Ashley Westwood - Sold to Burnley

[Jimbo]

Ashley Westwood being a decent footballer is fake news. So fake, really. The fakest news. Believe me.

[KevinGage]

Super Garry Parker!

His goal away against Man Citeh that year was one of the goals of the season for me, yet it rarely gets mentioned.

Though he did have a fair bit of competition that year, in fairness.

[Risso]

If this thread ever gets locked or looks like falling from the top of the board, can I make a plea for it to be a sticky. Considering Westwood is a jobbing footballer, seemingly nice bloke, unspectacular and has a bland mediated persona, the emotion he attracts is astonishing. It's also a really good example of how blind hope can turn to hyperbolic bile.

Disclaimer: I like him. Model pro, decent footballer (you simply don't get a career in the pro ranks without being one), clearly cares about his job but sadly wasn't right for us and the job we needed. I reckon the only difference between him and Garry Parker is the club they found themselves in. In the blame list for our current position, he doesn't make my top 100.

Westwood up there with Garry Parker? Ha ha!
If you honestly think that then you either never saw Parker in a Villa shirt or have been brainwashed. Honestly it's an insult to mention him in the same sentence.

I went to probably 75% of Parker's games for us. I didn't rate him, and that's the point. He was clearly a very good player and part of a side I couldn't get enough of seeing. But because I saw things in his game I didn't like, I had a skewed view of him. Ditto John Gregory as a player, and Ayew for that matter. It's clear there's a lot of people who are the same about Westwood, just multiplied several times over. Works the other way of course. I was very forgiving of Tony Daley's crosses.

I'd quit while I was miles behind if I was you.

[Risso]

Oh and there's a video of Saint Ashley Nice Guy III spitting on an opposition player today doing the rounds.

[oldham_villa]

i'm glad i was sat down when i heard the comparison of Garry Parker and Ashley Westwood.

Westwood was a neat passer, which in 9.25 times out of 10 went back or square.

Parker switched play, saw a forward pass, and boy, could he bag!

Absolutely no contest (IMO of course)

Nick

[ktvillan]

If this thread ever gets locked or looks like falling from the top of the board, can I make a plea for it to be a sticky. Considering Westwood is a jobbing footballer, seemingly nice bloke, unspectacular and has a bland mediated persona, the emotion he attracts is astonishing. It's also a really good example of how blind hope can turn to hyperbolic bile.

Disclaimer: I like him. Model pro, decent footballer (you simply don't get a career in the pro ranks without being one), clearly cares about his job but sadly wasn't right for us and the job we needed. I reckon the only difference between him and Garry Parker is the club they found themselves in. In the blame list for our current position, he doesn't make my top 100.

Westwood up there with Garry Parker? Ha ha!
If you honestly think that then you either never saw Parker in a Villa shirt or have been brainwashed. Honestly it's an insult to mention him in the same sentence.

I went to probably 75% of Parker's games for us. I didn't rate him, and that's the point. He was clearly a very good player and part of a side I couldn't get enough of seeing. But because I saw things in his game I didn't like, I had a skewed view of him. Ditto John Gregory as a player, and Ayew for that matter. It's clear there's a lot of people who are the same about Westwood, just multiplied several times over. Works the other way of course. I was very forgiving of Tony Daley's crosses.

I think your point is somewhat lost because your view of Parker would be very much a minority one.  Whereas I think the view that Westwood was at best "meh" is very much a majority one.

[KevinGage]

What I would say in defence of Simon is that outside of that purple patch in 1992/93, he didn't do a great deal either the season before or after (nice goal at home to Chelsea in 1991/92 aside).

But what a purple patch.  In contrast, Westwood delivered five years of hearing aid beige.

[Tayls_7]

I came away from Bramal Lane after Parker's brace to find my car on bricks. Did I care? Westwood made me come away from VP wishing I had cataracts.

[Jimbo]

One thing Garry Parker could do that Westwood can't is kick a football. But when it comes to doing that stampy thing a yard away from a player, occasionally raising one knee as though attempting a tackle as said player comfortably strides away with the ball, Westwood is admittedly world class.

[oldham_villa]

Parker never really got back into the team after Ron signed Townsend, which was a shame

[wince]

Think we all secretly love him as plenty of discussion of a now ex player going on. Wonder how long it will be until we admit we miss him....i reckon the same amount of time it takes to reach the edge of our solar system in the chuckle brothers peddle car

[dave.woodhall]

If this thread ever gets locked or looks like falling from the top of the board, can I make a plea for it to be a sticky. Considering Westwood is a jobbing footballer, seemingly nice bloke, unspectacular and has a bland mediated persona, the emotion he attracts is astonishing. It's also a really good example of how blind hope can turn to hyperbolic bile.

Disclaimer: I like him. Model pro, decent footballer (you simply don't get a career in the pro ranks without being one), clearly cares about his job but sadly wasn't right for us and the job we needed. I reckon the only difference between him and Garry Parker is the club they found themselves in. In the blame list for our current position, he doesn't make my top 100.

Westwood up there with Garry Parker? Ha ha!
If you honestly think that then you either never saw Parker in a Villa shirt or have been brainwashed. Honestly it's an insult to mention him in the same sentence.

I went to probably 75% of Parker's games for us. I didn't rate him, and that's the point. He was clearly a very good player and part of a side I couldn't get enough of seeing. But because I saw things in his game I didn't like, I had a skewed view of him. Ditto John Gregory as a player, and Ayew for that matter. It's clear there's a lot of people who are the same about Westwood, just multiplied several times over. Works the other way of course. I was very forgiving of Tony Daley's crosses.

I'd quit while I was miles behind if I was you.

Like you never do?

[supertom]

They had the Burnley game on the radio today. I listened in and wondered if Westwood was playing. For a clear 20 minutes his name wasn't mentioned once. I was beginning to think he'd been rested. Then the first mention he got was slicing a shot near the corner flag.

Shit player.

Comparisons to Garry Parker are ludicrous. The babbling, frothy lipped nonsense of total lunacy.

[Risso]

If this thread ever gets locked or looks like falling from the top of the board, can I make a plea for it to be a sticky. Considering Westwood is a jobbing footballer, seemingly nice bloke, unspectacular and has a bland mediated persona, the emotion he attracts is astonishing. It's also a really good example of how blind hope can turn to hyperbolic bile.

Disclaimer: I like him. Model pro, decent footballer (you simply don't get a career in the pro ranks without being one), clearly cares about his job but sadly wasn't right for us and the job we needed. I reckon the only difference between him and Garry Parker is the club they found themselves in. In the blame list for our current position, he doesn't make my top 100.

Westwood up there with Garry Parker? Ha ha!
If you honestly think that then you either never saw Parker in a Villa shirt or have been brainwashed. Honestly it's an insult to mention him in the same sentence.

I went to probably 75% of Parker's games for us. I didn't rate him, and that's the point. He was clearly a very good player and part of a side I couldn't get enough of seeing. But because I saw things in his game I didn't like, I had a skewed view of him. Ditto John Gregory as a player, and Ayew for that matter. It's clear there's a lot of people who are the same about Westwood, just multiplied several times over. Works the other way of course. I was very forgiving of Tony Daley's crosses.

I'd quit while I was miles behind if I was you.

Like you never do?

I haven't just compared Parker to Westwood.

[dave.woodhall]

You mean Garry Parker the "very good player"?