Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Villa Lew on July 12, 2016, 02:28:23 PM

Title: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Villa Lew on July 12, 2016, 02:28:23 PM
Just seen on Sky Sports, Everton are going to rename one of their stands, after the late Howard Kendall.

I think a stand should be named now after, imo the greatest Villa player, possibly ever or certainly since I've been a Villa fan, which is 59 years ago, rather than wait, until he passes away.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Mortimer's Bear on July 12, 2016, 02:47:15 PM
The William McGregor Stand would be more appropriate in my opinion. It could only be applied to The North Stand though, as the Holte End and the Trinity Road are too iconic in their own right.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: AV82EC on July 12, 2016, 02:47:38 PM
Not for me Clive.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Duncan Shaw on July 12, 2016, 02:51:51 PM
No, nor me I'm afraid.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Clampy on July 12, 2016, 02:54:39 PM
No from me as well. Graham Taylor or Ron Saunders at some point though.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Nev on July 12, 2016, 02:58:42 PM
Nor me, keep the geographical names. And while we’re at it, revert to the geographical location name for the stand opposite the Trinity Road Stand. Ellis can have a suite named after him as compensation.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: VILLA MOLE on July 12, 2016, 03:00:14 PM
Maybe not naming stands but some giant  bronze or silver images of our best players on the Trinity stand

it would help cover up the metal sheets 
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: in exile on July 12, 2016, 03:17:43 PM
I'd like to see something named after Ron Saunders (or maybe a bust or something) before it's too late for him to see it himself or unveil it.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: montague on July 12, 2016, 03:25:51 PM
The 1982 stand
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Singapore Villa on July 12, 2016, 03:28:17 PM
The Leandro Bacuna stand.  Get it done Tony.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: in exile on July 12, 2016, 03:31:48 PM
The Leandro Bacuna stand.  Get it done Tony.

The Leandro Bacuna urinal
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Richard E on July 12, 2016, 03:38:07 PM
The Ashley Westwood Stand and Point
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Phil from the upper holte on July 12, 2016, 03:38:55 PM
I got excited when I opened this thread :(
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Phil from the upper holte on July 12, 2016, 03:39:39 PM
The Leandro Bacuna stand.  Get it done Tony.

The Leandro Bacuna urinal

That's not a bad idea, could put stickers of the players faces in the urianls so you have something to aim at
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: UK Redsox on July 12, 2016, 03:42:06 PM
Why does Villa Park already have a stand named after a Welsh Rugby winger ?
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: tomd2103 on July 12, 2016, 04:08:10 PM
The Leandro Bacuna stand.  Get it done Tony.

Just a stand?  I reckon our Leandro would expect the whole stadium named after him. 
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: castlefields_villan on July 12, 2016, 04:13:44 PM
If and when the stand between the Trinity Road and the Witton Lane Stands gets redeveloped - how about we go back to calling it "The Witton End" ?
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: not3bad on July 12, 2016, 05:02:41 PM
The Lescott Carpark
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Villa Lew on July 12, 2016, 05:23:54 PM
Disappointing response lads, think the response, would be different if he was no longer with us. If there was a poll asking for the fans favourite player, pretty sure Macca would be top of it. Someone mentioned Ron Saunders, I reckon, when he dies there will be a lot clamouring for a statute to be erected or stand to be named after him.

Why wait till these legends die?



Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Clampy on July 12, 2016, 05:29:09 PM
Disappointing response lads, think the response, would be different if he was no longer with us. If there was a poll asking for the fans favourite player, pretty sure Macca would be top of it. Someone mentioned Ron Saunders, I reckon, when he dies there will be a lot clamouring for a statute to be erected or stand to be named after him.

Why wait till these legends die?





Why is it a disappointing response? We've all got different opinions after all.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: wittonwarrior on July 12, 2016, 05:56:40 PM
Despite what Ellis, Gray or Gidman may say, Saunders is a Villa God. 

He was proved right time and again when he allowed players to move on.  He built 3 different teams at the Villa for increased aspirations.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: TopDeck113 on July 12, 2016, 06:07:22 PM
And the manner - and direction - of his departure is such that whatever the magnitude of his achievements; in however high a regard he was held (by me included) whilst he was here, a stand shouldn't be named after him.




I also think McGrath's contributions probably pale into insignificance when compared to Kendall's at Everton, where he had success as a player and manager.


Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: KevinGage on July 12, 2016, 06:14:40 PM
If we're going the stand route, Ramsey, McGregor, Rinder and Houghton (Eric) would be more deserving than McGrath -as good as he was.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: cheltenhamlion on July 12, 2016, 06:16:59 PM
McGrath has done nothing of significance to have a stand named after him.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Stirchley Villain on July 12, 2016, 06:18:35 PM
If we're going the stand route, Ramsey, McGregor, Rinder and Houghton (Eric) would be more deserving than McGrath -as good as he was.

What about the Bosko Balaban Stand? We could have built one with what we wasted on him.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: sirlordbaltimore on July 12, 2016, 06:19:42 PM


McGrath may have been a GREAT Villa player, but there's absolutely no reason I could ever see for there to be a stand named after him

Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: sirlordbaltimore on July 12, 2016, 06:21:50 PM
Disappointing response lads, think the response, would be different if he was no longer with us. If there was a poll asking for the fans favourite player, pretty sure Macca would be top of it. Someone mentioned Ron Saunders, I reckon, when he dies there will be a lot clamouring for a statute to be erected or stand to be named after him.

Why wait till these legends die?

Saunders achieved the highest domestic honour with us and laid the foundations for the highest European honour. You could see why he'd be worthy of having something named after him

McGrath meets none of the that criteria

Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: ktvillan on July 12, 2016, 06:32:37 PM
Saunders for me, the most important figure of our modern era.  After that there are more deserving cases off the field - McGregor, Ramsey - and arguably on the field - Waring, Aitken, Dixon for example.   It's a fucking travesty that the only stand named after a person was after someone who took far more than he gave to the club.   
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: CT Villan on July 12, 2016, 06:41:37 PM
I understand the sentiment but don't think a stand name is merited.

What I would like to see would be a 'wall of legends' so to speak. What I have in mind is Villa's past heroes carved into a wall, kinda like a less formal/organised version of Lichfield Cathedral. The downside being that it would be extremely expensive to commission now from scratch, but what a way to acknowledge our history.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: VILLA MOLE on July 12, 2016, 06:47:55 PM
I understand the sentiment but don't think a stand name is merited.

What I would like to see would be a 'wall of legends' so to speak. What I have in mind is Villa's past heroes carved into a wall, kinda like a less formal/organised version of Lichfield Cathedral. The downside being that it would be extremely expensive to commission now from scratch, but what a way to acknowledge our history.






that sounds good ,  I was thinking embossed metal images of legends across  the Trinty road stand to improve the facade ??
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: pooligan on July 12, 2016, 06:54:36 PM
Not for me i'm afraid ,as good as he was there are others as people have pointed out far more worthy of having a stand named after them . Gabbys Burger Bar sounds good for the North stand car park though!
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: ChicagoLion on July 12, 2016, 06:58:00 PM
If there was to be this kind of tribute it has to be Ron Saunders.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: saunders_heroes on July 12, 2016, 07:04:13 PM
Don't know about anyone else but the naming of stands after former players always comes across as a bit "Wolves" to to me, you know a bit small time.
Much as I loved McGrath I still wouldn't want a stand named after him, or anyone else really. Stick to the names they've already got, apart from the Doug Ellis Stand, which should revert back to its previous names.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Salsa Party Animal on July 12, 2016, 07:09:01 PM
Paul McGrath is special to us, but not worthy of a stand compared to others legends. He should have it at Republic of Ireland but not Villa Park.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: KevinGage on July 12, 2016, 07:09:32 PM
I understand the sentiment but don't think a stand name is merited.

What I would like to see would be a 'wall of legends' so to speak. What I have in mind is Villa's past heroes carved into a wall, kinda like a less formal/organised version of Lichfield Cathedral. The downside being that it would be extremely expensive to commission now from scratch, but what a way to acknowledge our history.

It is the far cheaper option, admittedly.  But we could do what Liverpool have done and have large images of the legends of yesteryear etched onto the glass panels on the Trinity.  Though the layout of the current panels would need to be altered.

Nothing makes up for the loss of the most unique frontage in British football, but seeing the likes of Shaw, Cowans, God and co could distract from the blandness of the current carbuncle.  And remind any visiting tramps from Bordesely and Sadtown  FC what actual footballers look like. 
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Lucky Eddie on July 12, 2016, 07:15:50 PM
Saunders for me, the most important figure of our modern era.  After that there are more deserving cases off the field - McGregor, Ramsey - and arguably on the field - Waring, Aitken, Dixon for example.   It's a fucking travesty that the only stand named after a person was after someone who took far more than he gave to the club.   

Might be why it 'came as a surprise' to even the 'great' man himself when he learned of the name of the new stand.

One of many, many reasons I still loathe the old c unt
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Billy Walker on July 12, 2016, 07:46:14 PM
I'd give the likes of McGrath, Billy Walker,  the 82 Team etc. statues but singling them out for stand names doesn't quite feel  right to me.  Names like "Witton End" and "Witton Lane" are great parts of Villa history too and don't deserve to be lost. 


Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: PeterWithesShin on July 12, 2016, 08:33:46 PM
It's a no from me. I've said before that it annoys me how little there is for Rinder. That said, the Witton Lane stand isn't worthy of being named after a man where only the best was ever good enough for Aston Villa. It's a bland stand made on the cheap, so the name currently on it is quite apt.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: German James on July 12, 2016, 08:38:47 PM
"The Emile Heskey Can't" Stand.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: UK Redsox on July 12, 2016, 08:42:32 PM
The Gabby Agbonlahor Pie Stall
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: FailsworthVillan on July 12, 2016, 11:28:28 PM
The Grant Holt(e) End
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Damo70 on July 13, 2016, 12:10:15 AM
I'd like to see something named after Ron Saunders (or maybe a bust or something) before it's too late for him to see it himself or unveil it.


I would ideally like to see a statue outside the ground of Ron Saunders with the league title trophy and Tony Barton with the European cup. Standing alongside each other as the two men who between them brought us our greatest success.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: PeterWithesShin on July 13, 2016, 12:13:09 AM
The PWS Stand sounds good.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Damo70 on July 13, 2016, 12:14:52 AM
Nor me, keep the geographical names. And while we’re at it, revert to the geographical location name for the stand opposite the Trinity Road Stand. Ellis can have a suite named after him as compensation.

I'm not massively anti Doug but I think the profit he made on buying and selling the Villa and the salary he awarded himself in his time in charge are enough compensation. Although obviously a statue of him inventing the bicycle kick would be a nice touch.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: PeterWithe on July 13, 2016, 12:22:45 AM
I'm not a fan of naming stands after anyone, for me simply leaving them as they are, when the Witton Lane reverts, is far more classy and apt. Aston Villa are greater then any individual.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Damo70 on July 13, 2016, 12:29:04 AM
I suppose we could call one stand the Bosco Jancovic stand and another the Bosco Balaban stand.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Smirker on July 13, 2016, 01:16:03 AM
I understand the sentiment but don't think a stand name is merited.

What I would like to see would be a 'wall of legends' so to speak. What I have in mind is Villa's past heroes carved into a wall, kinda like a less formal/organised version of Lichfield Cathedral. The downside being that it would be extremely expensive to commission now from scratch, but what a way to acknowledge our history.

I thought of a similar idea but more like artwork on the back of the Trinity Road stand. At present it looks dull as fuck.

Surely there is a way to put something over the metal to make it look a bit better.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Louzie0 on July 13, 2016, 01:27:31 AM
If the whole of the back of a Stand ( like the North/ Paul McGrath) was made up of loads of little screens, the club could post gifs of players and exciting moments of games before the match and highlights during it. It could look like one giant screen for Villa goals or be subdivided.

It could also be a wall of legends.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: peter w on July 13, 2016, 01:35:51 AM
I'm not a fan of naming stands after anyone, for me simply leaving them as they are, when the Witton Lane reverts, is far more classy and apt. Aston Villa are greater then any individual.

PeterWithe Premier H&V Poster Stand?


Eh? tempted now?
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Bottom Right 89 on July 13, 2016, 09:10:30 AM
The Charles N'Zogbia #Lifestyle Lounge - internal walls covered in 50 quid note wallpaper, dress code: 70s pornstar then sit and smoke shisha draped in strippers, sip champagne and throw wads of cash onto an open fire. Free internet terminals so that you can post pictures and take the piss out of Villa supporters on social media. 
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: AV82EC on July 13, 2016, 09:16:04 AM
The Charles N'Zogbia #Lifestyle Lounge - internal walls covered in 50 quid note wallpaper, dress code: 70s pornstar then sit and smoke shisha draped in strippers, sip champagne and throw wads of cash onto an open fire. Free internet terminals so that you can post pictures and take the piss out of Villa supporters on social media.

Sounds fun, are they selling tickets?
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: ClaretAndBlueBlood on July 13, 2016, 10:05:53 AM
It's a no from me. I've said before that it annoys me how little there is for Rinder. That said, the Witton Lane stand isn't worthy of being named after a man where only the best was ever good enough for Aston Villa. It's a bland stand made on the cheap, so the name currently on it is quite apt.

I prefer Judge Judy myself
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: VILLA MOLE on July 13, 2016, 10:55:01 AM
I was thinking in terms of Giant Esso Coins along the Trinty Road with all our legends

I will write to Tony
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: sirlordbaltimore on July 13, 2016, 11:14:02 AM
If the whole of the back of a Stand ( like the North/ Paul McGrath) was made up of loads of little screens, the club could post gifs of players and exciting moments of games before the match and highlights during it. It could look like one giant screen for Villa goals or be subdivided.

It could also be a wall of legends.

Yeah, that wouldn't cost a fortune to arrange ;)
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: simon ward 50 on July 13, 2016, 11:34:03 AM
It's a no from me on naming stands after people.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Chris Harte on July 13, 2016, 01:29:01 PM
I'd be against the idea of naming a stand after Paul McGrath for the same reason I was against naming one after Doug Ellis - they're both still alive. For me, if they're still drawing breath then its a big no.

Note that Everton are naming a stand after Kendall and the other fella (sorry, name escapes me) only now that they are deceased.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: NeilH on July 13, 2016, 01:36:30 PM
I’ve always been against the idea of renaming stands, especially when it comes to renaming them after former players. As great as McGrath was as a servant to the club, why is he more deserving that others? He’s a great player to those of us of a certain generation, but ask my son or my dad who are of different generations and they will pick different names.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Clampy on July 13, 2016, 01:40:52 PM
I suppose we could call one stand the Bosco Jancovic stand and another the Bosco Balaban stand.

I think having two Andy Gray stands would be lots of fun.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: RussellC on July 13, 2016, 02:10:34 PM
How about the Collymore car-park? We could just add a few trees to the perimeter and the only rule would be that you have to turn your headlights off and your bluetooth on (allegedly) upon entrance?
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Big Monkey on July 13, 2016, 09:58:26 PM
witton end ,witton lane,trinity road and holte end are all you need.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: saunders_heroes on July 13, 2016, 09:59:38 PM
witton end ,witton lane,trinity road and holte end are all you need.

Yep.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: SirSteveUK on July 14, 2016, 10:16:34 PM
I'd like to see bronze plaques - perhaps with bas-relief representations - honouring the stalwarts of the club over the last 142 years 

Somewhat like they have at Yankee Stadium - Monument Park - only better

(http://i.imgur.com/EnOLGa8.jpg)

No idea where they could put it mind - VP surrounds are  rather cramped
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Axl Rose on July 14, 2016, 10:55:56 PM
The Charles N'Zogbia #Lifestyle Lounge - internal walls covered in 50 quid note wallpaper, dress code: 70s pornstar then sit and smoke shisha draped in strippers, sip champagne and throw wads of cash onto an open fire. Free internet terminals so that you can post pictures and take the piss out of Villa supporters on social media. 

Isn't that just called Twitter?
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Confusious says on July 14, 2016, 11:42:09 PM
I believe we have a chance of the Ho chi min stand, maybe the stand which is opposite the witton lane stand. Maybe there would be some sponsorship for that
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: Gregorys Boy on July 15, 2016, 01:10:18 AM
Sounds a good idea to me. McGrath has to be one of our most iconic players certainly of the recent era.  A Ron Saunders stand would go down well too.  Brian Little too.  Now more than ever the club needs to embrace its rich history.  For all the knocking Learner got (and deserved in some cases) that is one thing he did very well.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: robbo1874 on July 15, 2016, 07:42:11 AM
I'm in the not naming stands after living people camp.

It was a very, how can I put it, audacious? Move for Doug to engineer the Witton Lane stand name change. Though I suppose you can understand why Utd broke the rules with the SAF stand.

I'd kind of like to see it changed back to the Witton Lane stand when he shuffles off, but that might seem a bit churlish and disrespectful.

If the North stand ever gets rebuilt I'd support calling it the McGregor Stand or Rinder Stand, or something like that. Don't think you could call it the Saunders stand as it was Barton who actually won the European cup and I wouldn't see it called the Barton stand as he was only in charge a short time despite winning the EC.

As to re-naming the ground, Lotus Villa Park wouldn't be that bad if it was done with a modicum of taste, I don't think.
Title: Re: Paul McGrath stand
Post by: UK Redsox on July 15, 2016, 08:27:57 AM
I'd like to see bronze plaques - perhaps with bas-relief representations - honouring the stalwarts of the club over the last 142 years 

Somewhat like they have at Yankee Stadium - Monument Park - only better

(http://i.imgur.com/EnOLGa8.jpg)




(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ee/DeathStar2.jpg)
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