All-Time Premier League Villa XI

[brontebilly]

I'll go with
Martinez
Cash, Southgate, McGrath, Staunton
McGinn, Townsend, Barry, Grealish
Yorke, Watkins

Kamara probably close to edging out Townsend at this stage but I really rated him for club and country. He was a rock in midfield. Barry is underrated by Villa fans I think, very good player in good, bad and downright ugly Villa teams. That midfield pair wouldn't lose many battles. Selection of Cash and Watkins might set a few off here but I admire their resilience. Grealish had the X factor when we needed it most. Bravest player I've seen in a Villa shirt too.

They were definitely wholehearted defenders but don't think Mellberg or Lauren had anywhere near the class of the two centre backs above. Can't believe I've left out Young and Benteke as others have said carried an incredibly poor team.

[TonyD]

Top 5 players in order in PL era, for me:
1. McGrath - as good as any defender in the world at the time and had some good competition from Italy.
2. Martinez - Voted world no 1 GK twice
3. Yorke - outstanding, one of the best in Europe at the time
4. Southgate - I know he's not popular these days but he was absolute class, could play it out like Torres and defend like John Terry at his best.
5. Bosnich - world class, just not as good as Martinez.

If you go back to when I started going in 88 Platt would squeeze in between Martinez and Yorke, pushing Bozzie out of the 5.

Jack would be top of that list for me.  Even just above McGrath. 

[cdbearsfan]

Wow. Each to their own but, yeah. Not for me.

[PeterWithesShin]

IMO the only way you could try and justify Jack above McGrath is you went purely PL form. Ultimately McGrath was heading down from his peak while Jack was heading up to his. Not a hill i'd die on but it could be a potential thought process.

[brontebilly]

McGrath was PFA player of the year in 1993. No other player came close to that level for us. Grealish might have gone close but missed a lot of games with that mystery shin injury.

[Hillbilly]

The football romantic in me would love to see Paul Merson and Bert Traore in this conversation. Along with Yorke and Sir Brian, probably the only players in over 50 years of watching the Villa who've left me shaking my head at their natural audacious skill. I think most pros have the ability but to use it on the fly is something else.

[dcdavecollett]

The insistence on a certain length of time playing for the club caused me to reflect on the sad fate of Luc Nilis who, as I recall, played only four games for us.

What a player he was and what a player he might have been!!

There's a video interviewing him on TNT Sport (about 30 minutes) that's well worth a watch.

[VancouverLion]

I watched, Justin talks Villa with Ian Taylor on YouTube earlier, Tayls said Luc Nillis was the most technically gifted player he’d ever seen & had he stayed fit, we would have won the league that season.

[Hillbilly]

I watched, Justin talks Villa with Ian Taylor on YouTube earlier, Tayls said Luc Nillis was the most technically gifted player he’d ever seen & had he stayed fit, we would have won the league that season.

It is one of those sliding doors moments. I recently watched a short doco on him and Dion said much the same. I didn't realise Nilis fell into gambling addiction after his football career ended. Kinda understandable.

[VancouverLion]

Also, Ronaldo (real one) said he was his all time favourite, striker partner.
Such a shame what happened next for him.

[Drummond]

Grealish ahead of McGrath?! Are you his dad or something?

[Villan82]

For a start, I am not even sure Grealish is our best player of the past 10 years. I am absolutely certain McGrath was our best player since 1992

[Pat Mustard]

For a start, I am not even sure Grealish is our best player of the past 10 years. I am absolutely certain McGrath was our best player since 1992

I agree. Grealish shone in Villa teams that varied from absolutely terrible up to mediocre in Premier League terms.  If he were still playing for us and even had he stayed at his best, with the players we have now he would be third or fourth on the teamsheet.

Don't get me wrong, I loved him when he played for us.  I just think we had and still have a tendency to look at him through rose-tinted glasses and think he is better than he actually was as he was the only bright spot in a long, dark period (and even then I'd argue McGinn and Mings were at least as integral to the turnaround).  He could be a great player, but he's not nearly the best to play for us in the premier league era, never mind beyond that.

[TonyD]

If he had of stayed and stayed at his best, he would be the first name on the team sheet and we would have a won a trophy in the last 3 years. 

[rob_bridge]

Top 5 players in order in PL era, for me:
1. McGrath - as good as any defender in the world at the time and had some good competition from Italy.
2. Martinez - Voted world no 1 GK twice
3. Yorke - outstanding, one of the best in Europe at the time
4. Southgate - I know he's not popular these days but he was absolute class, could play it out like Torres and defend like John Terry at his best.
5. Bosnich - world class, just not as good as Martinez.

If you go back to when I started going in 88 Platt would squeeze in between Martinez and Yorke, pushing Bozzie out of the 5.

I'd put Yorke ahead of Martinez but Top 3 as is.

Grealish was monumental in keeping us up and his last season cemented him as one of the best attackers in the league. Like Yorke went to the 'best' in the country for stupid money although has less of an effect on them than Yorke did.
Barry next for longevitiy and consistency and due to that edges out Milner and Young.

Southgate was brilliant but not sure he was better than Ugo or Olaf who played longer.

There's a few potential contenders in current crop - Youri, Kamara and Rogers who could trouble Top 5