For me, Paul Shaw.

sheer class

I completely agree. He was a genius, with some great players around him.

Paul Shaw was light years ahead of everyone who he played with

If we are talking players we actually remember seeing play I have to agree, Paul shaw is up there. But on reputation I couldn't pick from the Watkins era. They were not just a group of individually great players, they were a great TEAM.

Charlton,Fielding,Watkins,Hesketh,Richards,Gill,Nash,Coulman,Dixon,Prescott.....all of 'em...fantastic team

I agree

Neil Barker?

he must have been the mascot?

Maurice Richards

Yep, all of them were fantastic!
But, for me, it has to be the "Martin Offiah" of the era, the guy who starred in TV's "Superstars" and wiped the floor with all-comers: the legend that is......Keith Fielding. A true hero of mine when I first started going to the Willows, and the reason I started playing rugby league....although, unfortunately, I wasn't quite the speedster he was and found myself more suitable (ie. shaped!) for propping.

i suppose it depends on what era you started watching salford. it depends on how you describe the greatest ever player, ability or play with pride of wearing the shirt. there has been a few great names mentioned on here. what about Bleasay, Mark Lee, Blakley, Colin Dixon, Chris Charles. it could go on but its good to see so many names

As a young whippersnapper (31) I can only choose from the '89 season onwards so my top 5 (in no particular order) would be.

Garry Jack
"Ooh" Paul Forber
Steve Blakeley
Scott Naylor
Malcolm Alker

Have a mate in his fifties who constantly reminds me of the great 70;s team. Sh1t for me as it's like comparing Best to Cantona!!!

Slightly O/T but which player would you say has been the biggest disappointment based on potential when they signed or came through the ranks? I thought McAvoy was going to be a world beater at 18 but didn't realise the potential many thought he had.

Precisely.

The greatest ever Salford player has to have been Augustus John Ferdinand Risman (427 games, 143 tries, 796 goals) but you could throw in James Lomas (312 games, 210 tries, 470 goals), David Watkins (405 games (+2), 147 tries, 1225 goals, 16 D.G.'s).

Then I know of a guy that would swear on Jackie Brennan, it's all about opinions. I would say Neil Baker but lets remember he was only here 17 matches (a fine spell it was mind

).

For me greatness depends on how long you've been at a club and how long your performances have remained at the top level. We've all seen players be great for a season or even longer but how many have been [igreat[/i for years?

As for Blakeley he's an enigma, Marmite you may say, you either love him of loath (Ok thats a bit strong) him.

I had to chuckle at that aswell

Keith Fielding was awesome but for me it has to be the great David Watkins, he was my very first sporting hero

Best player i've seen for salford as i've only been watching for about 6 years is probably richie myler! most creative anyway, can produce that bit of magic that can turn a game! Also thought Dunneman was class!

why laugh at that?
Karl Harrisons player of the year 2004
214 points in 2003 inc 10 tries and kicking 87 goals.
didnt see people slagging him off at widnes when he kicked us to a grand final win. in super league when Malc won top tackler in super league. who was 2nd,? and Karl Harrison did say if he had more money he would have kept charlie on. who did we sign instead. viane, korki. what happened?. in the mean time charlie helped cas to super league. laugh now you fool. rant over

also read my last post,as i said in an earlier post, how do you describe the greatest player? to me its pride in the shirt end of. we cannot afford the worlds best players. it all depends on how much you want to wear the shirt and to me charlie was bought as a stop gap when we first went down, but to me he wanted to play for salford. that will do me.

he was an aussie stand off played the same tme as tex evans

In my lifetime David Watkins.He had the lot.
Ken Gill was brilliant but far better with Banner than Nash (who was better at Fev than the Willows.)
Maurice Richards was awesome.
Paul Charlton played against us for Workington,some time before he signed for us, and he stopped all our stars in their tracks.We tend to remember him for his attack but he was also one of the best defensive fullbacks ever and,at the time,spoken of in the same tones as JPR.

you mean Neil baker NOT BARKER

CHEERS HE WAS QUALITY

for me the stand out was gibbo just for his trys (oldham challenge cup)