Paul McGrath - don't worry

[fbriai]

The 'backhealed volleyed' clearances, the 'no chance of catching the striker' then easily winning the ball challenges. The telling Southgate and Barry where to stand and what to do and making them look good while all the time making his job look piss easy. That effortless looking run even though his knees where knackered. The song thanking Yanited for his services (and every time he played not quite believing they had sold him). Watching the Ireland v Italy World Cup game USA 94 and seeing one of the best performances ever and thinking "he's ours he is". The shyness, dignity and humility of the man every time you heard him speak.

Paul McGrath, I can say I saw him play for my team. I was one of the lucky ones.

The greatest.

This is spot on for me.

I think that, for me, he will probably always be the greatest, regardless of who we might sign in the future. I guess this is as much to do with my age and passion for the Villa in the period in which he was with us, as anything else. I remember particularly identifying with him as I played centre-half at that time and watching him from the Holte every week was a great lesson.

What a great player.

The fortunes of the team were fairly mixed throughout his time, but his performances were not.

He's mentioned in the same breath as Franco Baresi or Paulo Maldini, which is quite right, but in my view it's they that are fortunate to be so.
I'm not so sure their performances would have matched the level of Paul's had they been playing for Villa and Ireland instead of Milan and Italy.

I also think I'll go to the grave believing he was the best I've ever seen.

I completely agree, Lee. In fact, I would have all three of them in my all-time XI defence. With Gigi Buffon behind them.

[Drummond]

You wouldn't need a right back.

[cheltenhamlion]

Maldini, Baresi and McGrath? You wouldn't have to bother with midfield cover either.

[LeeB]

Maldini, Baresi and McGrath? You wouldn't have to bother with midfield cover either.

Yes, you could just go with Sid, Platty, Daley and Morley

[dave shelley]

As I've said before, I'm privileged to have seen Paul McGrath play.  Also, the privilege extends to Peter McParland and Gerry Hitchens, but the one word that defines McGrath...unique.

You would have to have seen McParland in full flow.  No word of ours can do him justice.  Gerry Hitchens likewise.  Imagine Benteke with a bit less skill but a more determined attitude to overcome any shortcomings and, not as I recall the tallest centre-forward I have seen.  My first real Villa hero's, oh for the like of those two today.

[Pat McMahon]

I loved McGrath but reckon he is not so highly rated outside Villa and Ireland.

I no longer indulge in "best ever selections from the league or the world" but mates from other clubs always accused me of rose tinted glasses when I mention him, though they definitely agree he was a wonderful player.

I have yet to meet a Manyoo fan who would pick him in their best team.

[Malandro]

Being part Italian but at the same time a villa fan, I'd put McGrath just a few points above Maldini.

Nothing in the game has matched these in the last twenty years in my opinion.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I wonder how do Bobby Moore and Billy Wright is compared to Paul McGrath. Billy Wright never got a booking.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I have yet to meet a Manyoo fan who would pick him in their best team.

You sound surprised.

[ChicagoLion]

I wonder how do Bobby Moore and Billy Wright is compared to Paul McGrath. Billy Wright never got a booking.

The more  relevant comparison is Billy Wright and Gary Newbon,

It was s game of 2 halves.

[Malandro]

I have yet to meet a Manyoo fan who would pick him in their best team.

You sound surprised.

I wonder what percentage would even know who he is.

[fbriai]

I loved McGrath but reckon he is not so highly rated outside Villa and Ireland.

I've encountered this too, Pat. I've even had Irish fans tell me I rate him too highly. I'm unsure where the reason for this falls on the scale between my bias and their ignorance.

I do know that I watched him week in and week out, and that they didn't though.

[Billy Walker]

I loved McGrath but reckon he is not so highly rated outside Villa and Ireland.

I no longer indulge in "best ever selections from the league or the world" but mates from other clubs always accused me of rose tinted glasses when I mention him, though they definitely agree he was a wonderful player.

I have yet to meet a Manyoo fan who would pick him in their best team.

I doubt any Leeds fan would pick Eric Cantona in their best team either. 

Time moves on and  it is easy for new generations to forget yesteryear's legends.  If Villa had been on top of the game for the past two decades and McGrath had featured heavily in the football media as a pundit, he wouldn't be relatively forgotten about outside of Villa Park and Ireland today.  That doesn't take anything away from the man though.  During his time at Villa he produced a standard of football that put him up there with the very, very best in world football. 

When (one day) Villa are back on top of the pile and the media spotlight is back on us, there will be an opportunity to remind everyone of just how good he was. To that end, I'd love it if the Club would make him an ambassador for Villa but knowing the nature of the man, he seems happier away from the formal aspects of the game.

[Big Dick Edwards]

McGrath was a world class defender, and a more than capable midfield player at international level for Ireland.
His legend is only enhanced when you consider that throughout his career with us he couldn't train in between games because of his knees.
AND he was an alcoholic. Just think what a player he would have been if he was fully fit and dry!

[Bad English]

An interesting thought Big Dick. Who knows? Many greats in all walks of life have had demons and foibles. Are they great because of or in spite of them? Would they have been great without them?

You have 4 hours. Wikipedia is not allowed; dictionaries are permitted.