Zatman Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 video hasnt really aged well 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted December 6, 2018 Share Posted December 6, 2018 On 05/12/2018 at 10:30, AvfcRigo82 said: I will always remember being in a Hotel near Cromer in 1994 watching Italy vs Ireland in the USA World Cup and seeing a 34/35 yr old McGrath play an absolute brilliant game keeping a great Italian team quiet. What a display at that really was and at that age, on that stage against such a team. ..and he was carrying an injury going into that game. slightly biased but I would say its one of the greatest individual performances in World Cup history 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 Paul McGrath read the game so well and therefore knew what forwards were going to do before most of them knew what they were going to do themselves. He made the game seem easy and was so comfortable on the ball and unhurried. I rate him in the same class as Bobby Moore and that is as high as the art of defending gets. As far as how he compares to defenders that have played since he hung up his boots, I think what Bill Shankly once said about Tom Finney fits nicely. He was asked in the 70s whether Tony Currie could be compared to Finney. Shanks replied, "Aye, he compares all right. But Tom is getting on for 60." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom_Wren Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 1 hour ago, Zatman said: slightly biased but I would say its one of the greatest individual performances in World Cup history I'm English, and no, you're not being biased, just an absolute giant of a performance from a giant of a man. Legend. Imagine what he'd go for today!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashingqwerty Posted December 7, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted December 7, 2018 The only defenders in my lifetime i would put in McGraths class are Baresi and Maldini. Few others can come close. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave J Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 14 hours ago, MrDuck said: I loved Laursen, but I'd have placed Sid and He Who Walks on Water alongside McGrath - well, standing behind him - as the top 3. To be honest in my humble opinion as good as they were I don't believe Sid or Brian were world class footballers - Sid was closer than Brian in my view. Laursen I do honestly believe he was world class - he was the nearest thing I have ever seen to Paul. i'd go a far as to say Paul was up there with the likes of Moore, Beckenbauher ( not sure if I have spelt this right). His country of choosing did not allow him to be seen as the true world class performer that he was - in no way is this a sleight at ROI - just his lack of exposure on the world scene. Jack - built a fine team at one stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheepyvillian Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 He was better against Romania, when he had Hagi in his pocket. Now that was some performance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvfcRigo82 Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 For those of you interested here are the links to that Italy v Ireland game from USA '94. 1st half here and 2nd half here Enjoy folks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romavillan Posted December 7, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted December 7, 2018 1 hour ago, AvfcRigo82 said: For those of you interested here are the links to that Italy v Ireland game from USA '94. 1st half here and 2nd half here Enjoy folks. Remember that like it was yesterday!! Houghton scoring with his swinger from miles out past one of the best keeps in the world! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romavillan Posted December 7, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted December 7, 2018 9 hours ago, sheepyvillian said: He was better against Romania, when he had Hagi in his pocket. Now that was some performance. Hagi! What a player. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheepyvillian Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 Anybody remember the World 11, game at Wembley ? And who did he have in his pocket that day ? Only the little fella with the perm from Argentina. The best signing Villa ever made. Graham Taylor, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheepyvillian Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 12 hours ago, Dave J said: To be honest in my humble opinion as good as they were I don't believe Sid or Brian were world class footballers - Sid was closer than Brian in my view. Laursen I do honestly believe he was world class - he was the nearest thing I have ever seen to Paul. i'd go a far as to say Paul was up there with the likes of Moore, Beckenbauher ( not sure if I have spelt this right). His country of choosing did not allow him to be seen as the true world class performer that he was - in no way is this a sleight at ROI - just his lack of exposure on the world scene. Jack - built a fine team at one stage. I agree, you have to have a presence to be considered World class. Gascoigne had it, so did Bryan Robson to some extent, but Paul certainly had it. By far the greatest player to don the claret and blue of Aston Villa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave J Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 1 hour ago, sheepyvillian said: I agree, you have to have a presence to be considered World class. Gascoigne had it, so did Bryan Robson to some extent, but Paul certainly had it. By far the greatest player to don the claret and blue of Aston Villa. Without a shadow of doubt - it's just a pity that Paul does not get the recognition that he richly deserves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 Best player i've ever seen for Villa. Platt and Yorke at 2 and 3. All GT signings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 (edited) 41 minutes ago, Dave J said: Without a shadow of doubt - it's just a pity that Paul does not get the recognition that he richly deserves I think his personal issues and fact he was at Villa and not United. Lets be honest only for his personal issues he would have never been allowed leave United Edited December 7, 2018 by Zatman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave J Posted December 8, 2018 Share Posted December 8, 2018 7 hours ago, Zatman said: I think his personal issues and fact he was at Villa and not United. Lets be honest only for his personal issues he would have never been allowed leave United To be honest Zatman - I think I read somewhere that united wanted him to retire because of his ongoing battle to nurse his knees in order that they could claim the insurance monies - thankfully Paul and Graham Taylor ( RIP) had a different view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mottaloo Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 On 08/12/2018 at 05:27, Dave J said: To be honest Zatman - I think I read somewhere that united wanted him to retire because of his ongoing battle to nurse his knees in order that they could claim the insurance monies - thankfully Paul and Graham Taylor ( RIP) had a different view. There was definitely a hard drinking culture at man ure then. Whiteside, Moses, Robson and God being central figures. It's probably a combination of dodgy knees and his fondness for a pint that saw God out of the door. £400,000 for a world class player. Daylight robbery 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave J Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 1 hour ago, mottaloo said: There was definitely a hard drinking culture at man ure then. Whiteside, Moses, Robson and God being central figures. It's probably a combination of dodgy knees and his fondness for a pint that saw God out of the door. £400,000 for a world class player. Daylight robbery How on earth did fergie in all his wisdom sanction this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveAV1 Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 33 minutes ago, Dave J said: How on earth did fergie in all his wisdom sanction this Fergie was determined to break the drinking culture, so the core boozers had to go. I think he would have tried to hang on to Macca if it wasn’t for his dodgy knees. Those knees, Graham Taylor, Jim Walker and of course the determination and immense talent of the great man himself, ensured that all the stars were aligned to create a Villa legend. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyp Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 (edited) On 07/12/2018 at 06:11, Dave J said: To be honest in my humble opinion as good as they were I don't believe Sid or Brian were world class footballers - Sid was closer than Brian in my view. Laursen I do honestly believe he was world class - he was the nearest thing I have ever seen to Paul. i'd go a far as to say Paul was up there with the likes of Moore, Beckenbauher ( not sure if I have spelt this right). His country of choosing did not allow him to be seen as the true world class performer that he was - in no way is this a sleight at ROI - just his lack of exposure on the world scene. Jack - built a fine team at one stage. I thought Laursen was brilliant but both fit and 100% it's McGrath all day for me. He would of made it in Italy too back in the day imo when it was a notoriously tough league. Edited December 9, 2018 by Johnnyp Mistake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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