Superstars who almost become a Villa Player

[Salsa Party Animal]

Gary Lineker - Was rumoured to be moving to Villa Park before Tottenham bought him from Barcelona

Christain Vieri - John Gregory could have bought him but we didn't for some reason. He would be ideal number 9

Juninho - What a player - not sure why it didn't happens.

Any more.

[jibba81]

Is this the Carlos Alberto thread?

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Gazza every close season for a while, usually when Doug saw season ticket sales were lagging a little.

[supertom]

BRF almost bought Oliver Bierhoff didn't he? He didn't rate the lad apparently.

[gerags]

Juninho - What a player - not sure why it didn't happens.

I think it may have been because Doug wouldn't pay some contract pay off on Middlesbrough's behalf.

[The Man With A Stick]

Rowley Regis' very own Iniesta, Carlton "18 caps" Palmer.

[eric woolban woolban]

Robbie Keane.

Think he would have become a superstar if he joined the Villa and stayed for a number of season's.

Instead he went to Coventry and never really settled at a club long enough.

[dave.woodhall]

Juninho - What a player - not sure why it didn't happens.

I think it may have been because Doug wouldn't pay some contract pay off on Middlesbrough's behalf.

I'm not sure about this one. On the one hand, it was the last time Doug was believed when he said we were in for a player, but then again Juninho hardly did anything after that, so maybe we got away with it.

[VillaZogmariner]

I remember reading in Deadly Doug that we nearly signed Juninho and Roberto Carlos in a joint deal after the Umbro Tournament in 1995.

Les Ferdinand is another that springs to mind too.

[Exeter 77]

There was the link to Alan Shearer in the Autumn of 1998 (I think) - when Gregory had taken us to the top of the league.

[curiousorange]

Radamel Falcao is about to join Spurrrrz for £stupid millions - we've been linked to him for every summer since time immemorial.

[Richie]

Big Fat Benni McCarthy was going to be the best centre forward we ever had according to John Gregory - never happened.

I remember Les Ferdinand had a choice of us or Newcastle in the Summer of 95 and opted for the latter. If we would have had him up front instead of Savo in 95/96, who knows what we could have achieved. The bloke was a goal machine.

[Big Dick Edwards]

Roberto Carlos, if Ellis is to be believed. He could have had him but Brian Little preferred Alan Wright!

[Meanwood Villa]

Roberto Carlos, if Ellis is to be believed. He could have had him but Brian Little preferred Alan Wright!

Too right. Great player Wrighty

[Damo70]

I think Brian Little's version of the Roberto Carlos story was that Doug seemed to think he'd unearthed a hidden nugget and Brian had to point out he'd been playing for Brazil for three years and was on his way to Inter for a huge fee!