I'm talking about proper top drawer here. Some may say SKP, why not? But other than that, do we really have to go back to Hurley, Shackleton etc? Maybe Clough... In relative terms a 20 million pound plus player today.
I wouldnt say he was a particular star, but Bent definitely shone like one for us Has since replicated a star and essentially imploded like During my days as a fan (what I can remember) though Malbranque/Sess have easily been the best dribblers of the ball, had some cracking lb's (when we have actually had them) Possibly Catts for his commitment as well
A star recognised nationally, rather than just lauded by us, has to be Super Kev. Mignolet is another who was known but not by everyone til Pool took him. Roy Keane and PDC brought the national spotlight here of course.
Skill-wise and pleasing on the eye - Malbranque and Sessegnon. Superstars, Phillip Quinny, Lord Rowell.
I'm going to say Arca. We went ****ing crazy for that lad. He may not have been the most famous or even the best but we treated the lad like a mega star.
Niall Quinn, we got him for buttons and on the pitch he was fantastic. In my opinion he was better than Phillips. Michael Bridges was on his way to being an England international before injury. Otherwise you are going back to before I was born
For being the only Englishman to ever win the European Golden Boot it has to be SKP. He is absolutely the best footballer I have seen in red and white in my 40 years.