Does anyone agree with me that Staunton is one of the best european (not counting russia) chess players of all time? really everyone new he was the best for about a decade until steinitz came along

Steinitz?  I think you better get back to your history book.

Staunton played some nice games, but he played some pretty dreary ones as well.  He had a closed and somewhat plodding style which wasn't terribly interesting (to me at least).  His choice of openings though was kinda cool to modern eyes.  He was also I think a guy who was always "promising" or "renowned" but proved to be a disappointment a lot of times in the actual event.  Take away his match with St Amant, and I don't think you're left with all that much.  He was perhaps best known for not playing somebody--that about sums it up for me.