The best performance by an opposition player

[JJ-AV]

Going back to Ian Wright - wasn't that the match when after he scored, he gave a bit of stick back, but then ended up giving his shirt to some people in the crowd behind the dug out? Doug Out. *waves red card* *waves £ sign* *walks and chants a bit*

I think you're right. My memory is a bit flaky, but I used to sit behind the dugout at that time, and I remember him coming off with a couple of minutes left and I and many others gave him a standing ovation, to which he responded by applauding us.
The season before he'd been getting murderous stick off the Holte because he was missing the Cup Winner's Cup final through suspension, and then went and stuck the winner in at that end in the last minute.

I'll say this for him, he used to take some stick but always took it the right way.

This is sort of how I remember it too.

Was this about 1994? I remember that game vaguely, it's one of my very earliest Villa memory.

He scored the last really late on didn't he?

Anyone have a match report?

[N'Rexy]

Christian Vieri. UEFA Cup against Athletico Madrid. Best off the ball movement I have ever seen.

[barrysleftfoot]

Agree with that Rexy, maybe Gabby should get a video of that game, and watch and learn.

   Le Tiss was always very good against us.

  3 stand out though  Gullit, about 2000, seemed to have so much time on the ball and space.

      George Weah......another Chelsk player, but just oozed quality.

      Freddie Kanoute.......about 2002, played up front on his own for WH, had Ugo, and Southgate against him, and was magnificent.A much better player than he was given credit for, would have loved him, still would, down VP.

[andyaston]

Christian Vieri. UEFA Cup against Athletico Madrid. Best off the ball movement I have ever seen.

Im with you on that one he gave Southgate dizzy spells.

[Holte L2]

Alexander Mostovoi, Celta Vigo Ueffa Cup. 1998/1999.

[Villafirst]

Mark Draper for Leicester City at Villa Park in 1995, you know, when we were 4-1 up with about 15 minutes to go - final score 4-4. He ran the show that night from midfield. I was delighted when we signed him a few months later. He was great in that 1995-96 season. His best performance for us in my opinion, was when we lost to Liverpool 3-0 at Old Trafford in the FA Cup semi-final a week after the League Cup victory at Wembley over Leeds. He was fantastic that day.

[Pat McMahon]

For youngsters like me, ahem, the only contender, never mind winner, is Cruyff in 1978. Being a churlish teenager, I didn't applaud him though, as I was in despair at being 2-0 down. Honorable mentions to Platini, Boniek and all the Italian world cup winners who came and ruined our dreams in 1983.

My own favourite though was Brendan Batson in 1981. Seconds to go and he plays a sublime pass (forget the back pass bit) through to Peter Withe, who lobs the ball over Tony Godden, and, 12 seconds later, after the slowest shot in history, we have a last gasp winner against the Boggies and true momentum in the title race. A very underrated player who never received full credit for his role in our league winning campaign.

[cdward]

Bastian Schweinstieger in Germanys 4-0 demolition of Argentina on Friday night.
That is exactly how a midfielder should play, he was sublime. He controlled the tempo of the game so Argentina were not allowed to play.
The best player on the pitch and that is saying something, with the likes of Messi, Tevez, etc' on show that day.
His mazy run into the box and cut back for Germanys 3rd was perfect.

[pooligan]

Got to be Bobby Tambling 5 goals for chelsea for me just in front of David white and Tony Woodcock .

[The Left Side]

Alexander Mostovoi, Celta Vigo Ueffa Cup. 1998/1999.

I remember we just couldn't do a thing that night.

[Zhong Yi]

years before my time but i have read about a certain player called Ted Drake who in one game single handedly took us to the cleaners

[Lucky Eddie]

years before my time but i have read about a certain player called Ted Drake who in one game single handedly took us to the cleaners

I have hand written season of notes for I think the 36/37 season? That my mate Bill, God rest his soul, kept in his Villa handbook and I'm sure Drake scored either five or all seven against us that day. Mind you there were ten or so goals in many fixtures that season as I recall.