Jimzk5 Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 it seems like only yesterday that John Gregory paid £9.5million on the striker who was unkown outside of south american football, indeed it was probably the longest transfer in history, the deal was on, then it was off after the news that his agent owned part of his contract, which under uefa laws is illegal. it looked like the deal was off until his then club, river plate brought his contract and allowed the deal to go through. JPA arrived at VP on January 13 2001, spoke little to no english and was immiedietly thrown into turmoil when his new born child (whom he named hugo) became ill, the club was not very sympathetic toward Juan and not long after the manager who signed him resigned, to be replaced by Graham Taylor. under Taylor JPA was told he had little to no future at the club and he became resigned to leaving, a swap deal with real betis was on the cards (Joey Gudjohnson coming the other way) but Taylor also resigned, giving JPA a second (or third) chance at VP. David O`Leary was put in charge and immiedietly gave Juan a chance, putting him in the starting line up at the start of the 03/04 season, then the player who had cost so much come to light, scoring 21 goals including http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9TFZzMJXCs. JPA signed a new 4 year, 40k a week contract in 2004. in an interview with ITVs "on the ball" programme, Juan revealed why he grew his hair, and why he kisses his wedding ring everytime he scores. (taken from on the ball) "i couldnt speak a word of english, so i couldnt go to a hair dressers, i didnt know what to tell them i wanted, so i just let it grow" "when i was at river plate i wanted to get married, i asked the manager for a day off training and he refused, but i didnt go to training that day anyway, and since then ive dedicated every goal to my wife" things started to go downhill for JPA during pre season 2004/5, he went into hospitle to have surgery on his knee, while there he contracted an infection and was admitted back to hospitle. he was a reletive success in 04/05, until the game against fulham, villa won a penalty and Juan stepped up but missed, minutes later villa won another penalty, and despite David O`Leary telling JPA not to take the pen he stepped up and missed again, villa drew the game, a game that we would have won had he not missed 2 pens. David O`Leary was sacked and O`Niell was brought in, and again he had another chance, scoring a pen on the first home game of the season against reading, goals against newcastle, blackburn and portsmouth were ruined when he failed to score another penalty in the game against spurs, and just minutes later he scored an own goal. since then he has vanished off the radar, failing to make the 16 in the last 7 games, it seems JPAs days are numbered at Villa. for me JPA is a villa hero, for all the villa fans who moan at him, this is a man who joined villa under the belief that we could contend for honours, only to find that we were a club in turmoil, he never moaned, he never bad mouthed the club in the press and he always tried his hardest whenever pulling on the claret and blue. if this is to be Juans last season at villa, i wish him all the best for the future, and hope he gets success somewhere else, cus he deserves it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjw63 Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Can of worms about to be opened, eh??? IMO, Angel was a hero for Villa. Talented player. Great person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummybloke Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 thought angel named his child geronimo or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimzk5 Posted April 11, 2007 Author Share Posted April 11, 2007 thought angel named his child geronimo or something? he has 2 i think, one called hugo the other geronimo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangkokVilla Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 In response to the thread title, I'd imagine somewhere between the two. He has enjoyed periods of success and also tougher times, especially over the past couple of years. Undoubtedly a gentleman though, and a good representative for the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasthevillan Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 I thought the oldest was Geronimo and the newest addition was Thomas. As much as he is a nice guy, for that money I expected better, a flop for me over the duration of his stay. I will never forget two missed pens at Fulham! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSufferingVilla Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 A flop can still be a hero right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrogers Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Hero and a great player, shame there were no other great players at the club at his peak!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick76 Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 For me, JPA will be forever a hero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThunderPower_14 Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Hero for Villa. We never quite had the team to make best use of his talent. If he was 24 now and we signed him in the summer, he could have been that 20 goal a season striker every team is looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oaks Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Somewhere in between for me. The 2 seasons at his best he was wonderful to watch, but never lived up to the massive price tag. I like him alot, but would never class him as a Villa Hero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBGB Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 I love the bloke, but JPA has always been more of a symbol than a hero. When we bought him, it felt like the one time Ellis relented to fan pressure, was forced to get his cheque book out and show some genuine ambition. He cost 9.5 million -alot, but at a time when everyone cost alot (not just John Gregory's signings). The other thing is his good patches have always come when Villa were doing well - even including earlier this season - so there is this added euphoria surrounding him. To be honest, against Wigan on Monday I would rather have seen him come off the bench than either Ashley Young or Luke Moore. To have had that bit of experience and nous up front would have been telling IMO. As it was, it was all youthful headless chicken stuff. But clearly he's not in this manager's plans so that's that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazdavies79 Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Not quite a hero, but a cultured player, the type I'm more than happy to pay to watch. MON has pushed him aside too soon IMHO, shame on him. Ahh well we shall look to the bright new future, I for one and hope we get a few more cultured players in in the coming years, we win a few trophies and create a few real Villa heroes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetrees Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 I've gone for hero. The guy has only ever conducted himself with honour, particularly taking into account the difficulty that he suffered when he first arrived. If we look back in history, the signing was a reaction to supporter unrest at the time (probably why the price was too much). The Man City game at VP, when the police stopped the stewards from removing the 'Ellis Out' banner was the first time that I felt we were finally getting to Ellis, and that his days were effectively numbered. It took a few more years, but for me Angel will always be a symbol of the revolution! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboyangel Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Villa hero IMO. He's always given 100% and is one of most skillful players. He's scored some stunning goals and genuinely looks proud to wear the Villa kit. Because of his pricetag I feel that a lot of fans expected more from him..... I don't care how much he cost, he has a great touch, great heading ability and deft finsihing - if only we could've strengthened the team around him whilst he was at his peak, maybe then everyone would have seen the best of JPA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMAICAN-VILLAN Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Hero....i just think he has been wasted...and unlucky.....if we had a good team to play around him a while back..i think things would have been different..but he has been a model sport and a true VILLAN....no question IMO!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lombardo Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Hero.. Game over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hev Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Hero. Unfortunately, the fact that JPA cost £9.5m has always been held against him by some - not his fault, that was the market rate at the time. Really nice person as well. I feel so sorry that after spending six years at Villa, it looks like unfortunately he is now set to leave - just as (hopefully) we are about to take off, what with the new training facilities, Randy's money etc. I would have loved to have seen JPA running around holding a cup aloft - I feel so sad that he was clearly here at one of the greatest periods of turmoil and now as things look up, JPA looks set to depart. I wish he would stay one more season to share in some of the success. He has endured so much of the bad times , I just wish he could be, even a small part, of the good times which are surely coming. By the way, his children are called Geronimo and Tomas Good luck JPA - you'll always be a hero to me and I will always follow your career in the future (PS Please don't go to another prem team) :cry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEVONVILLANS Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 9.5 Million for a striker who has had one good season is not my idea of a top class goal scorer. A nice bloke definatly, and fair play to him for sticking at it through the rough times, but certainly not worthy of the number 9 shirt. Still i wish him all the best for the remainder of his career where ever it lies, and no one wanted him to become a superstar striker more than me...... just like collymore.....and baros......and.................. BRING BACK A PETER WITHE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colples Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Started the comeback against Coventry City which saw them relegated. Hero for me for that alone. I live amongst Coventry fans and most of them are a bunch of tossers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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