Davkaus Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 We can all probably agree on some of the all time greats. The likes of Cowans, Mortimer, Little, McGrath, but do we have any players in recent history (sorry old 'uns, those listed don't count as recent ) who in years to come we'll consider up there with the all time greats? To kick things off, this post is partly inspired by conversations about Petrov in the RHM thread, about whether he's a club legend. I'd say he absolutely isn't, purely because he didn't do anywhere near enough on the pitch, despite being a stand up guy, unifying the club, and bringing some pride back to supporting the Villa. However, I think even in 10-20 years time I'll remember the contributions of Benteke even though he spent far less time at the club.He might not have done as much in a Villa shirt as many of our all time best strikers, but in terms of the impact he had while he was here, he's not far off, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted January 7, 2017 Moderator Share Posted January 7, 2017 Nope. We've had a few that could have gone on to be but for whatever reason they burnt their bridges or just weren't here long enough. We've had some very good players but club legend? Not since McGrath in my view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Ian Taylor and Gareth Barry Best players I have seen at the club (in my lifetime) have been Platt, McGrath and Yorke. All bonafide legends. Cowans as well, but his peak years were before my time. I'd say Mellberg as well. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted January 7, 2017 Moderator Share Posted January 7, 2017 Yeah Mellbwrg makes actually but more for his character than ability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xela Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 I wouldn't class Petrov as a legend. Great story about him beating his illness, but never thought he was all that as a player. To me, he was the weakest part of our best team in the last 20 years. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davkaus Posted January 7, 2017 Author Share Posted January 7, 2017 (edited) 9 minutes ago, TrentVilla said: Nope. We've had a few that could have gone on to be but for whatever reason they burnt their bridges or just weren't here long enough. This definitely seems to come up as lot with us. When I think of some of the best players we've ever had since the 90s (not since Sky invented football, just within my lifetime), I think of the likes of Yorke, Platt, even Barry, who were all tremendous footballers, all of whom served the club incredibly well, then left (or tried to) in the worst way in the case of the last two, or in the case of Platt, he just seems to distance himself from the club as much as possible. I'd definitely have Ian Taylor up there as @Xela says, even though in terms of ability on the pitch he's probably not up there with a lot of players we had around that time. He was a good player, had a great story off the pitch, and stayed heavily involved with the club, which helps a lot. Which is difficult for me because I'm trying to decide why I feel like Taylor would be included, but not Petrov. Edited January 7, 2017 by Davkaus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted January 7, 2017 Moderator Share Posted January 7, 2017 People seem to forget/over look Taylor's role in the Barry Liverpool saga and eventual departure. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phumfeinz Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 There are none. Barry, maybe? He had a lot of appearances for us. It's hard to have modern legends when your team has achieved absolutely nothing in the last 20 years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markavfc40 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 (edited) I think we'd probably have to redefine club legend as we are highly unlikely to find any over the last twenty odd years or the next thirty odd years if we are basing them on the standards of the likes of McCrath and Cowans who are personally my all time Villa heroes with Cowans just edging it. If I was to say ask my eldest daughter who is 18 and has been a season ticket holder at the Villa since she was 6, so 2004, which players she would class as legends then for her it would be Barry and Petrov. I guess it is a generational thing as who is a legend to someone who has watched us over the last 10 or 20 years will differ from the levels needed to be reached for a supporter who has followed us for 30 odd years plus. Edited January 7, 2017 by markavfc40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Petrov to me if it weren't for his illness would probably have gone on to play another 100-150 games for us putting him second to Barry in terms of appearances, he would have pushed for 300 games and retired here I think if we'd have won that league cup and got CL then I think it would be different, after being unsuccessful for so long none of them are really going to be anything more than fan favourites 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avfc1982 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 I liked Ian Taylor as a player but I felt he should have left a couple of years before he did and was way past his best. A club legend? Not in a million years. If we keep classing half decent players as "legends" then the word will start to lose its impact. McGrath was a legend, so was Mortimer, Withe, Sid etc etc. Not Ian Taylor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodytom Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Petrov is the closest for me. Then Barry. Then Taylor. The rest bare into insignificance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave J Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 I would say Barry- I think the guy was and is still a class act and let's be perfectly honest who would not have done the same thing when he moved to city.? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Albert Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 (edited) 46 minutes ago, TrentVilla said: People seem to forget/over look Taylor's role in the Barry Liverpool saga and eventual departure. What happened there then trent? I dont think i heard anything about that (or have i been in a bubble) Edited January 7, 2017 by Uncle Albert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post theboyangel Posted January 7, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 7, 2017 Martin Laursen is the most recent legend for me. a true leader, who led by example and was in devastating form until his recurring knee injuries caused his early retirement. Nice guy too. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A38villan Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Bouma if he had stayed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAuthority Posted January 7, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted January 7, 2017 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Uncle Albert said: What happened there then trent? I dont think i heard anything about that (or have i been in a bubble) Wasn't he Barry's agent at the time he wanted to go to Liverpool? Then Rafa bought Keane from Spuds instead and never followed through leaving Barry high & dry. Edited January 7, 2017 by TheAuthority Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post chrisvilla4 Posted January 7, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 7, 2017 Not a legend, but I loved Carew. A real character. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dn1982 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 There isn't a criteria to be classed as a legend. Stan will be classed as a legend more for his fight against cancer and his affinity to the club. Taylor will be because he's one of us and managed to score in a Wembley final. Some will get called it because of longevity others because of success. Some will just be personal opinion. Ultimately most will have made us happy watching them. Let's hope there's a few legends in the making in our team. If Hutton scores the winner in the Play Off final even he will be classed as a legend!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phumfeinz Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 My criteria is that they've helped the club achieve considerable success. Then they're a legend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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