Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Legion on September 18, 2011, 07:08:51 PM
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The choices of Rob Bishop (http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/BlogsEntry/0,,10265~2445622,00.html)
It was an almost impossible request: Name your best-ever Villa Premier League team.
Today sees the filming from Villa Park of an "experts forum" involving myself, Mat Kendrick of the Birmingham Mail and legend Ken McNaught as we talk through the greatest claret and blue players of the top-flight era.
It should make for a very interesting debate - but I'm giving you a sneak peak at my team here on the official website.
Having followed the club's fortunes for nearly a quarter-of-a-century, I came up with at least three contenders for each position - and Gordon Cowans wasn't even a consideration!
Gordon, of course, is one of the greatest players in Villa's history and not many people will argue with the fact he came out on top in the website's Fab 50 post-war players poll this summer.
But I've had this conversation with Sid before and he will be the first to tell you he only played 11 matches for Villa in the Premier League, two of them as a substitute.
In fact one of his best PL performances was AGAINST Villa - he inspired Blackburn Rovers to a 3-0 win at Ewood Park in April 1993 and effectively ended our hopes of becoming the new league's first champions.
Even without including the classy Cowans, it was still a daunting task and I can already hear you asking why I haven't included certain players.
If this selection has taught me anything, it's that I'd never make a football manager!
Goalkeeper - MARK BOSNICH: He was arrogant, he was headstrong, he was bossy - perfect qualities for a goalkeeper. Bozzie was just the sort of guy any back four would want behind them. Some of his saves were out of this world, many of them from penalties, and none was better than when he dived to his left to tip away Bebeto's penalty against Deportivo La Coruna in the UEFA Cup.
Right-back - MARK DELANEY:It was such a pity when Delaney was forced to retire through a knee injury in August 2007. But for that, I reckon he could easily have passed the 300 appearance mark with his steady, solid, understated performances. As it was, he chalked up 193 games. Not bad for someone who had once been a packer in a wool factory.
Centre-back: OLOF MELLBERG: There have been more flamboyant debuts than the one Mellberg made at White Hart Lane in August 2001, but few so effective. The ice-cool Swede was a colossus at the heart of the defence as Villa held on for an opening day goalless draw. One game doesn't make a career, of course, but Mellberg maintained that standard for seven seasons.
Centre-back: PAUL McGRATH:The business of defending is essentially a functional process, but McGrath somehow turned it into an art form. How many other players can you name who have entertained you while keeping opposition strikers at bay? You can catch Macca on YouTube, singing the lilting "Going Back". Sadly, that's not possible. We may never see the like of him again.
Left-back: ALAN WRIGHT: A tough call, this one. Wright gets the nod over Steve Staunton simply because he played more Premier League games at left-back than the Irishman, whose overall appearances were actually higher. Wright was one of the club's most consistent performers of the Premier League era. He scored some spectacular goals, too, and despite standing only 5ft 4in he was competitive in aerial duels.
Right-midfield - PAUL MERSON: Like Paul McGrath, Merse was a troubled soul off the pitch; like Macca, he was magician once he crossed that white line. He was 30 by the time he joined us but he delighted supporters with his exquisite skills, particularly the way he passed the ball with the outside of his right foot over distances up to 50 yards. Merse was even the star on the day Benito Carbone's hat-trick knocked Leeds out of the FA Cup en route to the 2000 final. And he wasn't even on the pitch for the final 20 minutes.
Centre-midfield - ANDY TOWNSEND: If ever a player and a club were made for each other, it was surely Andy Townsend and Villa. Before he arrived here in 1993 he had played in five semi-finals and lost them all. Inside three years at Villa Park he had been a Wembley winner twice and was captain of our most successful team of the Premier League era. An inspirational leader.
Centre-midfield - IAN TAYLOR:A club legend, Tayls is one of our own. A Holte Ender as a kid, he cheered Villa to victory over Manchester United in the 1994 League Cup final - and scored one of the goals in the 3-0 demolition of Leeds two years later. Bursting with energy, his non-stop graft made him the archetypal "players' player". He scored plenty of important goals, too.
Left midfield - GARETH BARRY: Like others before him, Barry became despised by the claret and blue faithful when he left two years ago, but we shouldn't forget his immense contribution over the previous 12 years. Even as fresh-faced teenager, his calm exterior always made him a formidable opponent and he grew in stature as the seasons passed.
Striker - DWIGHT YORKE:His statistics alone are enough to ensure a place in my line-up - 287 games and 98 goals, 60 of them in the Premier League. But the Calypso Kid offered so much more. He played with a smile on his face and he was full of tricks, entertaining his team-mates with his ball-juggling in confined spaces and making many a defender curse his presence on the pitch. And those cheeky-chip penalties were something else.
Striker - DEAN SAUNDERS:One of the most engaging characters ever to wear a Villa shirt, Saunders had a ruthless streak which made him one of the most lethal strikers of his generation. The Wales international wore claret and blue for less than three seasons but was the club's leading scorer in each of them. And how he revelled in the big occasion, netting twice at Wembley in the 1994 League Cup final.
That's my side but what about yours?
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Bosnich
Mellberg
Laursen
McGrath
Bouma
A. Young
Cowans
Milner
Daley
Yorke
Gabby
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Bosnich
Delaney McGrath Mellberg Staunton
Young (A) Sid Townsend Daley
Yorke Gabby
Subs: Given, Laursen, Taylor, Barry, Milner, Bent, Savo
I don't care what Sid reckons, he played PL for us so he's in!
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Bosnich
Delaney
McGrath
Mellberg
Staunton
Young
Milner
Taylor
Barry
Yorke
Gabby
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Bosnich
Delaney
McGrath
Teale
Bouma
Townsend
Taylor
Young
Merson
Yorke
Saunders
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Bosnich
Barrett Mcgrath Southgate Staunton
Daley. Merson Richardson Young
Yorke Saunders
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Bossie
Delaney
Laursen (Just over Mellberg for goals scored)
McGrath
Wright
Taylor
Houghton
Barry
Milner
Yorke
Dublin
Edit - Houghton for Merson
Dublin for Young
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Bosnich
Delaney
Staunton
McGrath
Laursen
Milner
Taylor
Barry
Young
Yorke
Saunders
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I always thought Mellberg was over-rated.
I'd have Laursen Ehiogu, Southgate and Teale all ahead of him. Maybe even Dicky Dunne.
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Bosnich
Staunton
Laursen
McGrath
Delaney
Merson
Milner
A Young
Barry
Yorke
Bent
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Bosnich
Delaney
Mellberg
McGrath
Staunton
Merson
Milner
Taylor
Barry
Saunders
Yorke
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Ever-presents so far: Yorke, Bozzie and Macca.
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given
delaney
laursen
mcgrath
staunton
daley
taylor
barry
milner
yorke
saunders
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Bosnich
Delaney Southgate McGrath Wright
Taylor Barry
Merson
Agbonlahor Yorke Young
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Bosnich
Delaney
McGrath
Southgate
Staunton
Young
Townsend
Barry
Merson
Yorke
Saunders
Subs: James, Laursen, Taylor, Richardson, Hendrie, Atkinson, Dublin
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Bosnich
Delaney Laursen Mcgrath Staunton
Taylor Townsend
Merson
Yorke Young
Carew
According to Wikipedia, Carew scored 47 in 143 appearances, so that's roughly 1 in 3. This is the good Carew I've picked, not the ponderous one.
We're managed by Brian Little too.
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Bosnich
Staunton
McGrath
Teale
Nelson
Richardson
Parker
A Young
Taylor
Yorke
Saunders
5 Subs? - Spink, Southgate, Agbonlahor, Townsend, Barry
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Bosnich
Delaney
Laursen
God
Wright
Townsend
Merson
A Young
Barry
Gabby
Yorke
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Bosnich
Delaney Southgate McGrath Staunton
Daley Taylor Milner Young
Yorke Saunders
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Bosnich
Delaney Laursen McGrath Staunton
Merson Taylor Milner Young (A)
Yorke Gabby
Subs: Friedal, Mellberg, Southgate, Townsend, Barry, Angel, Carew.
It's getting harder and harder to pick a villa PL XI. Four or five years ago it used to pick itself and was dominated by the 92/93 and 95/97 sides! Here's hoping we'll be compelled to consider Given, Dunne, Bent and N'Zogbia in years to come!
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Brad Friedel
Kyle Walker
Paul McGrath
Gareth Southgate
Steve Staunton
Gareth Barry
Paul Merson
Ian Taylor
Ashley Young
Dwight Yorke
Darren Bent
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Bosnich
Delaney Southgate McGrath Staunton
Taylor Townsend
Daley Merson Ashley Young
Yorke
Subs: James, Laursen, Ehiogu, Barry, Milner, Saunders, Agbonlahor
Honourable mentions to Parker, Wright and Atkinson, who just miss out.
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I know his leaving was very sour and painful, but I can't believe how many people are omitting Barry!
Bosnich
Delaney
McGrath
Laursen
Staunton
Young
Taylor
Barry
Merson
Yorke
Saunders
Townsend very close, probably over Taylor but it's a heart pick!
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Given
Hutton
Collins
Dunne
Warnock
N'Zogbia
Petrov
Delph
Heskey
Agbonlahor
Bent
Never lost a match with this team
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Kyle Walker?! Less than five months worth of performances, blooding a player for a club of a similar size...I am outraged!
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------------------------------Bosnich--------------------------
--------------Mellberg---Southgate---McGrath------------
---Delaney-----------------------------------------Wright---
--------------------Barry------------Taylor--------------------
----------------------------Young-------------------------------
------------------Yorke--------------Dublin--------------------
Manager - Brian Little
Bench - James, Laursen, Ehiogu, Merson, Milner, Agbonlahor, Townsend
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What about this one...
Encklman
De La Cruz
Ridgewell
Hughes
Beye
Ginola
Kinsella
McCann
Pires
Allback
Joachim
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How could you leave out Hassan Kachloul?
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How could you leave out Hassan Kachloul?
Blimey, I'd forgotten all about him. I remember on his debut he played an excellent cross for Vass (i think) to score against Man U, and he looked business. Then he never did anything of note ever again. Man U equalised in the 90th minute as well.
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How could you leave out Hassan Kachloul?
Blimey, I'd forgotten all about him. I remember on his debut he played an excellent cross for Vass (i think) to score against Man U, and he looked business. Then he never did anything of note ever again. Man U equalised in the 90th minute as well.
To be fair to HK he did score with an amazing scissors kick at Elland Road a bit later on.
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Bosnich
Charles McGrath Laursen Staunton (1st spell)
Young Townsend Barry Milner
Yorke Merson
Subs:
Given
Southgate
Taylor
Teale
Saunders
Dublin
Cowans
Manager: Big Ron
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How could you leave out Hassan Kachloul?
Blimey, I'd forgotten all about him. I remember on his debut he played an excellent cross for Vass (i think) to score against Man U, and he looked business. Then he never did anything of note ever again. Man U equalised in the 90th minute as well.
To be fair to HK he did score with an amazing scissors kick at Elland Road a bit later on.
He also scored the winner in a 1-0 win at home to Charlton in late October 2001 when we were top, I think.
Plus he bought a piano from a H&Ver, so he's got a let of credit in the bank (probably from the vast wages we lavished on him).
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I'm just gonna pick the 11 that started on Saturday. I think they are that good. :P
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Bosnich
Delaney,McGrath,Laursen,Staunton
Merson,Young,Cowans,Milner
Yorke,Saunders
(Milner was a late replacement for Platt when the penny dropped just as I was about to post).
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Bosnich
Mellberg McGrath Laursen Staunton
Merson Townsend Milner Young
Platt
Saunders
Subs. Spink, Yorke, Delaney, Parker, Richardson, McInally, Cowans
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What about this one...
Encklman
De La Cruz
Ridgewell
Hughes
Beye
Ginola
Kinsella
McCann
Pires
Allback
Joachim
Nice. May I propose a bench of:
Kubicki
Leonhardsen
Stas
Bakke
Kiraly
Ghrayib
Curcic
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given (not played often yet but a better keeper than bozzy )
price
staunton
mcgrath
southgate
townsend
milner
barry
ash
yorke
dublin
subs-bosnich, delaney,merson,ehiogu,mellberg,taylor,saunders
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Bosnich
Mellberg
Laursen
McGrath
Barry
A. Young
Taylor
Milner
Merson
Yorke
Gabby
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Bosnich
Barrett
Laursen
God
Staunton
Merson
Taylor
Townsend
A. Young
Yorke
Saunders
Subs: James, Southgate, Wright, Barry, Bent
The centre halves and midfield were a difficult pick for different reasons. We've had a lot of very good centre halves over the years (Mellberg, Teale and Ugo all came to mind when picking my team) whereas I don't really think we've been that blessed in central midfield. None of them were talented or skillful players they were just hard workers who did very good jobs for us over the years.
I reckon of the current side Given, Bent and Gabby make put the biggest push for a place in the team. I hope Bannan can put one in too.
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Bosnich
Mellberg McGrath Laursen Staunton
Merson Townsend Milner Young
Platt
Saunders
Subs. Spink, Yorke, Delaney, Parker, Richardson, McInally, Cowans
That would have been a quality side. Unfortunately Platty and Rambo McInally both left us before the Premier League was created. Imagine Platty in the 92-93 or 95-96 sides! We'd have won the lot.
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Bosnich
Mellberg McGrath Laursen Staunton
Merson Townsend Milner Young
Platt
Saunders
Subs. Spink, Yorke, Delaney, Parker, Richardson, McInally, Cowans
That would have been a quality side. Unfortunately Platty and Rambo McInally both left us before the Premier League was created. Imagine Platty in the 92-93 or 95-96 sides! We'd have won the lot.
Of course, you are right. Premier League 11 not top flight 11. I'd have to swap Platt and Rambo for Yorkie and Angel.
Platt would've been great in that side. He was my 1st experience of a hero leaving us to turn out to be a total twat. I think there are a few more now......
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Only been a Villa fan since 95/96. So since then..
Bosnich
Delaney
Wright
Mellberg
Laursen
Young
Barry
Taylor
Merson
Yorke
Dublin
Friedel, Staunton, Southgate, Milner, Petrov, Agbonlahor, Carew
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Enckelman
Nelson
Ridgewell
Knight
Charles
Leonhardsen
Draper
Kachloul
Curcic
Balaban
Cole :o
With a bench of 7 N'Zogbia's obviously ::)
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Kyle Walker?! Less than five months worth of performances, blooding a player for a club of a similar size...I am outraged!
yes , and in front of Delaney ... tut tut