Worst Villa keeper in 30 years

[Oscar Arce]

Jim Cumbes played for Villa in 1972-73.

If the criteria for this thread was worst Villa keeper you have ever seen, it would have to be a toss-up between:

Tommy Hughes.... the 'keeper signed from Chelsea in 1971, who kept dropping the ball but who also made some spectacular reflex saves, famously in a third division match with Notts County that was vital to our promotion, when he saves a penalty, and ironically was one of the last games he played to be replaced by..... Jim Cumbes.

John Phillips....signed by Tommy Docherty from Shrewsbury, but was far too slight to be a 'keeper, although again made superb reflex saves, he also used to drop the ball. Went on to sign for Chelsea and played for England at Under 23 level I think.

I also remember when I was a little kid Colin Withers having a few 'mares...particularly one game when he punched the ball in his own net.

[seanthevillan]

I've gone for Oakes. I know Enckleman made That mistake, but at the same time he made some class saves. I remember one game, may have been Graham Taylors first match against Chelsea when we drew 1-1 against them, and he made a series of spectacular saves. I never saw Oakes  do anything out of the ordinary and haven't even after he left Villa.

[tonyh]

Its got to be Jake Findlay surely its got to be jake Findlay .. yes/no

[Chico Hamilton III]

Why wasn't Jim "The boot" Coombes included in that list?

Cos Jim Cumbes played for us over 30 years ago

Jake Findlay - nice hair do, I'd forgotten about him

[Breezeblock]

Why wasn't Jim "The boot" Coombes included in that list?

Cos Jim Cumbes played for us over 30 years ago

Jake Findlay - nice hair do, I'd forgotten about him

Fuck me, i'm getting way too old!

[Flamingo Lane]

If it's our worst keeper ever it's Evan Williams.

[peter w]

Jake Findlay was okay. In the same way Ivor Linton was. I'd have thought Lee Butler would be in with a shout. But Kevin Poole probably. Oh, and John Burridge was sold for constantly shipping goals, so...charachter or not, and going just for first-team keepers it has to be Budgie.

[Oscar Arce]

If it's our worst keeper ever it's Evan Williams.

Yes, he was truly awful, but only on loan from Wolves if my memory serves.
Another loan 'keeper from the same period was even more awful, a Scottish International.
But I suppose he's exempt because he never actually played a first team game in his loan period.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Jim Cumbes played for Villa in 1972-73.

He did, in fact he also was our keeper in the 74/75 season, winning a League Cup medal. Did he make any appearances in our first season back in the old First Division, or was Budgie signed pre-season - memory playing tricks again.

[damon loves JT]

David Platt against Arsenal at Highbury? A truly comical performance.

Not sure that's quite fair. As I recall the game was over by the time he put the gloves on. 5-0 and I think he only let one goal in...

At least he had the bottle to do it. If your son did the same for the under-10's you'd expect him to get man of the match.

[Flamingo Lane]

Jim Cumbes played for Villa in 1972-73.

He did, in fact he also was our keeper in the 74/75 season, winning a League Cup medal. Did he make any appearances in our first season back in the old First Division, or was Budgie signed pre-season - memory playing tricks again.

Buridge was signed a couple of months in I think.

[Big Dick Edwards]

Jake Findlay was okay. In the same way Ivor Linton was. I'd have thought Lee Butler would be in with a shout. But Kevin Poole probably. Oh, and John Burridge was sold for constantly shipping goals, so...charachter or not, and going just for first-team keepers it has to be Budgie.

I thought nobody was going to mention Burridge.
He was a decent shotstopper but went missing whenever a cross came into the box.

And I'm afraid Les Sealey, God rest his soul, was equally poor.

[JD]

David Platt against Arsenal at Highbury? A truly comical performance.

Not sure that's quite fair. As I recall the game was over by the time he put the gloves on. 5-0 and I think he only let one goal in...

At least he had the bottle to do it. If your son did the same for the under-10's you'd expect him to get man of the match.

If my Son did it for the under 10's there would be trouble Damon, he's nearly 14.

I was only joking about Platty. The game had already gone and he got tremendous support from the Villa fans. The loudest cheer of the day was when he managed to catch the ball.  O:)

[We're splat out of luck]

Oakes? Who said Oakes? You're mad, fella - he was great in the air. Granted his shot-stopping wasn't superb, but he was a long way ahead of all the other 'keepers on that list in terms of quality if you ask me.

[Chris Harte]

I've gone for Oakes... I never saw Oakes  do anything out of the ordinary and haven't even after he left Villa.

You wasn't at the game against Everton in the mid- (or late-)1990s where he pulled out a diving left-handed save in the second minute in front of the Holte that was so good the crowd were still applauding it three minutes later, then?