ChrisVillan Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I love Laursen, but.... Mellberg>Laursen. Better player for me, and over a much longer period of time. Couldn't agree more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 (edited) I thought he was a stupendous buy. One of the best centre halves I have seen grace the hallowed turf. I guess if O'Leary can do it, anyone can and for c 3 mill too. I suspect if there was no injury hanging over him, we would never have signed him, so in that respect it was similar to the McGrath signing. Its players like him, that makes you think twice about putting age ceilings on new recruits, unless mitigating circumstances is included, like, he is just damn brilliant. Edited November 22, 2013 by TRO 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozvillafan Posted November 23, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted November 23, 2013 I personally always thought that Mellberg was slightly better then Laursen. Both are legends in my book nonetheless. I always thought Alpay was a better defender than Mellberg..... ... well, up until he went to the WC and his head all asploded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briny_ear Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Ive had a few beers, its 11pm here in Thailand and just seen his recent comments about things that are happening at the Villa... Apologies for that :-D So what did he say? Tell us, and this thread might have some legs. Otherwise it's going to peter out or (more likely) end in a squabble. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isa Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 I personally always thought that Mellberg was slightly better then Laursen. Both are legends in my book nonetheless. I always thought Alpay was a better defender than Mellberg..... ... well, up until he went to the WC and his head all asploded. Agree. Alpay was brilliant for his first couple of seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetrees Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Once again a thread that highlights the qualities of O'Leary as a manager. He has been easily our best manager since Sir Brian and, had he had the post takeover millions, would likely have shown us some true success. As a man he is a monumental prick, but then a monumental prick was hired to replace him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingfisher Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Well DOL certainly has an eye for a good CB it seems. But then again Lambert has bought this Okore fella who has looked tremendous, quick and assured, and all that at 20 years old. But in an almost inevitable tedium, as is tradition at Aston Villa, our world class looking centre back busts his knee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briny_ear Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 (edited) There is no rational basis, factual or otherwise, to claim that O'Leary is our best manager since Brian Little. Certainly, in terms of results, he underperformed disappointingly. Edited November 23, 2013 by briny_ear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morpheus Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Laursen is something that we've badly missed over the past few seasons. A leader on and off the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samjp26 Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Okore is our new Laursen, why else do you think he injured his knee for? Initiation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NurembergVillan Posted November 23, 2013 Moderator Share Posted November 23, 2013 (edited) There is no rational basis, factual or otherwise, to claim that O'Leary is our best manager since Brian Little. Certainly, in terms of results, he underperformed disappointingly. You could make a pretty solid argument that he's up there though. Didn't we get a 6th or an 8th under him? His final season was awful, but he had less money to spend that season than even Lambert. We couldn't even afford Eirik Bakke. He signed some very good players for us too. Bound being one, Laursen another, and although Baros didn't work out he was quite a coup having recently been top scorer at Euro 2004. Edited November 23, 2013 by NurembergVillan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avfc1982 Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Bloody good player but he missed far too many games to be considered a "legend". Had he not been so injury prone he probably would never have joined us. Well certainly not for £3m or whatever it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MackHaakon Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Laursen in his prime was ridiculously good, and losing him to injury was clearly a massive massive blow. At his peak, probably one of the best defenders in Europe. He radiated an intensity and authority that just dominated everyone around him. Ah, I miss those times.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briny_ear Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Don't know if this is considered relevant but Laursen didn't actually play much under O'Leary. Probably not more than about 20 games over 2 seasons. It wasn't until Lerner turned up, and sent him to a specialist in the US who patched his knees up, that we got any consistent performance out of him at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briny_ear Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 There is no rational basis, factual or otherwise, to claim that O'Leary is our best manager since Brian Little. Certainly, in terms of results, he underperformed disappointingly. You could make a pretty solid argument that he's up there though. Didn't we get a 6th or an 8th under him? His final season was awful, but he had less money to spend that season than even Lambert. We couldn't even afford Eirik Bakke.B He signed some very good players for us too. Bound being one, Laursen another, and although Baros didn't work out he was quite a coup having recently been top scorer at Euro 2004. Baros, Djemba x2, Berson... He had his share of duffers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isa Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 I don't think Baros can be placed alongside those two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avfc1982 Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 I don't think Baros can be placed alongside those two. Absolutely. If I ever meet Baros I shall thank him for those goals against Small Heath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isa Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 I don't think Baros can be placed alongside those two. Absolutely. If I ever meet Baros I shall thank him for those goals against Small Heath. You and me both Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgyknees Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Greatest Villa player since McGrath by a mile imo. . similar as well with dodgy knees and brilliant defending. both got for bargain deals as well My name is about Laursen and McGrath yeah but mine is about Zat Knight, i know who i prefer I did always wonder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briny_ear Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 I don't think Baros can be placed alongside those two. Absolutely. If I ever meet Baros I shall thank him for those goals against Small Heath. You and me both Yeh but £6.5m is a lot for a couple of goals against SHA. How many goals did he get in total for us? He wasn't much cop I'm afraid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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