Quote from: cdbullyweefan on December 14, 2017, 12:16:18 PMQuote from: Villan For Life on December 14, 2017, 11:02:26 AMQuote from: garyshawsknee on December 14, 2017, 10:54:10 AMI guess Peter Schmeichel, though that was short term. For a period in his career, Bosnich was world class, he'd make saves few would, though his kicking was awful. Bosnich was one of a number of Villa players who could have been world class but didn't quite make it for a number of reasons. See also Shaw G (injuries) and Platt D (conveniently forgets he played for the Villa).Platt was undoubtedly World Class for a while.In my time watching us the ones I would class as World Class, at least for a spell, were Platt, McGrath, Yorke, Bosnich and Benteke.Benteke? I wouldn't say a striker who has never scored 20 league goals in a season and has just a dozen international goals is anywhere near. He was on fire at times for us it is true, but wasn't up with the best in the world.
Quote from: Villan For Life on December 14, 2017, 11:02:26 AMQuote from: garyshawsknee on December 14, 2017, 10:54:10 AMI guess Peter Schmeichel, though that was short term. For a period in his career, Bosnich was world class, he'd make saves few would, though his kicking was awful. Bosnich was one of a number of Villa players who could have been world class but didn't quite make it for a number of reasons. See also Shaw G (injuries) and Platt D (conveniently forgets he played for the Villa).Platt was undoubtedly World Class for a while.In my time watching us the ones I would class as World Class, at least for a spell, were Platt, McGrath, Yorke, Bosnich and Benteke.
Quote from: garyshawsknee on December 14, 2017, 10:54:10 AMI guess Peter Schmeichel, though that was short term. For a period in his career, Bosnich was world class, he'd make saves few would, though his kicking was awful. Bosnich was one of a number of Villa players who could have been world class but didn't quite make it for a number of reasons. See also Shaw G (injuries) and Platt D (conveniently forgets he played for the Villa).
I guess Peter Schmeichel, though that was short term. For a period in his career, Bosnich was world class, he'd make saves few would, though his kicking was awful.
Gerry Hitchens
A German publication, I forget which one but possibly Kicker, used to rate German players with the top two categories being International Class and World Class. In the time I've been watching Villa I think we have had many in the International category including many of the 1977 and 1980 - 1983 squads and a few since such as Laursen, Mellberg and Ashley Young since but I would only really class Sid Cowans, David Platt and Paul McGrath as being in the World Class category. Strange as they all played together in the same team.