82/83 Season

[garyshawsknee]

Just watched Big Match revisited on ITV4 (i know i should get out more) and it showed our last minute 2-1 defeat at Luton.

I checked some stats about the season,and our home record was amazing,only a few points dropped,but our away record was really poor,only a handful of wins. 2 or 3 more away wins and we could've been a lot closer to Liverpool.

I wonder if any older heads out there have any memories of that season,were we ever in contention?

http://www.statto.com/football/teams/aston-villa/1982-1983

[cdbearsfan]

According to Statto we were bottom at the end of August, 8th (5 points off the top) by the end of September, 10th (but only 4 points off the top) at the end of October and 6th (6 points off) at the end of November. By Christmas though we were more than 10 points off the top and by the end of January, Liverpool had more or less wrapped it up with a ten point lead on everybody which they never came close to surrendering (we were 20 points off by this stage).

So no, not really.

[Pete3206]

I was at that Luton game with my Dad. Appalling ground, couldn't see a thing, got beaten and the old man kopped a parking ticket to boot.

My memories of the season. I'll start with the bad first. Trounced 3-0 at the Sty on Boxing Day. Can you imagine anything so miserable? I remember the team parading the European Cup before the first home game against newly promoted Sunderland, then got beat 3-1. As you say, the away form cost us dearly. Only away win I saw was the win at Stoke.

But, there were some great games at Villa Park. Blues beaten 1-0 by a late Gary Shaw goal. The game itself had a bit of extra spice as Alan Curbishley made his Villa debut as a sub after moving across the city. Spurs 4-0 with a sublime performance by Sid Cowans, beat Sir Graham's Watford 3-0 in the FA Cup and in the league (they were a bloody good side), Eamon Deacy's screamer against Norwich.

In the 2nd half of the season, we had the excitement of a FA cup win over Wolves, closely followed by the Barcelona double header in the European Super Cup. The 2nd leg at Villa Park was amazing. The match had everything and we deserved to win after overcoming some disgraceful behaviour from their players. The highlight of the season for me was the European Cup quarter final against Juventus. Yes we lost, but it was a privilege to see such an amazing game of football with some of the world's best players in an incredible atmosphere. Villa performed admirably on the night. Cowans, who was my player of the season, was again superb. But, it wasn't enough and a 2-1 1st leg defeat was never going to be over turned at their place.

We were never really contenders. Liverpool were back to their best, Watford ran of steam and Man Utd performed their seemingly annual choking at the death routine. There was some exciting moments, but at the time, I think that a lot of fans would have been a bit disappointed because of what had happened in the previous two seasons. We'd take it now though wouldn't we?

[andyh]

Yes, I watched that game today as well.
A couple of things struck me about it. Firstly, Shaws goal was magnificent. Had that been scored by Van Persie today, the media would have been gushing about it for weeks.
Secondly, I think it was noticeable how that team was tiring and was not the force it was.
Thats not to justify the wholesale carnage that followed when the team was broken up too quickly, but it shows that it really did need some work.

[garyshawsknee]

Yes, I watched that game today as well.
A couple of things struck me about it. Firstly, Shaws goal was magnificent. Had that been scored by Van Persie today, the media would have been gushing about it for weeks.
Secondly, I think it was noticeable how that team was tiring and was not the force it was.
Thats not to justify the wholesale carnage that followed when the team was broken up too quickly, but it shows that it really did need some work.

Yeah i thought that as well,in nearly 3 years the only changes to the team was Spinks and Walters.

And cheers Pete,good to hear some of your memories. The following year at luton was my first ever Villa game,we lost 1-0 I think.

[davevillan]

We had a bad start that season, lost the first 3 if i remember correct, tho in the 3rd we lost 1-0 at saints. fashanu scored after 2 mins, we then battered them, only for shilton to have a blinder..Liverpool at home when we lost 4-2, got it back to 3-2 after being 3 down as the goalmouth at the Holte was a skating rink,,I cant remember much about the wolves cup game, apart from it was packed, they had about 12k, we won 1-0, and im glad it was packed in the Holte or i would have fallen over..In my defence i had been drinking since we got on the train at 6.50 in Bournemouth :-)...Ipswich and Liverpool were good away days as well!!! we were great at home that season, but not so good away, but some things never change, ie us conceding in the last min!!!

[Damo70]

I was twelve that season and didn't miss a home game. I also went to the Boxing day game at Blues which was one of my worst days as a Villa fan. Hard to believe a few weeks later was one of my best when we won the Super Cup against Barcelona. The other stand out games for me were Juventus and winning the return game against Blues on Easter Monday. The way I celebrated Gary Shaw's late winner was up there with my wildest ever celebrations.