Birmingham Mail Feature - Juan Pablo Angel

[tomd2103]

Not sure why, but the website has a feature on his time at Villa.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/pictures-juan-pablo-angel-nostalgic-2770014

I liked JPA, but he had a very mixed time with us.  He was excellent in spells, but struggled to maintain form on a consistent basis. 

[supertom]

I think this is because JPA has announced his retirement at the end of the season in Colombia.

I loved JPA. One of my favourite players. He really took to the club too and had a great rapport with us lot. On his day was a fantastic player. A joy to watch in his pomp as he had a bit of that South American technique and quality. A good season for Gregory, which was interrupted when Taylor took over and decided he didn't fancy our top scorer, opting for a more bread and butter big man, little man combo. Brilliant in O Leary's first season, and then an injury the following season seemed to rob him of a yard or two and he was never quite the same. When O Neill came in he initially did well, and we actually played some of our best football under O Neill in the very early days playing 3 up top with Moore and Gabby flanking JPA. I think we were unbeaten in our first 9ish games IIRC. Again, O Neill had always been more of a 4-4-fucking-2 kind of guy and then switched to a more tried and tested big man little man combo when  Sutton came in, and then eventually we got Carew. Ironically, JPA might have had a field day playing alongside someone like Carew, but it wasn't to be.

We've had some really talented front men in the last 20 years with the likes of Atkinson, Yorke, Collymore, Angel, Carew and Benteke. Shitloads of ability. It hasn't always translated on the pitch as much as we'd have hoped, but I'd rank Angel just below Big John, and under Yorke and Benteke in terms of delivering on the ability. If I'm being on honest my favourites are Carew and Angel, because I think they really had an affinity with the club and didn't soil their legacy as Yorke did somewhat.

[cdbearsfan]

I liked him too. I think if you discount the difficult opening period of his Villa career, when he struggled to settle and had major health concerns about his newborn son, he was good for us far more often than he was bad. He was knocking on a bit towards the end and had injury problems throughout but when he was good, he was very good indeed. Still seems to hold the club in plenty of affection too so good luck to him.

I'm reluctant to jump on any inevitable "let's give a former a player a job" bandwagon but he might be useful in some sort of role trying to market the club to US fans, seeing as he is a big name over there and bi-lingual.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

If he'd played for a decent team, he'd have been one of the greats. I honestly think he could've played for Arsenal when they were at their peak under Wenger, which is round about when we had him.

Unfortunately for him, we brought him down to our level at times. He was always two steps ahead of the players around him. We didn't give him the players he deserved.

[bobdylan]

I liked him too. I think if you discount the difficult opening period of his Villa career, when he struggled to settle and had major health concerns about his newborn son, he was good for us far more often than he was bad. He was knocking on a bit towards the end and had injury problems throughout but when he was good, he was very good indeed. Still seems to hold the club in plenty of affection too so good luck to him.

I'm reluctant to jump on any inevitable "let's give a former a player a job" bandwagon but he might be useful in some sort of role trying to market the club to US fans, seeing as he is a big name over there and bi-lingual.

He speaks American as well as English, fair play.

[villan from luton]

The guy obviously has great feelings for the club. He was an excellent player and will always think of hm as a good servant for the club

[Rotterdam]

One of my favs; Mrs Rotters 'liked him' as well, especially when we bumped in to him at the Esso garage in Selly Oak.

[dave shelley]

I liked a couple of those away kits of the time.

[garyshawsknee]

I'm reluctant to jump on any inevitable "let's give a former a player a job" bandwagon but he might be useful in some sort of role trying to market the club to US fans, seeing as he is a big name over there and bi-lingual.

Have you seen the youtube clip of his son ? He could easily slot in to the no.10 role and he's probably only 13 or so. Sign him up.

[supertom]

I'm reluctant to jump on any inevitable "let's give a former a player a job" bandwagon but he might be useful in some sort of role trying to market the club to US fans, seeing as he is a big name over there and bi-lingual.

Have you seen the youtube clip of his son ? He could easily slot in to the no.10 role and he's probably only 13 or so. Sign him up.

Already a foot taller than Barry Bannan too.

[Des Little]

JPA is still one of my all time favourites. That year or so when he was on form was magic.