Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: ACVilla on August 20, 2015, 08:53:03 PM

Title: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: ACVilla on August 20, 2015, 08:53:03 PM
It's probably been done before but i'll do it anyway.

Benito Carbone's debut at VP, maybe against Wimbledon.

He was outrageous.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: silhillvilla on August 20, 2015, 09:59:21 PM
Tommy Johnson 5 goal haul in the Wimbledon 7-1
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: PeterWithesShin on August 20, 2015, 10:00:42 PM
Tommy Johnson 5 goal haul in the Wimbledon 7-1

He 'only' scored 3.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: silhillvilla on August 20, 2015, 10:02:10 PM
Tommy Johnson 5 goal haul in the Wimbledon 7-1

He 'only' scored 3.
Oh.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: El Hurricane on August 20, 2015, 10:04:15 PM
Mcgrath at home to Man Utd, we beat them 1-0,he had Hughes in his back pocket,I loved it when he would anticipate the ball and put his foot through the players legs and then pass,majestic.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Deano's Mullet on August 20, 2015, 10:27:03 PM
A few that come to mind -
Savo Milosevic at home vs Coventry City was amazing, two headers, a fancy lob for the hat-trick and then at then end a lovely throughball to Alan Wright with the outside of his foot. He was absolutely sublime at times. Wimbledon at home the following season too.

Ray Houghton vs Inter - he did more than score the goal, he was every where. Even BFR reckoned it was his best game

Liam Ridgwell vs Villa at the Sty. Own goal, dodgy defending. Mission accomplished, Agent Ridgewell.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Exeter 77 on August 20, 2015, 10:56:15 PM
Possibly not the best performance by a Villa player but one of the most memorable was Paul Birch marking Lothar Matteus out of the gane against Inter in October 1990.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Risso on August 20, 2015, 11:01:08 PM
Mark Bosnich v Sunderland, League Cup
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: olaftab on August 20, 2015, 11:02:24 PM
Too many to mention but Bruce Rioch every time he played!
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: PGW on August 21, 2015, 12:22:27 AM
David Rudge when he got the winner v Hull in 1969
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Hillbilly on August 21, 2015, 03:42:22 AM
The entire team that beat Liverpool 5-1 in 1976.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: nigel on August 21, 2015, 07:48:49 AM
Too many to mention but Bruce Rioch every time he played!

Agree.
Ian Ross falls into that category, too.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: RussellC on August 21, 2015, 09:53:45 AM
Martin Laursen's man-to-man job on Drogba was pretty special a few years back.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Pete3206 on August 21, 2015, 10:50:09 AM
Possibly not the best performance by a Villa player but one of the most memorable was Paul Birch marking Lothar Matteus out of the gane against Inter in October 1990.

See also, Paul Birch v Paul Gascoigne at Spurs.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: FranzBiberkopf on August 21, 2015, 10:55:06 AM
Steve Mcmahon's at Anfield just before we sold him.

Sid Cowans single-handedly taking on Juventus in the QF at VillaPark in 83.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: CT on August 21, 2015, 11:28:31 AM
Mark Bosnich v Sunderland, League Cup

For the Keeper it's this. "World Class" gets banded around a lot these days, but that night at Roker Park, he was.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: cdward on August 21, 2015, 11:44:28 AM
Maybe not best ever, but definitely enjoyable to watch, John Carew during the 5-1 demolition of blues. He was unplayable that day, it was great to watch.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: steamer on August 21, 2015, 12:55:21 PM
personal views are just that, but from my distant memory, Andy Gray home debut against Utd, Sir Brian a few times but what sticks out was the League cup semifinal replay against QPR at Highbury, I can picture him jinking through  to the Northbank and scoring.
Sammy Morgan turning Bob Wilson into a gibbering wreck at Villa park for the cup replay.
And agree with Hillbilly about the team that played liverpool.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Ron Manager on August 21, 2015, 01:29:21 PM
Tony Hateley's four goal epic away to Spurs in 1966. Brought us back from (I think) 4-1 down to clinch a point in a  remarkable 5-5 draw.

Alan Deakin got the other and should have scored another just before the end.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: oldhill_avfc on August 21, 2015, 01:34:44 PM
Slightly off the exact thread, bit SVC gets an honourable mention for possibly the best substitute appearances for either the santa game against Arsenal or Athletico Madrid
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Ian. on August 21, 2015, 01:43:29 PM
Mark Bosnich v Tranmere Rovers, League Cup Semi Final.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: oldhill_avfc on August 21, 2015, 03:37:57 PM
Mark Bosnich v Tranmere Rovers, League Cup Semi Final.

See you & raise you .....


Nigel Spink v Bayern Munich, European Cup Final
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Ian. on August 21, 2015, 06:05:06 PM
Mark Bosnich v Tranmere Rovers, League Cup Semi Final.

See you & raise you .....


Nigel Spink v Bayern Munich, European Cup Final
Your quite right, however I was a wee young 6 year old who had no understanding of football other than what a fantastic football kit we had.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: steamer on August 21, 2015, 07:09:26 PM
Spink indeed !!!
saw great performances from Villa goalies over the years, but you are right Spink was instrumental in winning the Final
If Rimmer had stayed on ???
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: nigel on August 21, 2015, 07:37:33 PM
Spink indeed !!!
saw great performances from Villa goalies over the years, but you are right Spink was instrumental in winning the Final
If Rimmer had stayed on ???

We'd still have won.

Always struggle on which one to pick for my 'Best ever' Villa team.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: thick_mike on August 21, 2015, 07:51:48 PM
Which was the team that Eamon Deacy (RIP) beat on his own through sheer determination?

Low on talent, but he had more endeavour than any player I have ever seen. He jacked his professional football career in to go and run his family green grocers back in Ireland I believe.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: class-of-82 on August 21, 2015, 08:23:35 PM
Andy grays home debut v manure in the league cup at vp.
We might of got beat that night but he showed us what was to come won everything in the air.
Or Ian Ross at vp v stripey filth in 74/75 season total class from first whistle to last
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Pat McMahon on August 22, 2015, 12:31:21 AM
Which was the team that Eamon Deacy (RIP) beat on his own through sheer determination?

Low on talent, but he had more endeavour than any player I have ever seen. He jacked his professional football career in to go and run his family green grocers back in Ireland I believe.

Eamonn Deacy knocked seven shades of shit out of Claudio Gentile in a legitimate challenge at Villa Park in 1983. He had no fear, and Gentile was the dirtiest bastard to ever don a pair of football boots. Ever.

He went to Galway and helped his brother Ernie run the grocers. Ernie was definitely the boss.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: villan from luton on August 22, 2015, 12:39:52 AM
Possibly not the best performance by a Villa player but one of the most memorable was Paul Birch marking Lothar Matteus out of the gane against Inter in October 1990.

that's a great shout
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: villan from luton on August 22, 2015, 12:46:49 AM
Spink indeed !!!
saw great performances from Villa goalies over the years, but you are right Spink was instrumental in winning the Final
If Rimmer had stayed on ???

Jimmy Rimmer v Liverpool at Anfield in 79/80 I think in a goalless draw was the best goalkeeping performance I have ever seen.

Outfield, the season we won the league, Sid was amazing for the first half of the season, but the performance at home to Sunderland was a performance that if it had been Hoddle the press would have been wetting themselves. It was the best performance I have ever seen by a villa player.

Against a Villa team, can I say Cruyff in 77/78. Losing 2-0 when he went off to a standing ovation with about 10 mins left, we drew 2-2 thanks in no small part to a new centre forward we brought on by the name of Allan Evans
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: silhillvilla on August 22, 2015, 10:02:50 AM
Spins is a hard one to top ?

McParland 57 final ? (Not that I've seen it )

Atkinson 94 league cup final ?

McGrath too many games to mention
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: cdbearsfan on August 22, 2015, 10:24:37 AM
I remember Ormondroyd was brilliant when we beat Everton 6-2 then even better when we beat Coventry 4-1. He never quite lived up to that. I also vaguely remember Tony Daley getting a 10/10 rating from a national rag and they made a lot of fuss as it was the first one they'd dished out in years, may have been against Arsenal when Penrice scored the winner?

Anyhow, the correct answer is probably Spink, against Bayern. Definitely the most important performance by a Villa player.

Actually, fuck all that. Nii Lamptey against Wigan in the League Cup.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: luke95 on August 23, 2015, 05:21:11 PM
Birchy v Inter 1990
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: peter w on August 24, 2015, 01:08:13 AM
Ashley Young 3-2 Everton
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: aj2k77 on August 24, 2015, 09:08:34 PM
Not the best but up amongst them

Yorke hat trick vs Newcastle, hit the post or had one disallowed as well.
Yorke both goals against Arsenal away in the cup, thought he was magnificent that night.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: dave.woodhall on August 24, 2015, 09:18:39 PM
Not the best but up amongst them

Yorke hat trick vs Newcastle, hit the post or had one disallowed as well.
Yorke both goals against Arsenal away in the cup, thought he was magnificent that night.


That was the night he became a Star.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: LeeB on August 24, 2015, 11:33:38 PM
Not the best but up amongst them

Yorke hat trick vs Newcastle, hit the post or had one disallowed as well.
Yorke both goals against Arsenal away in the cup, thought he was magnificent that night.


That was the night he became a Star.

Yeah, I'd go with this one too.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: LeeB on August 24, 2015, 11:42:18 PM
One that always sticks in the mind was Dalian Atkinson up at Anfield when we were going for title. He got injury just before half time, but up to that point he was ace, at top of his game.

He went off, we went in one down, and we still won.

One of my favourite away trips ever, swigging whiskey throughout from this mental Irish lad sat next to me.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Deano's Mullet on August 25, 2015, 05:01:07 AM
Dalian absolutely scared the shit out of the Inter defence in 1994. Same with Man United at Wembley in 94. Both times he played more deep or as a winger than in his usual position.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Damo70 on August 25, 2015, 10:53:10 AM
Spink against Bayern, Steve McMahon's debut against Albion, Didier Six's debut against United, the Gray twins debuts at Bradford, Paul Birch at home to Inter, Deano's home debut, Bosnich against Sunderland, 99% of the performances I saw Paul McGrath put in for the Villa, Ashley Young and John Carew in the 5-1 against the noses and Benteke in the 6-1 against Sunderland.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: aj2k77 on August 25, 2015, 12:14:31 PM
Best ever first few games? Would be hard to beat Dion scoring was it 6 or 7 when he joined in 3 games.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air on August 26, 2015, 10:13:03 AM
1977

League Cup semi final...it takes 3 games to find the difference between us and QPR.  Answer- Brian Little hat trick
League Cup Final...it takes 3 games to find the difference between us and Everton. Answer Brian Little brace.

Magnificent

Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air on August 26, 2015, 12:22:17 PM
I was thinking of suggesting all 11 players from the 5-1 demolition of Liverpool in 1976.
However I do recall Jake Findlay spent the first 40 minutes leaning against a goalpost smoking a pipe while our back four sat around playing cards near the centre circle.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: bugdozer on August 27, 2015, 12:23:17 AM
Other than every single appearance by Sir Paul McGrath, I would like to nominate The Holte End...

...for scoring the third goal at the Tranmere game, through sheer collective willpower.

I'm pretty sure Atkinson played just a minor part and was a mere puppet in the general Force / Telekinesis thing that was going on that night.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Godfrey Brian on August 27, 2015, 08:07:42 PM
David Rudge when he got the winner v Hull in 1969

0-2 down and going nowhere and came back to win 3-2. One of the games which completely hooked me and means I still believe we can come back from 2 down in matches thirty six years on!
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: tomd2103 on August 28, 2015, 01:36:22 PM
Other than every single appearance by Sir Paul McGrath

Cheating a bit because although he played for us at the time it wasn't for us, but Macca's performance against Italy for Ireland in the 1994 World Cup was as good as I've ever seen.   
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Exeter 77 on August 29, 2015, 09:25:22 PM
Other than every single appearance by Sir Paul McGrath

Cheating a bit because although he played for us at the time it wasn't for us, but Macca's performance against Italy for Ireland in the 1994 World Cup was as good as I've ever seen.   
That game for Ireland against Italy was the best peformance by current Villa player that I ever remember.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: LeeB on August 30, 2015, 11:15:17 PM
Other than every single appearance by Sir Paul McGrath

Cheating a bit because although he played for us at the time it wasn't for us, but Macca's performance against Italy for Ireland in the 1994 World Cup was as good as I've ever seen.   
That game for Ireland against Italy was the best peformance by current Villa player that I ever remember.

At that point, you could say the best defender in the world played for Aston Villa and people would take you seriously.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: bugdozer on August 30, 2015, 11:40:49 PM
Other than every single appearance by Sir Paul McGrath

Cheating a bit because although he played for us at the time it wasn't for us, but Macca's performance against Italy for Ireland in the 1994 World Cup was as good as I've ever seen.   
That game for Ireland against Italy was the best peformance by current Villa player that I ever remember.

At that point, you could say the best defender in the world played for Aston Villa and people would take you seriously.

Quite right too.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: aj2k77 on August 31, 2015, 01:07:23 PM
Other than every single appearance by Sir Paul McGrath, I would like to nominate The Holte End...

...for scoring the third goal at the Tranmere game, through sheer collective willpower.

I'm pretty sure Atkinson played just a minor part and was a mere puppet in the general Force / Telekinesis thing that was going on that night.

I think we also dragged out the Tranmere freekick that hit the post and went across the line nearly hitting the other post with a minute left. 20,000 people simultaneously trying to suck the ball away from goal, it worked.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air on September 03, 2015, 08:14:47 AM
David Rudge when he got the winner v Hull in 1969

0-2 down and going nowhere and came back to win 3-2. One of the games which completely hooked me and means I still believe we can come back from 2 down in matches thirty six years on!

Forty six years not thirty six years. Congratulations, you have reached an age where when you look back on life ten year chunks just all seem to merge into one big mush.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: PGW on September 03, 2015, 11:52:04 AM
David Rudge when he got the winner v Hull in 1969

0-2 down and going nowhere and came back to win 3-2. One of the games which completely hooked me and means I still believe we can come back from 2 down in matches thirty six years on!

Forty six years not thirty six years. Congratulations, you have reached an age where when you look back on life ten year chunks just all seem to merge into one big mush.
I posted the original in regard to David Rudge somewhat tongue firmly in cheek, but i also remember that particular game with fondness, as said above by Godfrey Brian we were 2-0 down aand came back to win
 3-2. I particularly remembered the celebrations from the players and how Rudge was completely mobbed by his teammates.
Many years later i was invited to the Club 82 lounge or whatever it's called now but David Rudge was invited to say a few words and i don't think a sole remembered him.
After the match he was sat on his own with his wife basically keeping himself to himself so i decided to go and chat with him about his days at the Villa, making a point of asking him about that goal and the ensuing celebration. He wanted to talk and talk and i think he loved the fact that a guy remembered him with fondness and i suppose some knowledge of him as a player, but he did mention that Villa's basic pay structure was particularly low and they all would earn a large win bonus, and remember this was Tommy Docherty's first full season in charge and after the euphoria of his coming the previous season players were contemplating a great many win bonus' to come but alas this wasn't the case and this particular game was the 10th game of the season played on Sept 20th 1969 and in the previous 9 we had not managed a win, in fact losing 7 and drawing only 2. So to finally win a game just brought out the emotions from the players undoubtedly thinking of their pay packet.
It was a good 45 minutes or so spent in David's company and at the time was still living in Torquay whom he joined i believe after leaving Hereford who we sold him to for the princely sum of £6000, i will say though he loved his time at the club and has great memories of his time with us scoring 10 goals in a little over 50 appearances. The other scorers in that game watched by 23666 of us were Brian Godfrey and Lew Chatterley,
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: dave.woodhall on September 03, 2015, 12:06:00 PM
I think it's David Rudge who says in CotR, "Other players who won the Terrace Trophy such as David Platt must look at my name engraved on there and think 'Who the hell is he?'."
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: joe_c on September 03, 2015, 12:12:35 PM
I remember in the second division a bad Tony Daley backpass to Tommy Tynan allowed him to put Plymouth 1-0 and the Holte End, understandably, getting straight onto his back. Pretty certain he had a hand all the five goals we proceeded to score and was only denied adding a sixth by being hacked down on the edge of the box.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Exeter 77 on September 03, 2015, 01:08:00 PM
I remember in the second division a bad Tony Daley backpass to Tommy Tynan allowed him to put Plymouth 1-0 and the Holte End, understandably, getting straight onto his back. Pretty certain he had a hand all the five goals we proceeded to score and was only denied adding a sixth by being hacked down on the edge of the box.
I think that happened in the first few (if not the very first) minutes and is my main memory of that game.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: silhillvilla on September 03, 2015, 06:51:28 PM
That's a good shout for god in NYC v the Italians in 94. Had Baggio in his back pocket .
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Big Dick Edwards on September 06, 2015, 07:50:04 PM
Taking into account the magnitude of the match and the outstanding quality of his performance following the drama of his unexpected appearance, Nigel Spink wins this accolade hands down. 26th May 1982 saw a comic book story come to life.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: LeeB on September 08, 2015, 12:49:10 PM
Taking into account the magnitude of the match and the outstanding quality of his performance following the drama of his unexpected appearance, Nigel Spink wins this accolade hands down. 26th May 1982 saw a comic book story come to life.

I make you right.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: silhillvilla on September 08, 2015, 10:42:51 PM
Taking into account the magnitude of the match and the outstanding quality of his performance following the drama of his unexpected appearance, Nigel Spink wins this accolade hands down. 26th May 1982 saw a comic book story come to life.
Just a shame he blotted his copy book later on . But yeah agree, jumpers for goalposts stuff
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: ColinMac on September 11, 2015, 03:12:51 PM
Bit of a strange one, but i remember Mark Draper having an absolutely fantastic game in our 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford in the FA Cup Semi Final the week after we won the Coca Cola Cup, cant ever remember feeling so gutted after a match as that one, the 3-0 flattered Liverpool.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: LeeB on September 11, 2015, 07:54:31 PM
Bit of a strange one, but i remember Mark Draper having an absolutely fantastic game in our 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford in the FA Cup Semi Final the week after we won the Coca Cola Cup, cant ever remember feeling so gutted after a match as that one, the 3-0 flattered Liverpool.

Strangely, the standout performance I remember from Bosnich was when we lost 1-0 at home to Coventry in the cup.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: peter w on September 11, 2015, 08:01:43 PM
Taking into account the magnitude of the match and the outstanding quality of his performance following the drama of his unexpected appearance, Nigel Spink wins this accolade hands down. 26th May 1982 saw a comic book story come to life.
Just a shame he blotted his copy book later on . But yeah agree, jumpers for goalposts stuff

He didn't. Just took a job.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Exeter 77 on September 11, 2015, 09:29:00 PM
Bit of a strange one, but i remember Mark Draper having an absolutely fantastic game in our 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford in the FA Cup Semi Final the week after we won the Coca Cola Cup, cant ever remember feeling so gutted after a match as that one, the 3-0 flattered Liverpool.

Strangely, the standout performance I remember from Bosnich was when we lost 1-0 at home to Coventry in the cup.
There was one save in that game at the Holte End where Bosnich was diving to his right save a shot which was subsequently deflected diverting the ball to his left. He managed to twist around in mid-air and flick the ball round the left-hand post. It's one of the best bits of goalkeeping you could wish to see.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: PeterWithesShin on September 11, 2015, 09:59:27 PM
I've said before that the save in that cup game against Coventry is the best i've ever seen. And we should have had a penalty for a foul on Byfield. Not that it still annoys me or anything!
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Deano's Mullet on September 12, 2015, 09:22:52 AM
That Bosnich save is similar to one he did vs Chelsea in 1995-96 at home, saved a close range shot from Gavin Peacock. We lost the game to a Wise goal but what a save. Of all Bosnich's saves (penalty shootouts aside) you have to go for his vs Hughes at Wembley in 1994, that literally kept it at 2-1 Villa and we went straight up the pitch to make it 3-1.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: silhillvilla on September 12, 2015, 09:23:38 PM
Taking into account the magnitude of the match and the outstanding quality of his performance following the drama of his unexpected appearance, Nigel Spink wins this accolade hands down. 26th May 1982 saw a comic book story come to life.
Just a shame he blotted his copy book later on . But yeah agree, jumpers for goalposts stuff

He didn't. Just took a job.
Hmmm I seem to recall him celebrating and fist pumping goals against us.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Neil Hawkes on September 13, 2015, 09:59:14 AM
Bit of a strange one, but i remember Mark Draper having an absolutely fantastic game in our 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford in the FA Cup Semi Final the week after we won the Coca Cola Cup, cant ever remember feeling so gutted after a match as that one, the 3-0 flattered Liverpool.
Mark Drapers' best performance at Villa park was in the 4-4 draw with Leicester - shame he played for Leicester at the time.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: KevinGage on September 14, 2015, 01:43:25 PM
Bit of a strange one, but i remember Mark Draper having an absolutely fantastic game in our 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford in the FA Cup Semi Final the week after we won the Coca Cola Cup, cant ever remember feeling so gutted after a match as that one, the 3-0 flattered Liverpool.

I remember us bossing the midfield in that game, and Draper was a big part of that. Genuinely thought we had one of the best allround midfielders in the land after his first season.

Not sure what happened to him after that.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: IAmTheOneIanOlney on September 14, 2015, 05:43:09 PM
Bit of a strange one, but i remember Mark Draper having an absolutely fantastic game in our 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford in the FA Cup Semi Final the week after we won the Coca Cola Cup, cant ever remember feeling so gutted after a match as that one, the 3-0 flattered Liverpool.

I remember us bossing the midfield in that game, and Draper was a big part of that. Genuinely thought we had one of the best allround midfielders in the land after his first season.

Not sure what happened to him after that.

Think he went to play for one of the big Italian teams, like Milan or Barcelona.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: dcdavecollett on September 30, 2015, 11:45:34 PM
My vote would be for Bruce Rioch v. Bradford City, December 1971.

Fouled for the first (penalty) and scored the other two himself.

I can't recall another occasion when one player was so much better than any other player on the pitch.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: JD on October 01, 2015, 08:14:03 AM
The king of Villa Park v Oldham in 1975 and v QPR in the League Cup Semi Final in 1977. The most talented player I've ever seen play for Villa.   
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: ADVILLAFAN on October 01, 2015, 01:34:33 PM
A slight cheat, but McGrath for Ireland against Roberto Baggio's Italy in 1994 World Cup was a bit special.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: silhillvilla on October 01, 2015, 08:51:16 PM
Petrov's debut at West Ham is worth a mention. Superb.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: wittonwarrior on October 04, 2015, 08:50:55 PM
Easy one for me - Chris Nichol at Old Trafford v Everton.  He dragged us off the floor at 1-0 down and I am not just talking about his goal.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: four fornicholl on October 04, 2015, 08:53:54 PM
Easy one for me - Chris Nichol at Old Trafford v Everton.  He dragged us off the floor at 1-0 down and I am not just talking about his goal.
boom boom
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: villan from luton on October 04, 2015, 08:56:59 PM
Jimmy Rimmer at Anfield in a 0-0 draw, think it was 79-80, but may have been the year before. Amazing performance
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: wittonwarrior on October 04, 2015, 09:11:33 PM
Rimmer put in so many great performances hard to remember one special one.  Ipswich away one year we won (amazing considering  our poor record there) was one I remember.  Rimmer was a safe keeper completely different to the Aussie who was spectacular but was prone to a  mistake.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: castlefields_villan on October 05, 2015, 01:19:32 PM
Nigel Spink - ECF 1982
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: martin o`who?? on October 11, 2015, 03:44:52 PM
I've said before that the save in that cup game against Coventry is the best i've ever seen. And we should have had a penalty for a foul on Byfield. Not that it still annoys me or anything!
Thats the one I always say is the best save I've ever seen for us, but - and I know it was against us rather than for, but Grobelaars save from Withes header in front of the Holte when we went three-nil down after half an hour and pulled it back to 3-2 was the best of all time imo.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: SoccerHQ on October 11, 2015, 06:14:18 PM
Benteke v Sunderland anyone...o.k stretching it to say best ever but problem best Villa performance by a striker in recent times. Everytime we crossed the ball into the box that night I expected him to score.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Damo70 on October 12, 2015, 01:36:56 AM
Nigel Spink - ECF 1982

Nah. He never even came close to making a save in the first ten minutes of the game.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: peter w on October 18, 2015, 12:22:53 PM
Has bosnich at Sunderland in the 4-1 been mentioned? Or in the same season, I think, the game at Tottenham where he saved 2 pens?
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: adrenachrome on October 19, 2015, 01:06:12 AM
David Rudge when he got the winner v Hull in 1969

0-2 down and going nowhere and came back to win 3-2. One of the games which completely hooked me and means I still believe we can come back from 2 down in matches thirty six years on!

Forty six years not thirty six years. Congratulations, you have reached an age where when you look back on life ten year chunks just all seem to merge into one big mush.
I posted the original in regard to David Rudge somewhat tongue firmly in cheek, but i also remember that particular game with fondness, as said above by Godfrey Brian we were 2-0 down aand came back to win
 3-2. I particularly remembered the celebrations from the players and how Rudge was completely mobbed by his teammates.
Many years later i was invited to the Club 82 lounge or whatever it's called now but David Rudge was invited to say a few words and i don't think a sole remembered him.
After the match he was sat on his own with his wife basically keeping himself to himself so i decided to go and chat with him about his days at the Villa, making a point of asking him about that goal and the ensuing celebration. He wanted to talk and talk and i think he loved the fact that a guy remembered him with fondness and i suppose some knowledge of him as a player, but he did mention that Villa's basic pay structure was particularly low and they all would earn a large win bonus, and remember this was Tommy Docherty's first full season in charge and after the euphoria of his coming the previous season players were contemplating a great many win bonus' to come but alas this wasn't the case and this particular game was the 10th game of the season played on Sept 20th 1969 and in the previous 9 we had not managed a win, in fact losing 7 and drawing only 2. So to finally win a game just brought out the emotions from the players undoubtedly thinking of their pay packet.
It was a good 45 minutes or so spent in David's company and at the time was still living in Torquay whom he joined i believe after leaving Hereford who we sold him to for the princely sum of £6000, i will say though he loved his time at the club and has great memories of his time with us scoring 10 goals in a little over 50 appearances. The other scorers in that game watched by 23666 of us were Brian Godfrey and Lew Chatterley,

I remember the Hull game really well. It was quite chilly for early autumn and it was the last home match before I had to go back to boarding school.

Dave Rudge was a diminutive right winger, a number 7, and was very popular up the back of the Holte. I can still remember writing his name on the back of my satchel when the fashion was to put the favoured formation for your team on the back.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Mortimer's Bear on October 20, 2015, 01:03:35 PM
Bit of a strange one, but i remember Mark Draper having an absolutely fantastic game in our 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford in the FA Cup Semi Final the week after we won the Coca Cola Cup, cant ever remember feeling so gutted after a match as that one, the 3-0 flattered Liverpool.

Strangely, the standout performance I remember from Bosnich was when we lost 1-0 at home to Coventry in the cup.
There was one save in that game at the Holte End where Bosnich was diving to his right save a shot which was subsequently deflected diverting the ball to his left. He managed to twist around in mid-air and flick the ball round the left-hand post. It's one of the best bits of goalkeeping you could wish to see.
Astonishing save, if memorty serves me correctly the Holte End applauded that for about 20 minutes after.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Matt Collins on July 23, 2016, 08:26:40 AM
Not the best but up amongst them

Yorke hat trick vs Newcastle, hit the post or had one disallowed as well.
Yorke both goals against Arsenal away in the cup, thought he was magnificent that night.


That was the night he became a Star.

That's the one for me - on a real national stage. The Newcastle game too when we lost 4-3

Carbone v Wednesday

Merson v Leeds in the cup (motm even though carbone got a hat trick)

Benteke v QPR under sherwood

Bosnich v Sunderland in the cup

Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Pat McMahon on July 23, 2016, 10:37:25 PM
Not the best but up amongst them

Yorke hat trick vs Newcastle, hit the post or had one disallowed as well.
Yorke both goals against Arsenal away in the cup, thought he was magnificent that night.


That was the night he became a Star.

That's the one for me - on a real national stage. The Newcastle game too when we lost 4-3

Carbone v Wednesday

Merson v Leeds in the cup (motm even though carbone got a hat trick)

Benteke v QPR under sherwood

Bosnich v Sunderland in the cup



There was a woman on Fighting Talk this morning who answered the question " great performances on the losing side" by citing "Dwight Yorke scoring a hat trick in a mediocre Aston Villa team losing 4-3 to Newcastle". I was driving and didn't catch her name but was shouting at her to fuck off. We were far from mediocre then.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: mrbrightside on July 30, 2016, 11:30:08 AM
That Bosnich performance against Sunderland is breathtaking. They absolutely hammered us, it was a one man show.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: themerse on July 30, 2016, 02:02:42 PM
Merson against Leeds in the cup. That assist for Carbone's hat-trick goal was the sex.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: cdbearsfan on July 30, 2016, 04:38:25 PM
No nominations for Hitchens vs Charlton yet?
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: Kimaster1976 on July 31, 2016, 06:46:00 AM
The Bosnich performance at Sunderland was breathtaking. At one point a couple of the Sunderland players were looking at him with total bemusement on how he was doing it.

Earlier that season he did similar heroics in a Uefa cup tie away to Deportivo. Which prompted Big Ron to boldly state he may very well be the world's best goalkeeper. If he'd stayed away from the party scene and dedicated himself to football he would have been. Such a shame.
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: ADVILLAFAN on July 31, 2016, 11:53:00 AM
I think Ashley Young absolutely destroyed Blues and Bolton (5-1 & 4-0) in 2007-08, didn't go to the Derby 6-0, but imagine he played well in three too
Title: Re: Best Ever Performance by a Villa Player
Post by: rob_bridge on August 08, 2016, 11:24:47 AM
Simon Stainrod v Exeter
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