Greatest Ever XI: The central defenders

Last updated : 28 April 2007 By Millersmad Staff
There's one old and one new in this partnership as Rotherham legend Dave Watson has been chosen to play with Martin McIntosh as those two were comfortably the most popular votes.

Unfortunately, Dave Watson was well before our time here at Millersmad and he is widely regarded as the greatest player to play for Rotherham. Signed from Notts County, where he played as a striker Watson was converted to a centre half where he went on to produce performances of high quality. He was strong in the air and generally regarded as the best ever centre half at Millmoor.

Unsurprisingly he only lasted two years at Rotherham before moving to Sunderland where he went on to earn England recognition. His time with England unfortunately coincided with the national team's slump but did play in the 1980 European Championships. His total cap number of 65 lands him with the record of winning the most number of caps for England without playing in a World Cup. At the time of his retirement he was sixth in the all time caps list but has since been overtaken and at the age of 36 Watson remains one of the oldest outfield players to represent England. He remains the only Rotherham player past or present to gain honours with the national team.

Other clubs for Watson included Manchester City, Werder Bremen, Southampton, Stoke City and Derby County. He retired in the mid 1980's and has many business interests.

Martin McIntosh was chosen to partner Watson, chosen ahead of his partner for much of his time at Rotherham, Chris Swailes. McIntosh was signed initially on loan by Ronnie Moore to help the club establish itself in Division One following a quick rise and his quality was evident immediately. He was dominant in the air, marshalled the troops well and was a rarity to what had become the norm in the centre halves at Rotherham under Ronnie Moore- he could play football!

He scored some vital goals and soon after Rotherham made his move permenant with a 125k fee, McIntosh became captain and tallisman and was one of the main reasons why the club maintained their second tier status for so long. His form and performance level was so high whilst at Rotherham that left sided centre half attracted the attention of Scotland manager Craig Brown. It is no coincidence that it began to go downhill for the club when McIntosh severely injured his knee in 2004 and after a long spell out 'Macca' was never the same player.

He left the club in the 2005 culling as he was a large earner, and went to Huddersfield. Living in Sheffield allowed him to return to Millmoor as a spectator regularly and falling out of favour this season has seen McIntosh play on loan at Grimsby.

So under the management of Ronnie Moore, and playing in front of Mike Pollitt in goal, Dave Watson and Martin McIntosh have been selected as your greatest ever central defenders.


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