Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: supertom on October 22, 2012, 01:27:33 PM
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We've signed our share of decent players over the years. Big talents and for whatever reason, a lot of them have been disappointingly shite.
So who ranks as the most talented waste of space we've ever had. We've had a lot, sometimes we signed players like Ginola who were past their best, but even still never delivered anything like what we could have expected. Of the current group my pick is N'Zogbia. Lots of ability but hasn't delivered a bloody thing.
All time though, Mr Stanley Victor Collymore. World class on his day. Had it all, pace, power, technique, a rollicking shot. Can't remember before or since being so let down by a marquee signing like that.
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Stan Collymore for me.
Dalian Atkinson could have been an England regular too had he applied himself. Although he scored some fantastic goals for us, his attitude let him down.
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We've signed our share of decent players over the years. Big talents and for whatever reason, a lot of them have been disappointingly shite.
So who ranks as the most talented waste of space we've ever had. We've had a lot, sometimes we signed players like Ginola who were past their best, but even still never delivered anything like what we could have expected. Of the current group my pick is N'Zogbia. Lots of ability but hasn't delivered a bloody thing.
All time though, Mr Stanley Victor Collymore. World class on his day. Had it all, pace, power, technique, a rollicking shot. Can't remember before or since being so let down by a marquee signing like that.
and for a 6' 2" centre forward couldnt head a ball for toffee! A legend in his own mind.
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Another vote for Collymore
Yes, M.Bear, Atkinson didn't cover himself with glory either.
Agree with supertom on the current version being CN'Z
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Collymore could have been a good player for us but Atkinson could have been world-class. He had everything; pace, strength, he could run with the ball, pass, shoot, head, score, create. There wasn't a player in the world who wouldn't have been glad to have part of his game. And I'm still not sure whether he was our biggest waste of talent because Mark Bosnich could have been the best goalkeeper around.
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A lot of people mention Sasa Curcic with this type of topic. I don't really remember him specifically which probably says enough!
I am sure Nigel Callaghan should have been better. He had promise but never fulfilled.
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Stan Collymore.
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http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/astonvilla/id/96?cc=5739
I pondered this very subject on my blog this week. Hard to look further than Collymore.
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Derek Dougan. Loads of talent but hardly ever showed it at Villa Park
He got his finger out at Peterborough and Leicester, and when he got to Wolves he was the complete centre forward
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Although he had more than his share of moments of brilliance, I am for ever frustrated of the thought, as to how good Dalian Atkinson could have been. If he'd had the same attitude as Saunders, he'd have been up there with the all time greats.
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Stan Collymore without any doubt. That man had more talent than any forwards of that era around the world but he ....
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I agree with all those who have said Atkinson and Collymore. Also, even though he had nearly ten years at the top, for me Bosnich was well on his way to becoming as good as any keeper in the world around the mid nineties. He had already lost his way when United signed him, as Ferguson obviously sussed very quickly. Then for very different reasons of being such a waste of talent there is Gary Shaw,who was as good as finished at twenty four.
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Dalian was a better player than Collymore. As Dave says, he had everything. Possibly the most complete player i've seen. However, I think a mix of attitude and Carew syndrome (the inability to do it every week) means that instead of talking about one of the greatest players of all time, he's talked about as one of the most frustrating Villa players of all time.
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Out of the current lot I would say Barry Bannan.
He has that touch of class that most don't have but he is just pissing it all away, literally.
The next Lee Hendrie.
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Stanley Victor for me. I thought it was going to be the piece in the jigsaw for us to really push on towards the glory we had in the early 80s.
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I'd go for Hendrie.
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Bosko Balaban, truly awful
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SVC for me
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Bosko Balaban, truly awful
Lambert,
I agree that he was truly, utterly shite but in keeping strictly to the title of this thread I don't think he wasted any talent. He was just utter shite.
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Dalian Atkinson was a brilliant player, and I don't think we can argue that he wasted his talent as such, given that he won the League Cup in 94 for us almost single handed, and that we also finished runners up with him in the side. I know what people mean though when they say he could have been better, but if he had had the work ethic to match his skill, he'd have been one of the best in the world and probably wouldn't have been a Villa player!
I still don't understand why his goal against Wimbledon doesn't get as much comment from non-Villa fans. It has absolutely everything, pace, skill, dribbling, and a brilliant chip o finish. Even with my claret-and-blue specs on it's easily the best goal I've ever seen.
The biggest waste of talent for me was Curcic. He could have been the complete midfielder, and the ball looked like it was glued to his laces when he ran with it.
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I forgive Atkinson a lot, largely due to the 94 LC and the fact he was my favourite player. He was also very good the year previously alongside Deano. At least he's had a decent season in a Villa shirt. SVC was just awful nine times out of ten sadly. The Athletico game was a bitter pill, not just because we were knocked out of the Wafer cup but because we got a teaser of Collymores ability.
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Collymore for me, without a doubt.
I have never, ever wanted a player at the Villa as much as I wanted him to come.
When I saw that headline on Teletext 'Villa swoop for Collymore' I think I had tears in m eyes.
The disappointment that followed is well documented, but even right up until the end, I always hoped he just might come good for us.
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Collymore could have been a good player for us but Atkinson could have been world-class. He had everything; pace, strength, he could run with the ball, pass, shoot, head, score, create. There wasn't a player in the world who wouldn't have been glad to have part of his game. And I'm still not sure whether he was our biggest waste of talent because Mark Bosnich could have been the best goalkeeper around.
Atkinson is the one, he had absolutely everything as a player.
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JLo
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Collymore could have been a good player for us but Atkinson could have been world-class. He had everything; pace, strength, he could run with the ball, pass, shoot, head, score, create. There wasn't a player in the world who wouldn't have been glad to have part of his game. And I'm still not sure whether he was our biggest waste of talent because Mark Bosnich could have been the best goalkeeper around.
Atkinson is the one, he had absolutely everything as a player.
He did. But, he delivered a fair bit in the season we almost won the Premiership and then got us the vital goals in the semi and final of the Cup in 1994. Ok, he should of done so much more given his talent. Collymore rarely delivered, indeed, most of his few goals were in high scoring wins.
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Certainly tosser Collymore for me, he was the massive Villa fan and displayed about 1% of the passion Ian Taylor did, who had about 40% of his talent but a great attitude. We would have won the league if Atkinson had not got injured, but understand why people say waste of talent
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Stephen Ireland. What a Wanker.
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Another vote for Collymore. He had it all, except the determination to display his undoubted talent on a consistent basis.
Atkinson too could have been an England regular. He at least was a major factor in us winning the League Cup in 1994.
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Stephen Ireland. What a Wanker.
Hard to disagree.
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Sasa. The twat signed for us then completely lost all his marbles . If he had a medical with us it certainly didnt look at his mental fitness !