avfc1982 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 4 minutes ago, Phumfeinz said: It was all downhill from there. That is the turning point in my mind where Randy lost interest. You can't blame one shit result for Lerner losing interest. He's a spoilt rich kid who was always going to lose interest at some stage. Blaming it on a result makes the players look like the bad guy and gets him off the hook a bit because he was some how driven to it. Nah, I don't buy it. Lerner f#cked us over, and the blame is on him 100% and no one else. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyblade Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 I don't know about legend but Benteke was a special player. The closest we've had and will have to a world class player in a long while. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexicon Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 We've not really had any of late because they either come in trophy winning sides (ho ho) or they stay at the club for a very long time and perform at a high level. The problem with the latter is that it can be tarnished by leaving in the wrong way (Barry). Based on this, Mellberg would be the last one for me - over 250 games, was very good the whole time and had a real bond with the fans and club. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderball Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 In my memory and experience: Spink, Cowans, Daley, McGrath, Yorke, i would also consider if their time wasn't so brief with us: Laursen, Dublin, Saunders, Atkinson, Milner, Bosnich was also a good club man. (Sort of) World class: McGrath, Platt, Yorke, Atkinson (on his day), Benteke. We've had some decent players over the years, just not many at the same time, or have been able to keep hold of them long enough, or quite get the best out of them. I reckon with investment at the peak of MON days, rather than selling, we could be where Spurs are now. If we could've picked up Defoe then, and kept Young/Milner/Barry/Laursen, we would have kicked on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted January 8, 2017 Moderator Share Posted January 8, 2017 Paul McGrath is the only World class player we've had at the club in the 30 years I've been watching. Head and shoulders above anyone else in terms of his ability. (World Class is a subjective term, my definition is it would be the team of the very best 11 players in the world at any given time) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyvilla Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 3 minutes ago, TrentVilla said: Paul McGrath is the only World class player we've had at the club in the 30 years I've been watching. Head and shoulders above anyone else in terms of his ability. (World Class is a subjective term, my definition is it would be the team of the very best 11 players in the world at any given time) I would put David Platt without doubt in the best players we have had here , like you say World class is down to interpretation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyp102 Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Gareth Barry definitely is a club legend. He played for the youth team, (ok he didn't come through the ranks, but he was still at the youth team) and then went on to captain the club. One of our highest ever appearing players as well. Won numerous England caps whilst at the club. Olaf Mellberg. Consistently good performances in numerous positions. Great rapport with the fans and did the whole free shirt thing. Modern legends yes As good as players from the past No Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 10 hours ago, villa4europe said: plus the booing at VP you could see it really got to him, don't think he ever had even a half decent game on his return, he poor every time I saw him, so I booed too, more in trying to impact him than anything daft like hating him, I don't hate him but I do think he's tarnished any status that he should have here First of all, bollocks. He had a decent season. Second of all, you booed a player in the hope it might make him play better? I'm calling bollocks on that too. How old were you at the time? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted January 8, 2017 Moderator Share Posted January 8, 2017 1 minute ago, mattyvilla said: I would put David Platt without doubt in the best players we have had here , like you say World class is down to interpretation You know what, I actually started to include him then edited it out. He was an absolute star of Italia 90 no question but he wasn't one of the two best CM's in the world then or at any point in his career. Gazza and Lothar Matthaus would be easily ahead of him as would others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastie Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 15 minutes ago, TrentVilla said: Paul McGrath is the only World class player we've had at the club in the 30 years I've been watching. Head and shoulders above anyone else in terms of his ability. (World Class is a subjective term, my definition is it would be the team of the very best 11 players in the world at any given time) Totally agree ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastie Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 10 minutes ago, mikeyp102 said: Gareth Barry definitely is a club legend. He played for the youth team, (ok he didn't come through the ranks, but he was still at the youth team) and then went on to captain the club. One of our highest ever appearing players as well. Won numerous England caps whilst at the club. Olaf Mellberg. Consistently good performances in numerous positions. Great rapport with the fans and did the whole free shirt thing. Modern legends yes As good as players from the past No Modern stars yes - legends no. mcgrath head and shoulders above anyone I've seen at villa since the 70s when I started watching. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 For me a 'world class' player is one who wouldn't look out of place in the best sides in the world. For example, would Platt have looked out of place in the best side in the world at the time? AC Milan say? No. Ergo - world class. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Mellberg is a legend regardless. So is John Carew. There's more to being a legend than your ability as a player, if the fans are still singing your name on the terraces (or using your face as an avatar) 8 years after you left, you did something right. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastie Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 3 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said: Mellberg is a legend regardless. So is John Carew. There's more to being a legend than your ability as a player, if the fans are still singing your name on the terraces (or using your face as an avatar) 8 years after you left, you did something right. I'll see your Carew and raise you an Alan mcinally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philgetaway Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 13 hours ago, Xela said: 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. I always rated Petrov and what he brought to the side. It's fair to say though not everyone shared my opinion, so I agree he isn't a legend. Lads around me called him the crab for months until the horrific news, then was suddenly a legend. He is a legend though for what he went through, and how he played again. Maybe that makes him a club legend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philgetaway Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Barry for me is a legend. Bit of a bad taste how he tried to engineer a move Liverpool, but you can't knock his reasons for eventually moving to City. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted January 8, 2017 Moderator Share Posted January 8, 2017 11 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said: There's more to being a legend than your ability as a player, if the fans are still singing your name on the terraces (or using your face as an avatar) 8 years after you left, you did something right. Yes there is something in that. A club legend isn't just being a great player it's about a connection with the fans and the club that lasts far longer than a career. Someone like Platt or Yorke could and should have been had they treated the club better after their time here. Mellberg is an example of someone who will hold legendary status with the fans far in excess of his ability. I do though think these types of players with decades fade, they are more fan favourites rather than true legends. Paul McGrath is still revealed to this day, in 20 or 25 years I don't think people will be talking about Mellberg. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 32 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said: First of all, bollocks. He had a decent season. Second of all, you booed a player in the hope it might make him play better? I'm calling bollocks on that too. How old were you at the time? Read what I said again i never saw Barry have a decent game for city at VP, in my opinion the booing got to him 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post theboyangel Posted January 8, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2017 I think the likes of mellberg, bouma and Carew (who I all loved at the club) are more cult heroes than legends. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted January 8, 2017 Moderator Share Posted January 8, 2017 Just now, theboyangel said: I think the likes of mellberg, bouma and Carew (who I all loved at the club) are more cult heroes than legends. Yes that's it, spot on. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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