Gods Stand out performances.

[andyh]

Boxing Day 1989
Villa 3 - Man u 0

Thank you very much for Paul McGrath, thank you very much, thank you very very very much.

[fbriai]

He's the best player I've seen play for the Villa as well.

It wasn't just what he did, it was the way that he did it - the little flicks, his reading of the game. That's saying something when you consider he was a centre-half.

He was immaculate.

[cheltenhamlion]

That salmonesque leap at Forest under BFR will live long in the memory.

[Fuse]

Boxing Day 1989
Villa 3 - Man u 0

Thank you very much for Paul McGrath, thank you very much, thank you very very very much.

That went round the ground for most of the 2nd half along with Fergie on the dole, Fergie, Fergie on the dole.

As already said he is the greatest player I have ever seen play for Villa.

[Kingthing]

This description won't do it justice but we drew 0-0 with Spurs at home on a Monday night (maybe the year we were runners up) A Spurs defender down in the corner of the North Stand/Witton lane hoofed a clearance, what seemed like, 100ft in the air down the line, he was running towards the Holte end, with a Spurs attacker breathing down his neck, as fast as he could whilst not taking his eye off the ball as it came hurtling down from space.

With his back to the approaching ball and the Spurs player ready to outrun him, he stop lifted up his foot as if doing an imaginary back heal and trapped the ball, turned and calmly brought the ball forward.

I remember it because it was one of most amazing pieces of skill I've ever seen.

[cheltenhamlion]

It was his positioning I used to marvel at as much as the fancy stuff.

I had decided to spend one home game as a youngster just watching him. We fired down the wing where a close chas to the ball ensued.

McGrath at that point wandered five yards forward and ten to the right. Their defender won the chase and cleared into our half, right to the spot McGrath had taken residence in whilst the chase was ongoing.

And I don't how many times I saw a striker running through on goal without the ball after being dispossessed almost without knowing it.

[D.boy]

Boxing Day 1989
Villa 3 - Man u 0

Thank you very much for Paul McGrath, thank you very much, thank you very very very much.

This was my first venture onto the right side of the Holte (due to the left being almost full and still a queue,) fantastic performance.

[barrysleftfoot]

  When he was at Ure, i always thought he was a better player than Bryan  Robson, and when he signed , even though his injury record was'nt great, i thought he was a gamble worth taking.

  In the 7/8 seasons he had with us,it was an absolute pleasure to watch him perform to such a high standard every game.

  2 points about Paul McGrath.

  Was he quick?.......................................................Don't know, never saw him have to sprint for a ball, he was always there.

  For me , he was the best defender i have ever seen.Better than Moore, Beckenbauer, Baresi, better than all of them.Not only the best Villa defender ever, but probably the best defender ever.

[QBVILLA]

That last sentence for me is spot on.I would add that had we now got a 25yr old Paul McGrath, he'd also the best midfielder around.

[Dave Clark Five]

The earlier reference to the great Bobby Moore reminded me how himself and Paul McGrath had that ability to rob a forward, do a side step and, with all the time in the world, look up and make a great pass. Danger over. There were so many times that McGrath had the crowd gasping at his skill. A huge wave of applause would go around the ground. How lucky we were to have had the privilege to see him play.

[Risso]

It's the casual way he'd bring a ball under control with a forward clipping at his heels, then turn round, bypass the forward like he wasn't there and play it out.  For a defender to be such a joy to watch is the sign of a truly magical player.

[theleftside]

as fans we love watching good players, sometimes we take it for granted especially if it is week in week out.  with macca we knew we were watching a great player.....and we never took it for granted. the only truly world class player i have ever seen play live in a villa shirt.

[KevinGage]

   It was only when Sid rejoined us that we had another player on that level.  I think McGrath and Cowans (with the goals of Platt) pretty much took us to runners-up on their own.

I'd agree with that.

Ridiculous player really.

Minimal training in the week and then the best player on the pitch every Saturday.

The mind could be playing tricks, but I seem to recall him backheeling the ball off the line when we beat Spurs 2-1 at their place in the LC Quarter Final.  I remember little moments like that, and him charging up the wing and setting up one of our goals in a 2-2 draw with Forest in 1991.  But as others have said, it's easier to pick out the exceptionally rare bad performances from him.

[KevinGage]

Talking about Paul McGrath.  I just want to know why he's regarded generally as our best ever play.  I've seen th 1994 match Ireland vs Italy which is incredible.

It's even more incredible when you realise he was up against Roberto Baggio, the previous years FIFA World Player of the Year, a player that scored for fun and Paul never gave him a look in. Baggio went on to be top scorer in that World Cup with Italy reaching the final. For me, he was right up there with his hero, Franco Baresi, as one of the greatest defenders of all time. Baresi had the advantage of playing at the back for fantastic Milan teams as well as World Cup winning and finalists, Italy.

A fair chunk of that Italy side had just turned Barcelona over a few weeks previous.  4-0 in the EC Final. Then they had the likes of Baggio and Signori on top of that. 

And a half fit McGrath (he still had an issue with his shoulder dating back to the LC final) was the best player on display.

When asked afterwards which Irish players could make it in Serie A, both Mancini and Baggio said Keane and McGrath.

[Warren Aspinall]

Not a stand out performance, but does anybody else remember the whirling fist salute to the Holte whenever he made a goalsaving challenge. It was as if he was saying 'that's for you lot'.