Concrete Ron

[Damo70]

Paul McGrath's performance against Italy was incredible. He was also playing with just one good arm that day due to some sort of virus which pretty much paralysed him from the shoulder down on one side. When SGT was manager there was more than one occasion when David Platt pretty much carried a limited England side.

[Clark W Griswold]

It's irrelevant anyway. Apart from McGrath (obviously), Mountfield, Neilsen, Teale, Ugo, Southgate, Alpay, Mellberg and Laursen were all better than Vlaar in a Villa shirt and that's all that counts for me. He's probably the best since Laursen but only marginally and that really, really doesn't say a lot.

[Damo70]

I would say Dunne and Collins were both better than him in their first season at the club. But it was downhill from there for both of them.

[pauliewalnuts]

Baresi went to McGrath at full-time and said it was the best he'd ever seen. Vlaar's been fantastic, but I agree with RRR - God withstood an absolute onslaught that day, and withstood it calmly and without alarm.

There used to be (since been taken down) a clip on youtube, a compilation of every intervention McGrath made in that game against Italy, and it was utterly gobsmacking. A truly immense performance.

[KevinGage]

Baresi went to McGrath at full-time and said it was the best he'd ever seen. Vlaar's been fantastic, but I agree with RRR - God withstood an absolute onslaught that day, and withstood it calmly and without alarm.

Baresi and Baggio were asked after the game who out of the Irish players could play in Serie A.  Both said McGrarth and Keane.

Also, when Signori was badgered by the Italian press to explain the defeat after the game, he said "We tried, but McGrath was everywhere," or words to that effect.

[saunders_heroes]

It's irrelevant anyway. Apart from McGrath (obviously), Mountfield, Neilsen, Teale, Ugo, Southgate, Alpay, Mellberg and Laursen were all better than Vlaar in a Villa shirt and that's all that counts for me. He's probably the best since Laursen but only marginally and that really, really doesn't say a lot.

Agree with this 100%.

[silhillvilla]

There's a bloody great pic somewhere of the imperious McGrath soaring above Baggio heading the ball into the NYC sky. Absolute colossus that day. To put vlaar in that category is just mental.

[Toronto Villa]

There's a bloody great pic somewhere of the imperious McGrath soaring above Baggio heading the ball into the NYC sky. Absolute colossus that day. To put vlaar in that category is just mental.

Messi is arguably the greatest player the world has ever seen. Vlaar had him locked up all game. That's not my opinion. That's what happened and has been recognized the world over. McGrath put in one of the most dominant and dynamic performances in a WC game ever in 1994 of that there is no doubt. But just because Vlaar's was perhaps more a composed and disciplined display doesn't mean it shouldn't be discussed in the same conversation.

My original point wasn't about one game it was the entire WC of the two players, and while the Italy game stands out for McGrath, it is possible to make a solid argument that Vlaar over a greater number of games put together more consistent displays at a very high level. It's also important not to forget the present when it is always tempting to wax lyrical about the past. Nobody is contesting McGrath's greatness, but it is possible in doing say acknowledge the greatness of others in the game today.

[Steve67]

I wonder whether Vlaar is better with better players around him. Very ordinary for Villa but then again, some of the defenders he has played with have been truly awful. Given he is 29 and just had a good world cup though, anything about 5mill is a steal. He's ok, never ever in the legend club at Villa though!

[thick_mike]

There's a bloody great pic somewhere of the imperious McGrath soaring above Baggio heading the ball into the NYC sky. Absolute colossus that day. To put vlaar in that category is just mental.

Messi is arguably the greatest player the world has ever seen. Vlaar had him locked up all game. That's not my opinion. That's what happened and has been recognized the world over. McGrath put in one of the most dominant and dynamic performances in a WC game ever in 1994 of that there is no doubt. But just because Vlaar's was perhaps more a composed and disciplined display doesn't mean it shouldn't be discussed in the same conversation.

My original point wasn't about one game it was the entire WC of the two players, and while the Italy game stands out for McGrath, it is possible to make a solid argument that Vlaar over a greater number of games put together more consistent displays at a very high level. It's also important not to forget the present when it is always tempting to wax lyrical about the past. Nobody is contesting McGrath's greatness, but it is possible in doing say acknowledge the greatness of others in the game today.

McGrath's greatness is not measured by one performance against Italy, but over a long career with Villa. Ron has been good in a poor defence for villa and great over a few games for Holland, but McGrath was great over seasons for villa and the Republic of Ireland.

[silhillvilla]

Vlaar did well but you need to keep some perspective. In another situation he's given a pen away and they're out (it was a pen awell). Then he's missed that pen. Yes brave of him to step up, but poor pen. Good tournament , yes, great? No.

[Toronto Villa]

There's a bloody great pic somewhere of the imperious McGrath soaring above Baggio heading the ball into the NYC sky. Absolute colossus that day. To put vlaar in that category is just mental.

Messi is arguably the greatest player the world has ever seen. Vlaar had him locked up all game. That's not my opinion. That's what happened and has been recognized the world over. McGrath put in one of the most dominant and dynamic performances in a WC game ever in 1994 of that there is no doubt. But just because Vlaar's was perhaps more a composed and disciplined display doesn't mean it shouldn't be discussed in the same conversation.

My original point wasn't about one game it was the entire WC of the two players, and while the Italy game stands out for McGrath, it is possible to make a solid argument that Vlaar over a greater number of games put together more consistent displays at a very high level. It's also important not to forget the present when it is always tempting to wax lyrical about the past. Nobody is contesting McGrath's greatness, but it is possible in doing say acknowledge the greatness of others in the game today.

McGrath's greatness is not measured by one performance against Italy, but over a long career with Villa. Ron has been good in a poor defence for villa and great over a few games for Holland, but McGrath was great over seasons for villa and the Republic of Ireland.

I'm not comparing the individual abilities of the two players or their careers

[brontebilly]

I would say Dunne and Collins were both better than him in their first season at the club. But it was downhill from there for both of them.

agreed. Alpay at his best was superb for Villa. Wouldnt be against selling Vlaar, his price will be inflated to 6m or so now. We should be able to get a much better less injury prone central defender for that money

[Steve67]

I would say Dunne and Collins were both better than him in their first season at the club. But it was downhill from there for both of them.

agreed. Alpay at his best was superb for Villa. Wouldnt be against selling Vlaar, his price will be inflated to 6m or so now. We should be able to get a much better less injury prone central defender for that money

Good shout Brontebilly. I agree.

[dave.woodhall]

Vlaar did well but you need to keep some perspective. In another situation he's given a pen away and they're out (it was a pen awell). Then he's missed that pen. Yes brave of him to step up, but poor pen. Good tournament , yes, great? No.

You must be a wow at parties.