Aston Villa legend is proud of Martin O'Neill's side
That gives him the right to judge O’Neill’s class of 2009.
“I spoke to former Villa defender Chris Nicholl and he said Heskey would give Villa options,’’ said Thompson. ‘‘You could stick a forward on if you were 1-0 down, that type of thing.
“We did that sort of thing in our day. We could work off the cuff. Joe Mercer would say ‘if something isn’t working, work it out among yourselves’.
“We had some good, older players in our team who would tell me what to do. It was always sensible. Most days it worked.”
Heskey netted on his debut at Portsmouth but a little over a week later, at Blackburn, Villa were tasting a win for the last time in two months.
“I am not blaming Heskey but we bought him and everything goes flat,” said Thomson.
“It wasn’t his fault. Joe Mercer used to say all attack, all defend.
“Barcelona’s players were all breaking from the middle against Manchester United, who couldn’t cope in the Champions League final.
“This is what Villa were doing. They were all coming back. Gabby Agbonlahor was picking it up on the halfway line, giving it to Ashley Young and you have to fancy your chances one-on-one. People started talking about the ‘breakaway’. That was all it was.
“Then Heskey arrived and it seemed to go a bit static.
“I do like him. I’d have loved to have played alongside him – and I played with some good ones.
“I had to do my fair share of defending, we all had our own personal jobs, but you watch all the best teams and they attack from deep.
“Nowadays the flick-on has to be done just over the halfway line.
“When James Milner, Gabby and Ashley start running from the halfway line on to them the defence are in trouble.
“The speed of these kids is unbelievable. I couldn’t believe what I was watching last season.”
Villa beat only Hull City and Newcastle after going third on February 7 with an eight-point cushion over Arsenal.
“I’m a wee bit sad the way we finished up. It was flat,” says Thomson. “Sixteen games and winning two. I’m not getting at anyone but there was also the Moscow thing.
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