Paul McGrath

[Rufus Smalls]

No knees, could hardly run, liked his ale and had nothing left to play for - yet he was comfortably the best CB I have seen at the Lane.

Same description as me mate ................ apart from the last bit !!

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

I'm sure someone on here will have already said it, but if not - Joe Shaw & Paul McGrath were cut from the same cloth; a blend of wool and cashmere to outshine anything else you might fashion into the perfect suit. Charlie Williams described Joe as "a Prince among men" - Blades Royalty and a statue to acknowledge that fact. Paul Mc Grath came here with his Royal pedigree aleady well established, but with the scars of battle clearly having taken its toll on him. He showed his class, and ignored the pain he felt in those knees. Only here for a very short time, but boy oh boy did he leave his mark of quality with us.

 

[super_pig]

it was pretty amazing to watch when he wasn't . he was so good he used to make me laugh out loud

didn't realise i'd posted that before.. sorry.. at least i'm consistent

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Can't think of any other player that has made such a lasting impression after just 14 games..

For very different reasons, Mel Rees?

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Don't forget poor old Mel Rees. He also made a huge mark on the club in a very short space of time.

But not to take away from the Paul McGrath love in, am also a huge fan of that brief spell and echo all the sentiments expressed above. Brilliant defender.

You beat me to it, by almost a year. My reflexes are not as quick as they used to be... Apologies.

 

[Rodley]

 

[Wards]

What a footballer

 

[Sean Thornton]

What a footballer

A joy seeing him in his few United appearances. Imagine watching him every week in his prime.

 

[Gin&Juice]

Would make my all time greatest XI even with injuries and alcoholism. Absolutely fantastic player.

Happy Birthday.

 

[Rodley]

A joy seeing him in his few United appearances. Imagine watching him every week in his prime.

Even at the twilight of his career he was in absolute control of whoever he played against.

Remember he played against Kevin Francis at the Lane. I don’t think Francis, at 6ft 7, got near a header. McGrath gently nudged him off balance every time the ball came near him. A masterclass.

 

[blades78]

I'll never forget the first game of the 97/98 season v Sunderland (on Sky) where the focus was around Deano's return and Vas Borbokis performance. I was in awe of McGrath in that game, couldn't believe how easy it looked for him, like an adult playing against kids.

 

[Silent Blade]

Even at the twilight of his career he was in absolute control of whoever he played against.

Remember he played against Kevin Francis at the Lane. I don’t think Francis, at 6ft 7, got near a header. McGrath gently nudged him off balance every time the ball came near him. A masterclass.

Yes, v Birmingham (h) in Sept 1997. Brilliant display

 

[Wards]

I always urge anyone who hasn't to give his book a read. It's brilliant and sad in equal measures.

 

[brownblade]

I'd guess I only saw McGrath play for us once. And was pretty young. But i remember him being absolutely brilliant in that match.

 

[Withington Blade]

My hero

 

[Kelso]

The finest centre back we have ever had, made it look so easy. Brilliant player

 

[bladesince64]

He did the "got him in my pocket" hand gesture during the game against the giant striker (Francis?)

Crowd noise levels went thru the roof!

 

[Bert]

The finest centre back we have ever had, made it look so easy. Brilliant player

Joe Shaw

 

[Kelso]

Sorry Bert, I also saw Joe Shaw play, and he was excellent, but Mcgarth edged it for me, although to be fair we only saw him for a limited number of games

 

[Sheffsteel]

I'll never forget the first game of the 97/98 season v Sunderland (on Sky) where the focus was around Deano's return and Vas Borbokis performance. I was in awe of McGrath in that game, couldn't believe how easy it looked for him, like an adult playing against kids.

I watched his performances closely when he played for us and the weird thing that I couldn't get my head around was

He would be jogging around in defence, always looked quite slow BUT he was always the first to ball.
He seemed to always know where the ball would be passed before it was crossed or passed, that is a rare ability.

On the surface he didn't look that good because he made defending look so easy.
He was so calm, as I say almost slow and reassured. They always say that speed of thought often makes up for a lack of pace.
McGrath could smell danger, his positioning was world class and it stood out, so he could put out fires before they got going.

I even remember a game home to Wolves, they had a corner.
McGrath was on the front post, the corner came into the front post and McGrath headed it clear for another corner.
Then McGrath moved to the back post, the corner came over to the back post and McGrath headed it clear.
Remember thinking, why are Wolves constantly crossing it and passing it to McGrath ha ha.

 

[HarryHaslam]

His knees were fucked, past his best and didn’t train with us just played the games… and yet was a Rolls Royce who was a joy to watch for the small amount of games we had him for, amazing player.

 

[JJ Sefton]

He read the game as well as anyone I’ve seen play for us. I remember hearing that Alex Higgins was always thinking 10 shots ahead*, McGrath seemed to be playing football like that.

* Probably bollocks, I know.

 

[Corkblade]

They talk about footballers today as legends, most wouldn't lace his boot's, l actually saw Paul playing for St pat's in the league of lreland, he just strolled through games ,Happy birthday the Black Pearl of Inchicore

 

[gaz kay]

I always urge anyone who hasn't to give his book a read. It's brilliant and sad in equal measures.

It's my favourite autobiography.

 

[Rochdaleblade]

I remember he used to stand between Holdsworth and Tiler and never moved more than 10 yards from that position. Every time the ball went into that zone he won it. Shame his knees couldn't have lasted another 6 months .

 

[peter w]

As a Villa fan I love to read how other fans see one of 'our' players when playing for them. Quite simply referred to as 'God' due to his time at Villa. He was with us for something like seven seasons and won Player of The Year 6 seasons on the trot. he was that good - and that was when we were too. I still get annoyed when him winning the PFA Player's player is overlooked and barely mentioned - especially as a defender - whilst new football only want to talk about Prem only players. It also irks when conversations of 'best ofs' when talking about centre halves never mention this guy. Talk to derby fans too and despite his short time there they speak of him as you do. All glowing. Absolutely brilliant for us and his time at the club is still felt everywhere.

Interesting to see you mention Gordon Cowans as i reckon he is probably one of the most underrated English players of all time. Barely gets a mention. Easy to forget (or just not know) that by 84 (ish, i think) he was becoming an England regular before a leg break (dirty Mexican bstd) kept him out for about a year. Was only a bit part England player after that whilst the London and Manchester press only wanted to talk about Hoddle, Brooking, Wilkins, Graham bloody Rix and the like.

Known as 'Sid' at villa still loved to this day.

 

[Digs blade]

As a Villa fan I love to read how other fans see one of 'our' players when playing for them. Quite simply referred to as 'God' due to his time at Villa. He was with us for something like seven seasons and won Player of The Year 6 seasons on the trot. he was that good - and that was when we were too. I still get annoyed when him winning the PFA Player's player is overlooked and barely mentioned - especially as a defender - whilst new football only want to talk about Prem only players. It also irks when conversations of 'best ofs' when talking about centre halves never mention this guy. Talk to derby fans too and despite his short time there they speak of him as you do. All glowing. Absolutely brilliant for us and his time at the club is still felt everywhere.

Interesting to see you mention Gordon Cowans as i reckon he is probably one of the most underrated English players of all time. Barely gets a mention. Easy to forget (or just not know) that by 84 (ish, i think) he was becoming an England regular before a leg break (dirty Mexican bstd) kept him out for about a year. Was only a bit part England player after that whilst the London and Manchester press only wanted to talk about Hoddle, Brooking, Wilkins, Graham bloody Rix and the like.

Known as 'Sid' at villa still loved to this day.

Sid Cowans, another classy player who we unfortunately only saw the back end of

 

[wavy-blade]

I actually saw him in a Blades shirt

 

[Bladesthorpe]

Sorry Bert, I also saw Joe Shaw play, and he was excellent, but Mcgarth edged it for me, although to be fair we only saw him for a limited number of games

Get thi mouth weshed out, PM was fantastic but not as good as Joe Shaw, never will be bettered, impossible.

 

[Sheffsteel]

As a Villa fan I love to read how other fans see one of 'our' players when playing for them. Quite simply referred to as 'God' due to his time at Villa. He was with us for something like seven seasons and won Player of The Year 6 seasons on the trot. he was that good - and that was when we were too. I still get annoyed when him winning the PFA Player's player is overlooked and barely mentioned - especially as a defender - whilst new football only want to talk about Prem only players. It also irks when conversations of 'best ofs' when talking about centre halves never mention this guy. Talk to derby fans too and despite his short time there they speak of him as you do. All glowing. Absolutely brilliant for us and his time at the club is still felt everywhere.

Interesting to see you mention Gordon Cowans as i reckon he is probably one of the most underrated English players of all time. Barely gets a mention. Easy to forget (or just not know) that by 84 (ish, i think) he was becoming an England regular before a leg break (dirty Mexican bstd) kept him out for about a year. Was only a bit part England player after that whilst the London and Manchester press only wanted to talk about Hoddle, Brooking, Wilkins, Graham bloody Rix and the like.

Known as 'Sid' at villa still loved to this day.

Think we had Howard Kendall as manager and had been used to watching Dave Bassett's high tempo, all action direct football.
Kendall almost instantly changed us into a continental, keep poession, lots of short passing style.

Think he bought Cowans and to be honest he was a revelation, brilliant at little short passes and amazing calmness at receiving the ball under pressure. So Cowans used to stay very close the centre circle and he's have constant touches of the ball, pass and move, pass and move.
Looked a very classy player that stood out, so experienced and knew what to do, most times keeping it simple, letting the ball do the work.

He was the main reason for the success in our new tiki taka style. We could control games, simply by keeping possession.

Kendalls work in creating a team didn't go unnoticed, he didn't stay long (think it was just 1 season) and returned back to Everton.
Think Nigel Spackman replaced Kendall and continued playing a nice, short passing, keep possession, style of play. It was all looking so promising for a return back to the Premier League then the owners sold our 2 star strikers Brian Deane and Jan Hate Fjortoft on the same day.