Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Drummond on November 17, 2025, 07:56:15 PM

Title: All-Time Premier League Villa XI
Post by: Drummond on November 17, 2025, 07:56:15 PM
This is the team compiled by the BBC from all of the nominations they had as the best in the Premier League.

Notwithstanding that's pretty new in the grand scheme of things z there's an awful lot of recency bias going on too.


(https://i.ibb.co/YFMhhG2G/Screenshot-20251117-194818.png) (https://ibb.co/YFMhhG2G)
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: Meanwood Villa on November 17, 2025, 08:13:21 PM
Has anyone checked on Smirker?
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: RamboandBruno on November 17, 2025, 08:16:10 PM
Goalie yes and the defence is pretty close for me, but no Sid, madness, so Cowabs for Milner, also a toss up between Mortimer and Barry for me. Morley was my first football hero so he’d edge that over Grealish. Would have Yorke alongside Withe, I only saw Andy Gray play second tome around.
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: Pete3206 on November 17, 2025, 08:17:04 PM
It's Premier League era.
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: ChicagoLion on November 17, 2025, 08:17:06 PM
Benteke ahead of Watkins for a start.
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: PeterWithesShin on November 17, 2025, 08:17:51 PM
Goalie yes and the defence is pretty close for me, but no Sid, madness, so Cowabs for Milner, also a toss up between Mortimer and Barry for me. Morley was my first football hero so he’d edge that over Grealish. Would have Yorke alongside Withe, I only saw Andy Gray play second tome around.

It's PL era players.
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: PeterWithesShin on November 17, 2025, 08:18:51 PM
The Benteke we had playing in this team and for Unai would be very interesting.
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: algy on November 17, 2025, 08:32:20 PM
Pretty close to what I’d go for if you’re talking post-92 players. Gary Charles at right back though, and Yorke & Benteke up front.
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: PeterWithesShin on November 17, 2025, 08:36:03 PM
The Torres we're currently seeing is better than Mellberg imo. But there isn't much to strongly disagree with in that 11 although i'd go pre-injury Charles as well.
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: Dave on November 17, 2025, 08:39:53 PM
No Chris Herd? Kieran Richardson? How quickly people forget Yacouba Sylla.

*shakes head sadly*
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on November 17, 2025, 08:55:23 PM
The Torres we're currently seeing is better than Mellberg imo. But there isn't much to strongly disagree with in that 11 although i'd go pre-injury Charles as well.

Putting Melberg on the left is ridiculous. I'd have Delaney ahead of anybody at right back. Charles is a decent shout at left back as was Wilfred Bouma in those few injury free games he played for us.  How can you not have Youri in central midfield, it's more a question of who you take out, Barry or Milner? As for Benteke, was it Brian Green who described him as 'the most complete centre forward' he's seen in claret and blue? He wasn't wrong, Benteke was a beast but scored every type of goal imaginable. As you say, under Unai, my god..
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: john2710 on November 17, 2025, 09:02:49 PM
There's got to be a place for Martin Laursen.
Benteke, his time with us, was the best pound for pound centre forward I've seen.
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: RamboandBruno on November 17, 2025, 09:25:44 PM
My mistake re premier league, didnt read it properly.
Has to also be a shout for Southgate or Eghiou next to God, but agree with the comments on Torres.
Benteke yes, also an argument for Young first time around rather than Grealish. Tielemans a toss up with Barry, Kamara over Milner
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: Beard82 on November 17, 2025, 10:12:05 PM
in PL era seems fairly sensible.

I would go for either Delany or Charles at right back.  Benteke up front, and maybe Young on left - but that might be a bit churlish. 

Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: Chris Harte on November 17, 2025, 10:16:21 PM
Konsa at right-back?
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: andyh on November 17, 2025, 10:23:36 PM
So, not ‘all time’ at all……..only after football was invented ?

If there is no place in that team for Simon Dawkins, it’s a complete waste of time.
Title: Re: All-Time Premier League Villa XI
Post by: dave.woodhall on November 17, 2025, 10:30:33 PM
The Torres we're currently seeing is better than Mellberg imo. But there isn't much to strongly disagree with in that 11 although i'd go pre-injury Charles as well.

Putting Melberg on the left is ridiculous. I'd have Delaney ahead of anybody at right back. Charles is a decent shout at left back as was Wilfred Bouma in those few injury free games he played for us.  How can you not have Youri in central midfield, it's more a question of who you take out, Barry or Milner? As for Benteke, was it Brian Green who described him as 'the most complete centre forward' he's seen in claret and blue? He wasn't wrong, Benteke was a beast but scored every type of goal imaginable. As you say, under Unai, my god..

Charles was never a left-back and if I didn't say that about Benteke I certainly believe it.
Title: Re: All-Time Premier League Villa XI
Post by: cdbearsfan on November 17, 2025, 10:33:49 PM
Martinez

Barrett
McGrath
Southgate
Staunton

Taylor
McGinn
Milner
A Young

Yorke
Benteke
Title: Re: All-Time Premier League Villa XI
Post by: lovejoy on November 17, 2025, 10:39:28 PM
Manager Unai.
Title: Re: All-Time Premier League Villa XI
Post by: Pat Mustard on November 17, 2025, 10:42:37 PM
Martinez

Delaney
McGrath
Laursen
Staunton

Milner
McGinn
Tielemans
Kamara
Young

Benteke/Yorke
Title: Re: All-Time Villa XI
Post by: Smirker on November 17, 2025, 10:45:36 PM
Has anyone checked on Smirker?

It's a silly inclusion let's be honest.

Yorke and Benteke are unquestionably the top two strikers.

Imagine them together.

My balls are tingling at the thought of it.
Title: Re: All-Time Premier League Villa XI
Post by: stevo_st on November 17, 2025, 11:06:08 PM
Martinez

Barrett
McGrath
Laursen
Staunton

Daley
Kamara
McGinn
Grealish

Yorke
Benteke

Title: Re: All-Time Premier League Villa XI
Post by: Ian. on November 17, 2025, 11:07:45 PM
Bailey and Dougie’s form during that period of around October to March in 23 I’d have them in my side. They were incredible. Dougie was putting in shifts like Sid and Bailey was so exciting.

                       Emi
Charles   McGrath    Torres     Staunton

                     Kamara 

   Bailey      Dougie     McGinn    Grealish

                      Yorke
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