Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: cdbearsfan on April 20, 2026, 01:12:29 AM
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As a fanbase, we are occasionally (correctly) accused of obsessing over history. Are we witnessing the best of all time in the current team?
Vote.
Vote now.
YOU MUST VOTE.
IF YOU DON'T VOTE YOU CAN JOLLY WELL SOD OFF. I'M SO ANGRY THINKING ABOUT YOU NOT VOTING.
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I've voted. As of 1.15am, bet you can't guess who I picked!
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If you voted for David Seaman we will have stern words.
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Nigel Sims was brilliant, but he didn't get my vote.
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Nahhh. The last game I ever watched as an England supporter was Brazil in 2002, and I'll never forgive him for being lobbed by that goofy motherfucker.
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I had just started a new job, and they said that England fans could come in late if they wanted to watch the game (think it was about 7am UK kick off time). I had to pretend to be sad about the result all day.
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I had recently started at my new job and also got to watch it at work.
Ronaldinho is my favourite world class player. Made everything look easy and did it all with a smile on his face.
Anyway, back on topic, I feel like Sam Hardy is a victim of being too long ago. If we did this poll in about 1920 he'd have romped to victory.
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I had recently started at my new job and also got to watch it at work.
Ronaldinho is my favourite world class player. Made everything look easy and did it all with a smile on his face.
Anyway, back on topic, I feel like Sam Hardy is a victim of being too long ago. If we did this poll in about 1920 he'd have romped to victory.
I hate him. And all modern Brazilian footballers. Fucking showboating twats.
The 7-1 was glorious.
We were given the first two lessons off school to watch it, and two thirds of the school (the two thirds who were Man Utd fans, funnily enough) were loving it. Fucking wankers.
Since 2004, I wouldn't piss on the England team if they were on fire. But boy do I still hate fucking Brazil.
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I go through waves with the England team. I can't stand the cheat Saka but most of them seem pleasant enough now, and winning with a foreign manager would shut up some weirdos. I didn't like them in 2002, though. Mainly because of the "all foreigners are divers/we love Michael Owen" double standard, IIRC.
I generally dislike Brazil because of the tedious mythology that surrounds them. No, they don't generally win because they all play keepy uppy on the beach from the age of three. They generally win because there are 250 million of them and they are utterly shit at every other sport.
I remember wowing a half-German girl I was seeing shortly after the 2002 World Cup by explaining that I wanted Germany to win. Shockingly, we never ended up having sex. I should have listed the 1982 European Cup runners-up squad to get her going.
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I go through waves with the England team. I can't stand the cheat Saka but most of them seem pleasant enough now, and winning with a foreign manager would shut up some weirdos. I didn't like them in 2002, though. Mainly because of the "all foreigners are divers/we love Michael Owen" double standard, IIRC.
I generally dislike Brazil because of the tedious mythology that surrounds them. No, they don't generally win because they all play keepy uppy on the beach from the age of three. They generally win because there are 250 million of them and they are utterly shit at every other sport.
I remember wowing a half-German girl I was seeing shortly after the 2002 World Cup by explaining that I wanted Germany to win. Shockingly, we never ended up having sex. I should have listed the 1982 European Cup runners-up squad to get her going.
You really should.
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I go through waves with the England team. I can't stand the cheat Saka but most of them seem pleasant enough now, and winning with a foreign manager would shut up some weirdos. I didn't like them in 2002, though. Mainly because of the "all foreigners are divers/we love Michael Owen" double standard, IIRC.
I generally dislike Brazil because of the tedious mythology that surrounds them. No, they don't generally win because they all play keepy uppy on the beach from the age of three. They generally win because there are 250 million of them and they are utterly shit at every other sport.
I remember wowing a half-German girl I was seeing shortly after the 2002 World Cup by explaining that I wanted Germany to win. Shockingly, we never ended up having sex. I should have listed the 1982 European Cup runners-up squad to get her going.
Oh, and erm, yes. Wankers.
'Samba football' my fucking balls.
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In my all-time Villa squad, Martinez is first-choice, with Rimmer as back-up.
2 very different keepers from two very different footballing eras, but both absolutely at the top of their game when playing for the Villa.
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I had recently started at my new job and also got to watch it at work.
Ronaldinho is my favourite world class player. Made everything look easy and did it all with a smile on his face.
Anyway, back on topic, I feel like Sam Hardy is a victim of being too long ago. If we did this poll in about 1920 he'd have romped to victory.
It was impossible for him not to. His lips couldn't accommodate his teeth.
Love Spinksy, especially for 1982 when he sauntered onto the pitch any my 11yr old self still reeling from Argentina invading some islands off the coast of Scotland thought "Who the f##ks this! This isn't going to be our day". However, World's best goalkeeper and greatest ever shithouser has it by some distance.
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I never thought I'd see a better Villa keeper than Rimmer but Martinez is that man.
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I agree. Martinez is the best we have ever had. Truly the world's number 1. Boznich was very good. I never thought Rimmer would concede. Martinez plays behind defenders that are not allowed to tackle and has to deal with VAR etc. So many points won due to Emi making stunning saves.
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Martinez is the best, but 'best' and 'greatest' aren't necessarily the same thing, and the medals sometimes speak for themselves. Gone for Rimmer.
On the sidetrack, I loved Ronaldinho. It seems odd to say you don't like Brazil because of the silly mythology around the joga bonito stuff (justified), then to hate them for being 'showboaters'. Wouldn't showboaters who lack the winning mentality be exactly the joga bonito stereotype? The 1982 stereotype? Rather than Dunga and Gilberto Silva and so on?
Anyway, I thought the 7-1 was hilarious as well.
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I go through waves with the England team. I can't stand the cheat Saka but most of them seem pleasant enough now, and winning with a foreign manager would shut up some weirdos. I didn't like them in 2002, though. Mainly because of the "all foreigners are divers/we love Michael Owen" double standard, IIRC.
I generally dislike Brazil because of the tedious mythology that surrounds them. No, they don't generally win because they all play keepy uppy on the beach from the age of three. They generally win because there are 250 million of them and they are utterly shit at every other sport.
I remember wowing a half-German girl I was seeing shortly after the 2002 World Cup by explaining that I wanted Germany to win. Shockingly, we never ended up having sex. I should have listed the 1982 European Cup runners-up squad to get her going.
The Golden Generation were loathsome so hard to support with any enthusiasm. Think Southgate did a really good job in getting players bothered again and Kane is the best player for England I have seen. The fact there are 3 Villa regular squad players and 2 often start is an added bonus.
Another who finds the continued Brazil mythology is really strange.
1982 Other wordly - granted brilliant to watch, unreal and yet undone by Italy as they had no footballing IQ.
1986 Tribute Act to 82. Not a particularly good one.
1990 Dire and average
1994 OutItalyed Italy. Very good team but not to watch.
1998 Great to watch but brittle and could have lost to Danes or Dutch before being thrashed by France.
2002 Best team, good to watch, poor quality tournament for me.
2006-2010-2018 Decent losing when up against the first very good team they faced. As per 1986.
2014 - possibly the most inept performance I have ever seen by a big nation.
2022 - easy path and messed up badly in QF.
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Another who finds the continued Brazil mythology is really strange.
1982 Other wordly - granted brilliant to watch, unreal and yet undone by Italy as they had no footballing IQ.
1986 Tribute Act to 82. Not a particularly good one.
1990 Dire and average
1994 OutItalyed Italy. Very good team but not to watch.
1998 Great to watch but brittle and could have lost to Danes or Dutch before being thrashed by France.
2002 Best team, good to watch, poor quality tournament for me.
2006-2010-2018 Decent losing when up against the first very good team they faced. As per 1986.
2014 - possibly the most inept performance I have ever seen by a big nation.
2022 - easy path and messed up badly in QF.
But, if you're going to do a critique of the Brasil sides you have to start with the benchmark side - 1970. That side of Pelé, Jairzinho, Tostão, Gérson, Rivellino and Carlos Alberto was Simply the Best! so - yes - any future side was bound to fall below that amazing standard.
You're right, though: the 1982 side were the closest - and what a side! Beaten by the grit of Italy (Zoff, Bergomi and Baresi at the heart of its defence) and purple-patched impact of Rossi, Brasil still managed to be awesome.
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Another who finds the continued Brazil mythology is really strange.
1982 Other wordly - granted brilliant to watch, unreal and yet undone by Italy as they had no footballing IQ.
1986 Tribute Act to 82. Not a particularly good one.
1990 Dire and average
1994 OutItalyed Italy. Very good team but not to watch.
1998 Great to watch but brittle and could have lost to Danes or Dutch before being thrashed by France.
2002 Best team, good to watch, poor quality tournament for me.
2006-2010-2018 Decent losing when up against the first very good team they faced. As per 1986.
2014 - possibly the most inept performance I have ever seen by a big nation.
2022 - easy path and messed up badly in QF.
But, if you're going to do a critique of the Brasil sides you have to start with the benchmark side - 1970. That side of Pelé, Jairzinho, Tostão, Gérson, Rivellino and Carlos Alberto was Simply the Best! so - yes - any future side was bound to fall below that amazing standard.
You're right, though: the 1982 side were the closest - and what a side! Beaten by the grit of Italy (Zoff, Bergomi and Baresi at the heart of its defence) and purple-patched impact of Rossi, Brasil still managed to be awesome.
That is the point the 1970 (And 1958) and then the 1982 created the myth that they are always like that. Look at lazy punditry each World Cup it is as if they are always like it - bringing their flair, style, personality etc..
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In answer to the question - Martinez. Rimmer, Spink and Bosnich were all brilliant in their own way. But Emi is another level above.
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Sam Hardy for me. He was still being referred to as the best keeper of all time forty years after he finished playing. Not Villa’s best. THE best.
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With a disclaimer that I see football as having 3 main eras of anything before about 1960 in one, 1960-1990 as the 2nd and then the modern game. I don't like comparing across them because the game has changed so much but, for keepers, I'm willing to combine the latter 2.
On that basis Emi is easily our best keeper because despite some very good options in there none of the others were undisputedly the best keeper in the world whilst playing for us. I think in the last couple of years people have started to forget a little just how good Emi is because he dropped from godlike to just superhuman. He's still one of the 4-5 truly world class keepers and I'm certain he'll remind everyone as much in a few months time.
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Sam Hardy for me. He was still being referred to as the best keeper of all time forty years after he finished playing. Not Villa’s best. THE best.
Interesting choice, but not controversial. I think it's really difficult to compare players though with 100 years or so between their primes. However, the pitches, the ball (which gained weight on a wet day), no gloves, no protection from opposition players etc would mean that he was clearly one of the finest of his generation.
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Sam Hardy for me. He was still being referred to as the best keeper of all time forty years after he finished playing. Not Villa’s best. THE best.
Interesting choice, but not controversial. I think it's really difficult to compare players though with 100 years or so between their primes. However, the pitches, the ball (which gained weight on a wet day), no gloves, no protection from opposition players etc would mean that he was clearly one of the finest of his generation.
Indeed. In all-time terms, he was the guy until Yashin came along.
A bit like how the 1897 cup final was considered the greatest game of all time until it was usurped by Villa 4 Man Utd 6 in 1948. You know when a game is still talked about 50 years on, it’s probably right.
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I always answered Bosnich but surely it's Emi. If he wins a trophy with us it will definitely be Emi. His all round game as a 'keeper is just class
It is tough though. Bosnich was absolutely immense for us and the Tranmere shootout is just legendary.
Either way, Bosnich will always be an iconic Villa keeper on account of the two trophy wins, the beautiful kits he wore, the acrobatic saves he made (the one against Coventry in the FA Cup) and being a big 90s character.
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Bosnich was very good at some aspects of Goal keeping but there is no way on earth he could play football. Martinez is a great keeper and a good footballer as shown by the long stuff yesterday.
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I never thought I'd see a better Villa keeper than Rimmer but Martinez is that man.
Same here.
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Has to be Emi and I would go as far as saying he’s the best I’ve ever seen, but just for Villa.
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Bosnich was very good at some aspects of Goal keeping but there is no way on earth he could play football. Martinez is a great keeper and a good footballer as shown by the long stuff yesterday.
And if you missed that he juggled the ball all the way up to the half way line, fortunately the whistle had already gone for half time.
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In the modern game if you have to be so many things as a keeper. Emi is brilliant with the ball at his feet. His distribution is arguably the best in the world. Outrageous shot stopper. His game from crosses has dipped a little this season but across his career some of the safest hands in the business. His reputation in penalty shoot outs strikes fear into those taking them. Master of the dark arts and shithousery. An absolute leader and one of the big reasons we have competed for the CL qualification three seasons in a row. Yeh he let himself down last year but I think the club might have contributed to that with a need to move on his contract. But as a player, purely on that alone for me he’s the best we have ever had and in the top 10 of keepers all time.
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I've disliked Brazil ever since they went into a World Cup (can't remember which one) when they were beating all before them and I drew them in the sweep at work. They never made the knockout stages...bastards.
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I loved watching Ronaldinho play so I can't jump on that slander. Not good looking enough for us though so I'm glad we never tried to sign him, phew*.
*Doug may have tried a cheeky fiver bid to make it look like he was trying.
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Jimmy Rimmer.
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By the way why isn't Gábor Király in the poll?
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Martinez for me followed by Rinmer. Special mention for John Dunn who played for us around 1970, he was average at best but he used to smoke during the game and leave his ciggie in the net when he was called into action. I remember standing behind his goal one game when he mishit a goal kick straight to the opposition who somehow missed. He turned to the fans and said “ain’t I a c**t”…. We all agreed!
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Ronaldinho was ridiculously talented, and despite all he did achieve it should have been more but he had an aversion to training and being professional. Great to watch.
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Ronaldinho was ridiculously talented, and despite all he did achieve it should have been more but he had an aversion to training and being professional. Great to watch.
I will never understand why this isn't universally seen as a reason to love him even more.
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Ronaldinho was ridiculously talented, and despite all he did achieve it should have been more but he had an aversion to training and being professional. Great to watch.
I will never understand why this isn't universally seen as a reason to love him even more.
Absolutely.
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I went with Rimmer. His positional sense was second to none, as someone else mentioned, he rarely looked like conceding.
Martinez then Spink.
I should have gone for Nigel Sims as I was named after him.
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Ronaldinho was ridiculously talented, and despite all he did achieve it should have been more but he had an aversion to training and being professional. Great to watch.
I will never understand why this isn't universally seen as a reason to love him even more.
Exactly this. No doubt Lukas Podolski was a 'top professional' and, well, no thanks.
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Emi Martinez
Brazil in Spain 82..,i was 8 and they were magic, i think I might of got home from school when Italy beat them and I may have cried.
Socrates, Zico, Alamo, Junior…flawed football Gods
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Voted Sam Hardy ... it's either him (for the reasons Percy has said) or Martinez.
As someone else mentioned though, it's very very difficult to compare 2 goalkeepers from such different eras. But Martinez is the best in my lifetime, definitely.
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Jimmy Rimmer, like Emi, had been knocking around for years before he came to us. A ridiculously good keeper and up until Emi's arrival he was streets ahead of the rest. Martinez shades it. Just.
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I’ve voted, to save cd’s blood pressure.
I went for Emi, of course, the World’s Number One; although I always liked Nigel Spink for being super sub in the 1982 Final v Bayern, Big Jim Cumbes because he was the first Villa keeper I noticed as being reliable and Bosnich for being Bosnich.
I’ve generally liked our goalkeepers; Friedel and Guzan worked hard, David James was glamorous as well, Jimmy Rimmer was an impressively safe presence and even Enkelman had his moments.
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Martinez by a mile. The pressure on modern goalkeeping is incredible since the removal of the back pass and the speed of the modern press, oh and add to that predator boots and flighty balls that swerve all over the place.
Obviously the game overall was a lot rougher and tougher, where as most old keepers had faces like a welders bench,bt te modern keeper is a complete all rounder.
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1. Martinez
2. Rimmer
3. Bosnich
Spink was great, not just for that night but as our keeper for many years. However, he had many weaknesses, not least with crosses and commanding his area. During his time he lost his place to a number of pretenders (Poole, Day, Butler...) although saw them all off until Bosnich took over.
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i think the vote reflects the average age of the H&V crowd - for me, Jimmy Rimmer will always be number 1 on my tee sheet. A legend
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Rimmer was great, rarely threw one in, also rarely did a worldie. Emi has that something extra though. It's not just the saves, it's the aura. He's already beaten some players before they even shoot.
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It’s Martinez.
At his best, without doubt the best goalkeeper in the world. And therefore probably the only time in living memory that the best player in the world in their position played for Aston Villa.
You could make a case for peak McGrath - but even then you had the likes of Baresi, Maldini and AC Milan-era Desailly knocking around.
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It’s Martinez.
At his best, without doubt the best goalkeeper in the world. And therefore probably the only time in living memory that the best player in the world in their position played for Aston Villa.
You could make a case for peak McGrath - but even then you had the likes of Baresi, Maldini and AC Milan-era Desailly knocking around.
Think reference to “at his best” speaks volumes. Too many mistakes for my liking overall. Very good keeper but behind Rimmer and Bosnich for me.
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It’s Martinez.
At his best, without doubt the best goalkeeper in the world. And therefore probably the only time in living memory that the best player in the world in their position played for Aston Villa.
You could make a case for peak McGrath - but even then you had the likes of Baresi, Maldini and AC Milan-era Desailly knocking around.
Think reference to “at his best” speaks volumes. Too many mistakes for my liking overall. Very good keeper but behind Rimmer and Bosnich for me.
All keepers make mistakes, including Rimmer and Bosnich.
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+1 for Jimmy Rimmer. Always inspired confidence between the sticks and made so many incredible saves.
I remember the feeling of trepidation when he waved at the bench in Rotterdam to come off, but even that worked out well because I'm not sure his arms were long enough or had Spink's telescopic extensions to stop that shot from Rummenigge.
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It’s Martinez.
At his best, without doubt the best goalkeeper in the world. And therefore probably the only time in living memory that the best player in the world in their position played for Aston Villa.
You could make a case for peak McGrath - but even then you had the likes of Baresi, Maldini and AC Milan-era Desailly knocking around.
Think reference to “at his best” speaks volumes. Too many mistakes for my liking overall. Very good keeper but behind Rimmer and Bosnich for me.
All keepers make mistakes, including Rimmer and Bosnich.
If any of our former keepers had to endure t he style of play we do today, which is edge of seat stuff in and around your area, they’d be riddled with mistakes. All the things we were taught, do not play across the goal mouth, playing to the centre half even though he’s surrounded etc. risk and reward. Image Bosnian today!
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Emi hasn’t single handily saved his way to us winning the European Cup. Yet.
So until he does it will be Spinksie.
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It’s Martinez.
At his best, without doubt the best goalkeeper in the world. And therefore probably the only time in living memory that the best player in the world in their position played for Aston Villa.
You could make a case for peak McGrath - but even then you had the likes of Baresi, Maldini and AC Milan-era Desailly knocking around.
Think reference to “at his best” speaks volumes. Too many mistakes for my liking overall. Very good keeper but behind Rimmer and Bosnich for me.
All keepers make mistakes, including Rimmer and Bosnich.
Can’t recall Rimmer making too many.
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It’s Martinez.
At his best, without doubt the best goalkeeper in the world. And therefore probably the only time in living memory that the best player in the world in their position played for Aston Villa.
You could make a case for peak McGrath - but even then you had the likes of Baresi, Maldini and AC Milan-era Desailly knocking around.
Think reference to “at his best” speaks volumes. Too many mistakes for my liking overall. Very good keeper but behind Rimmer and Bosnich for me.
All keepers make mistakes, including Rimmer and Bosnich.
If any of our former keepers had to endure t he style of play we do today, which is edge of seat stuff in and around your area, they’d be riddled with mistakes. All the things we were taught, do not play across the goal mouth, playing to the centre half even though he’s surrounded etc. risk and reward. Image Bosnian today!
Bosnich was great with his hands but often looked like he’d never kicked a football before. I reckon he’d have struggled to do more than 5 keeps uppys.
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Emi hasn’t single handily saved his way to us winning the European Cup. Yet.
So until he does it will be Spinksie.
That was my thinking. It's all well and good fancy danning around in the Premier League, but can you do it on a wet Wednesday in Rotterdam?
So it has to be and it is European and Super Cup winning Big Nigel Spink.
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Rimmer made mistakes, difference is that most of our games back then weren't shown on TV. And certainly weren't dissected like they are now. So we tend to forget them, especially for players we like.
A one on one in the last minute with everything on the line, I want Emi there every time much as I love and respect Rimmer.
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The era they played in tends to define goalkeepers. Sam Hardy and Nigel Sims played at a time when they didn't get as much protection as those in later years. Jimmy Rimmer and Nigel Spink were able to pick up back passes and didn't have be adept with their feet. Bosnich's early career allowed him to handle back passes but the law change in the summer of 1992 exposed his footballing ability. Emi Martinez is probably a far better footballer than his predecessors which allows him play the sweeper role and become involved in the way we play under Unai Emery. Martinez is definitely our best keeper since Rimmer and definitely ahead on Spink, who rarely left his line as he got older, and Bosnich, because of his kicking.
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There's even things like for a big part of his career Rimmer was playing when keepers didn't wear gloves, now they wear gloves that would fit Brother Lee Love.
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Emi hasn’t single handily saved his way to us winning the European Cup. Yet.
So until he does it will be Spinksie.
That was my thinking. It's all well and good fancy danning around in the Premier League, but can you do it on a wet Wednesday in Rotterdam?
So it has to be and it is European and Super Cup winning Big Nigel Spink.
If you're going to award it for winning the European Cup, it makes more sense to me to give it to the player who played in the fifty games we needed to qualify for the final than the player who played most of the final itself.
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How many world cups did spinksy win. You cannot be serious. On the night Nige was sound but he never really made unbelievable saves, just ones you expect your keeper to make. Rimmer was far better than Nige but Emi is way out ìn front as the best player ever to play for Villa (except McGrath)
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Goalies are crazy was the title of a book way back when.
My first Goalkeeper was Colin Withers.
As we were losing a lot of games, I told my dad, we need a better goalkeeper. He explained to a young me, it is not that simple
Many CK on Ehmm
Spinks was the man of the moment and will always have his place in history.
I always tended to Rimer But I think Emi is the most influential and instrumental to to the way we play .
Last years fuck up at olf trafford was mindblowing, but yesterdays save has him back up there.
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Jimmy Rimmer.
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Rimmer was good for us but Martinez is world-class.
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How many world cups did spinksy win. You cannot be serious. On the night Nige was sound but he never really made unbelievable saves, just ones you expect your keeper to make. Rimmer was far better than Nige but Emi is way out ìn front as the best player ever to play for Villa (except McGrath)
Quite a statement given our honours list.
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Rimmer was good for us but Martinez is world-class.
A while ago I would have said Rimmer but agree Dave, Martinez is on another level.
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This Martinez love-in is all very well but until he's taken a five-for in first class cricket he's not a patch on Jim Cumbes.
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Kevin Poole
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Stefan Postma
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For 90 minutes against Leicester it was Orjan Nyland.
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For 90 minutes against Leicester it was Orjan Nyland.
A performance for the ages that one.
Lest we forget, he also pulled off the save of the century against Sheffield United.
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For 90 minutes against Leicester it was Orjan Nyland.
A performance for the ages that one.
Lest we forget, he also pulled off the save of the century against Sheffield United.
Any goalkeeper that can bend space and time to his will has got to be in the conversation.
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Stefan Postma
that's one from behind
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I'll see your Stefan Postma and raise you Lee Butler.
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For 90 minutes against Leicester it was Orjan Nyland.
Word
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There’s some brilliant keepers in that list but Emi is on a different level to all of them.
I know he’s a nutcase but he’s our nutcase.
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Rimmer was there to make us European and English champions.
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It's like saying McNaught was better than McGrath because he was there 80-82.
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Stefan Postma
that's one from behind
Strapping lad, wasn’t he?
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The smart arse answer is Billy Clarke. He invited a friend to watch him play in 1880-81. His friend was Fred Rinder
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There is an aura about Martinez that others don't have which goes beyond his ability to make saves.
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I'm trying to remember that moment Les Sealey completely lost his head.
At the Witton End I think.
Anyway, for me it's Emi.
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I remember John Burridge being very good just before Jimmy Rimmer arrived. I think Emi is amazing and if I'm being completely dispassionate he's probably the best. BUT my rose tinted glasses remember how great Rimmer was before and after Rotterdam and he has 2 European Cup winning medals, so he gets my vote.
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I can't choose one as in my time watching Villa it's a dead heat between Bozzie and Emi.
Both absolute basket cases, which I'm guessing is why they're both bloody good goalies!
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I'm trying to remember that moment Les Sealey completely lost his head.
At the Witton End I think.
Anyway, for me it's Emi.
1992 against Sheffield Wednesday. He basically threw one in from Nigel Jemson then ran round after George Courtney pretending it didn’t cross the line.
https://youtu.be/HbnwHUAmXvA
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I'm trying to remember that moment Les Sealey completely lost his head.
At the Witton End I think.
Anyway, for me it's Emi.
1992 against Sheffield Wednesday. He basically threw one in from Nigel Jemson then ran round after George Courtney pretending it didn’t cross the line.
https://youtu.be/HbnwHUAmXvA
Interesting that you say that.
I used to have a Wednesday-supporting co-worker who told me he was stood on the Witton End that day and there was no way that the ball was over the line. He was telling me this 25 years after the event.
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I can't choose one as in my time watching Villa it's a dead heat between Bozzie and Emi.
Both absolute basket cases, which I'm guessing is why they're both bloody good goalies!
Bozzie was an unbelievable shop stopper and very brave in the air. But Martinez is in a different league with the ball at his feet. We had so many average to very poor ones in between.
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Emi set for his 250th Villa appearance on Saturday. Becoming the 5th GK to reach this milestone for the club.
Spink and Sims must be 2 of the others, not certain about the other 2.
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Rimmer will be one of them.
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Nigel Spink 460
Billy George 398 - he should have been in the poll, d'oh
Nigel Sims 310
Jimmy Rimmer 287
https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/aston-villa/appearances/all
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Ta. Billy George the other one then.
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Bozzie couldn't take a goal kick.
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Bozzie couldn't take a goal kick.
Last game of the season when we were playing Southampton (?) and he absolutely lost it and it ended up with Southgate having to take them.
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For me Jimmy Rimmer just edges it over Emi. The professionalism to come off in the European Cup Final rather than try and play and enjoy the glory just shades it in his favour.
Also an honourable mention to Jim Cumbers who helped us to get out of the Third Division. Competent rather than extraordinary but with a booming kick which would often land just outside the oppositions 18 yard box.
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Difficult for any fan to judge this if they haven’t seen all of those keepers in regular action. I go back to the sixties. For me, good though Martinez is, Jimmy Rimmer shades it.
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For me Jimmy Rimmer just edges it over Emi. The professionalism to come off in the European Cup Final rather than try and play and enjoy the glory just shades it in his favour.
Martinez would have pulled out in the warm up ;D
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Maybe my age but surprised not more mentions for Spink due to his longevity. Thought he was really consistent.
Emi is still my pick mind
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Had the privilege of seeing some great Villa goalkeepers down the years
Some brilliant characters some absolutely bonkers ones but still great
I’ve been going since the mid 70s to put my pick into context
Emi Martinez is the best I’ve seen
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For me it's a choice between brilliantly consistent or consistently capable of the brilliant.
I go back to the late 70s and for me Martinez's consistent ability to make me say "how the fuck did he get to that?"' just shades it.
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For me it's a choice between brilliantly consistent or consistently capable of the brilliant.
I go back to the late 70s and for me Martinez's consistent ability to make me say "how the fuck did he get to that?"' just shades it.
Sums it up quite well
Brilliantly consistent, Rimmer
Consistently capable of the Brilliant, Martinez
Spink, who for me is a very close 3rd, had a few seasons where we, as a team, were not that good with Doug was dismantling the core, whereas the other two have always had a good team in front of them.
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For me it's a choice between brilliantly consistent or consistently capable of the brilliant.
I go back to the late 70s and for me Martinez's consistent ability to make me say "how the fuck did he get to that?"' just shades it.
Sums it up quite well
Brilliantly consistent, Rimmer
Consistently capable of the Brilliant, Martinez
Spink, who for me is a very close 3rd, had a few seasons where we, as a team, were not that good with Doug was dismantling the core, whereas the other two have always had a good team in front of them.
Good point that Spink didn't always have a good team in front of him.
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Neither has Martinez.
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Peter Schmeichal has a better goals per game record than all of them.
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The word greatest is down to interpretation, so you can argue the point either way.
For me “Villas greatest “ has to be the Goalkeeper that contributed to our greatest success.
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Neither has Martinez.
Also a good point.
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The word greatest is down to interpretation, so you can argue the point either way.
For me “Villas greatest “ has to be the Goalkeeper that contributed to our greatest success.
I sort of get that. Our two best centre backs aren’t the 82 centre backs though.
It’s definitely Martinez for me, if we’re talking best goalkeeper.
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The word greatest is down to interpretation, so you can argue the point either way.
For me “Villas greatest “ has to be the Goalkeeper that contributed to our greatest success.
There wasn't one goalkeeper that contributed to our greatest success.
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The word greatest is down to interpretation, so you can argue the point either way.
For me “Villas greatest “ has to be the Goalkeeper that contributed to our greatest success.
There wasn't one goalkeeper that contributed to our greatest success.
Indeed - Jimmy Whitehouse and Tom Wilkes.
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Maybe my age but surprised not more mentions for Spink due to his longevity. Thought he was really consistent.
Emi is still my pick mind
I will love Nigel Spink until the day I die. Not only for his legendary performance on the evening of 26th May 1982, but for his loyalty over many years from that high, to the lows of the mid 1980s. He is, and will always be one of my all time favourite Villa players. However, the question posed pertained to Villa's greatest ever goalkeeper, not favourite ever goalkeeper. In my lifetime, from the days of Colin Withers and John Dunn, Emi Martinez is the greatest goalkeeper I've seen in our shirt. He has everything. It's unbelievable knowing he spent ten years as an Arsenal reserve.
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That part doesn't really get spoken about, but is properly mental. He was on loan at Reading at 25/26. How? Either he was a late bloomer, or Arsenal were blind. Knowing Martinez I don't think he'd have stood for it if he was anywhere near this level.
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That part doesn't really get spoken about, but is properly mental. He was on loan at Reading at 25/26. How? Either he was a late bloomer, or Arsenal were blind. Knowing Martinez I don't think he'd have stood for it if he was anywhere near this level.
Another great signing under Dean Smith - the part the management team played back then in enabling us to get to this level (alongside Martinez there is Watkins, Konsa, Cash et al who are still mainstays) should never be forgotten.
For me Martinez is our best ever GK now. Spink was always a favourite growing up (especially in 89/90 when I think he should have gone to the World Cup), but Martinez is on a different level.
One other thing, I reckon we have probably had two of the best penalty saving keepers of all time in Martinez and Bosnich.
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One other thing, I reckon we have probably had two of the best penalty saving keepers of all time in Martinez and Bosnich.
Good point and maybe the fact that both could be total shithouses has an impact on their penalty-saving capabilities.
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That part doesn't really get spoken about, but is properly mental. He was on loan at Reading at 25/26. How? Either he was a late bloomer, or Arsenal were blind. Knowing Martinez I don't think he'd have stood for it if he was anywhere near this level.
Good solid international keepers ahead of him (Leno might be number 2 in Germany but that is because Neuer just keeps going). Loaned out alot as well so didn't have the opportunity to impress.
Emery was part of the team who didn't think he was good enough at that time although it was Legohead who, after Martinez had a big hand in winning him his first trophy, decided he wasn't good enough and cashed in.
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One other thing, I reckon we have probably had two of the best penalty saving keepers of all time in Martinez and Bosnich.
Good point and maybe the fact that both could be total shithouses has an impact on their penalty-saving capabilities.
Guzan was good at those too
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That part doesn't really get spoken about, but is properly mental. He was on loan at Reading at 25/26. How? Either he was a late bloomer, or Arsenal were blind. Knowing Martinez I don't think he'd have stood for it if he was anywhere near this level.
He broke in at end of covid season I assume as Leno was injured. Helped them win them the FA Cup and Arteta decided to ship him on for a decent fee for someone who hadn't played much. Leno was replaced by Ramsdale (who did have a good season for them IIRC) and then by Raya who I think is a fine keeper..
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That part doesn't really get spoken about, but is properly mental. He was on loan at Reading at 25/26. How? Either he was a late bloomer, or Arsenal were blind. Knowing Martinez I don't think he'd have stood for it if he was anywhere near this level.
Another great signing under Dean Smith - the part the management team played back then in enabling us to get to this level (alongside Martinez there is Watkins, Konsa, Cash et al who are still mainstays) should never be forgotten.
For me Martinez is our best ever GK now. Spink was always a favourite growing up (especially in 89/90 when I think he should have gone to the World Cup), but Martinez is on a different level.
One other thing, I reckon we have probably had two of the best penalty saving keepers of all time in Martinez and Bosnich.
Paul Cooper saved 5 out of 7 in 1978/79, and then 8 out of 10 in 1979/80......
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I've said before that Maupay crocking Leno has had one hell of a butterfly effect.
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It’s unusual for the oldies on here including me to be picking someone in the current squad as the best they’ve seen
We tend to be a tad nostalgic
60 pluses have got a wealth of players to pick from including teams that were the best in this country and in Europe, so I think it says a lot given all that choice and all the experience to go for the current goalkeeper
So I would say to the youngsters (u30’s) enjoy him while you can. I hope he stays, but if he doesn’t I can guarantee that when you get to our age you’ll probably still be saying you’ve seen the best goalkeeper to play for Villa
Emi Martinez
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I went back and read the Reading post-match where Martinex kept it 0-0. Only one person mentioned how well their keeper played (he did make a last minute Martinez to protect the points if you watch the match). I forgot it was during the the bad run before the brilliant one so moral was rock bottom. Also forgot about the misery troll Stuart.
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I went back and read the Reading post-match where Martinex kept it 0-0. Only one person mentioned how well their keeper played (he did make a last minute Martinez to protect the points if you watch the match). I forgot it was during the the bad run before the brilliant one so moral was rock bottom. Also forgot about the misery troll Stuart.
Was that the game where Tyrone trod on their forwards head and his Mrs went ballistic about it, a moment etched in every bluenoses memory as the greatest miscarriage of justice ever?
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The requirements of keepers is so much more these days - on that basis I am going for Emi. He is a massive presence around the club. Going to be very difficult to replace him.
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I went back and read the Reading post-match where Martinex kept it 0-0. Only one person mentioned how well their keeper played (he did make a last minute Martinez to protect the points if you watch the match). I forgot it was during the the bad run before the brilliant one so moral was rock bottom. Also forgot about the misery troll Stuart.
Was that the game where Tyrone trod on their forwards head and his Mrs went ballistic about it, a moment etched in every bluenoses memory as the greatest miscarriage of justice ever?
Yep, and it was totally accidental as shown from the reaction from Mings who called the ref to stop the game immediately and was visibly upset. Although I didn't realise his Mrs was Footyskillz.
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It's Emi for me, with Jimmy a close 2nd. Nigel Sims was my first goalkeeper hero and still remains the only Villa keeper to play in a FA Cup winning team at Wembley. Sam Hardy played in the 1920 winning team, played at Stamford Bridge, 3 years before the first Wembley final.
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I started with Nigel Sims with Geoff Sidebottom as cover followed by ,I think, Colin Withers. I’ve seen them all since then some I will have forgotten but for me Emi is the best.