Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Villa Memories => Topic started by: Tokyo Sexwhale on February 26, 2021, 01:49:17 AM

Title: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: Tokyo Sexwhale on February 26, 2021, 01:49:17 AM
Andy Gray's first spell as a player was a bit before my time, but he was probably one of the earliest footballer names I'd heard of.  Some interesting stuff about his relationship with Ron Saunders and why he left Villa, which is probably already well known.

Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: Sexual Ealing on February 26, 2021, 02:20:10 AM
I watched it last night. He came across Ok, but a little self-serving. Nothing ever seemed to be his fault, or even partially his fault. And he's mates with "Keysey".
His best days with us were before my time so it's difficult to feel sentimental about the sexist twat.
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: sid1964 on February 26, 2021, 06:18:32 AM
One of my all time favourite Villa players - always remember the goal against United - the superb cross  from Ray Graydon, the way that Gray rose at the far post and headed the ball into the net is a thing of football beauty.

Standing in front of the adoring Holte End and celebrating the goal with his arms raised in triumph - fantastic!

Enjoyed the podcast - but I think that his favourite time of playing in England was with those 2 very successful seasons with Everton (League winner etc..)
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: Simon Page on February 26, 2021, 05:34:38 PM
My first Villa hero that hadn't been forced on me by my dad. Then I saw Little play live. But what a joy Gray was in 76/7. For me he proved everything I'd been told about Villa number nines.
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: West Derby Villan on February 26, 2021, 05:49:03 PM
My first Villa hero that hadn't been forced on me by my dad. Then I saw Little play live. But what a joy Gray was in 76/7. For me he proved everything I'd been told about Villa number nines.

Totally agree, With Giddy “bombing” down the wing supplying the crosses and Little “walking on water” Fantastic memories
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: dcdavecollett on February 27, 2021, 12:06:25 AM
The only Villa striker in my time to have twenty goals by Xmas. Not bad going!
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: olaftab on February 27, 2021, 12:12:38 AM
No one has exhilarated me in a Villa shirt as much as Andy did. He was total breath of fresh air demolishing all defences before him. I saw  a glimpse of Andy in Christian Benteke but it all ended too soon for both of them as far as Villa were concerned.
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: tony scott on February 27, 2021, 03:41:01 AM
Listened to the interview it’s obvious the Toffees are his great love, however his first two seasons with us  were something special ,to those we never saw him, in my time we’ve never had a striker whose desire to first to the ball has been bettered..
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: Dick Edwards on February 27, 2021, 03:22:20 PM
If true, and Gray wasn't allowed to attend the PFA ceremony to collect both Player and Young Player of the Year awards because Ron Saunders was all about the team, I can understand why he would have been pretty miffed with his manager. And again, if true, being forced to have an injection to enable him to play against mighty Port Vale was an interesting recollection.
For me, the most exciting centre forward I've seen in a Villa shirt.
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on February 28, 2021, 10:13:17 AM
Two of his goals would be in my top ten favourites.  The one against the noses away in 1978 and that header against United referred to above in 1976.
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: Tokyo Sexwhale on February 28, 2021, 10:09:08 PM
I wonder if Villa would have still won the League/European Cup/Super Cup, if Gray had stayed and hadn't bought Withe?

Looking at what happened it's probably for the best all round that he left.  He won a few trophies/medals too.
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: dcdavecollett on March 01, 2021, 12:08:05 AM
Must be doubtful.

Gray was already injury-prone at that stage and probably wouldn't have played a part in our glory years.

In fact, according to Gray, he even failed the medical at Wolves in 1979, but John Barnwell threatened to resign if the deal didn't go through!
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: OzVilla on March 03, 2021, 03:11:24 AM
A great listen and he's without doubt a Villa legend in my eyes.

Sounded like he was inferring he was partly responsible for Deadly appointing SGT MK1?
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: Exeter 77 on March 03, 2021, 09:18:01 AM
Must be doubtful.

Gray was already injury-prone at that stage and probably wouldn't have played a part in our glory years.

In fact, according to Gray, he even failed the medical at Wolves in 1979, but John Barnwell threatened to resign if the deal didn't go through!
In the 'Ticket To The Moon' book he suggests that the Wolves chairman invented the knee problem because he didn't want to spend all of the money, plus a bit more, they had somehow got out of Man City for Steve Daley.
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: Villa Lew on March 03, 2021, 09:49:26 AM
Good listen, a great hero of mine, Liverpool 5-1 possibly his greatest game for us, right up there with all the brilliant number 9s we've had in our history.
Title: Re: Andy Gray Interview - Claret and Blue Podcast
Post by: Mortimer's Bear on March 03, 2021, 09:54:16 AM
Smiled at the bnit about nlues trying to sign him, although heard it before.
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