Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: PROVERBS1966 on June 18, 2011, 03:03:05 PM

Title: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: PROVERBS1966 on June 18, 2011, 03:03:05 PM
Just listened to Giddy's ineterview on Talksport and just loved hearing him say, that despite playing for Man Utd and Man City there is only ever one club for him and thats the Villa. the interview can be heard on the Talksport website.  He was saying give Mcleish a chance, which we all should do in my opinion.

UTV.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Leighton on June 18, 2011, 03:04:28 PM
I heard that interview too. Top man!
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Dave Summers on June 18, 2011, 03:06:17 PM
Best right back I have ever had the privelige to see at Villa.  Walker last season was the closest I have seen to him, in an attacking sense and it would be great if we could somehow "nick" him back.

Giddy is right as well.  We should get behind McLeish now, what's done is done and all pull together in the same direction.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: martin on June 18, 2011, 03:08:18 PM
For fans of a certain era, Giddo was up there with Gray and Little as a Villa hero of equal stature. A fantastic player and great to hear that he still holds us in the highest regard.

Just hope he's forgiven Jim Cumbes for the fireworks..
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: barrysleftfoot on June 18, 2011, 03:09:04 PM

  I heard the interview, but did'nt hear who it was.Pleasantly surprised it was Giddy having such affection for the club as he seemed to leave under a bit of a cloud.

 THE original attacking FB.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: martin on June 18, 2011, 03:19:14 PM

  I heard the interview, but did'nt hear who it was.Pleasantly surprised it was Giddy having such affection for the club as he seemed to leave under a bit of a cloud.

 THE original attacking FB.

True, though fair to say he never regained the kind of form he had at VP at either Everton or ManU. Ultimately part of that Saunders clearout so opposed at the time that reaped such rich dividends later. A wonderful player, none the less. 
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: montague on June 18, 2011, 03:28:15 PM
Years ahead of his time as an attacking full back, used to get right to the line like an old fashioned winger, great delivery as well.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: dl9 on June 18, 2011, 03:34:44 PM
I remember in my early years when my old man first used to take me to see the Villa we had John Gidman as our right back and he bossed it every time.

I'd put him ahead of Kenny Swain as our greatest in my lifetime. If I remember rightly he was from Liverpool, only that tosser Phil Neal stopped him from getting his rightful amount of England caps.

Ahead of his time and a true Villa fans legend.

Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Bournvillan on June 18, 2011, 03:42:26 PM
legend (http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football-sport/the-crazy-life-and-times-of-aston-villa-and-manchester-uniteds-full-back-john-gidman/)
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Brend'Watkins on June 18, 2011, 04:16:04 PM
Great right back and has to thank Frank Carradous for all the covering work he did for him when he surged forward.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Diablo on June 18, 2011, 04:58:43 PM
legend (http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football-sport/the-crazy-life-and-times-of-aston-villa-and-manchester-uniteds-full-back-john-gidman/)

Brilliant stuff!
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Steve67 on June 18, 2011, 05:25:40 PM
Great interview, pretty much Villa all the way through until the last paragraph which says it's for a Man United book!!  Great player John Gidman, arguably the best right back ever for Villa.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Pete Green on June 18, 2011, 05:30:06 PM
Years ahead of his time as an attacking full back, used to get right to the line like an old fashioned winger, great delivery as well.

I was as a kid when he played and I still have a very clear image in my mind of seeing him beating his man to chase a ball to the line and getting a cross in. It was right in front of me and I could see the strain on his face and heard the 'aaargh' as he hit the cross.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: frankmosswasmyuncle on June 18, 2011, 05:39:18 PM
John Gidman was the best right back I have ever seen: a good hard defender and stylish and skilful going forward.
Who picked him for England?
I rememberr being really proud of his selection and his performance and the England manager after the game saying it was one of the best England debuts he'd seen, then never picked him again.
Brilliant to hear him say: "there's only one team for me, and that's Aston Villa"
Legend and a hero! 
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: ClarrieBlue on June 18, 2011, 05:47:31 PM
When I was a kid I used to dream of being a striker for Villa etc. Giddy played the game in such a way that I started to dream about being a right back. He was just so exciting to watch with his ability to go past players.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Diablo on June 18, 2011, 06:22:35 PM
Just listened to his interview, does anyone know which problem he is referring to, that still needs sorting out, re the players and Houllier?
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: charlie659 on June 18, 2011, 06:29:08 PM
One of many great players from that 75-82 era criminally overlooked/under-utilised by England - along with sir Dennis, sir Brian, Sid, Tony Morley et al.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Diablo on June 18, 2011, 06:34:19 PM
http://www.football-england.com/john_gidman.html

Came across this (as I was trying to find out which England manager gave him his England cap?) It's quite interesting and it gives you the chance to rate him - it seems a lot of other people rated him highly too :-)
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Pat McMahon on June 19, 2011, 07:35:49 AM
Giddy was a real hero of mine as a kid and he was one of the first flamboyant players we had in my childhood. He was marvellous when roaring down the right wing towards the Holte and swinging over crosses or taking potshots.

Giddy came from that school of fullbacks who were converted wingers, a la Terry Cooper of Leeds. Truth be told he was better going forward than defending, and was taken to the cleaners a few times, especially by old Twinkletum, John Robertson. As somebody above has commented, the much underrated Frank Carrodus gave Giddy fantastic suport and cover. That didn't diminish my love for him, though I reckon Kenny Swain was a better overall right back.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: pooligan on June 19, 2011, 08:14:05 AM
Nice to hear Giddy talk highly of the club.Was a absolute disgrace how he and Brian Little only played once for England.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: TopDeck113 on June 19, 2011, 08:31:54 AM
Nice to hear Giddy talk highly of the club.Was a absolute disgrace how he and Brian Little only played once for England.

I remember talking about this with someone years ago.  He was of the opinion that because Villa had been shit for most of the sixties and by the early 70s were in Division 3, the likes of Revie and Greenwood who were club managers at the time would have formed a negative perception of anyone who played for us.  Even by the time we were re-established in the First Division, there was perhaps a lingering sense in the back of their mind that the likes of Little and Gidman had been brought through by a lower-league club, so were they actually that good?  The modern day equivalent would be Capello being dubious about picking a talented player simply because they came up through the academy and now play for the first team at, for example, Stoke.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: brian green on June 19, 2011, 08:40:38 AM
Fantastic player with the twin attributes of speed and great strength.   When he went on a charge down the line they used to bounce off him.

Afraid I do not share your enthusiasm for McLeish though David.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: darren woolley on June 19, 2011, 08:53:09 AM
Very good player in his time I wish we had another John Gidman playing for us today.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: kipeye on June 19, 2011, 10:08:35 AM
Best RB for me too. Kenny Swain and Colin Gibson were both good, speedy winger-fullbacks, but Giddy was the stand out one.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: kipeye on June 19, 2011, 10:15:14 AM
http://www.football-england.com/john_gidman.html

Came across this (as I was trying to find out which England manager gave him his England cap?) It's quite interesting and it gives you the chance to rate him - it seems a lot of other people rated him highly too :-)

Wasn't Robson left back or am I back in Alzheimers land again? I thought they both played when we beat Liverpool 5-1 and I'm sure Poo scored first. I do remember we should have had a few more in the second half, one hit the bar and one off the line so I must have some memory cells left.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Big Dick Edwards on June 19, 2011, 11:04:19 AM
Gidman was the best right back I've seen in a Villa shirt. Fantastic going forward and underrated defensively.
He was outstanding in his one and only England game, descibed by then manager Don Revie as the best England debut since Duncan Edwards. It was scandalous that he never got another cap.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: pooligan on June 19, 2011, 11:08:18 AM
I can remember  John Robson  playing both right back and left back and a spell in midfield. As for the Liverpool match not 100% sure but i think it was 5-0 at half time. I know we scored our goals at the Witton End as i was in there.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Big Dick Edwards on June 19, 2011, 11:11:27 AM
I can remember  John Robson  playing both right back and left back and a spell in midfield. As for the Liverpool match not 100% sure but i think it was 5-0 at half time. I know we scored our goals at the Witton End as i was in there.

Yes, all the Villa goals were scored at the Witton End in the first half. It was 5-1 though.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Diablo on June 19, 2011, 11:19:20 AM
Who gave him his one England cap was it Revie or Greenwood?
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Big Dick Edwards on June 19, 2011, 11:20:07 AM
Who gave him his one England cap was it Revie or Greenwood?


Revie.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Diablo on June 19, 2011, 11:52:05 AM
Who gave him his one England cap was it Revie or Greenwood?


Revie.


 

Thought a change of management might have had something to do with it, after such a good debut.

Oops Just seen that you mentioned it in an earlier post. Cheers :-)
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Big Dick Edwards on June 19, 2011, 11:55:24 AM
Who gave him his one England cap was it Revie or Greenwood?


Revie.


Cheers :-)

Thought a change of management might have had something to do with it, after such a good debut.

Reading that linked article, Gidman suggests his off-field behaviour may have had an adverse effect on his international career.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: barrysleftfoot on June 19, 2011, 12:11:49 PM


  I thought it was Brian Little who had "the best debut for England since Duncan Edwards".

  John Gidman was probably up against the media darling Phil Neal, a battle he was never likely to win.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Big Dick Edwards on June 19, 2011, 12:13:54 PM


  I thought it was Brian Little who had "the best debut for England since Duncan Edwards".

  John Gidman was probably up against the media darling Phil Neal, a battle he was never likely to win.

It was definitely Gidman. I've still got the newspaper cutting in a scrapbook.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: barrysleftfoot on June 19, 2011, 12:23:13 PM


  Fair enough BDE, old age fuddled the mind.

  Makes you wonder why he did'nt get more caps then does'nt it.
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: Diablo on June 19, 2011, 12:32:01 PM
Who gave him his one England cap was it Revie or Greenwood?




Revie.


Cheers :-)

Thought a change of management might have had something to do with it, after such a good debut.

Reading that linked article, Gidman suggests his off-field behaviour may have had an adverse effect on his international career.

I have a theory with the England set up in the 70's (players that should have got more caps than they did) it was all about the hair.... Blatant "Hair-ism!"

See... Gidman, Little and Stan Bowles ;-)
Title: Re: John Gidman - Legend
Post by: olaftab on June 19, 2011, 12:40:10 PM


  I thought it was Brian Little who had "the best debut for England since Duncan Edwards".

  John Gidman was probably up against the media darling Phil Neal, a battle he was never likely to win.

More  Paul Reaney and Paul Madely from Leeds they were the two RB's initially  keeping him out and than came Neal. All 3 were not fit to tie John's shoe laces!
SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal