2011-12 versus 1990-91, 1994-95, 2002-03 and 2005-06

[Ivo Stas]

I know there are plenty of relegation threads already but I want to ask something a bit different. I started going to Villa Park in 1990 so have no memories of our last relegation in the 80s. However, I do remember four seasons when we could have been relegated and I would like to hear other fans memories of those seasons and how they think they compare to this season.

1990-91 under Josef Venglos we finished 17th (out of 20) on 41 points. It sounds like a skin of the teeth survival but actually only two teams (Derby and Sunderland) were relegated in that season. My memory is of a good team (runners up the year before) containing Spink, McGrath, Platt and Daley having a bad season under a manager learning English.

1994-95 under Brian Little (replaced Ron Atkinson in November) we finished 18th (out of 22) with 48 points. This was a very narrow escape because four teams went down and we stayed up by just three points. My memory is of Ron Atkinson being harshly sacked and all his players (e.g Dean Saunders) suddenly seeming past their sell-by-date under Little.

2002-03 under Graham Taylor we finished 16th (out of 20) with 45 points. This, in my opion, was also a close call as we stayed up by just three points (and West Ham went down with half the England team in their squad). I seem to recall a crucial 2-2 draw away at West Ham towards the end of the season.

2005-06 under David O'Leary we finished 16th (out of 20) on 42 points. However we finished 8 points clear of the relegation spots in the end and Small Heath went down (under Steve Bruce) which cheered us all up.

Those wanting to see the back of McLeish will be interested to know that after each of these seasons the manager left, except in 1994-95 when Brian Little had only just arrived and was just starting to build a great team (that was the season we signed Ian Taylor).

Okay, memories please and are we in more or less trouble now than we survived back then..?

[Phil from the upper holte]

Venglos tried to bring new ideas, I do belive he was ahead of his time, If we did go down then this is possibly the worst season for entertainment out of all of them and I remember them all

[Phil from the upper holte]

Actually the home humilation against Man City was particurlarly bad with David White getting 4 goals

[Jon Crofts]

Big Fat Ron spent more time in the TV studio than at Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath toward the end of his reign, I seem to remember he was commentating on a Tuesday night midweek cup game & was fired the following morning.

[pauliewalnuts]

Big Fat Ron spent more time in the TV studio than at Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath toward the end of his reign, I seem to remember he was commentating on a Tuesday night midweek cup game & was fired the following morning.

I remember him going to commentate on the 94 World Cup, and us thinking "who's he going to buy us who he scouts out there?".

John Fashanu

[Richard E]

1988-89 was the worst - listening to Liverpool v West Ham on the radio after we had finished our season praying that West Ham, who had gone on a sudden good run from nowhere, didn't beat them and send us down.

As it happened we only stayed ahead of Boro who went down because we got a dying seconds equaliser against them at Villa Park. If that hadn't gone in our memories of Sir Graham, and the history of our club, could have been very different.

[Holte L2]

Big Fat Ron spent more time in the TV studio than at Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath toward the end of his reign, I seem to remember he was commentating on a Tuesday night midweek cup game & was fired the following morning.

He couldnt have been, because we played Wimbledon away the night before he was sacked. Lost 4-3 after being 3-1 up.  Leonhardsen with a last minute winner

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Big Fat Ron spent more time in the TV studio than at Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath toward the end of his reign, I seem to remember he was commentating on a Tuesday night midweek cup game & was fired the following morning.

I remember him going to commentate on the 94 World Cup, and us thinking "who's he going to buy us who he scouts out there?".

John Fashanu

Not to mention only adding Nil Lamptey and Phil King.

That Summer of poor transfers did for him in the end.

[Concrete John]

Big Fat Ron spent more time in the TV studio than at Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath toward the end of his reign, I seem to remember he was commentating on a Tuesday night midweek cup game & was fired the following morning.

I remember him going to commentate on the 94 World Cup, and us thinking "who's he going to buy us who he scouts out there?".

John Fashanu

It's an 18 year old ITK, but I heard that he was the first manager to approach Klinsmann out there, but Doug wouldn't OK the wages (he wanted £12k a week and we'd only pay £10k a week) and he eventually went to Spurs.

Others may be able to dispel that if untrue.

[dave.woodhall]

Big Fat Ron spent more time in the TV studio than at Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath toward the end of his reign, I seem to remember he was commentating on a Tuesday night midweek cup game & was fired the following morning.

He couldnt have been, because we played Wimbledon away the night before he was sacked. Lost 4-3 after being 3-1 up.  Leonhardsen with a last minute winner

He was commentating on Barcelona v Manchester United the night after we lost to la Coruna.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Not sure John, nothing in his autobiography about it.

He did say that he thought Fashanu was great business and that Lamptey would wow everybody, he also refused to accept the squad were getting on a bit, hence not getting more quality in.

Apparently the money was there, but he believed he didn't need it.

He also reckoned Ellis was always forthcoming with transfer funds, the main problem he had was when Ellis would butt in on transfers and nearly fuck them up.

[dave.woodhall]

Not sure John, nothing in his autobiography about it.

He did say that he thought Fashanu was great business and that Lamptey would wow everybody, he also refused to accept the squad were getting on a bit, hence not getting more quality in.

Apparently the money was there, but he believed he didn't need it.

He says he was told that a couple of weeks before getting sacked as well. Doug offed money, but he wanted to wait until summer.

[philthebar]

Big Fat Ron spent more time in the TV studio than at Villa Park or Bodymoor Heath toward the end of his reign, I seem to remember he was commentating on a Tuesday night midweek cup game & was fired the following morning.

He couldnt have been, because we played Wimbledon away the night before he was sacked. Lost 4-3 after being 3-1 up.  Leonhardsen with a last minute winner

He was commentating on Barcelona v Manchester United the night after we lost to la Coruna.

Correct, and as we left the ground after the la Coruna game, my brother turned to me and said if he turns up on TV tomorrow then he should be sacked.

I also met Doug's wife in Geneva a few weeks later, she said that Ron didn't even go into the dressing room after the game, he jumped into a taxi for the airport and that Doug stayed up all night unable to sleep, pondering what to do.

[glasses]

I know there are plenty of relegation threads already but I want to ask something a bit different. I started going to Villa Park in 1990 so have no memories of our last relegation in the 80s. However, I do remember four seasons when we could have been relegated and I would like to hear other fans memories of those seasons and how they think they compare to this season.

1990-91 under Josef Venglos we finished 17th (out of 20) on 41 points. It sounds like a skin of the teeth survival but actually only two teams (Derby and Sunderland) were relegated in that season. My memory is of a good team (runners up the year before) containing Spink, McGrath, Platt and Daley having a bad season under a manager learning English.

1994-95 under Brian Little (replaced Ron Atkinson in November) we finished 18th (out of 22) with 48 points. This was a very narrow escape because four teams went down and we stayed up by just three points. My memory is of Ron Atkinson being harshly sacked and all his players (e.g Dean Saunders) suddenly seeming past their sell-by-date under Little.

2002-03 under Graham Taylor we finished 16th (out of 20) with 45 points. This, in my opion, was also a close call as we stayed up by just three points (and West Ham went down with half the England team in their squad). I seem to recall a crucial 2-2 draw away at West Ham towards the end of the season.

2005-06 under David O'Leary we finished 16th (out of 20) on 42 points. However we finished 8 points clear of the relegation spots in the end and Small Heath went down (under you-know-who) which cheered us all up.

Those wanting to see the back of McLeish will be interested to know that after each of these seasons the manager left, except in 1994-95 when Brian Little had only just arrived and was just starting to build a great team (that was the season we signed Ian Taylor).

Okay, memories please and are we in more or less trouble now than we survived back then..?

Steve Bruce

[The Left Side]

Actually the home humilation against Man City was particurlarly bad with David White getting 4 goals

A very low point for us, BFR's team getting on and his stubborness to change them reminds me of MON... but for me the most worrying season (before this one) has been 2003 when we couldn't buy a goal before Allback scored a few vital goals.