Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Irish villain on July 09, 2011, 01:00:21 AM

Title: Favourite player by era
Post by: Irish villain on July 09, 2011, 01:00:21 AM

I've been thinking about this a lot recently. I have a tendency to think of villa sides, that I remember, in terms of eras punctuated by long serving managers. As such, Big Ron 91-94, Brian Little 94-98, Gregory 98-02, DO'L 03-06, MON 06-10. Houllier and GT mark 2 don't count.

Big Ron: No contest here, Paul McGrath. On his day the best in the business, PFA player of the year in 93, key component of the last villa side to push close for the title and twice a League Cup winner.

Brian Little: This is a tough one because I really liked Little's side. I will pick Ian Taylor because he was Mr. Aston Villa and was so dependable for us. He ran and ran while contributing a fair few important goals too.
He just seems to encapsulate villa at that time.

Gregory: Here I'd choose Paul Merson. He was the bright spark in an otherwise dull side. He played some terrific football for villa and really put bums on seats with his skill. Some of the goals he scored for us were outstanding.

DO'L: A sorry period for the club but my favourite player from this time was Juan Pablo Angel. He might have been a Gregory signing but he scored some vital goals and really flourished in 03-04. He always gave his all for the shirt even though things were bad at villa towards the end of O'Leary's tenure.

MON: As with Little's side, it's hard to pick one player. For me, Martin Laursen just gets the nod ahead of Ashley Young. He was rock solid for us and boy did we miss him when he had to hang up his boots. He would throw his body into all manner of danger to protect our goal and you always felt like nothing would get past him. When I think of our years flirting with the top four I will forever associate the charge with Martin Laursen.

Feel free to disagree and to add players from previous epochs.

UTV

Title: Re: Favourite player by era
Post by: Pete3206 on July 09, 2011, 01:11:06 AM

Ron Saunders & Tony Barton: Gordon Cowans
Graham Turner & Billy McNeill: N/A
Graham Taylor: Paul McGrath
Josef Venglos: Paul McGrath
Big Ron: Paul McGrath
Brian Little: Dean Saunders
John Gregory: Ian Taylor
Graham Taylor: Gareth Barry
David O'Dreary: Juan Pablo Angel
Martin O'Neill: Martin Laursen

Title: Re: Favourite player by era
Post by: Lucky Eddie on July 09, 2011, 02:07:41 AM

70's Little
80's Morley
90's GOD
00's me
10+ Gabby

Title: Re: Favourite player by era
Post by: Deano's Mullet on July 09, 2011, 05:31:35 AM

Graham Taylor - David Platt (followed by Tony Daley)
Dr Jo - Platt (Daley)
BFR - Dean Saunders (followed by Rico and Parker)
BL - Savo Milosevic (Tommy Johnson, Mark Draper, Yorkie)
JG - Merson
GT 2 - Barry, Allback (!)
DOL - Angel (Hitzlsperger)
MON - Gabby (Maloney, Ash, Laursen)
GH - Bent (Allbrighton)

Title: Re: Favourite player by era
Post by: pooligan on July 09, 2011, 05:39:29 AM

Ron Saunders & Tony Barton - Peter Withe
Graham Taylor- Paul Mcgrath
Josef Venglos- David Platt
Ron Aitkinson- Paul Mcgrath
Brian Little-Dwight Yorke
John Gregory-Olef Mellberg
Graham Taylor- Gareth Barry
David Oleary-Gareth Barry
Martin Oneil -Martin Laursen

Title: Re: Favourite player by era
Post by: *shellac* on July 09, 2011, 06:39:17 AM

Saunders & Barton - Cowans
(                                     )
Taylor - Platt
Venglos - Platt
Aitkinson - McGrath
Little - Yorke
Gregory - Merson
Taylor Mk II - Barry
O'Leary - Angel
O'Neill - Young
Houllier - Bent
McLeish - Bent

Title: Re: Favourite player by era
Post by: supertom on July 09, 2011, 09:12:02 AM

BFR- Deano and Dalian
Little- Yorke
Gregory- Merse
Taylor- Mellberg
DOL- Angel
MON- Laursen
Houllier- Bent
McCleish- Lionel Messi???

Title: Re: Favourite player by era
Post by: Villan For Life on July 09, 2011, 11:02:06 AM

Saunders/Barton:      Frank Carradous, Giddy, Little, Gray, Des Bremner, Sid, Sir Dennis (can't splt them, I was at an impressionable age)
Turner/McNeill:          Allan Evans
Taylor:                     McInally, Platt, Birch
Dr Jo:                      Platt, Birch & Nielsen
BFR:                        McGrath, Teale, Deano, Bozzie
Sir Brian:                  Yorke, Ugo, Ian Taylor, Johnson
JG:                           JPA, Taylor, Merson 
Taylor:                     Mellberg
DOL:                        Barry
MON:                       Laursen, Milner
Ged:                        Bent
           

Title: Re: Favourite player by era
Post by: noodles_ on July 09, 2011, 12:32:50 PM

Little - Yorkie. Probably my favourite Villa player ever tho. He was literally my hero when i was a kid. Followed closely by crazy Savo.
Gregory - Balaban. Ok maybe it was Merson. I like Boateng a lot too for some reason.
Taylor - Barry. He came back into the team as a midfielder and was brilliant.
DO'L - Angel. That goal against Chelsea. Vassell was always a local favourite too.
MO'N - Barry again. Lead by example on the pitch.
Hou - Albrighton.

Title: Re: Favourite player by era
Post by: Damo70 on July 10, 2011, 08:40:55 PM

I always tended to have a favourite until they left. If I remember correctly, I think it went - Andy Gray, Tony Morley, Steve McMahon, Steve Hunt, Garry Thompson, Paul McGrath, Dwight Yorke, Dublin/Merson, Gareth Barry, Martin Laursen, Ashley Young, Darren Bent.

Title: Re: Favourite player by era
Post by: luke25 on July 10, 2011, 08:51:56 PM

Little- Yorke
Gregory- Taylor
Taylor- Mellberg
DOL- Hitzlsperger
MON- Laursen
Houllier- Bent
McCleish- Steven Carr