What makes a player a club legend?

  • Thread starter Villan Of The North
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Villan Of The North

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I was on Facebook earlier and one the Villa official FB page asked the question, which of these 2 striking legends was your favourite, Carew or Angel? Now whilst I admit that both were good in different ways, I'd not class either of them as legends, so what qualifies a player as a club legend?

In my mind there are a number of factors involved but no definitive answer. Things that contribute would include length of service, connection with the fans, quality of play and significant contributions (think Peter Withe's shin).

Since I first became aware of Villa (somewhere around 1980) I can only really think of 2 that I would class as Villa striking legends, Withe and York. Who would be your legends and why?



 
I'd put Gareth Barry in there too for his professionalism and length of service.

I'm not sure I'd qualify Angel or Carew as a club legend. I feel that Angel was disinterested after he got his big contract and coasted for most of his time with us.

Mellberg is a club legend in my book too, although I'm not sure why. Perhaps the relationship with the fans and the effort he put on the pitch.

 
Suppose there's no official criteria that qualifies you as a legend for me It's players that go out and bust a gut for the cause.They have to produce the goods on regular basis and show respect and a certain love for the club on that basis my personal legends are.
Brian Little fantastic player won us silverware as a player and then returned as a manager and produced the goods again winning the league cup and a top 4 finish.
Andy Gray put his head where it hurt scored on very regular basis out scoring Super Mac one season which culminated in him being the first player ever to win young player and player of the year award.
Peter Withe for obvious reasons.
Dennis Mortimer captain fantastic in fact you would have to say all the players of the 80\81 season are legends.
Ron Saunders is the ultimate legend.
Then we have legends of a lesser extent but are worthy of high praise.
Gareth Barry
Ian Taylor
Yorke however his display at Everton somewhat tainted his memory for me.
Mellberg
Laursen
Milner fantastic attitude
probably more that escape me for now
 
I would say that to qualify for 'Club Legend' status, you need to have contributed in a hugely significant way, or contributed far more than you ever took out, or was expended on you in terms of transfer fee, etc.

JPA was one of my all-time favourite players, but I would never afford him legendary status. Nor John Carew. Both might more accurately be described as 'cult' figures - JPA for his South American 'glamour' perhaps, and Carew for his 110%, no-nonsense approach.

I would agree with VOTN that in my time, Peter Withe would be a striking legend (MAJOR contribution in the EC Final, obviously, and plenty more goals en route to the League title the previous year).

And possibly Dwight Yorke - came from nowhere, for nothing, scored a boat load of goals, won the League Cup and was sold for £12.6m - very decent business in my book.

Elsewhere on the park, the European Cup winning team might all consider themselves Club Legends - it's highly likely the feat will never be repeated by an Aston Villa side, so how can they not be considered legends?

Paul McGrath: came for peanuts, knees knackered, and was the best centre-back in the League for years. And Gareth Barry, debut at 17 was it? 360-odd games, always gave 110%.

After that, I'm struggling a bit, in my lifetime at least.

EDIT:

I'm talking about playing legends in my lifetime. I think Brian Little and Graham Taylor would be classed as legends for their achievements, and probably Big Ron. Perhaps Steve Stride should get a mention for his efforts over many years. Deserves serious recognition for putting up with Deadly for so long!
 
I think some players get legend status just because they fell in love with the club. It's a bit of a 2 way street.

Neither Angel or Carew played for long enough, were good enough, or won anything, but they both love Aston Villa. We left a mark on them. They're now claret & blue forever, you can tell that whenever you see either of them interviewed. Not sure that makes them real legends but it surely makes us very fond of them.

So many players just move on then never mention us again. We're just an employer who is forgotten about when they leave. Angel and Carew are knitted into our fabric.
 
I can only think of 2 modern day legends in my book. Barry and Taylor.

Hard not to include Laursen, but when I think about it I actually feel he's more in the Angel/Carew mutual love category.

Also hard not to include Dublin for the headbutt. :15: :15:
 
I can't have Dublin as his headbutt didn't even break Savages nose. Waste of a red card that was.

As I can go back a fair way in time . Obviously Ron Saunders , Sir Brian , Ray Graydon ,Alex Cropley , the 14 that won the league and European cup , Spinksy , God , Barry and Mellberg.

To my eyes they all respected the club and understand what it means to us.
 
sirdennis - 14/11/2017 11:31

I can't have Dublin as his headbutt didn't even break Savages nose. Waste of a red card that was.

As I can go back a fair way in time . Obviously Ron Saunders , Sir Brian , Ray Graydon ,Alex Cropley , the 14 that won the league and European cup , Spinksy , God , Barry and Mellberg.

To my eyes they all respected the club and understand what it means to us.
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Yeah you have just topped my list up there I resisted Cropley because he had a short time with us but he was a particular idol of mine what Arsenal were thinking selling him I will never know.Quite how I missed God off is unforgivable really.
 
My Dad loved Alex Cropley. It was the worst tackle of all time that broke his leg and effectively finished his career.
 
sirdennis - 14/11/2017 12:08

My Dad loved Alex Cropley. It was the worst tackle of all time that broke his leg and effectively finished his career.
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So did I mate I made a scrap book when Sir Ron took over and I had put Cropley down as his best buy of the lot including Andy Gray who I was in total awe of.Well that tackle I'm sure you know by now how I feel on that one.
 
Legend to me is someone who stood out in their era for us, over a significant period, and are still remembered today. I'd start with Peter McParland and Charlie Aitken, two players who have to be on the list. Sleewenhoek, the core of Mercer's side. Deakin. McGrath, Withe, Shaw, Dean Saunders, Richardson. Little, Gidman, Walters, Cowans, Yorke.

Barry, Laursen, Mellberg, Young, Carew, Staunton, Taylor, Vassell, Petrov, Dublin.

We had some pretty good goalkeepers. Sims, Rimmer, Spink, Bosnich.
 
I did like Vassell, until he believed his own hype after a couple of England call ups and then went backwards. Then again, there are many players that I like, some may even attain personal hero status but they are still not legends.

A few names that occur to me as genuine legends are :-

Withe
York
Melberg
Laursen
McGrath
Cowans
Gregory
Merson
Mortimer
Spink
Taylor
Barry
Dublin (I know many will disagree ion this one)
Staunton
Petrov (not really for playing reasons but for teh place he earned in our hearts)
And a legendary moment despite the player not reaching legendary status must be mentioned for Cahill for THAT goal


 
The whole of the 1982 European Cup winners including Sir Ron and Sir Tony Barton
Dublin
Laursen
Mellberg
McGrath
Little
BFR
Ugo
Sir Graham Taylor
Gregory



 
Most of the team that brought us back from the brink of the 3rd division playing exciting football knocked out the great man Utd team on the way to Wembley got the fans onside . Lochead was my favourite :1:
 
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