Former Aston Villa midfielder Paul Merson has revealed the best player he played with during his time in the West Midlands.
Merson, 56, signed for Villa from Middlesbrough in September 1998 and made 144 appearances, scoring 19 goals and registering 14 assists.
On his day, he would’ve been classed among some of the best and most exciting midfielders the Premier League has seen.
After leaving Villa, Merson headed to lowly Championship side Portsmouth and helped spearhead Harry Redknapp’s men in the Premier League with an unlikely title win.
Now working for Sky Sports, Merson regularly shares his thoughts on the ongoings at Villa Park.
Taking to his personal X account on Friday evening, Merson invited fans to fire questions his way, and there was undoubtedly an interesting answer from an Aston Villa perspective.
Paul Merson names £12m Aston Villa player as the best he’s seen at Villa Park
Merson was asked who the best player he played with during his four years in the West Midlands and he replied with a player who was sold for £12million [The Guardian].
“Most underrated Ian Taylor and best Gareth Barry to that young and that good,” he said.
Barry, who signed for Manchester City in 2009, made 440 appearances for the Villans, scoring 53 times and registering 67 assists.
After starting his youth career at Brighton, Barry moved to Villa Park in 1997 and made his first-team debut in 1998, the same year Merson moved to the club.
38-year-old close to Gareth Barry Premier League record
After making 653 Premier League appearances, Barry tops the all-time appearance list. However, will his record stand firm?
Former Villan and current Brighton and Hove Albion star James Milner is 19 appearances shy. Milner, now 38, could break the record if he opts to continue his career beyond this season.
A thigh issue has recently kept the 38-year-old out of action, but he could return at the end of March.
Milner is the only player who could threaten Barry’s record, with every other player in the top 20 having called time on their careers.
