Villa greatest XI ever?

[rooster85]

Didn't find such topic on the board, so take a break and look

Recently i've read a lot of articles about Villa greatest players, discussions about our greatest eleven etc. From all these materials i've compiled an all time greatest Aston Villa XI. I've tried to include players from various generations. It wasn't easy, because Villa had so many great players, especially strikers. Ok, here's the XI:

 GK - Jimmy Rimmer (77-83; 229 app - 0 goals)

 RB - John Gidman (71-79; 197-9)
 CB - Howard Spencer (1894-1907; 293-2)
 CB - Paul McGrath (89-96; 252-9)
 LB - Charlie Aitken (59-76; 561-14)

 RW - David Platt (88-91; 121-50, although i know that he mainly played as off. midfielder)
 CM - Dennis Mortimer (75-85; 317-31)
 CM - Gordon Cowans (76-85, 88-91, 93-94; 414-49)
 LW - Peter McParland (52-62; 293-98 )

 CF - Billy Walker (19-34; 478-214)
 CF - Harry Hampton (04-20; 341-215)

 Well, any thoughts (especially about RW choice)?

[nigel]

It's always interested me on people’s Greatest Villa team, mainly due to the era they were bought up in.
I always feel that certain parameters should apply though and those are: Time at club and appearances. You could go for, say, 5 years or, at least, 200 appearances. This obviously takes Platt out. Gidman, who would be my right back too, although only 197 apps, was a first team member for 8 years, so would be okay.
I'll have to have a think now.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I wouldnt include Platt in a best ever modern era XI, never mind all time.
In my era, I would shade Colin Withers just ahead of Jimmy Rimmer, but also what about Sam Hardy ?
Tom`Pongo` Waring may want to take issue with either Hampton or Walker, his strike rate beats both of them.
Also what about Brian Little and Eric Houghton ?

[nigel]

My era started in the 3rd division, but I'll include Pongo for his scoring record 159 in 216 games.

                                           Rimmer

                      Gidman   McGrath   Evans   Aitken

                      Little   Mortimer   Rioch   Cowans

                                     Waring   Shaw

[cdbearsfan]

No need to stick to a rigid 4-4-2 as only a small percentage of our best teams played that way. I'm going for a weird 3-4-3.

GK Sam Hardy

DEF Paul McGrath
DEF Howard Spencer
DEF James Cowan

RW Charlie Athersmith
CM Dennis Mortimer (c)
CM Gordon Cowans
LW Peter McParland

FOR Archie Hunter
FOR Pongo Waring
FOR Brian Little

Subs: Jimmy Rimmer, Gareth Southgate, Frank Barson, John Gidman, Johnny Dixon, Tony Morley, Harry Hampton.

Manager: Ron Saunders

Assistant Manager: Tony Barton

Director of Football: George Ramsey

Chairman: Frederick Rinder

President Emeritus: William McGregor

Ball-boy: Neil Rioch

[oldham_villa]

From players I've seen;

Rimmer

Gidman
McGrath
Evans
Gibson

Mortimer
Cowans
Platt

Shaw
Withe
Yorke

Subs: Laursen, Saunders, Daley, Bremner, Bosnich, Morley

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

For all the right reasons I'd have to go for F Moss (snr) at CB!

[Lobsterboy]

I'm a traditionalist so will go for Rimmer, Swain, Evans, McNaught, Gibson, Mortimer, Bremner, Cowans, Morley, Shaw and Withe

Subs: Spink, Aitken, McGrath, Little, Barry, Yorke, Platt

[nigel]

I'm a traditionalist so will go for Rimmer, Swain, Evans, McNaught, Gibson, Mortimer, Bremner, Cowans, Morley, Shaw and Withe

Subs: Spink, Aitken, McGrath, Little, Barry, Yorke, Platt

Think Gary Williams would be a bit cheesed off at being left out of your, all but one, European Cup winning team

[nigel]

No need to stick to a rigid 4-4-2 as only a small percentage of our best teams played that way. I'm going for a weird 3-4-3.

Very true.
mine is more of a 4-3-3 with Little being the 3rd forward, but with the way Gidman attacked, at times it could even be 3-3-4 

[Rico]

The best team is not necessarily made up of the best players. For example Hodge, Callaghan & Curcic were all talented players but absolute cnuts! So for me the 81-82 team is undoubtedly the greatest Villa team ever. Everyone pulling in the same direction, and a mixture of talent and shear god damn relentlessness. The current team could do well to try to learn from them!

[darren woolley]

I would go Rimmer,Williams,McGrath,Evans,Staunton,Motimer,Cowans,Bremner,Morley,Shaw,Withe

Subs Spink,Little,Taylor,McNaught,Gidman,Yorke,Waring

[rooster85]

When i compiled XI from the first post, i had most problems with right winger. I've thought about including Charlie Athersmith (very important player from the "golden age"), didn't know that Brian Little also played on right wing sometimes.

Good point with Pongo, but in that case, Hampton or Walker must sit on the bench...

I would rather stick to the classic 4-4-2, just because, maybe someday, i would like compare our greatest XI to the "greatest" of other teams, which are made mainly in 442 formation

Does any player from the last, lets say 25 years (besides McGrath of course) deserve to be in our greatest team?

[oldham_villa]

Does any player from the last, lets say 25 years (besides McGrath of course) deserve to be in our greatest team?

They do if that's what the poster thinks. I chose Platt and Yorke in mine as I genuinely think they have been up there in comparison with other Villa players since the late 70's. Others may disagree but that's football

[Louzie0]

I read the OP and thought yes I like that, and then I read the following posts....

You know, it's impossible to pick the best team because we have had such superb players over the years.  Try to keep the players from any of the posts in here out of the first 11.

Can we possibly go for the top 100 as a squad?