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Author Topic: Paul McGrath - don't worry  (Read 123192 times)

Offline colin69

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #465 on: March 30, 2021, 09:00:00 PM »
Without doubt the best player I’ve ever seen play for us. I feel privileged that I was lucky enough to see him so many times. I tell my 25 year old son about him all the time but I think he thinks I’m overreacting.

Offline JuanMartinez

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #466 on: March 30, 2021, 09:10:18 PM »
That header at the City Ground 1993,
It’s like he literally came out of the clouds.

Online Dante Lavelli

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #467 on: March 30, 2021, 09:12:19 PM »
I was possibly too young to understand/ask, but were true extend of his off field issues known whilst at the club?   

Online KevinGage

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #468 on: March 30, 2021, 09:29:17 PM »
I know it's sacrilige to question any part of his game but being too young to appreciate his true genius consistently, I'd still like to hear of any weaknesses.

Bit harsh to call it a weakness but the ticking clock of time always seemed to be against him whilst at villa.  Each pre-season he’d come back and it’d almost feel like a new signing.

His biggest weakness (which is also a big part of why he is so endearing) is he didn't know how good he was.

In the latter stage of his career - from about his time with us onward -a player of that profile would usually be in the running for captain. But he was never a serious choice for us and felt burdened by the responsibility when Mick McCarthy gave it to him early on in his first stint as manager.

It was a big enough effort just to get him to turn out. 

But on the pitch he had few peers. Read the game well, could win everything in the air, physically strong and a turn of pace when required. Had that bit of cheek and panache to his game that puts him amongst the greats. Looked like it all came easy to him.  It's not often enjoyable to watch defenders but he was a rare exception.

Offline N'ZMAV

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #469 on: March 30, 2021, 09:34:30 PM »
Was a sort of volley in the penalty box. I think from a corner. Was a sky Sunday game.

Offline Damo70

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #470 on: March 30, 2021, 09:42:12 PM »
I was possibly too young to understand/ask, but were true extend of his off field issues known whilst at the club?

He had disciplinary problems and fitness problems at United. Ferguson tried to get him to retire and take an insurance pay off. He rarely missed a game for us and was consistently brilliant but there were a couple of incidents. I think he missed the Inter game at Villa Park in 1990 and a cup tie at Exeter a couple of years later due to his off field issues. I think he also went on the missing list a couple of times on Ireland duty. I believe Jack Charlton pretty much assigned him a minder to stop him disappearing when on Ireland duty. He had a mare at Villa Park against QPR when Trevor Francis got a hat trick and another mare at Coventry on Boxing Day. He admitted in his book that on both of those occasions he was suffering from the effects of drink, particularly in the QPR game.

Offline JuanMartinez

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #471 on: March 30, 2021, 09:44:36 PM »
Was a sort of volley in the penalty box. I think from a corner. Was a sky Sunday game.

What Macca goal are you referring to?

The Forest reference was a Sunday you are correct , but the clue is in the post “header”.
« Last Edit: March 30, 2021, 09:52:11 PM by JuanMartinez »

Offline Exeter 77

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #472 on: March 30, 2021, 09:45:51 PM »
I was possibly too young to understand/ask, but were true extend of his off field issues known whilst at the club?   
His issues were well known by Graham Taylor as he wrote a chapter in Back From The Brink (McGrath's second and more hard hitting autobiography). I assume BFR knew as well.

I think he even lived with Graham Taylor for a while after he attempted suicide.
« Last Edit: March 30, 2021, 09:48:19 PM by Exeter 77 »

Offline Mister E

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #473 on: March 30, 2021, 09:59:02 PM »
The Jack Charlton documentary was brilliant.
McGrath comes out of it with great credit; a true star.

Offline Pete3206

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #474 on: March 30, 2021, 10:21:04 PM »
Anyone remember his defensive master class at our Baseball Ground FA Cup defeat in 1997?

Unfortunately, he was playing for Derby and they sung his name throughout.

Online Nev

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #475 on: March 30, 2021, 10:27:27 PM »
The Jack Charlton documentary was brilliant.
McGrath comes out of it with great credit; a true star.

Just finished watching it, a tear in either eye. It made me realise how lucky I was to live through that era, and watch McGrath almost every week.

Offline JuanMartinez

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #476 on: March 30, 2021, 10:31:05 PM »
Anyone remember his defensive master class at our Baseball Ground FA Cup defeat in 1997?

Unfortunately, he was playing for Derby and they sung his name throughout.

I was there, lost 3-1 Curcic got I’m sure his only?

Behind the goal and never remember more Villa fans fighting with each other.

Bad day.

Online WarszaVillan

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #477 on: March 30, 2021, 10:39:39 PM »
Great watch. Around 24-25 min in you see a classic McGrath backheel volley.

Offline JuanMartinez

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #478 on: March 30, 2021, 10:46:49 PM »
Slammed one against Spuds VP 95/96 was pure filth.

That was a Sunday.

Offline N'ZMAV

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Re: Paul McGrath - don't worry
« Reply #479 on: March 31, 2021, 10:34:14 AM »
Was a sort of volley in the penalty box. I think from a corner. Was a sky Sunday game.

What Macca goal are you referring to?

The Forest reference was a Sunday you are correct , but the clue is in the post “header”.
I was on about a different goal

 


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