I’m harbouring a mild fear that I’ve completely forgotten some absolute shoeins, but there it is.
Me too, Des Bremner, Ray Graydon, Tony Daley, Dean Saunders, Dion Dublin, Merson, Grealish, SJM, Laursen, Mellberg , Friedel, Ashley Young, and Alan Wright, to name but a few..
Oh , and Ashley Westwood of course.
I considered Daley and Young. Ashley Young was one of the most exciting players we have ever had. Shame he ended up going on to become just a bit part player, usually out of position, for those twats. In fairness, he never got the respect he deserved from quite a lot of Villa fans, too. Certain segments of our support have a deep suspicion of flair players.His insisting on playing as the playmaker, taking every free kick badly and diving to get a penalty against us could also be a factor.
I started this thread on the Villa Memories page...
https://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=60538.0
Birthdate -1974
Started Supporting -1982 (earlier but Feb 82 was my 1st game, man Utd away lost 1-4), didn't know at time but first game after Ron Saunders resigned.
Manager/Coach -Graham Taylor
Keeper - Mark Bosnich
Defender - Steve Staunton
Defender - Allan Evans
Defender - Paul McGrath
Defender - Colin Gibson
Midfielder -Gareth Barry
Midfielder - Gordon Cowans
Midfielder -David Platt
Midfielder - Paul Merson
Attacker - Peter Withe
Attacker - Dwight Yorke
Subs
Keeper - Nigel Spink
Defender - Martin Laursen
Defender - Ollof Mellberg
Midfielder - Jack Grealish
Midfielder -Ian Taylor
Attacker - Dean Saunders
Attacker - Christian Benteke
Feel free to change the formation and post your all-time, ultimate Aston Villa line-up.
Tony Morley was my absolute favourite player as a 6/7/8 year old but think I may have only seen him a couple of times live as only went to a handful of games in 1982 and 1983, hence him not being in my squad. Definetely saw Withe a lot in mid 80s. Leaving Mark Walters out was a hard one for me as I idolized him as a kid, also toss up between Townsend and Ian Taylor on the bench, went with my claret and blue glasses. Also, not the best player so not in my squad, but I loved the sheer aggression of Garry Thompson in tgecrelegation and promotion side in the late 80s. Ashley Young and James Milner were tough ones to leave out as well. Grealish has it all but only done for two half seasons so far, hence on the bench for me.
I always thought Colin Gibson was better when he was moved into midfield. It might be harsh given he won the League and European Cup but I would put Gidman, Swain, Gage, Price and Barrett ahead of Gary Williams.
Interesting to see how poor we've been at RB in the large 30 years that Earl Barrett, a steady journeyman, gets included in a couple of teams.
Interesting to see how poor we've been at RB in the large 30 years that Earl Barrett, a steady journeyman, gets included in a couple of teams.
Also, I can't believe Monty was born in 1990. I always considered him a wise sage. Were you 40 in the womb?
Only chosen players I’ve seen with my own eyes:
1985
1989
Ron Atkinson
Bosnich
Staunton
McGrath
Terry
Laursen
Mellberg
Barry
Milner
Platt
Grealish
Benteke
Subs:
Spink
Yorke
Atkinson
Saunders
Southgate
Merson
Dublin
Only chosen players I’ve seen with my own eyes:
1985
1989
Ron Atkinson
Bosnich
Staunton
McGrath
Terry
Laursen
Mellberg
Barry
Milner
Platt
Grealish
Benteke
Subs:
Spink
Yorke
Atkinson
Saunders
Southgate
Merson
Dublin
You’ve missed off Sid. I’m assuming it was an error.
If you're basing it on only who you've seen, and started watching in 1989, missing off Sid is reasonable. He was still very good them, but not at his absolute peak.
I can't say I'm surprised, sadly. Always liked him, he seems to be an arrogant tossed that has only since acknowledged the existence of Aston Villa when he has been touting himself for the manager's job.
Yorke was world class at a time when teams (Villa and utd) played with two strikers. How would he fare as a lone striker in the formations of today?
Yorke was world class at a time when teams (Villa and utd) played with two strikers. How would he fare as a lone striker in the formations of today?
I reckon he would have done very well, he was a clever footballer and used space and other peoples runs well, also very good at holding a ball into feet as he matured.
I would never have said he’d make it after seeing him the first couple of times.
Yorke was world class at a time when teams (Villa and utd) played with two strikers. How would he fare as a lone striker in the formations of today?
I reckon he would have done very well, he was a clever footballer and used space and other peoples runs well, also very good at holding a ball into feet as he matured.
I would never have said he’d make it after seeing him the first couple of times.
Yorke and Benteke with Grealish in behind would be nightmare to defend, Yorke's movement off the ball was exceptional and Grealish and Benteke are like magents for defenders. I honestly think all at their best, with a functional midfield in behind, sees Yorke scoring 30+ for the season.
Yorke was world class at a time when teams (Villa and utd) played with two strikers. How would he fare as a lone striker in the formations of today?
I reckon he would have done very well, he was a clever footballer and used space and other peoples runs well, also very good at holding a ball into feet as he matured.
I would never have said he’d make it after seeing him the first couple of times.
Yorke and Benteke with Grealish in behind would be nightmare to defend, Yorke's movement off the ball was exceptional and Grealish and Benteke are like magents for defenders. I honestly think all at their best, with a functional midfield in behind, sees Yorke scoring 30+ for the season.
That would be some forward line if you had 3 absolute machines behind them.
I'm not saying he should be in this particular conversation but it is odd that Darius Vassell never seems to feature on these nostalgia binges in the way that so many other strikers do. Why is that? He was no world beater but he was fairly solid for us and also for England.
There was that period under Sven where he seemed set to become a real star for England. For some strange reason I can remember the 90s more clearly than I can recall the 00s! Can anybody shed some light on the subject?
I think he was great on his day, and one of the best passers I've seen at Villa. He wasn't great on a regular basis, though, as far as I recall. Somewhat hit and miss. He does seem to have become something of a forgotten figure from that season though, it's odd.
I'm not saying he should be in this particular conversation but it is odd that Darius Vassell never seems to feature on these nostalgia binges in the way that so many other strikers do. Why is that? He was no world beater but he was fairly solid for us and also for England.
There was that period under Sven where he seemed set to become a real star for England. For some strange reason I can remember the 90s more clearly than I can recall the 00s! Can anybody shed some light on the subject?
Unfortunately Vassell tends to get mentioned in terms of how limited England's options up front were at the time behind Owen and Rooney. He came for an injured Rooney v Portugal in 2004, missed a pen and I'm not sure if he ever featured again.
In a Villa shirt, I liked him but his scoring record was patchy. Combined well with Angel at times. Certainly better than his ultimate replacement Baros ever did. I guess the Moore brothers were
coming from the youths around then so he was let go to City. Decent player but no more.