Great Merson interview on AVFC site

[JUAN PABLO]

[supertom]

It was a shame really that his career here fizzled out like it did. That was Graham Taylor's perogative though. He seemed to come in and then take some of our more technically gifted players out the side for one reason or another. He preferred energetic players in midfield and I also recall like some managers we've had GT inherited a squad he didn't feel was fit enough (Houllier was the same, he felt we'd been slacking under MON). Part of the reason he ended up dropping Merson was because he wasn't fit enough. He was carrying more weight than normal too. Was a bit of fat bastard by the time he was at Pompey onwards. Likewise it was a shame that he came in and almost instantly dropped our top scorer JPA. I thought Pablo was well on his way to netting 20 goals that season but GT clearly didn't fancy him.

[Gerrin]

It's funny but I often find him to be quite negative about us on Sky

Not sure about that. have a look at this;

Which player were they talking about leaving Newcastle to go to Villa? Obviously a couple of seasons back.

I'll never forgot that game against Leeds in the Cup, Merse and Benni were amazing, to have one player of that calibre, but to have them both in the same team!

Can't see the link, but was it Milner?

I think it must be Carroll, because he mentions signing Bent in January too. Think we chose the better option there.

[eamonn]

It was a shame really that his career here fizzled out like it did. That was Graham Taylor's perogative though. He seemed to come in and then take some of our more technically gifted players out the side for one reason or another. He preferred energetic players in midfield and I also recall like some managers we've had GT inherited a squad he didn't feel was fit enough (Houllier was the same, he felt we'd been slacking under MON). Part of the reason he ended up dropping Merson was because he wasn't fit enough. He was carrying more weight than normal too. Was a bit of fat bastard by the time he was at Pompey onwards. Likewise it was a shame that he came in and almost instantly dropped our top scorer JPA. I thought Pablo was well on his way to netting 20 goals that season but GT clearly didn't fancy him.

I can't remember the circumstances of Merson leaving. What was his report like with Graham Taylor from their England days together? He did score on Taylor's first game back as boss - a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. A few months later we won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on the last day of the season. Can't remember if Merson was involved but Crouch and Vassell had productive afternoons.

Oyvind Leonhardsen was brought in late that summer, presumably to replace the flair and experienced craft of Merson. I don't think Oyvind was as bad as some people say (certainly did more than Holman) but 02/03 was a real struggle, especially with the two awful derby results and things were shaken up again the following summer when O'Dreary arrived.

[VinnieChase84]

It was a shame really that his career here fizzled out like it did. That was Graham Taylor's perogative though. He seemed to come in and then take some of our more technically gifted players out the side for one reason or another. He preferred energetic players in midfield and I also recall like some managers we've had GT inherited a squad he didn't feel was fit enough (Houllier was the same, he felt we'd been slacking under MON). Part of the reason he ended up dropping Merson was because he wasn't fit enough. He was carrying more weight than normal too. Was a bit of fat bastard by the time he was at Pompey onwards. Likewise it was a shame that he came in and almost instantly dropped our top scorer JPA. I thought Pablo was well on his way to netting 20 goals that season but GT clearly didn't fancy him.

I can't remember the circumstances of Merson leaving. What was his report like with Graham Taylor from their England days together? He did score on Taylor's first game back as boss - a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. A few months later we won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on the last day of the season. Can't remember if Merson was involved but Crouch and Vassell had productive afternoons.

Oyvind Leonhardsen was brought in late that summer, presumably to replace the flair and experienced craft of Merson. I don't think Oyvind was as bad as some people say (certainly did more than Holman) but 02/03 was a real struggle, especially with the two awful derby results and things were shaken up again the following summer when O'Dreary arrived.

Oyvind was only bought after an opening day 0-0 at spurs. I distinctly remember Taylor saying that he didn't even realise he still played for spurs until he as his name and squad number on the back of the match day programme.

[eamonn]

Yeah, remember that. Were Norway in England's World Cup '94 qualification group? Might have impressed Taylor then. Though he was always a good player for Wimbledon.

So from Merson to Leonhardsen to Berger in consecutive seasons and different managers, was it?

[Uknowthescore]

Fair play to him if I ever see him I will but him a pint

[Meanwood Villa]

Fair play to him if I ever see him I will but him a pint

I'd lend him 50 quid for the bookies but only if he promised to spend all week there trying to win it me back.

[villan from luton]

I think he did well at Villa, showed some great moments and then some less so.

As for the comments about Spurs being a bigger club than us well they are at the moment IMO, is he wrong to give his view as a tele pundit? Also, is his comments that we might struggle without Benteke wrong, he is a major player for us? I think he is just being honest and prefer that to some old Liverpool scum seeing them lose 4-0 and adamant they had been robbed. I think Merson is just saying what other people are thinking. Another comment I readin the article is the one try saying to people in London that Villa are a big club. Having worked down there for 26 years I can vouch for that, but still recite 26 May 1982 to them and they piss off

[Mortimer's Bear]

I absolutely loved the Magic Man, he was the last player to get me up off my seat with excitement every time he touched the ball.

His goal that relegated Coventry is one of my favourite ever goals.

[PeterWithesShin]

Was he called the Magic Man because he disappeared in front of your very eyes during games?

*innocent smiley*

[nevillain]

Remember him being at the 5-1 demolition of small heath. He was in a corporate in the Witton Lane stand close to the Holte. We all started singing "One Paul Merson" he stood up up and clapped then bowed down in homage. Remember him joining in the "Easy, Easy" chant. Class

[Somniloquism]

It was a shame really that his career here fizzled out like it did. That was Graham Taylor's perogative though. He seemed to come in and then take some of our more technically gifted players out the side for one reason or another. He preferred energetic players in midfield and I also recall like some managers we've had GT inherited a squad he didn't feel was fit enough (Houllier was the same, he felt we'd been slacking under MON). Part of the reason he ended up dropping Merson was because he wasn't fit enough. He was carrying more weight than normal too. Was a bit of fat bastard by the time he was at Pompey onwards. Likewise it was a shame that he came in and almost instantly dropped our top scorer JPA. I thought Pablo was well on his way to netting 20 goals that season but GT clearly didn't fancy him.

We were also in a similar situation to just after MON left where we had ageing players on big money and could not afford it anymore. We sold Yorke and had to buy Dublin and Merse but probably paid them both more then what Yorke was on in the first place. It was the start of the last round of Doug cost cutting.

[johnboy]

I absolutely loved the Magic Man, he was the last player to get me up off my seat with excitement every time he touched the ball.

His goal that relegated Coventry is one of my favourite ever goals.

one mine also. I was in line when he kicked it, it was like time stood still.
Loved watching him.

[kippaxvilla2]

He was one of the finest passers in the game and certainly the finest passer we  have had since Sid.  And he does love us.  When he speaks negatively he is speaking as a fan - a typical fickle fan.  His piss takes of the noses are hilarious.  But for the most part he is just honest, tell it how it is.  I didn't see the bit about telling Benteke to join Spurs but he was reflecting his impression of our ambition if he did say it.  Just honest.