[Archived] Best player

[Al]

Very well put. The only true difference between TV coverage and live attendance is location. Such is the level of TV coverage now, that to suggest you can't comment by watching tv is to say you can't comment about football full stop, apart from Rovers and perhaps an odd neutral match.

Don't be silly. How often are Bryan Douglas and Ronnie Clayton on TV and Rovers too for that matter. Plastic supporters should keep their mouths shut. That last comment is not aimed at you personally Mike. I know you are a season ticket holder.

[AJW]

on page one of this thread i said how difficult is is to pick Rovers best player because first you had to define what you are actually measuring best in , what's clear is 4 pages later there have been so many players for whom we hold in such high regard but , if we are to choose Rovers Greatest ever player it has to be someone who was considered world class in his position during his playing days at Rovers , and in world class i mean someone who was in the top 5 in the world in that position . I never saw Douglas or Clayton etc but there is only one player that i would say was in the world top 5 in his position was Alan Shearer

[Al]

on page one of this thread i said how difficult is is to pick Rovers best player because first you had to define what you are actually measuring best in , what's clear is 4 pages later there have been so many players for whom we hold in such high regard but , if we are to choose Rovers Greatest ever player it has to be someone who was considered world class in his position during his playing days at Rovers , and in world class i mean someone who was in the top 5 in the world in that position . I never saw Douglas or Clayton etc but there is only one player that i would say was in the world top 5 in his position was Alan Shearer

Your case is very well put but I still rate Bryan Douglas as the best player I have ever watched in Rovers colours, not that I don't appreciate Shearer too. He was brilliant.

[Doug]

Your case is very well put but I still rate Bryan Douglas as the best player I have ever watched in Rovers colours, not that I don't appreciate Shearer too. He was brilliant.

My uncle told me he went watching rovers at West Ham once and Dougie scored 5 in a 7-2 win and was being marked by no less than Bobby Moore! Can anyone remember this? My uncle is getting a bit forgetful nowadays.

[jim mk2]

It was 8-2, Christmas 1963 I think (it was a long time ago). Then they came to our place 3 days later and won 3-1.

[Doug]

It was 8-2, Christmas 1963 I think (it was a long time ago). Then they came to our place 3 days later and won 3-1.

Cheers wb, I would've been 1 year old. When my dad and his brothers got together they always ended up talking of the great players I never got to see. I managed to start watching as we decended into 'the dark days'.

[yoda]

This guy has a strong a case as any one to be the best Rovers ever

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Briggs

[thenodrog]

My uncle told me he went watching rovers at West Ham once and Dougie scored 5 in a 7-2 win and was being marked by no less than Bobby Moore! Can anyone remember this? My uncle is getting a bit forgetful nowadays.

Pretty sure .... in fact certain that Duggie did not score 5.

[yoda]

highest in one match for rovers

Tommy Briggs, 7 v Bristol Rovers, Ewood Park, Division 2, 5 February 1955

[lraC]

He didn't star particularly for Rovers, but in his career he was one of the best to grace the game and won the world cup, was Ossie Ardiles. He played in the same team as Steve Archibald and they certainly excited the crowds.

Another player from our lower league years, who I found very entertaining was Chris Price. I think he had two spells with us. I am almost sure we signed him for very little from Hereford, sold him to Villa for a big profit and bough him back.

[tomphil]

Great player in his first spell with us was Chris Price but I fell out with him when we played Villa away in a cup replay and he was arrogant towards the fans and played out of his skin appearing desperate to score against us.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

My uncle told me he went watching rovers at West Ham once and Dougie scored 5 in a 7-2 win and was being marked by no less than Bobby Moore! Can anyone remember this? My uncle is getting a bit forgetful nowadays.

Your Uncle's memory is playing tricks I'm afraid. Rovers won away at West Ham on Boxing Day 1963 by 8-2. The scorers were Pickering 3, McEvoy 3, Ferguson 1 and Bryan Douglas got the other goal. Bobby Moore played that day but Dougie was being marked ( I use that term loosely ) by Martin Peters who was dropped for the return game at Ewood Park after being run ragged by Dougie in the home game.

The guy who replaces Peters was a tough tackling rough handful called Eddie Bovington . He followed Dougie all over the pitch in the home game. Consequently he found it hard to make any impression. We were collectively very poor that day, briefly rallying to make it 2-1 after going 2-0 down. We got back in the game for a while before letting in a soft 3rd goal for the clincher.

[Doug]

Thanks for the replies fellas.I won't be correcting him next time I see him though as he's so happy when he talks of the good times it would be wrong to spoil his happiness.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Yeah, I agree. Leave him with his memories.

[Doaksie]

So many varying opinions on this, each with just as valid an argument. I always think it's hard to define a 'best player'', given that different positions obviously contribute accordingly. That's before you even consider the generational sticking point. All I would say is that, for me, one player (in my life time) made even the simplest short pass look exquisite. He exuded class from every pore. He made you feel a sense of footballing fulfillment just by watching him. I get excited even now to see him. The Maestro; Tugay.

[AJW]

Genuine question - who did play for England the most as a Rover ? I have always thought it was Ronnie Clayton but i bet Shearer and Le Saux weren't far behind

[yoda]

Genuine question - who did play for England the most as a Rover ? I have always thought it was Ronnie Clayton but i bet Shearer and Le Saux weren't far behi

Bob Crompton 41