem to have been the best. I will stick with Big Cliff for that reason, but would not disagree with those who go for Bolton, Barnes, Blissett, Scullion or Jenkins I.
Indeed it is a generational thing I think. The criteria for being an all-time Hornet in my opinion is being that player who has made me go mental in celebrations in the stands the most, particularly at away games. It's the sort of player who stood out in a team, who possibly effectively carries it. Most importantly, to me its someone who not only had the quality on the pitch but also a great character, someone who gave 100% for the team, worked hard and really cared about the club when he was here. With that in mind, my all-time favourite Golden Boy has to be Danny Graham. I'm quite young, and have only gone to a lot of away games the last 4 or 5 years. The memories of Scunthorpe, QPR and Millwall away, where i was there when Graham scored crucial goals that helped us to wins in games that I really remember well, will live long in the memory. He gave everything when he was here, and carried the club for two years at a time when we were really, really struggling. If I was old enough to remember the glory days I would almost certainly say Jenkins or Blissett, but many of my memories of Watford are formed by what Graham did.
As a youngster Charlie Livesey was my Hero, However my all time Favourites are Pat Jennings, Tony Coton, Duncan Welbourne, Cliff Holton, Barry Endean, Luther Blissett, Stuart Scullion, Paul Furlong but the top of the pile for magic moments and sheer skill has got to be John Barnes. I know we did not see the whole of his career 2RJs but we saw him from his youth until his Maturity he was at Watford for 6 seasons turning out 233 times for the club, in fact there are not many Golden Boys who weren't heroes during the period that he played for the club under GT.
I literally can not believe nobody has yet mentioned THE Dutch maestro. After turning down a move to Real Madrid in 1999 (to be confirmed), the flying Dutchman signed for Watford FC, earning 63 HUGELY succesful caps. Characterised by his silky skills, incredible hair and golden boots, he would often out-wit himself, eventually losing posession with an elaborate mix of leg movement and over-advanced ball control. After scoring a comendable 3, unforgettable goals for the Hornets, he was eventually prised away with a big money move to Roosendaalse Boys Combinatie Roosendaal, who currently lie in the 9th tier of Dutch footbal following bankruptcy. Competitors of Watford FC were petrified of the diminutive Dutchman, until they realised he wasn't actually Edgar Davids.
Another GT era great player was Steve Sims - I remember when we signed him at the start of our rise to glory I was amazed that we had spent so much (£175,000) on a player andthought - yes GT means business. Somehow buying him seemed to signal that we really were intent on being more than a third / fourth division club
Not neccessarily the case of a player who scored the most goals or made you cheer the most, although they do normally get the votes. I myself have picked one of them in Mooney, but my second favorite would be Nigel Gibbs as he was one of those you mention who gave 100% every time, was completely committed to the Watford cause both throughout his long career for Watford and afterwards. He may still have been at the club if it weren't for a previous regime that moved him on. Absolute legend in my eyes.
Very much a legend in his own lunchtime. Promised so much with his silky skills but very rarely managed to cross the ball or put a shot on target, even the proverbial barn door would have been safe at 18 yards. But he did excite and the fact he was a product of the Ajax academy made players tremble in their boots, exept they didn't ralise it was the Ajax of the toilet cleaner variety!
I can't believe that no one has mentioned Lloyd Doyley - a true one club man who 6 different managers have all seen something in. Not a wizard of the dribble or a great passer of the ball (although that is improving) but an old fashioned defender who does his job well and is one of the best one on one defenders in the league. Also, he has the finest recommendation, he plays as if the club means as much to him as it does to me. The first of our greats that I saw was Scully when I was 13 or so and it always makes more impression at that age - other than that Luther, Ross Jenkins and more or less all of the side of the early 80s. My worry is, under the Pozzo regimes policies, where is the next real golden boy legend coming from ?
My concern is that nearly all of the players we have mentioned as legends had spent some considerable time at the club, with the exception of Danny Graham. My concern is that the strategy of the Pozzo administration might not allow for the concept of players long term club loyalty, and it takes time to become a legend. Sean Murray will probably follow the way of Ashley Young and none of us have spoken of him as a legend.
You are right, I share that concern too. However, IF we do eventually get promotion, then maybe players will stay for a longer time.
John Barnes. Most skillful player I've ever seen at the club. He could bring down a long high ball next to the touch line with a full back up his a**e, spin and leave them for dead. Time after time. It may be a generational thing but I haven't seen anything to touch that since at the Vic.
LLoyd Doyley, Loyal servant to the club, and yes, Luther Blisset and John Barnes were great, they weren't as loyal as him.
There are so many things to consider...skill (John Barnes, Ashley Young)...goals (Luther)...characters (Mooney, Ramage)...club loyalty (Porter, Gibbs, Doyley)...position (Coton, Miller if you like keepers)...that it's impossible to pick one. All my favourites bar Gary Porter have already been mentioned but I enjoyed watching many others...Cally, David Bardsley, Kevin Phillips and if you sit me down in a pub with a pint probably several dozen others...
I suppose you are measuring loyalty by number of consecutive years at the club. However, Luther played well over 400 games for the club (nearly 500 if appearances are included) in 3 stints over 17 years followed by at least 5 years on the coaching/managerial side. Lloyd still has some way to go to match that. Even Barnsey played nearly 300 games over 6 years. Considering his undoubted ability, it is remarkable that he stayed with us so long - loyalty of a different kind maybe.....
