Aston Villa After 1982

[tomd2103]

Recently caught the "Time of Lives" show on SKY featuring Gary Shaw, Tony Morley and Allan Evans discussing the League Championship and subsequent European Cup winning campaigns.  I guess we've all heard those stories many times, but what really struck me was that towards the end of the show all three talked about how the club really missed the chance to build on the European cup success and cement a place at the top of the English game.  In fact the history books show we declined rapidly, getting relegated only a few seasons after. 

I was born in 1980, so that period was a bit before my time, but my Dad has always said that the European Cup winning team was disbanded too quickly without replacements being bought in.  That certainly seemed to be the opinion of the three on the show (all three did acknowledge that bad injuries to Cowans and Shaw played a part as well), as they felt that with some good youngsters coming through, things should have been in place to kick on.  Naturally, a few fingers were pointed in Doug's direction, but I'd be interested to hear some opinions on why we weren't able to make that next step and build on the great success we had in that period.     

[dave.woodhall]

Recently caught the "Time of Lives" show on SKY featuring Gary Shaw, Tony Morley and Allan Evans discussing the League Championship and subsequent European Cup winning campaigns.  I guess we've all heard those stories many times, but what really struck me was that towards the end of the show all three talked about how the club really missed the chance to build on the European cup success and cement a place at the top of the English game.  In fact the history books show we declined rapidly, getting relegated only a few seasons after. 

I was born in 1980, so that period was a bit before my time, but my Dad has always said that the European Cup winning team was disbanded too quickly without replacements being bought in.  That certainly seemed to be the opinion of the three on the show (all three did acknowledge that bad injuries to Cowans and Shaw played a part as well), as they felt that with some good youngsters coming through, things should have been in place to kick on.  Naturally, a few fingers were pointed in Doug's direction, but I'd be interested to hear some opinions on why we weren't able to make that next step and build on the great success we had in that period.     

Ellis.

[PeterWithesShin]

It went downhill pretty quickly after Barton was sacked. I've often wondered how things may have been different if Oxford had beaten Everton.

[Villan For Life]

Ellis

[Damo70]

Doug Ellis being so keen to see the back of the players that had brought us success while he wasn't around that he practically gave them away.
Doug Ellis not backing Tony Barton financially, in fact not backing him in any way as he wasn't his appointment.
Doug Ellis appointing Graham Turner to be his yes man. If you think United appointing Moyes was a bit strange imagine them winning the Champions League and then two years later giving the job to a man whose biggest claim to fame is finishing in the top half of the championship and reaching an FA cup quarter final with a small club.

[Lastfootstamper]

Signed Steve McMahon. Now leave that isolated occurrence to one side, and I challenge anybody to come up with any other decision made during that post-'82 period which doesn't now leave them shaking their head in disbelief. Ellis.
And to think of the meltdown that goes on nowadays over a team that was never better than sixth!!

[Five Villa Tattoos]

Ellis treating our best ever team and Tony Barton like they were an embarrassment.
Ellis going onto to build the worst Villa side in my lifetime with the worst manager in my lifetime, resulting in relegation.

[tomd2103]

Recently caught the "Time of Lives" show on SKY featuring Gary Shaw, Tony Morley and Allan Evans discussing the League Championship and subsequent European Cup winning campaigns.  I guess we've all heard those stories many times, but what really struck me was that towards the end of the show all three talked about how the club really missed the chance to build on the European cup success and cement a place at the top of the English game.  In fact the history books show we declined rapidly, getting relegated only a few seasons after. 

I was born in 1980, so that period was a bit before my time, but my Dad has always said that the European Cup winning team was disbanded too quickly without replacements being bought in.  That certainly seemed to be the opinion of the three on the show (all three did acknowledge that bad injuries to Cowans and Shaw played a part as well), as they felt that with some good youngsters coming through, things should have been in place to kick on.  Naturally, a few fingers were pointed in Doug's direction, but I'd be interested to hear some opinions on why we weren't able to make that next step and build on the great success we had in that period.     

Ellis.

Was it as simple as that Dave?  What were his excuses at the time - cost cutting?  Tony Morley certainly alluded to the bigger earners at the club being moved on simply because of their wages.       

[dave.woodhall]

It seemed that way at the time and hindsight has never shown anything to the contrary. I don't think he wanted to erase all memories of success because he hadn't been here at the time; he wanted to be the undisputed Mr Aston Villa and he couldn't be while the likes of Tony Barton and Dennis Mortimer were still around.

[Richie]

Team/squad was broken up far to quickly

Rimmer - sold 83
Swain - sold 83
Williams - sold 87 after relegation, Gibson - sold 85
Evans
McNaught - sold 83
Mortimer - sold 85
Bremner - sold 84
Shaw - injured beyond repair -83
Withe - sold 85
Cowans - broken leg - 83
Morley - sold 84

Barton brought in a couple of decent signings, McMahon went on to be a great midfielder and I thought Rideout looked a good prospect.

Other signings not fit for a team recently crowned Champions of Europe (off the top of my head Foster and Curbishley)

Once Turner was appointed, we were going downhill fast.

A lot of the youngsters who were given their chance were well out of their depth (Norton, Walker, Kerr, Glover)

[class-of-82]

Ron Saunders parting comment was that every single position is covered in triplicate from youth team to reserve team to first team and that some idiot will mess it all up within 2-3 years.
How right he was

[dave.woodhall]

Ron Saunders parting comment was that every single position is covered in triplicate from youth team to reserve team to first team and that some idiot will mess it all up within 2-3 years.
How right he was

I'm not sure he said that or whether it's been mythologised over the years but it was true anyway.

[bertlambshank]

Graham Turner was a stupid appointment and Ellis knew exactly what he was doing.The side of 82 was an embarrassment to him.

[Damo70]

Ron Saunders parting comment was that every single position is covered in triplicate from youth team to reserve team to first team and that some idiot will mess it all up within 2-3 years.
How right he was

I'm not sure he said that or whether it's been mythologised over the years but it was true anyway.

I was young at the time but I don't remember that quote. In fact I don't remember him saying much at all. The only recollection I have is a quote along the lines of "You wouldn't treat an office boy the way they treated me".

[class-of-82]

I am sure I have the argus or mail cutting of his quote I will try to dig it out when I get chance