Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: itbrvilla on September 09, 2011, 12:45:25 PM
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I've been a Villan since the mid-nineties so missed most of God appearances for us. So as I am too young to remember, does anyone have any tales or stories about the great mans performances in the famous 'Claret and Blue'?
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I've been a Villan since the mid-nineties so missed most of God appearances for us. So as I am too young to remember, does anyone have any tales or stories about the great mans performances in the famous 'Claret and Blue'?
You don't mean the Ormondroyd do you? My brother always says he used to look up to the heavens when he played.
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Talking about Paul McGrath. I just want to know why he's regarded generally as our best ever play. I've seen th 1994 match Ireland vs Italy which is incredible.
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When we played Forrest away. The year we were runners up under Big Ron was the closest I have ever seen to absolute perfection on the pitch. He read the game like a genius. It was almost spiritual!!!! Along with Sid Cowans the best player in my life ever to pull on a Villa shirt!!!! (And that was with arthritic knees)
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No memories of individual matches. It was just that he very rarely trained as hard as the rest of the team......he couldn't, his knees were shot. He had all sorts of crap going on in his personal life, and yet come 3 O'clock on Saturday afternoon you just knew that you would be treated to a master class in the art of defending.
What comes across in his book is that playing football, and especially when he played for the Villa, it was a release from all the other stuff that was going on in his life.
God bless you Paul, and I hope you have conquered some of the gremlins.
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Forest at home 1992-93 season he was absolutely immense. Back heels, flicks, tackles and he even scored as well. If you want to see him at his best check out the 5-1 vs Boro footage in the Memories Section, not only does he score but theres a couple of defensive blocks he puts in as well which were utter class.
Coventry at home 1995-96 i recall him getting to a cross before Noel Whelan and clearing it with a high back heel.
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I remember at Old Trafford him clearing a ball from our box with his head that went out at the half-way line and directly into the stand. How anyone could head a ball that far, I'll never know.
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Watch Ireland v Italy USA 1994. It's on you tube. The greatest performance from a center back ever, and for God to praise Richard Dunnes performance v Russia so highly is the highest praise indeed.
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I honestly can't remember an absolute stand-out performance from Macca in a Villa shirt, but then again I honestly can't remember a bad one.
He set a fantastically high standard from day one and maintained it until he left.
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May be wrong, but I think his league debut for us was an away game, first day of season, at Notts Forest. Again stand to be corrected, but I think he made our goal in a 1-1 draw with a near post flick from a corner. He was just generally awesome in that game and for ever after.
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I remember at Old Trafford him clearing a ball from our box with his head that went out at the half-way line and directly into the stand. How anyone could head a ball that far, I'll never know.
This, I remember him doing it loads of times
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Here are a few that sping to mind;
'The Mighty Reds YNWA' away in a 2-1 win in Jan 93, he was superb and read the game like he was playing in a parallel universe that happened to be 5 seconds ahead of reality.
Also Man Citeh home on an icy pitch - you'd have thought it was a leveller but his class just shone out all the more.
His debut away at Forest too, I recall after about an hour thinking, 'my God, if we can keep him fit we've got an absoulte bargain here'. He was everywhere.
I know i'm biased but his performance for Ireland against Italy is the best best individual performance i've ever seen from a professional footballer.
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I'll give you a stand out performance. The season after he left us he went to Derby. We drew them in the FA cup and he turned in an immaculate performance as Derby wiped the floor with us. "Oo ahh Paul McGrath went round the whole of The Baseball Ground and I was gutted.
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He remains the greatest player i've witnessed to wear a Villa shirt.He was that good that one of my most vivid memories was of him having an absolute stinker against Coventry (Boxing day??).It was the only time i'd seen him achieve less than a 8/10.Turns out he was totally pissed from the night before.
A couple of years ago my Dad was working just outside Liverpool and was using this pub for his evening meal.He said he recognised the barman but couldn't quite place him, turned out it was Shaun Teale.Dad along with two fellow Villans spent the rest of the evening reminiscing and Teale told my old man that McGrath was the best footballer he played alongside or against.Also said that they used to room together as no one else could put up with the smell of Teale's cigarettes or McGrath's Guiness farts
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The stand out performances were Wimbledon 1990 and Coventry 1992 because they were the only two occasions between 1989 and 1996 when he didn't look like he was as good as any defender in the world. Lesser players who are inconsistant have occasional very good stand out performances. We had Paul McGrath.
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Richard Dunne's performance against Russia is something Dunney is capable of once in a while. McGrath performed to that high standard pretty much every week - he was just so very, very good so consistently.
The game that stands out for me was his debut in a friendly against Hearts at Villa Park. Macca was in midfield that day and he was just head and shoulders over everything on the pitch. I'd started supporting Villa the season before we got relegated (so I pretty much missed out on seeing the European Cup/League Champion side and all of those players) which meant the first Villa squad I saw in the flesh was comprised of the likes of Simon Stainrod, Paul Elliot, Martin Keown, Steve Hodge and the like.
Paul McGrath was simply a whole new level of player to what I had seen before in my brief career as a Villa season ticket holder - his passing, his tackling, his movement - a total Rolls-Royce of a footballer. It was only when Sid rejoined us that we had another player on that level. I think McGrath and Cowans (with the goals of Platt) pretty much took us to runners-up on their own.
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He remains the greatest player i've witnessed to wear a Villa shirt.
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Without a doubt
I don't think I'll ever see a player again who could read a game half as well. The thing with he was that he never used to have to sprint he was just always where he needed to be.
Maybe not his greatest game but my fave was man Ure on boxing day in 1989. He was marking Mark Hughes who was always a dirty bastard and Super Mac made him look like an 8 year old.
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The game that stands out for me was his debut in a friendly against Hearts at Villa Park.
I think that was Hibs as we had use of the Mita executive box that day and it was in the North stand behind their fans. Some right sights for sore eyes amongst their lot. And yes I remember a good feeling watching Macca although I was a bit pissed on the free beer!
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When we played Forrest away. The year we were runners up under Big Ron was the closest I have ever seen to absolute perfection on the pitch. He read the game like a genius. It was almost spiritual!!!! Along with Sid Cowans the best player in my life ever to pull on a Villa shirt!!!! (And that was with arthritic knees)
I was at that game. When he jumped majestically to head home the winner i was convinced when were gonna win the league. Shame Big Ron dropped Yorke for the run in.
His games against Inter at home were pretty special as well.
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The game that stands out for me was his debut in a friendly against Hearts at Villa Park.
Was definitely Hibs. Think it ended up a draw 1-1 or 0-0 could be wrong. Big Kent Nielsen made his debut as well at centre half.
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The game that stands out for me was his debut in a friendly against Hearts at Villa Park.
I think that was Hibs as we had use of the Mita executive box that day and it was in the North stand behind their fans. Some right sights for sore eyes amongst their lot. And yes I remember a good feeling watching Macca although I was a bit pissed on the free beer!
You are quite right Nodge and Glinch, it was Hibs. This old brain of mine isn't what it used to be!
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Player of the year, every year
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We beat Hibs one-nil. A rather chubby Kent Nielsen came off the bench to score our winner.
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His games against Inter at home were pretty special as well.
Especially the one he didn't play in.
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a total Rolls-Royce of a footballer.
I could not of put it any better.
UTV
The Doc
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I remember one game against Blackburn and a ball over the top played towards Shearer. McGrath just took a couple of steps back and still facing the direction the ball came from stuck his leg out and flicked it back over his head. Shearer still running towards our goal!
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The only 2 games I saw him in the flesh so to speak were the league cup finals. First with Shaun Teale against Manure and then against Leeds with Southgate and Ugo and both times he seemed to glide over the pitch never out of position. I think it was the reading of the game that made him quality.
Then later the Son of God turned up but never quite looked the same
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A couple of games I remember that God did things that mere mortals would have struggled with. Oldham away qf of the FA cup, 1990 I think. We were well beaten about 3-0, and I remember watching all our players struggling to read the bounce and run of the ball on the plastic pitch, but McGrath seemed to be the only Villa player capable of playing on it, it was like it was no challenge for him. Another game i think was a "friendly" against the Blose at VP, anyway they had the Portugese winger who ended up at Spurs, Jose Dominguez, he was as fast as they come. At one point he broke free down the wing at lightning speed, McGrath appeared to amble over to him, and whilst Jose was in full flight God dispossessd him with ease, played the ball upfield, and only then did Jose realize he no longer had the ball and stopped running. I remember finding this hilarious, and just marveling at how brilliant God really was. the thing was he made it look so easy. Just brilliant.
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Arsenal away 1989/90 was surely one of them.
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Talking about Paul McGrath. I just want to know why he's regarded generally as our best ever play. I've seen th 1994 match Ireland vs Italy which is incredible.
It's even more incredible when you realise he was up against Roberto Baggio, the previous years FIFA World Player of the Year, a player that scored for fun and Paul never gave him a look in. Baggio went on to be top scorer in that World Cup with Italy reaching the final. For me, he was right up there with his hero, Franco Baresi, as one of the greatest defenders of all time. Baresi had the advantage of playing at the back for fantastic Milan teams as well as World Cup winning and finalists, Italy.
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Boxing Day 1989
Villa 3 - Man u 0
Thank you very much for Paul McGrath, thank you very much, thank you very very very much.
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He's the best player I've seen play for the Villa as well.
It wasn't just what he did, it was the way that he did it - the little flicks, his reading of the game. That's saying something when you consider he was a centre-half.
He was immaculate.
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That salmonesque leap at Forest under BFR will live long in the memory.
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Boxing Day 1989
Villa 3 - Man u 0
Thank you very much for Paul McGrath, thank you very much, thank you very very very much.
That went round the ground for most of the 2nd half along with Fergie on the dole, Fergie, Fergie on the dole.
As already said he is the greatest player I have ever seen play for Villa.
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This description won't do it justice but we drew 0-0 with Spurs at home on a Monday night (maybe the year we were runners up) A Spurs defender down in the corner of the North Stand/Witton lane hoofed a clearance, what seemed like, 100ft in the air down the line, he was running towards the Holte end, with a Spurs attacker breathing down his neck, as fast as he could whilst not taking his eye off the ball as it came hurtling down from space.
With his back to the approaching ball and the Spurs player ready to outrun him, he stop lifted up his foot as if doing an imaginary back heal and trapped the ball, turned and calmly brought the ball forward.
I remember it because it was one of most amazing pieces of skill I've ever seen.
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It was his positioning I used to marvel at as much as the fancy stuff.
I had decided to spend one home game as a youngster just watching him. We fired down the wing where a close chas to the ball ensued.
McGrath at that point wandered five yards forward and ten to the right. Their defender won the chase and cleared into our half, right to the spot McGrath had taken residence in whilst the chase was ongoing.
And I don't how many times I saw a striker running through on goal without the ball after being dispossessed almost without knowing it.
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Boxing Day 1989
Villa 3 - Man u 0
Thank you very much for Paul McGrath, thank you very much, thank you very very very much.
This was my first venture onto the right side of the Holte (due to the left being almost full and still a queue,) fantastic performance.
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When he was at Ure, i always thought he was a better player than Bryan Robson, and when he signed , even though his injury record was'nt great, i thought he was a gamble worth taking.
In the 7/8 seasons he had with us,it was an absolute pleasure to watch him perform to such a high standard every game.
2 points about Paul McGrath.
Was he quick?.......................................................Don't know, never saw him have to sprint for a ball, he was always there.
For me , he was the best defender i have ever seen.Better than Moore, Beckenbauer, Baresi, better than all of them.Not only the best Villa defender ever, but probably the best defender ever.
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That last sentence for me is spot on.I would add that had we now got a 25yr old Paul McGrath, he'd also the best midfielder around.
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The earlier reference to the great Bobby Moore reminded me how himself and Paul McGrath had that ability to rob a forward, do a side step and, with all the time in the world, look up and make a great pass. Danger over. There were so many times that McGrath had the crowd gasping at his skill. A huge wave of applause would go around the ground. How lucky we were to have had the privilege to see him play.
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It's the casual way he'd bring a ball under control with a forward clipping at his heels, then turn round, bypass the forward like he wasn't there and play it out. For a defender to be such a joy to watch is the sign of a truly magical player.
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as fans we love watching good players, sometimes we take it for granted especially if it is week in week out. with macca we knew we were watching a great player.....and we never took it for granted. the only truly world class player i have ever seen play live in a villa shirt.
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It was only when Sid rejoined us that we had another player on that level. I think McGrath and Cowans (with the goals of Platt) pretty much took us to runners-up on their own.
I'd agree with that.
Ridiculous player really.
Minimal training in the week and then the best player on the pitch every Saturday.
The mind could be playing tricks, but I seem to recall him backheeling the ball off the line when we beat Spurs 2-1 at their place in the LC Quarter Final. I remember little moments like that, and him charging up the wing and setting up one of our goals in a 2-2 draw with Forest in 1991. But as others have said, it's easier to pick out the exceptionally rare bad performances from him.
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Talking about Paul McGrath. I just want to know why he's regarded generally as our best ever play. I've seen th 1994 match Ireland vs Italy which is incredible.
It's even more incredible when you realise he was up against Roberto Baggio, the previous years FIFA World Player of the Year, a player that scored for fun and Paul never gave him a look in. Baggio went on to be top scorer in that World Cup with Italy reaching the final. For me, he was right up there with his hero, Franco Baresi, as one of the greatest defenders of all time. Baresi had the advantage of playing at the back for fantastic Milan teams as well as World Cup winning and finalists, Italy.
A fair chunk of that Italy side had just turned Barcelona over a few weeks previous. 4-0 in the EC Final. Then they had the likes of Baggio and Signori on top of that.
And a half fit McGrath (he still had an issue with his shoulder dating back to the LC final) was the best player on display.
When asked afterwards which Irish players could make it in Serie A, both Mancini and Baggio said Keane and McGrath.
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Not a stand out performance, but does anybody else remember the whirling fist salute to the Holte whenever he made a goalsaving challenge. It was as if he was saying 'that's for you lot'.
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Talking about Paul McGrath. I just want to know why he's regarded generally as our best ever play. I've seen th 1994 match Ireland vs Italy which is incredible.
It's even more incredible when you realise he was up against Roberto Baggio, the previous years FIFA World Player of the Year, a player that scored for fun and Paul never gave him a look in. Baggio went on to be top scorer in that World Cup with Italy reaching the final. For me, he was right up there with his hero, Franco Baresi, as one of the greatest defenders of all time. Baresi had the advantage of playing at the back for fantastic Milan teams as well as World Cup winning and finalists, Italy.
A fair chunk of that Italy side had just turned Barcelona over a few weeks previous. 4-0 in the EC Final. Then they had the likes of Baggio and Signori on top of that.
And a half fit McGrath (he still had an issue with his shoulder dating back to the LC final) was the best player on display.
When asked afterwards which Irish players could make it in Serie A, both Mancini and Baggio said Keane and McGrath.
Think Baresi was quoted as saying that it was one of the best defensive performances he'd ever seen.
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Very simply he was a Rolls Royce of defenders, gliding effortlessly, smoothly around the pitch! It was a privilege to have seen him in a Villa shirt. The word world class is bandied around all too often, but in this case it sums him up perfectly! He was so good I can't believe he actually played for Villa!