Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Fred Crump on April 14, 2016, 09:16:22 PM

Title: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Fred Crump on April 14, 2016, 09:16:22 PM
To lighten the gloom in the Crump household , we set ourselves the challenge of coming up with a Villa side of ex-players from the last decade that could possibly lose to the current 'team'. A tough task I'm sure you will agree, but we have tested it out on Football Manager and the results are encouraging - a hefty 0-4 thumping by Coldland Colts followed by a 0-6 drubbing by Marston Green Boys U12's. Some of the selections are obvious, and we have had to play 4-3-3 to come up with a impressively toothless attack. The main problems have been 1) how do we get the current side a goal, and 2) we couldn't come up with any spectacularly bad centre backs. We have solved both problems although only by bending our own rules a bit by picking two centre backs and a keeper who look like world beaters compared with the current lot, but who were capable on their day of committing spectacular howlers - hopefully one will come up with an o.g.

So here it is:
                                                                Peter Enckelman

                  Habib Beye                Curtis Davies         Zat Knight                    Tony Moon

                                 Mathieu Berson            Eric Djemba-Djemba (c)  Jean Makoun

                                         Niklas Hellenius     Bosko Balaban    Alexander Tonev

                                                           
           Subs:  Najwan Gharyib, Yacouba Sylla , Moustafa Salifou, Michael Standing, Mark Kinsella

         We've gone for some 'non-impact' subs who would be capable of coming on after 75 minutes and totally failing  to influence the game.

The odds are still on a 0-0 draw , but if anyone could get our current lot a win , we reckon this shower might stand a chance. Anyone got any better suggestions ?  :)                                         
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: supertom on April 14, 2016, 09:21:43 PM
I'd take that CH pairing over the current one to be fair.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: saunders_heroes on April 14, 2016, 09:23:04 PM
Lighten the gloom by picking an even worse team than we have now, really?
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Proposition Joe on April 14, 2016, 09:26:11 PM
Michael Standing.  There's a name I'd completely forgotten.  He and Barry came as a pair from Brighton didn't they?
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: four fornicholl on April 14, 2016, 10:00:44 PM
HEY CRUMP.that team would still beat your best eleven ;)
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: TheMalandro on April 14, 2016, 10:13:59 PM
What do you estimate the combined weekly wage bill for that lot is?


Scary.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Fred Crump on April 14, 2016, 10:19:25 PM
HEY CRUMP.that team would still beat your best eleven ;)

Ha Ha- you couldn't really trust either of the teams not to mess it up to be honest.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Ad@m on April 14, 2016, 10:23:04 PM
Love that Salifou can't even get in that team!

Surprised there's no place for Jordan Bowery...he always looked like a fan who'd won a competition to play with the first team.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: saunders_heroes on April 14, 2016, 10:25:07 PM
Bowery was one of, if not the worst footballer I've ever seen play for the Villa. He was so out of his depth I felt sorry for him. Christ on a bike Lambert signed some utter shite.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Fred Crump on April 14, 2016, 10:25:52 PM
What do you estimate the combined weekly wage bill for that lot is?


Scary.

Goodness knows but it's heartbreaking when you think how much money has been squandered on dross yet we have virtually given away a whole team of class players - Barry, Milner, Cahill, Albrighton , Young, Benteke, snake  etc etc....
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: PeterWithesShin on April 14, 2016, 10:27:34 PM
Balaban left the club more than a decade ago. Match will have to replayed due to an ineligible player.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Fred Crump on April 14, 2016, 10:29:01 PM
Love that Salifou can't even get in that team!

Surprised there's no place for Jordan Bowery...he always looked like a fan who'd won a competition to play with the first team.
Great shout on Bowery , I may need to have a re-think !
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: PeterWithesShin on April 14, 2016, 10:29:27 PM
What do you estimate the combined weekly wage bill for that lot is?


Scary.

Goodness knows but it's heartbreaking when you think how much money has been squandered on dross yet we have virtually given away a whole team of class players - Barry, Milner, Cahill, Albrighton , Young, Benteke, snake  etc etc....

Given away? We received over £100m for them.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: PeterWithesShin on April 14, 2016, 10:32:59 PM
Agathe, Kiraly and Routledge must be contenders.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Fred Crump on April 14, 2016, 10:34:34 PM
Balaban left the club more than a decade ago. Match will have to replayed due to an illegible player.
D'oh, quite right as ever Mr S ! That means that they could be the first team to get relegated with a minus number of points. The thought of a replay is too horrible to contemplate.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Fred Crump on April 14, 2016, 10:41:27 PM
What do you estimate the combined weekly wage bill for that lot is?


Scary.

Goodness knows but it's heartbreaking when you think how much money has been squandered on dross yet we have virtually given away a whole team of class players - Barry, Milner, Cahill, Albrighton , Young, Benteke, snake  etc etc....

Given away? We received over £100m for them.

True but peanuts compared with their real value and the £200 mill that we will mis out on next season....
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Steve67 on April 14, 2016, 11:16:42 PM
Bloody he'll!! We really have had some very shocking players haven't we.  Two more to throw in, not sure if they both qualify though: Carlton Cole and Marlon Hardwood.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: gnrpoison on April 14, 2016, 11:17:21 PM
Here we are, can anyone match this:

Gk: Kiraly (if loans do not count Steer)
RB: Bardsley
CB: Beye
CB:Knight
LB: Luna
RM: Tonev
CM: Osbourne
CM: Djemba Djemba
LM: Cole
CF: Harewood
CF: Bowery

Subs: Taylor, Senderos, Shorey, Salifou, Routledge, Dawkins, Holt

Both teams cancel each other out in an awful 0 - 0 draw
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: supertom on April 14, 2016, 11:45:45 PM
Bowery is back in League 2 now. Back at his level and he's not even a standout player at that level.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: edgysatsuma89 on April 15, 2016, 12:24:03 AM
Bowery is back in League 2 now. Back at his level and he's not even a standout player at that level.

His eyes standout.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: tomd2103 on April 15, 2016, 12:26:48 AM
Bowery is back in League 2 now. Back at his level and he's not even a standout player at that level.

A real wtf signing.  Had a very unremarkable scoring record at that level, so goodness knows what Lambert saw in him. 
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: OzVilla on April 15, 2016, 12:32:26 AM
Bowery was just a punt based on his physic - nothing else.   Summed up Lambert when after 18 months he looked just as poor as the day he walked in the door.  But then Lambert was never at training anyway as bullygate showed.

And we label Sherwood as a chancer.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Ad@m on April 15, 2016, 06:38:44 AM
Bowery was just a punt based on his physic - nothing else.   Summed up Lambert when after 18 months he looked just as poor as the day he walked in the door.  But then Lambert was never at training anyway as bullygate showed.

And we label Sherwood as a chancer.

Yep, a real Championship Manager signing - an example of where the whole is significantly less than the sum of its parts!
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: brian green on April 15, 2016, 07:05:56 AM
Bowery was even more catastrophic if allegations are true that he was available at an asking price of £250,000 but we paid £500,000.

Pity that poor performers have to be limited to the last ten years.  It is unfair to deny their place in the Piss Poor Pantheon to a roll call that would include

Burridge (GK)
Smith H
Craddock M
Gibson C (Mk 1)
Goffin B
Myerscough B
Moss A (sorry FMWMU but he was terrible)
Pinner M (GK)
Gallagher B
Norton D
Aspinall W,
Rioch N (totally redeemed by being a magnificent Villa servant over the years)

It should be noted however that not one of the above showed any trace of the lack of effort and commitment displayed by the current weares of the same shirts.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Clampy on April 15, 2016, 08:41:24 AM
Here we are, can anyone match this:

Gk: Kiraly (if loans do not count Steer)
RB: Bardsley
CB: Beye
CB:Knight
LB: Luna
RM: Tonev
CM: Osbourne
CM: Djemba Djemba
LM: Cole
CF: Harewood
CF: Bowery

Subs: Taylor, Senderos, Shorey, Salifou, Routledge, Dawkins, Holt

Both teams cancel each other out in an awful 0 - 0 draw


I think Senderos is a bit of an unfair one to lump in. He looked ok in the games that he did play.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: oldhill_avfc on April 15, 2016, 08:57:11 AM
Bowery was even more catastrophic if allegations are true that he was available at an asking price of £250,000 but we paid £500,000.

Pity that poor performers have to be limited to the last ten years.  It is unfair to deny their place in the Piss Poor Pantheon to a roll call that would include

Burridge (GK)
Smith H
Craddock M
Gibson C (Mk 1)
Goffin B
Myerscough B
Moss A (sorry FMWMU but he was terrible)
Pinner M (GK)
Gallagher B
Norton D
Aspinall W,
Rioch N (totally redeemed by being a magnificent Villa servant over the years)

It should be noted however that not one of the above showed any trace of the lack of effort and commitment displayed by the current weares of the same shirts.

Alarming thing is that
fatty Asinal, Budgie &  Bernie are better than we've got at the mo

Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: brian green on April 15, 2016, 09:45:43 AM
Do you remember oldhill when we once got a penalty at the Witton End and before our regular penalty taker could step up Warren Aspinall grabbed the ball, put it on the spot and side footed it about five yards wide?  Would walk into the current team.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Dr Butler on April 15, 2016, 09:58:42 AM
Do you remember oldhill when we once got a penalty at the Witton End and before our regular penalty taker could step up Warren Aspinall grabbed the ball, put it on the spot and side footed it about five yards wide?  Would walk into the current team.

from Wiki Brian:

After making only ten substitute appearances in all competitions for the Toffees, Aspinall transferred to Aston Villa for a then club record fee of £300,000, but could not help stop the club being relegated from the First Division. Manager Billy McNeill, who signed Aspinall, was sacked and replaced by Graham Taylor, as Villa bounced back immediately to the First Division, with Aspinall finishing as joint-top scorer. However, a poor disciplinary record prompted a warning from Taylor that this must improve or he would be sold. An incident away to St Mirren in a pre-season friendly involved Aspinall stamping on an opponents foot led to him being sold to Portsmouth for a club-record fee of £315,000 in August 1988. He played in 44 league games and scored 14 goals for Aston Villa.

UTV
The Doc
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Clampy on April 15, 2016, 10:01:02 AM
I don't remember Aspinall being that terrible and like the above said, he did help us back up. Has anyone mentioned Steve Sims yet?
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Ron Manager on April 15, 2016, 10:36:53 AM
Bowery was even more catastrophic if allegations are true that he was available at an asking price of £250,000 but we paid £500,000.

Pity that poor performers have to be limited to the last ten years.  It is unfair to deny their place in the Piss Poor Pantheon to a roll call that would include

Burridge (GK)
Smith H
Craddock M
Gibson C (Mk 1)
Goffin B
Myerscough B
Moss A (sorry FMWMU but he was terrible)
Pinner M (GK)
Gallagher B
Norton D
Aspinall W,
Rioch N (totally redeemed by being a magnificent Villa servant over the years)

It should be noted however that not one of the above showed any trace of the lack of effort and commitment displayed by the current weares of the same shirts.

I object very much to you including Miller Craddock in that list. Out of the thirty seven people I interviewed in Ledbury,Hereford,and Birmingham who saw him play, for my article in the local magazine you were the only one to give an adverse opinion. Dennis Shaw, in particular, who interviewed him gave a glowing endorsement. I know whose opinion I value.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: in exile on April 15, 2016, 11:11:52 AM
Here we are, can anyone match this:

Gk: Kiraly (if loans do not count Steer)
RB: Bardsley
CB: Beye
CB:Knight
LB: Luna
RM: Tonev
CM: Osbourne
CM: Djemba Djemba
LM: Cole
CF: Harewood
CF: Bowery

Subs: Taylor, Senderos, Shorey, Salifou, Routledge, Dawkins, Holt

Both teams cancel each other out in an awful 0 - 0 draw


I think Senderos is a bit of an unfair one to lump in. He looked ok in the games that he did play.
I'm with Clampy, very harsh on Senderos
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: SamTheMouse on April 15, 2016, 12:08:01 PM
I'd have Shorey in there. He was bollocks. At least Tony Moon scored for us.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Duncan Shaw on April 15, 2016, 12:22:58 PM
I didn't think Zat Knight was that bed for us either to be fair.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Dr Butler on April 15, 2016, 12:30:47 PM
I don't remember Aspinall being that terrible and like the above said, he did help us back up. Has anyone mentioned Steve Sims yet?

or Carl Tiler...

UTV
The Doc
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: rob_bridge on April 15, 2016, 12:45:24 PM
I don't remember Aspinall being that terrible and like the above said, he did help us back up. Has anyone mentioned Steve Sims yet?

They both did a job that year. So did Lillis and Bernie

That was their level
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Clampy on April 15, 2016, 12:48:05 PM
I don't remember Aspinall being that terrible and like the above said, he did help us back up. Has anyone mentioned Steve Sims yet?

They both did a job that year. So did Lillis and Bernie

That was their level

Sims did get us back up that year in fairness. Lillis was ok, in fact they all played their part. Spink said a while back it was the team spirit that got them back up more than anything.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Dr Butler on April 15, 2016, 12:49:48 PM
1. Kiraly
2. Dean Glover
3. N Gharyib(?)
4.Tiler
5. Calderwood
6.Cooper
7.Curcic
8.Penrice
9.DeBilde
10.Djemba x2
11.Callaghan

all in all a sorry bunch :(

UTV
The Doc
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: rob_bridge on April 15, 2016, 01:26:38 PM
I didn't think Zat Knight was that bed for us either to be fair.

He'd have gotten into this team - probably Captain too.

Zat was a player born 15 years too late. He would have been a perfect 1990s centre half
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Chris Harte on April 15, 2016, 01:35:15 PM
Here's a team to not so much rival this season's team, but more to piss all over them:

Spink.
Williams.
Evans.
Elliott.
Dorigo.
Hunt.
Birch.
Walters.
Daley.
Stainrod.
Aspinall.

Anyone want to hazard a guess at when this team was around?
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: brian green on April 15, 2016, 01:48:25 PM
With regard to Buster Craddock, this forum is for the free expression of opinions.  My opinion is my opinion whether you value it or not.  It makes no difference to me.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: UK Redsox on April 15, 2016, 01:55:12 PM
Balaban left the club more than a decade ago. Match will have to replayed due to an illegible player.
D'oh, quite right as ever Mr S ! That means that they could be the first team to get relegated with a minus number of points. The thought of a replay is too horrible to contemplate.

Najwan Ghrayib is ineligible for the same reason. He left in 2000

Mathieu Berson just makes it into the time period

I'd have Bowery in ahead of the Gladiator and Agathe instead of Tony Moon
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Ian. on April 15, 2016, 01:58:27 PM
Here's a team to not so much rival this season's team, but more to piss all over them:

Spink.
Williams.
Evans.
Elliott.
Dorigo.
Hunt.
Birch.
Walters.
Daley.
Stainrod.
Aspinall.

Anyone want to hazard a guess at when this team was around?
That's actually not a bad team though? How did that team get relegated!
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: rob_bridge on April 15, 2016, 02:02:52 PM
Here's a team to not so much rival this season's team, but more to piss all over them:

Spink.
Williams.
Evans.
Elliott.
Dorigo.
Hunt.
Birch.
Walters.
Daley.
Stainrod.
Aspinall.

Anyone want to hazard a guess at when this team was around?
That's actually not a bad team though? How did that team get relegated!

Believe it or not we had a manager in McNeill who performed in that role worse than McLeish, Lambert, Sherwood.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Villa in Denmark on April 15, 2016, 02:09:10 PM
Bowery was one of, if not the worst footballer I've ever seen play for the Villa. He was so out of his depth I felt sorry for him. Christ on a bike Lambert signed some utter shite.

So you feel sorry for Bowery, but call Westwood all the names under the sun for suffering from the same affliction.  Signed by Lamber and ultimately not good enough.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: PaulWinch again on April 15, 2016, 02:13:45 PM
I didn't think Zat Knight was that bed for us either to be fair.

No I'd agree, he was perfectly adequate.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: CT Villan on April 15, 2016, 02:55:38 PM
Don't forget the Moore brothers too !
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: villa `cross the mersey on April 15, 2016, 04:53:34 PM
Any room for Steve Foster ?
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: supertom on April 15, 2016, 04:59:39 PM
Bowery was one of, if not the worst footballer I've ever seen play for the Villa. He was so out of his depth I felt sorry for him. Christ on a bike Lambert signed some utter shite.

So you feel sorry for Bowery, but call Westwood all the names under the sun for suffering from the same affliction.  Signed by Lamber and ultimately not good enough.
I think any sympathy for JB would have run out were he still here and had played over 100 games. We'd all be banging our heads against the wall in unison.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Ian. on April 15, 2016, 07:49:33 PM
Here's a team to not so much rival this season's team, but more to piss all over them:

Spink.
Williams.
Evans.
Elliott.
Dorigo.
Hunt.
Birch.
Walters.
Daley.
Stainrod.
Aspinall.

Anyone want to hazard a guess at when this team was around?
That's actually not a bad team though? How did that team get relegated!

Believe it or not we had a manager in McNeill who performed in that role worse than McLeish, Lambert, Sherwood.
I know!

I was a 12 year old boy with tears in my eyes living in Devon surrounded by Liverpool and Man Utd fans telling me villa are shit and that I talk funny.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: supertom on April 15, 2016, 09:25:13 PM
Don't forget the Moore brothers too !
A 23 year old Luke would walk into this team. I sometimes wonder how his career may have turned out here, had he not got that shoulder injury. He'd ended the previous season well, started that season quite well and then was out for months. We sold him at the end of the next season IIRC.

Also hard to believe Luke is in his 30's now. Bloody hell.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: The_ads on April 15, 2016, 09:42:39 PM
Adrian Heath, Nigel Callaghan, Gary Penrice, Paul Mortimer, Carl Tiler, Franz Carr... My word we've watched some trash haven't we.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Ron Manager on April 15, 2016, 09:59:37 PM
With regard to Buster Craddock, this forum is for the free expression of opinions.  My opinion is my opinion whether you value it or not.  It makes no difference to me.
I think you are confusing him with Buster Crabbe.Miller was known as flash because of his speed and a very decent fellow he was by all accounts
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Grande Pablo on April 15, 2016, 10:08:52 PM
Franz Carr's corker at Forest in the FA Cup was one of my all time away-day highlights.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: exigo on April 15, 2016, 10:11:33 PM
I didn't think Zat Knight was that bed for us either to be fair.

No I'd agree, he was perfectly adequate.

I've only just finished celebrating his last minute strike against Arsenal all those years ago. There are surely worse candidates for this XI?
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: gnrpoison on April 16, 2016, 12:33:30 AM
Here we are, can anyone match this:

Gk: Kiraly (if loans do not count Steer)
RB: Bardsley
CB: Beye
CB:Knight
LB: Luna
RM: Tonev
CM: Osbourne
CM: Djemba Djemba
LM: Cole
CF: Harewood
CF: Bowery

Subs: Taylor, Senderos, Shorey, Salifou, Routledge, Dawkins, Holt

Both teams cancel each other out in an awful 0 - 0 draw


I think Senderos is a bit of an unfair one to lump in. He looked ok in the games that he did play.
I'm with Clampy, very harsh on Senderos
Probably was a bit unfair, but was struggling to find CBs from the Lerner owned years without using a makeshift LB or RB or a player still at the club, as was a toss up between Ridgewell, Senderos, Knight, Davies, Cueller or random youth players that were given squad numbers but not sure if actually played in defence. Just went with Knight due to feeling he was probably the worst of a fairly decent bunch and Senderos just due to the lack of games. It does amaze me that despite the poorness of the last few years we have had a few decent Centre Backs who at the very least would improve our defence now even if at the time they didn't.  Whereas RBs, LBs post Bouma, CMs were very easy to find several choices.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: ez on April 16, 2016, 01:55:28 PM
Emile Heskey. Embarrassing.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: JJ-AV on April 16, 2016, 02:51:11 PM
Knight was decent for the Villa
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: Irish villain on April 16, 2016, 02:55:39 PM
What do you estimate the combined weekly wage bill for that lot is?


Scary.

Goodness knows but it's heartbreaking when you think how much money has been squandered on dross yet we have virtually given away a whole team of class players - Barry, Milner, Cahill, Albrighton , Young, Benteke, snake  etc etc....

Given away? We received over £100m for them.

Hmm, and how has reinvesting that money in the squad and club worked out?

Buying in utter shite on the cheap and going down with one of the worst teams in villa history.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: SheffieldVillain on April 16, 2016, 03:00:29 PM
What do you estimate the combined weekly wage bill for that lot is?


Scary.

Goodness knows but it's heartbreaking when you think how much money has been squandered on dross yet we have virtually given away a whole team of class players - Barry, Milner, Cahill, Albrighton , Young, Benteke, snake  etc etc....

Given away? We received over £100m for them.

Hmm, and how has reinvesting that money in the squad and club worked out?

Buying in utter shite on the cheap and going down with one of the worst teams in villa history.

That still doesn't mean that the players sold have been given away.
Title: Re: A Team to rival this season's
Post by: PeterWithesShin on April 16, 2016, 03:01:23 PM
Which has nothing to do with giving those players away. Did you read all the thread this time?
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