David Platt's Villa Dream Team

[john e]

I read it earlier. I love what he says about Sid.

Gianluca Vialli, Roberto Baggio, Ruud Gullit, Roberto Mancini and Dennis Bergkamp are just a few of the players I played with in my career.

Only Mancini gets anywhere near GORDON COWANS in terms of being the best.

I owe a lot to him. He made me look better than I was.

That's an incredible quote from Platy, did he actually say that ?
I've never seen that before, it's amazing

And to think Crops could have been even better, (nice little reminder before the weekend)

[Exeter 77]

I can't remember what the law was back then as it has changed a few times. There was a time when being level was offside, and also any player was offside none of this interfering with play stuff, so it doesn't look offside now but may well have been back then.

The offside law changed for the start of the 1990-91 season to make being level onside.

[usav]

Is that when they brought in the back pass rule as well?   It's all a bit of a blur these days.

[dave.woodhall]

Is that when they brought in the back pass rule as well?   It's all a bit of a blur these days.

Back pass was at the start of 1992-93.

[Clark W Griswold]

Platt was only second to McGrath in the past 25 years of Villa players. He may not have been as good a 'footballer' as Cowans, Yorke and possibly even Barry but his ability to dominate a game, his runs from midfield into the box and from that his goal record were unbelievable. Fabulous player.

[PeterWithe]

He pulled off some of the most extravagent backpasses ever seen on British soil. Before he became too big for his boots he was, apparently teased by the rest of the England squad for his provincialness and nicknamed 'Doug' as he was always banging on about HDE.  Maybe that explains his later efforts to become uber continental.

Does anyone remember him kicking off a VP testimonial wearing a Bari strip? Charmless nerk. Why that was indulged I dont know.

[Toronto Villa]

It saddens me a little what happened to Platt in our eyes. It wasn't all his fault but whatever it was he has maximized his attempts to distance himself from the club for a number of years now. We gave him his chance, he took it and then some, and since then he has acted like he was always too big for us. Shame really.

[Exeter 77]

Does anyone remember him kicking off a VP testimonial wearing a Bari strip?

Paul Birch's testimonial against Wolves in August 1991.

[johnc]

Is that when they brought in the back pass rule as well?   It's all a bit of a blur these days.

Back pass was at the start of 1992-93.

The removal of the back pass effectively ended my soccer career

[PeterWithesShin]

Is that when they brought in the back pass rule as well?   It's all a bit of a blur these days.

Back pass was at the start of 1992-93.

The removal of the back pass effectively ended my soccer career

You are Mark Bosnich and I claim my £5.

[Dave Cooper please]

Is that when they brought in the back pass rule as well?   It's all a bit of a blur these days.

Back pass was at the start of 1992-93.

The removal of the back pass effectively ended my soccer career

I know how you feel, I had to start actually passing the ball to other players, or more commonly blootering it as hard as I could up the pitch. I wasn't a defender you could say was comfortable on the ball!

[saunders_heroes]

It saddens me a little what happened to Platt in our eyes. It wasn't all his fault but whatever it was he has maximized his attempts to distance himself from the club for a number of years now. We gave him his chance, he took it and then some, and since then he has acted like he was always too big for us. Shame really.

I haven't got a problem with that. He did it on the pitch which is all that matters in the grand scheme of things. The fact that he isn't a cheerleader for the club in the way Ian Taylor is means nothing to me.

[Pat McMahon]

Is that when they brought in the back pass rule as well?   It's all a bit of a blur these days.

Back pass was at the start of 1992-93.

The removal of the back pass effectively ended my soccer career

I know how you feel, I had to start actually passing the ball to other players, or more commonly blootering it as hard as I could up the pitch. I wasn't a defender you could say was comfortable on the ball!

I was living and playing in France when the back pass law came in and was not too good on the ball myself. My style evolved overnight from being a one trick back pass pony to a one trick shirt pulling pony. When going through the man to get the ball was outlawed I had to retire.

[Toronto Villa]

It saddens me a little what happened to Platt in our eyes. It wasn't all his fault but whatever it was he has maximized his attempts to distance himself from the club for a number of years now. We gave him his chance, he took it and then some, and since then he has acted like he was always too big for us. Shame really.

I haven't got a problem with that. He did it on the pitch which is all that matters in the grand scheme of things. The fact that he isn't a cheerleader for the club in the way Ian Taylor is means nothing to me.

He doesn't need to be a cheerleader. But have some respect or appreciation. There's a healthy middle ground between where he is and Ian Taylor.

[villan from luton]

Platt was a class act for Villa (and England), a real box to box midfielder and it is a shame he has not shown appreciation for his time at Villa on occasions. As for Sid, he was a great player for Villa, but to say he was better than Gullitt is being more than a touch biased.