sheepyvillian Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Seen something like this on Twitter, thought I'd start a thread. We have had our share of tough players. Back in the day we had, Mike Pejic, Leighton Phillips, but my favourite has to be Garry Thompson, or has we affectionately called him, Bruno. I remember his tangles with Steve Walsh of Leicester, two tough men giving no quarter. Neale cooper was another, boy, did he like a tackle. Such a shame he didn't replicate his Aberdeen form for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 (edited) Eamonn Deacy was a wicked tackler they nicknamed him "Psycho" George Curtis and Steve McMahon took no prisoners either. We have always had them in our teams......sadly in recent times, we seem to think we can do without. Edited April 16, 2020 by TRO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HongKongVillan Posted April 16, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted April 16, 2020 I started following Villa from the Nineties and I could not name anyone in particular as the hard man type, possibly Mellberg or Shaun Teale at a push. May be Geroge Boateng the Iron Jaw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sne Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 (edited) Concrete Ron Vlaar He was pretty brittle sadly. Edited April 16, 2020 by sne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson1 Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Alan Evans, McGrath, Teale? Seem to remember Kevin Gage never shirked a tackle either. Not many opposition defenders got the better of Carew in a tussle, but wouldn’t say he was a hard man. No doubt John Fashanu could handle himself - awoooooga! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheepyvillian Posted April 16, 2020 Author Share Posted April 16, 2020 24 minutes ago, TRO said: Eamonn Deacy was a wicked tackler they nicknamed him "Psycho" George Curtis and Steve McMahon took no prisoners either. We have always had them in our teams......sadly in recent times, we seem to think we can do without. Steve McMahon was a fine player, I remember when he came from Everton, my Dad was gushing about him. One prisoner he didn't manage to capture, Noel Blake. Now, TRO, that was has fierce has derby's get. I don't think their has been a tougher side than Blues had then, Hartford, Van den Hawe, Gayle and that little shit, Robert Hopkins. Imagine a head butt off Noel Blake, fair play to McMahon, though, he didn't make a drama out of it Tough, tough, men in them days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 We haven’t had a hard man in years. Saying that I wouldn’t have messed with Dunne and Collins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheepyvillian Posted April 16, 2020 Author Share Posted April 16, 2020 5 minutes ago, ferguson1 said: Alan Evans, McGrath, Teale? Seem to remember Kevin Gage never shirked a tackle either. Not many opposition defenders got the better of Carew in a tussle, but wouldn’t say he was a hard man. No doubt John Fashanu could handle himself - awoooooga! What a horrible team that Wimbledon were. I don't care what anyone says, they never even attempted to try and play. Nothing but bully's, whose only weapon was intimidation. As for Fashanu, it was unforgivable how he turned his back on his brother Justin, when he needed him most , I know things were a little different then, but your own blood. I nearly forgot he played for us, that's how crap he was. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheepyvillian Posted April 16, 2020 Author Share Posted April 16, 2020 50 minutes ago, TRO said: Eamonn Deacy was a wicked tackler they nicknamed him "Psycho" George Curtis and Steve McMahon took no prisoners either. We have always had them in our teams......sadly in recent times, we seem to think we can do without. So sad that Deacy died at such a young age. He was a proper footballer who you felt appreciated playing on such a stage. Apparently when he left, he returned to working in the family greengrocers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Grant Holt now that was a real man 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Silvers Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Alan Wright, feckin monster 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Silvers Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Alan Wright, feckin monster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Different era but in recent times Benteke was certainly no pushover, Jedinak even Tammy handled himself in Championship Then who could forget Hutton taking out 2 blues players in one tackle or taking both Berahino balls in one swift movement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuwabatake Sanjuro Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 21 minutes ago, sheepyvillian said: What a horrible team that Wimbledon were. I don't care what anyone says, they never even attempted to try and play. Nothing but bully's, whose only weapon was intimidation. As for Fashanu, it was unforgivable how he turned his back on his brother Justin, when he needed him most , I know things were a little different then, but your own blood. I nearly forgot he played for us, that's how crap he was. I laugh every time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 14 minutes ago, Zatman said: Grant Holt now that was a real man I remember we were after "young and hungry" players and ended up signing him on loan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidcow Posted April 16, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted April 16, 2020 1 hour ago, sheepyvillian said: Seen something like this on Twitter, thought I'd start a thread. We have had our share of tough players. Back in the day we had, Mike Pejic, Leighton Phillips, but my favourite has to be Garry Thompson, or has we affectionately called him, Bruno. I remember his tangles with Steve Walsh of Leicester, two tough men giving no quarter. Neale cooper was another, boy, did he like a tackle. Such a shame he didn't replicate his Aberdeen form for us. Somebody, I think it was Bruce Grobbelaar, said Garry Thompson was the toughest striker he ever played against. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post sidcow Posted April 16, 2020 VT Supporter Popular Post Share Posted April 16, 2020 54 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said: We haven’t had a hard man in years. 3 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zhan_Zhuang Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Bouma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted April 16, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted April 16, 2020 Alpay was the closest we have had in recent times! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboyangel Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 2 hours ago, kwoktolai said: I started following Villa from the Nineties and I could not name anyone in particular as the hard man type, possibly Mellberg or Shaun Teale at a push. May be Geroge Boateng the Iron Jaw? I was going to suggest Boateng but he blew it with his hissy fit at the end of season awards when they jokingly suggested he’d won goal of the season! I think in recent years our whole squad has been pretty powderpuff special mentions to Dion for that legendary headbutt and didn’t Joey Gudjonnson like to put a foot in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts