Dave watson

A long time ago I know I can remember watching him when I was 10 and 11 years old so can't really appreciate how good he was. But if he hadn't got injured how far could he have gone. I remember the 'Watson for england' (bit random I know but just watched a promotion documentary on youtube)

 

Brilliant shot stopper but terrible in the air from what I remember.

 

Best goalie I've seen play for us. Even better than the saintly Clive Baker

 

A weakness in corners across the goal but picked the ball out of the air as though time froze defiant in getting to the ball held onto it well. Not many got passed David he controlled the box built defence into attack

 

Certainly the best keeper I've seen us have by quite some distance.


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Was improving all the time, would have probably gone back to the prem when we were relegated then who knows...

One of the best with Heinz muller for me

 

He'd have got England caps, I'm sure of it.

 

Was only young when retired if I remember right, car crash? Shame was one of me favourite players from when I first started watching us.

 

Mmmmmm no a tackle against Norwich?!? He would have improved and progressed and moved on if not for his injury. Reyt goalie. Most keepers get better with age. His position now with England set up speaks volumes

 

Thanks for clearing that up. Like I said I went to my first game at 9 v wolves in promotion season. So was very young when watching him but recall him been a great shot stopper.

 

Dedicated as well. As a 16-17 year old we all used to go out boozing around Royston. He came out. Had 1 coke. Went home. That's why he's there and were not!

 

Always fancied myself as a goalie when I was a kid, so he was my favourite player growing up. I always thought he was fantastic, but Seaman, Martyn and Ian Walker were all in front of him in the queue. Think he was 27 when he had to call it a day because of an ACL injury which were killer back then. Sadly now they're fixed more often than not. Weird how he was never a coach here. I liked Leese and Muller, but Watson was a different class.

 

I played in same team as him and believe me, he was terrible at keeping back passes out. 3 own goals later he got fed up, played up front for a 3rd of the season and finished up top scorer

 

Excellent shot stopper but was very poor on crosses. I seem to recall though that a few months before he got crocked, we brought in John Lukic(?) to work with him and he brought him on so much in all areas, particularly the command of the area.

 

The only BFC player I've ever seen who was truly world class (I'm not including Stones who left us at a much earlier stage of his development). Quite slight for a goalie, but you'd always back him in a 1 on 1, which is saying something. Had he not picked up the injury, I have no doubt he'd have been capped by England, and if he'd sorted out his weaknesses on crosses could have easily been our number one for years. Better than Robinson for sure, and potentially better than James.

 

Wasn't that Chris Jackson, around 1994-1996 time?

Edit: Just researched; very tragic story: http://www.wearebarnsley.com/news/a...ormer-footballer-after-career-ending-accident

 

He was the best sweeper keeper that I have ever seen. That is, the defence were able to keep a high line because they knew that Dave Watson would be on to everything player through or over them because of his awareness and speed off the line. As other have said, he was amazing one on one.

 

He did have some weaknesses in his game, but when he suffered that career ending injury against Norwich he was only 24. They reckon a 'keeper doesn't hit his prime until he's 30. He was a fantastic shot stopper and, other than Peter Schmeichel, the best keeper I'd ever seen, either live or on TV, in a 1 on 1 situation. We had a fantastic team in 96-97 and Watson was very much a part of that preventing many opposition goals that looked like gimmes.

There's a tendency to say he was terrible with crosses. I don't think he was, it's just that part of his game wasn't as good as his shot stopping, so it looked poor in comparison. And we were judging the lad on whether or not he would go on to be one of the best in the country, not if he could hold his own in The Championship, which was already taken as read. I don't think a lesser keeper would have been judge so harshly. Anyway, his ability to deal with crosses was improving year on year.

He may have gone on to play for England, he may not, but either way he was bloody good and it was a pleasure to have watched him play. What a 'keeper does isn't as eye catching, but for me he's right up there with Mick McCarthy, Ronnie Glavin, Neil Redfearn, Ashley Ward and Craig Hignett.

 

Second best goalkeeper I've seen at Oakwell, only bettered in my opinion by Heinz Muller

 

Jay picked out the aspect many seem to either forget or missed about him.

THE best 1 on 1 keeper i've ever seen. For anyone. And to consider we saw him in his early 20's I can't even imagine how good a keeper he could have become.

When you consider Englands current england keepers, I can't help thing he could have had 50 plus caps in another generation and without his career being ended.

Martin Ling v Swindon at Oakwell (best one on one duel i've seen) and then the double save at Newcastle in the cup are aming the best saves i've ever seen.

Way better than any other keeper, and his ability on crosses improved notably. He commited himself to some very difficult catches and now and then he failed to get there.

Compare that with Davies who is petrofied to leave his 6 yard box.

World class goalkeeper who had his career curtailed far too early