Sid Cowans interview

[curiousorange]

Sid's never got the respect he deserves. There was some sneering article about SGT's time at England (I think it was in the Guardian, but I can't be sure) and him including Cowans in his England squads, the inference being that Taylor chose uninspired boot-fillers who had either shot their bolt or didn't have one to shoot in the first place. All I would say is at the same time Taylor was getting to grips with the England role, Sid was laying on that sublime pass for Platt against Inter Milan. The man was three days short of his 32nd birthday.

[gervilla]

If he can teach NRC to do what he could do , we are sorted.

[Mazrim]

Training is different to what we were doing under Kevin. Mr Houllier has brought his own ideas in – a lot of it is about possession – keeping the ball.

[mozza]

Gordon 'Sid' Cowans was and is a 'legend'

Not only was he instrumental as a player in helping Villa win the League title
and European Cup success 81/82 but for many years has coached the
youngsters

Anyone lucky enough to have met him will know he is quiet and un-assuming
and has claret & blue blood pumping through his veins

If proof were needed how good he is at coaching 'football' might I suggest you
take a look at the current u'16 team playing at Bodymoor Heath on a
saturday morning, every last one of the current crop of youngsters is
comfortable on the ball and can pass with either foot - some of the stuff
thay play is incredible and when they don't have the ball they are like
'terriers' to regain possession-

If in time Gordon can get the first team squad to play in a similar fashion,
I for one won't complain         

[Rigadon]

Mazrim - HA! that made me 'laugh out loud'.  Bravo sir.

[not3bad]

There is not one Villa fan who will not celebrate Sid's promotion.  Whenever I think of him I picture him scoring the first goal against Everton in our 6-2 victory over them in the 89-90 season.

[KevinGage]

Makes you wonder what was going on in the past TBH.

Training routines made up of Wembley. Or British Bulldog perhaps.

[hawkeye]

Like a lot of others that were lucky enough to watch him play whilst the media were going on about wther England could afford the luxury of Hoddle. And here was a bloke that could pass move and tackle. Ask hoddle to show his European Cup and First Div Championship medals, he cant.
One of the greatest players to play for our club. He is one of us, one of our own and fantastic that he is part of the set up- Legend absoloutely

[BannedUserIAT]

One of my favourite footballing images of all time...

[beness]

Love the bloke to bits. You know when you meet one of your heroes and he turns out to be a let down.

 well I met sid at one of the European cup celebration nights. What a fantastic bloke.

[pablopicasso_10]

i love the sound of possession football...

[Irish villain]

Sounds encouraging, learning how to keep the ball is something we desperately need to do.

Exactly what I thought.

[Rotterdam]

Sid is spot on with all he says; very encouraging.

Some may remember I was lucky enough to trott out at VP as a mate was working for 32Red at the time. The game was a mixture of ex-players and hangers-on (me included).
I played CB with Colin Gibson and I was told not to watch Sid, but watch the ball and player otherwise he would split us. 20 mins in and all is well until I gather my thoughts, realise I was 'living the dream' and suddenly Sid floats a perfect ball over and between myself and CG. The outcome was the forward ran on to the perfect pass and scored in front of the North Stand. CG looked at me, smiled and gave me a told you so look. Class. 

[dicedlam]

Sid is spot on with all he says; very encouraging.

Some may remember I was lucky enough to trott out at VP as a mate was working for 32Red at the time. The game was a mixture of ex-players and hangers-on (me included).
I played CB with Colin Gibson and I was told not to watch Sid, but watch the ball and player otherwise he would split us. 20 mins in and all is well until I gather my thoughts, realise I was 'living the dream' and suddenly Sid floats a perfect ball over and between myself and CG. The outcome was the forward ran on to the perfect pass and scored in front of the North Stand. CG looked at me, smiled and gave me a told you so look. Class. 

I can just picture that Rotterdam. Great story.

Although both Paul McGrath and Brian Little were massive favourites of mine, Sid for me was the best player I have ever seen in a Villa shirt.

[Witton Warrior]

Wonderful to have Sid supporting the first team.

As I watched Barcelona last season I was reminded of the way Sid would "punch" the ball through defences and immediately follow up - pass and move - so simple but so elegant