Brian Little and David Bernstein to join the board

[dave.woodhall]

Probably the most exciting but 1980-81 were a better all-round team.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

For a man of my tender years my heroes were Shaw, Morley, Withe et al. For the seniors, before you shuffle off, can you explain the essence of the mid to late '70s? Little, Graydon, Gidman, Deehan - what did we miss out on?

Style, flair, belief and the certain knowledge that the opposition were going to get battered.

the 76/77 team was the best villa side i have ever watched

belief and a ridiculous amount of attacking flair

[dave shelley]

I think I caught a glimpse of myself on that.  I loved the old Witton End.  We got all the Villa goals down there in that Liverpool match.

[aj2k77]

First bit of good news I've heard from the Villa for a while.

My dad will be chuffed to bits, he who walks on water is back. I loved him as a manager here too, never had the pleasure of watching him weave his magic.  He never really took off elsewhere and I'd like to think that was because his heart was never in anything else but Aston Villa.

Welcome back Brian, we need you.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

If we'd have kept Gray and Gidman, and Little didn't get injured (and didn't sign for Small Heath as he was going to), I wonder if we'd have still won the League and European Cup?

[West Derby Villan]

That bloody league cup 3 X semis and 3 X finals. Too many matches otherwise I think things may have turned out different

[Stirchley Villain]

Too Little too late.

[CT Villan]

Maybe I'm not reading the club statement properly, but it appears Sir Brian is not joining the board, he is acting as an advisor to the board. They would be smart to actually appoint him properly instead fannying around with an advisor role.

I'm also wondering if Bernstein will take over from Hollis as Chairman after the pillar-to-post review of the club has been completed and the necessary changes made.

[DeKuip]

If we'd have kept Gray and Gidman, and Little didn't get injured (and didn't sign for Small Heath as he was going to), I wonder if we'd have still won the League and European Cup?

Probably not. I don't even think we'd have won the European Cup if Ron Saunders had stayed. We'll never know. Just me parking in a different place one game or wearing the wrong socks could have changed history!

[DeKuip]

I agree with others here that the 76/77 team was the best I've seen, but the 80/81 side were also exciting to watch and clearly had some extra ingredient.
It should also be remembered that as brilliant as the 76/77 side was at home, it was often a very different story away.

In both those seasons though we were up against the best team in Europe, and that shouldn't be overlooked. That was one hell of a Liverpool team we dumped 5-1.

[Matt C]

Sir Brian has some commitments with Jersey doesn't he? At least when he's required in B6 he can just walk across the water.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

When I see some of the references to the 76/77 side and the footage, I could bloody weep!
We were a wonderful, attacking side, the best in the league.
I missed the Liverpool game - it was my works Christmas do and I was told I had to be there or else...the only home game I missed all season...I remember phoning VP after 30 minutes and being told that we were winning 3-0...the 2 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' fans on my table wouldn't believe me, obviously.
When I got the full-time score I sat there like an idiot wallowing in the satisfaction that my team were the best in the land and that none of the silly, ignorant buggers in the same room had got the message - yet!

I bloody love Aston Villa!

[Flamingo Lane]

I was there that night, as well as the other great nights that season, and that photograph is truly a thing of beauty.

[kippaxvilla2]

Liverpool were at their most dangerous when they were behind.  No they weren't.

[West Derby Villan]

When I see some of the references to the 76/77 side and the footage, I could bloody weep!
We were a wonderful, attacking side, the best in the league.
I missed the Liverpool game - it was my works Christmas do and I was told I had to be there or else...the only home game I missed all season...I remember phoning VP after 30 minutes and being told that we were winning 3-0...the 2 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' fans on my table wouldn't believe me, obviously.
When I got the full-time score I sat there like an idiot wallowing in the satisfaction that my team were the best in the land and that none of the silly, ignorant buggers in the same room had got the message - yet!

I bloody love Aston Villa!

Ditto