The talent in Dion Dublin (Dion Dublin)

Member Name: Grimsbygal

Product:	Dion Dublin
Date:	03/10/01 (284 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: determined, a player to remember

Disadvantages: past his best

As an Aston Villa supporter I am a fan of Dion Dublin. I use to admire him when he was at Coventry so I was pleased when Gregory signed him in November 1998 for £5.75 million. At first I thought it was a bit expensive but with the price of footballers now £5.75 million is pittance.

Dion first started his playing career aged 18 at Norwich. To be honest at this time I didn’t know who he was and where he came from and I didn't seem to take interest at his next club Cambridge either. In 1992 Dion was on a high when Manchester United signed him for a million pound.

His career didn’t last long in a red shirt though as injury forced him out of several matches and him and Manchester just didn’t seem to mix well at all. In 1994 Coventry took notice and signed him for £2 million. This is the time everyone else seemed to take notice and he reached the peak of his career. He made a few England appearances and was a natural goal scorer.

I used to think he would end his career at his beloved Sky Blues and was quite surprised when Villa became interested in 1998. Coventry eventually agreed to a figure and he was all villa’s.

The next year went quite well for Dublin and he managed to get a few goals under his belt. Things weren’t going right for him in December 1999 though when he faced Sheffield Wednesday. He fell to the floor from a challenge and the next few hours were vital. He had fractured a vertebra in his neck and for a moment walking seemed a mile away let alone playing football. He did not give up without a fight though and made an amazing recovery. Everyone thought he would be out for at least a season but he made a comeback in the April against Bolton and scored the winning penalty to take Villa through to the final of the FA Cup.

He has been a regular first team player since his injury and suffered no setbacks. This brings me to last Monday night. If you don’t know Villa played aga
inst Southampton and Dublin was sent off in the match for a supposed head butt. One thing Dion Dublin isn’t is dirty and fair enough they were having a little scuffle but he did not and has never forcefully head butt any player. There is no justice in football and we are constantly been shown examples of this. No doubt though Dion will fight back and will be back on the score sheet soon.

I personally think he is past his best but hopefully he can still offer Villa a good ten goals a season. He is one player who I will never forget and I think his determination will continue until the bitter end of his footballing days.

Facts
D:O:B: 22/4/1969
Age: 32
Place of Birth: Leicester
Weight: 12st 4lb
Height: 6ft 2”
Previous Clubs: Norwich, Cambridge, Manchester United, Coventry

Summary: