When Gerard Houllier signed Frenchyoungster Vignal, it was regarded something of a coup, as a whole hostof Europe's top club's (including PSG and Inter Milan) were in the huntfor the talented teenager's signature.
Houllier told Vignal on his arrival that he should not eventhink about making the first team for two years, but such was the youngFrenchman's progress that he had established himself as a key squadmember within a few months, and found himself on the substitutes benchfor both the FA and UEFA Cup finals.
He made his reserve team debut against Manchester United at Anfield,and for the first 20 minutes was given a bit of a chasing by Ole GunnarSolksjaer, but after that settled down and produced an impressiveperformance.
His first involvement with the senior squad came as an unusedsubstitute in the 2-1 reversal at White Hart Lane in Nov 2000, and hisdebut came in the FA Cup tie with Rotheram the following January, whenhe appeared as a sub for the last fifteen minutes on the left ofmidfield.
His first start came against West Ham, and he produced an assureddisplay that suggested big things were to come from him. Another gooddisplay followed the next week at Sunderland, and although JamieCarragher returned to the side for the next game, Gregory had arrived.
The following season saw Greg experience mixed fortunes. Having forcedhis way into the side and forged an impressive partnership down theleft flank with John Arne Riise, he suffered a broken foot in the shockWorthington Cup defeat to Grimsby. It was wrongly diagnosed initially,and that cost him five months on the sidelines.
He was unable to force his way back into the side after that, and withDjimi Traore returning from a loan spell at Lens to move ahead of himin the left back pecking order, Vignal returned to his homeland on loanto Bastia.
He returned the following summer and played in the pre-season fixtures,before again being sent out on loan to a French club, this time toRennes, only to fall out with the coach there and return to Melwood.
His return was short lived however, and after just one behind closeddoors friendly for the reds, he was swiftly sent back out on loan toSpanish side Espanol.
Even a change in management didn't help Vignal, as Rafa Benitez wastedno time in sending him away on another loan deal, this time to GlasgowRangers. He failed to agree a permanent deal with the Scottish sidehowever, and at the start of the 2005/06 season he signed forPortsmouth before going on to have spells at Lens, Kaiserslauten, Southampton,Birmingham City, Atromitos and finally Dundee United, for whom he failed to make a single appearance before being released.
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