Other Games - 2017/18

[Damo70]

I would have Ashley Young and James Milner above him in the last twenty years. As for strikers he deserves to be mentioned alongside Little, Gray, Withe, Platt, Yorke, Saunders, Atkinson and Carew but I'm not sure how many of them he deserves to be rated ahead of.

[luke95]

I'd put John Carew ahead of Benteke .

[Damo70]

Withe would be my number one for the effect and influence he brought to the whole team (and fans). Being the leagues (joint) top scorer in a title winning season and scoring a European cup final winning goal is pretty hard to beat.

[MoetVillan]

Maybe it's a confidence thing?

Here he was hero worshipped and was the main man. Elsewhere he's just been another player.

I think this is 100% accurate.  When he came back from his injuries, and wasnt playing regularly enough, it was like trying to bump start an old car....then he would grab an ugly goal and just purr into life.  He was the main man, target man, hero at VP and he absolutely thrived on it.  He has never been lauded like that since, and i think his fall from grace is absolutely connected to that.

[KevinGage]

I'd put John Carew ahead of Benteke .

Carew at his best was an absolute monster. 

Though his best was probably for Valencia.  With the  bit we seen though (2007-9 period)  I'd opt for him too.

But that might be clouded by the fact that I have happier memories of that team and JC himself seemed to have more of a connection with the support base than Benteke did.  Benteke from day one gave off the vibe of looking for the next big move. 

Ability wise, I'd concede Benteke was (is) better.

[passitsideways]

I reckon it's easier to appear as though you have that strong connection with the fanbase while being part of a good, winning team, as opposed to what Benteke faced.

That being said, in terms of single seasons by a Villa player since the turn of the millenium, I'd probably place Milner in 09/10 at the top of the pile, just in terms of overall influence across the pitch and the fact that he managed to do it close to every week. I think that's a different point to the overall best player over that time period though - I mean, his two other seasons were probably decent at best. Compare that to, say, Benteke (who blew hot and cold but ultimately saved our bacon in each of his three seasons), or Young (who followed two excellent seasons with two pretty good ones), or Barry, and I'm not so sure Milner tops the list of best Villa players in recent times.

[Hookeysmith]

Liverpool did him over as the fans never liked him from the start and his confidence was shot

[UK Redsox]

bit bizarre

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43187129

[Duncan Shaw]

bit bizarre

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43187129

A bit like Sam Johnstone at Fulham......

[ChicagoLion]

Liverpool did him over as the fans never liked him from the start and his confidence was shot

I think money did for him. Like so many others.

[Damo70]

Liverpool did him over as the fans never liked him from the start and his confidence was shot

I think money did for him. Like so many others.

He epitomised Lambert's 'young and hungry' plan.

Unfortunately he was about the only Lambert signing who did.

[MoetVillan]

Liverpool did him over as the fans never liked him from the start and his confidence was shot

I think money did for him. Like so many others.

He epitomised Lambert's 'young and hungry' plan.

Unfortunately he was about the only Lambert signing who did.

Agbonlahor must have been pretty hungry

[Damo70]

Liverpool did him over as the fans never liked him from the start and his confidence was shot

I think money did for him. Like so many others.

He epitomised Lambert's 'young and hungry' plan.

Unfortunately he was about the only Lambert signing who did.

Agbonlahor must have been pretty hungry

We should never have sold Dunne. If we had kept him Gabby wouldn't have been able to eat all the pies.

[The Left Side]

Barnsley 1-0 up at Hull

[SteveN]

McBernie scores again for Barnsley.