Biggest waste of talent in a Villa shirt ever?

[1874]

I'd go for Hendrie.

[Lambert and Payne]

Bosko Balaban, truly awful

[The Left Side]

SVC for me

[Pat McMahon]

Bosko Balaban, truly awful

Lambert,

I agree that he was truly, utterly shite but in keeping strictly to the title of this thread I don't think he wasted any talent. He was just utter shite.

[Risso]

Dalian Atkinson was a brilliant player, and I don't think we can argue that he wasted his talent as such, given that he won the League Cup in 94 for us almost single handed, and that we also finished runners up with him in the side.  I know what people mean though when they say he could have been better, but if he had had the work ethic to match his skill, he'd have been one of the best in the world and probably wouldn't have been a Villa player!

I still don't understand why his goal against Wimbledon doesn't get as much comment from non-Villa fans.  It has absolutely everything, pace, skill, dribbling, and a brilliant chip o finish.  Even with my claret-and-blue specs on it's easily the best goal I've ever seen.

The biggest waste of talent for me was Curcic.  He could have been the complete midfielder, and the ball looked like it was glued to his laces when he ran with it.

[supertom]

I forgive Atkinson a lot, largely due to the 94 LC and the fact he was my favourite player. He was also very good the year previously alongside Deano. At least he's had a decent season in a Villa shirt. SVC was just awful nine times out of ten sadly. The Athletico game was a bitter pill, not just because we were knocked out of the Wafer cup but because we got a teaser of Collymores ability.

[andyh]

Collymore for me, without a doubt.
I have never, ever wanted a player at the Villa as much as I wanted him to come.
When I saw that headline on Teletext 'Villa swoop for Collymore' I think I had tears in m eyes.

The disappointment that followed is well documented, but even right up until the end, I always hoped he just might come good for us.   

[LeeB]

Collymore could have been a good player for us but Atkinson could have been world-class. He had everything; pace, strength, he could run with the ball, pass, shoot, head, score, create. There wasn't a player in the world who wouldn't have been glad to have part of his game. And I'm still not sure whether he was our biggest waste of talent because Mark Bosnich could have been the best goalkeeper around.   

Atkinson is the one, he had absolutely everything as a player.

[silhillvilla]

JLo

[andyaston]

Collymore could have been a good player for us but Atkinson could have been world-class. He had everything; pace, strength, he could run with the ball, pass, shoot, head, score, create. There wasn't a player in the world who wouldn't have been glad to have part of his game. And I'm still not sure whether he was our biggest waste of talent because Mark Bosnich could have been the best goalkeeper around.   

Atkinson is the one, he had absolutely everything as a player.

He did. But, he delivered a fair bit in the season we almost won the Premiership and then got us the vital goals in the semi and final of the Cup in 1994. Ok, he should of done so much more given his talent. Collymore rarely delivered, indeed, most of his few goals were in high scoring wins.

[villan from luton]

Certainly tosser Collymore for me, he was the massive Villa fan and displayed about 1% of the passion Ian Taylor did, who had about 40% of his talent but a great attitude. We would have won the league if Atkinson had not got injured, but understand why people say waste of talent

[Holte L2]

Stephen Ireland. What a Wanker.

[Big Dick Edwards]

Another vote for Collymore. He had it all, except the determination to display his undoubted talent on a consistent basis.

Atkinson too could have been an England regular. He at least was a major factor in us winning the League Cup in 1994.

[silhillvilla]

Stephen Ireland. What a Wanker.

Hard to disagree.

[clash city rocker]

Sasa. The twat signed for us then completely lost all his marbles . If he had a medical with us it certainly didnt look at his mental fitness !