Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Mister E on March 14, 2026, 02:05:31 PM
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If you were able to bring one ex-Villa player back who is currently playing, who would it be?
For me, it's - surprisingly, perhaps - Finn Azaz. He's 25, and in his prime, stays fit, seems able to mix it physically and performs a valuable function: he connects defence with attack, finds space well, receives the ball cleverly and quickly sees the lay-off / forward pass; and has good feet. He also has a decent shot and set-piece capability. In 32 games this season, he has 8 goals and 3 assists.
He'd slot in behind the attack and provide the continuity that we sometimes lack, giving Rogers more space and being more robust than lil' Emi.
Not gonna happen, of course, but watching him again today got me thinking: who could you see fitting into the current Villa set-up?
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We've already had too many back.
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I’m watching Azaz now and he would be a great replacement for Ollie.
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We've already had too many back.
Before he came back I would’ve said Bailey.
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I’m watching Azaz now and he would be a great replacement for Ollie.
Hmmm, not sure a replacement; he doesn't have the quick skills of Rogers. But, he'd certainly complement him.
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We've already had too many back.
not necessarily the right ones...
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Asensio for me, he gave an intelligence and calmness to our attack that we haven't replaced.
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Diaby
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Ramsay, honestly. George Ramsay, I mean. Obviously.
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Boubacar Kamara.
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Diaby
x2
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WBA 1-0 up
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Oh dear wrong thread. Re Albion
But nobody regarding this thread
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Ramsey. Should still be here.
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As an after thought if loans count then Rashford
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Rashford
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Diaby hands down
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Ramsey. Should still be here.
Agreed. Grealish would still have his uses.
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Malen.
*runs and hides*
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Ramsey. Should still be here.
Most definitely.
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Rashford. A thoroughbred.
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Rashford. Elite.
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I forgot some of them were good. Rashford and Keinan Davis.
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Diaby
Yep. Pace is such a weakness for us.
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The Duran we had.
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Boubacar Kamara.
Ha! Good call, although not quite what the OP was about.
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Put Rashford, Asensio and Ramsey in this squad and we win the league. Fact.
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The Duran we had.
For pure entertainment though, this is the way.
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This thread has just made me realise the talent we have had come and go. Fuck FFP.
Keep 2 or 3 of these players (Duran, Rashford, Asensio, Diaby, Grealish, Ramsey, Malen) and we would be a top, top side.
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We are a top, top side.
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a topper, topper side?
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Ruben Amorim.
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Azaz plays for Ireland, he can't be good.
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Would take Zaniolo back over Bailey and Sancho.
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Would take Zaniolo back over Bailey and Sancho.
every time, at least Zaniolo put some effort in
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Ramsey. Should still be here.
This. It makes me cry seeing him in his pomp for Newcastle. There's no way I'd have got rid of him.
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Ramsey. Should still be here.
This. It makes me cry seeing him in his pomp for Newcastle. There's no way I'd have got rid of him.
we had to sell him it was the only way we could get quality like Guesssand in and be able to pay Sancho the money hes worth
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Malen. Every bloody day.
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Rashford and Asensio and we were in league title winning form. Also interesting that Unai didn’t think twice about dropping Watkins for Rashford, obviously doesn’t rate Abrahams the same way.
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Rashford gallops off the wing and has similar off-the-ball utility to Watkins. Tammy is a poacher but not sure he offers much more. Feels an odd signing in a way. Then again, so was Malen.
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Rashford gallops off the wing and has similar off-the-ball utility to Watkins. Tammy is a poacher but not sure he offers much more. Feels an odd signing in a way. Then again, so was Malen.
The more odd thing with Malen was getting him to really contribute to us in our good run, and then allow him to leave - and replace him with a player who has a very specific, limited skill set, of being a poacher type - in a team that doesn’t create many chances….
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Ramsey
Malen
The old Watkins
Asensio
Tielemans and Kamara...
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AEG
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Rashford. For his pace, his ability to play extremely well in two positions and his goal threat. I think if we signed him at the start of the summer window he'd be far better than he was in his spell with us which was pretty damn good in itself. He came mid season and hadn't been having a great time, hadn't even been playing much.
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Watkins from two seasons ago
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Jack, there I’ve said it!
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Barry Bannon.
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Didier Agathe
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Rashford and the nutcase that is Jhon Duran. We've missed his thunderblasters this season and the ability to be able to impact a match. If only the lad had a brain!!
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Rashford is the one.
Asensio.
Duran for us is 10 minutes a game.
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Who is getable more to the point, Grealish if he takes a massive pay cut.
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Watkins from two seasons ago
I'd settle for the one from two months ago.
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Diaby and the Duran that left. Stick those two in our forward line instead of Watkins and Buendia right now we carry a goal threat.
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Moussa Diaby.
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Moussa Diaby.
3 goals in 34 games out in the desert this season. Football clearly not his priority, same for Duran.
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Malen
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Malen
Agreed and they can have Bailey.
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Jack