Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Eigentor on September 25, 2010, 01:21:22 PM
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From Birmingham Mail (http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2010/09/25/aston-villa-interview-gordon-cowans-on-how-life-is-changing-now-gerard-houllier-has-arrived-97319-27338318/2/)
Gordon Cowans on how life is changing now Gerard Houllier has arrived
AS ASTON Villa’s ultimate pass master, it’s no surprise Gordon Cowans has been entrusted with improving the claret and blues’ ability to keep the ball.
Cowans, more than any other player in the club’s rich history, was an expert at finding a team-mate during his celebrated glory days patrolling Villa’s midfield.
So when Gerard Houllier came to recruit a first team coach capable of preaching his philosophy of possession football ‘Sid’ was the obvious choice.
Especially when his claret and blue credentials also include a First Division championship medal, a European Cup winners’ gong and more than 450 appearances in three playing spells.
Humble clubman that he is, Cowans modestly shrugs off his legendary status at Villa and describes his promotion from his role as under-16s coach to the senior set-up as a “privilege”.
The 51-year-old former midfield maestro has never had any problems keeping his feet on the ground – now he is revelling in encouraging the club’s current crop of stars to keep the ball on the ground.
“I have been working with them a few days now and the ideas are totally different,” said Cowans.
“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. If you look at the foreign players, you can see why they are so good at keeping possession of the ball. That is critical.
“Just look at the top English sides like Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea, they all keep the ball so well. It is a massive change and whenever you bring a new manager into a football club everyone wants to make a good impression with him. Everyone wants to do well and get in the team, of course.”
Cowans, whose first Premier League match in the dugout with Houllier will be against former club Wolves tomorrow, has been impressed with how Villa’s players have responded to the new regime.
“The players are very good,” he said. “You only realise that when you work with them day-in and day-out, which I have been doing for a while now. There are some very good players here. Their attitude is spot on – each and every one of them. They put a shift in when they have been asked to do. Whatever they have been asked to do, they have got on with it and done it. It’s been refreshing.
“I know lads like Marc Albrighton, Gabby Agbonlahor and Nathan Delfouneso very well from the youth level and what they are capable of doing. There’s plenty of quality.”
Cowans first came to Villa from his native County Durham as a young boy in 1969 and four decades on his love for the claret and blue burns as brightly as ever.
On top of the league title in 1981 and European glory in 1982, Cowans also tasted League Cup glory in 1977 and won the European Super Cup with Villa in 1983.
“First and foremost, I feel privileged to be doing the job I am now doing,” said Cowans. “I am delighted I have the opportunity to do it. I was told I needed to put my name forward, I did that and fortunately I got the job. I am absolutely delighted to be where I am.
“I first came to the club when I was 10-years-old so I have had an affinity from that age. I have come through the ranks and achieved things with the club.
“The supporters too are absolutely fantastic at this football club, whether it’s home or away they get right behind the team. They play a big part in it as well.”
Cowans is part of a new backroom team which also includes assistant boss Gary McAllister, goalkeeping coach Rafael Gonzalez and fitness guru Robert Duverne.
“Gary will be a really good asset for this football club,” he said. “He was a very experienced player – a very good footballer – and has experience as a manager too so he will bring a lot to the club.
“Even watching him in the first few training sessions, he’s been involved and been very good – he comes across very well to the lads.
“Rafa is a very good goalkeeping coach. He’s only been with us for a few years but you look at some of the exercises he’s brought in to the goalkeepers and the lads love working with him.
“You need to have good characters, you need personality and banter because you’ll get plenty back off the lads. I think I have learnt from people who have worked within this club.
“We have had some good young lads come through the system and these have now matured and are now on the fringes and actually in the first team.”
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Sounds encouraging, learning how to keep the ball is something we desperately need to do.
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I can't believe he's 51.
I remember seeing him play when I was 10/11 years old in the 89/90 season.
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Legend
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Yes, I still have not manage to find a better passer than Gordon Sidney Cowans. Wherever he play for Real Madrid, Barcelona or Brazil. He is like two feeted David Beckham without hollywood stuff.
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Its fantastic to have Sid in this role. Very deserved . Im looking forward to what Macca and Sid can bring to the party.. I loved Sid when I was growing up supporting Villa, like probably everyone on here who was there at that time.... As above LEGEND
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“I have been working with them a few days now and the ideas are totally different,” said Cowans.
“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. If you look at the foreign players, you can see why they are so good at keeping possession of the ball. That is critical.
Whilst I expect there to be a lot of hyperbole and positive propaganda coming out of the club now that there is a new team in charge but is anyone surprised by these comments from Sid?
Surely the old regime must have encouraged and trained towards keeping possession. I'm not saying that they shouldn't also learn a more direct game but possession and being comfortable on the ball is probably the most important thing in football.
It strikes me that the philosophies of the youth and reserve coaches was completely at odds with the first team. I hope this is something Houllier corrects.
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I think there were rumours from way back that we did very little ball work in training.
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Thank God. I could hardly believe how little we wanted the ball under MON at times. It appears this is now being sorted at last.
I heard that MON basically did fitness training and practice matches. That's Sunday league standard training.
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I don't think ball retention was a priority before, we were happy to surrender posession then hit teams on the break. As for Gordan Cowans, the London press should have taken their heads out of Hoddles backside long enough to notice Sid. Could pass every bit as good as Hoddle and Iv'e never seen a bloke so thin you thought he might snap tackle so hard and well as Sid did. Hoddle got the caps, Sid got the highest medals you can get at club level. Even David Platt, who isn't the most modest bloke in the world admits he was in awe of Sid's ability.
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Gordan Cowans. Along with Paul McGrath, the finest player I have ever seen in my time as a Villa fan (and I include opposition players in that, too!) As much as I was in awe of Sid's passing and sheer artistry in striking a ball, it was his tackling that constantly amazed me, always crisp and clean for want of better words. Just a great, great player.
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Gordan Cowans. Along with Paul McGrath, the finest player I have ever seen in my time as a Villa fan (and I include opposition players in that, too!) As much as I was in awe of Sid's passing and sheer artistry in striking a ball, it was his tackling that constantly amazed me, always crisp and clean for want of better words. Just a great, great player.
Billy, I agree about his tackling particularly as he had such skinny legs that looked so frail. I must say that I'm delighted with much of what he has to say about possession, as we desperately need to introduce that into our game. It also pisses me off somewhat that this side of our game has been so badly neglected in recent years. It was obvious to all who saw us play that this was not a facet of the game that was encouraged but to hear a coach confirming that we didn't work on possession just makes me wonder what went through the minds of MON and his staff - just as well he took them all with him and we can get some proper coaches involved.
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He his a legend i am glad we have got him on board.
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A highly respected coach too so it seems.
Some CV and a Legend, a real Legend to boot.
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We Villa fans all knew what a top player Sid was from the late 1970s through the 1980s but the ignorant media were always drooling over the passing skills of Glenn Hoddle or the tackling ability of Bryan Robson. I used to tell anyone who'd listen that Sid was a better all round player than either of them.
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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.
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If he can teach NRC to do what he could do , we are sorted.
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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.
(http://www.colectiva.tv/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/lkzyz89efm_clap.gif)
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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
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Mazrim - HA! that made me 'laugh out loud'. Bravo sir.
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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.
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Makes you wonder what was going on in the past TBH.
Training routines made up of Wembley. Or British Bulldog perhaps.
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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
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One of my favourite footballing images of all time...
(http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/79650606.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF8789215AB089EE596C65880C48E77AFF59D40AD954E02E256677F35E44215F3CFC178A)
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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.
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i love the sound of possession football...
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Sounds encouraging, learning how to keep the ball is something we desperately need to do.
Exactly what I thought.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Sid, Sid, Sid
Legend, Hope he gets them passing it like he used to!
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A few cheap give aways and hoofs today. Tell them Sid, TELL THEM.
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Great to see him in our dugout today.
Every time you heard screaming from our bench today it was either 'keep it, hold it'
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i saw sid cowans come on as a sub at man city in february 1976 he was 17.we lost 2 1 but he looked good now theres a true villa legend
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Great to see him in our dugout today.
Every time you heard screaming from our bench today it was either 'keep it, hold it'
I do wonder who was doing the shouting out of Cowans and McCallister. But all you could hear was "Pass it, Pass it, pass it".
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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.
Agreed.
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We Villa fans all knew what a top player Sid was from the late 1970s through the 1980s but the ignorant media were always drooling over the passing skills of Glenn Hoddle or the tackling ability of Bryan Robson. I used to tell anyone who'd listen that Sid was a better all round player than either of them.
Me too. And we were right.
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Makes you wonder what was going on in the past TBH.
Training routines made up of Wembley. Or British Bulldog perhaps.
What about 'Germans'?
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Makes you wonder what was going on in the past TBH.
Training routines made up of Wembley. Or British Bulldog perhaps.
What about 'Germans'?
Don't be silly this was MON training, no foreign sounding training games here, it's British Bulldog or nothing!
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Whilst still only a whippersnapper, I've heard very good things about Son of Sid. It sounds like he's a chip off the old block.
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Sid is a Legend. One of the best players I've seen down the Villa.
Easily as good a passer as Hoddle and had a bit of bite in him as well.
Morley - Cowans - Mortimer - Bremner
The best Midfield I've seen at the Villa, won the league and European cup and yet always passed by the media when they talk of great midfields. They were never given the credit they deserved but for two seasons they were the pinnacle of English football.
Brought a big smile to my face seeing Sid on the bench on Sunday.
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We Villa fans all knew what a top player Sid was from the late 1970s through the 1980s but the ignorant media were always drooling over the passing skills of Glenn Hoddle or the tackling ability of Bryan Robson. I used to tell anyone who'd listen that Sid was a better all round player than either of them.
Me too. And we were right.
Ten England caps was an insult to his talent. Sid could pass like Hoodle and tackle (only more skillfully) than Robson. Both were great players but Sid had it all. If Sid had played for Spurs, no doubt he would have won at least 50 caps but such was the media wankfest for Hoddle and Captain Bloody Marvel, not to mention clueless managers, he hardly had a look in.
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Ask that Wanker Platt - if it was not for Cowans he would not have had a career
The English version of Platini in his pomp
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Ask that Wanker Platt - if it was not for Cowans he would not have had a career
The English version of Platini in his pomp
To be fair to Platt he acknowledges that, I remember after some award or other him saying that Sid was the best player he'd ever played with.
After Sir Brian my second favourite Villa player if he's half as good a coach as he was a player then we're in good hands.
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My mate's a Blackburn fan and a lot of them also have a very high opinion of Sid.
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I'm pretty certain that had he played for one of the big clubs in the North West or the Smoke (and he was plenty good enough to) he'd have probably been seen as on a par with Hoddle. Or certainly received plenty more England caps anyroad.
But he suffered from our malaise post 82. Breaking his leg didn't help either.
Players like Platt and McGrath always spoke very highly of him, McGrath puts him only second to Bryan Robson in terms of best players he ever played with. When you think of some of the talents he played alongside for Man U, Ireland and Villa that's not bad.
Kenny Dalglish made him one of his first signings at Blackburn too, so the players knew. Top players who might have an idea about how football should be played. Even if sections of the media and sporting press weren't so sharp on the uptake.
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His experience is invaluable. Great management move .........
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Ask that Wanker Platt - if it was not for Cowans he would not have had a career
The English version of Platini in his pomp
To be fair to Platt he acknowledges that, I remember after some award or other him saying that Sid was the best player he'd ever played with.
After Sir Brian my second favourite Villa player if he's half as good a coach as he was a player then we're in good hands.
I once read a quote from Platt where he said something like, "One of these days I'll make a run and Sid won't spot it - but it hasn't happened yet".
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I always got the impression that the press turned against him in his later years after SGT put him in national team ahead of Gazza for a game against Ireland.
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We Villa fans all knew what a top player Sid was from the late 1970s through the 1980s but the ignorant media were always drooling over the passing skills of Glenn Hoddle or the tackling ability of Bryan Robson. I used to tell anyone who'd listen that Sid was a better all round player than either of them.
Me too. And we were right.
Ten England caps was an insult to his talent. Sid could pass like Hoodle and tackle (only more skillfully) than Robson. Both were great players but Sid had it all. If Sid had played for Spurs, no doubt he would have won at least 50 caps but such was the media wankfest for Hoddle and Captain Bloody Marvel, not to mention clueless managers, he hardly had a look in.
Ron Greenwood was the worst offender. It used to drive me up the wall that he never picked Sid, preferring nonentities like Alan Devonshire or Graham Rix.
Sid had just begun to get established in the England side under Bobby Robson when he broke his leg.
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Morley - Cowans - Mortimer - Bremner
The best Midfield I've seen at the Villa, won the league and European cup and yet always passed by the media when they talk of great midfields. They were never given the credit they deserved but for two seasons they were the pinnacle of English football.
Brought a big smile to my face seeing Sid on the bench on Sunday.
Indeed that was a midfield that had everything!
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Can anyone explain to me why, when the England squad was selected for the 1982 World Cup, from a Villa squad that had just won the EC and included such talents as Morley, Cowans, Mortimer, Shaw, the only Villa player who went to Spain was Peter Withe?
Because I failed to understand at the time, and I still bloody can't!
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Can anyone explain to me why, when the England squad was selected for the 1982 World Cup, from a Villa squad that had just won the EC and included such talents as Morley, Cowans, Mortimer, Shaw, the only Villa player who went to Spain was Peter Withe?
Because I failed to understand at the time, and I still bloody can't!
As it was then, so it is now, the corridors of footballing power in this country are largely full of shit and crooked.
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Mortimer and Cowans. Imagine having them in the centre now with the likes of Albrighton, Downing, Young and Gabby.
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Can anyone explain to me why, when the England squad was selected for the 1982 World Cup, from a Villa squad that had just won the EC and included such talents as Morley, Cowans, Mortimer, Shaw, the only Villa player who went to Spain was Peter Withe?
Because I failed to understand at the time, and I still bloody can't!
I blame Sky TV.
;)
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sid was never given the recognition he deserved,a nice bloke to not like todays premadonnas
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Can anyone explain to me why, when the England squad was selected for the 1982 World Cup, from a Villa squad that had just won the EC and included such talents as Morley, Cowans, Mortimer, Shaw, the only Villa player who went to Spain was Peter Withe?
Because I failed to understand at the time, and I still bloody can't!
Because Ipswich were the better team, of course.
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Sid presented with me with a certificate for taking part in a sponsored walk circa 1980. A very proud moment...
...and I was pretty chuffed, too!
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I think Sid is the best playmaker I have ever seen. I would love a young Sid and Mortimer in today midfield. Sid is so good he probably will make Heskey score 25 goals a season.