Brian Little and David Bernstein to join the board

[Nelson Lodge]

This news has given me some hope for the future where previously I had none. Of the two I think at the moment that Bernstein is the most important and he could be crucial in restructuring the administration at the top of the club. Get that right and the rest will follow. However, as he is 71 years old I don't expect him to be around long term, but he could be vital with his contacts in recruiting the right younger people to run the various departments.

Pleased to see Little in as adviser to the Board. He could also act as a "sounding board" for Garde if the latter wants it. Garde is a puzzle to me at present. A good manager in the right place at the wrong time - a bit like Joe Mercer - or bad? In his defence (1) the squad is not his choice (2) he has not been able to bring in the assistants he wanted. Whether he can or not after this season ends could decide whether he stays or goes.

Anyway hoping this is the start of the revival of AVFC, let "Operation Lionheart" commence !!

[SashasGrandad]

It would be good to think Jack Grealish might read this thread.  He could observe the journey of a lad from the youth team to admired and revered member of the Villa board, praised and glorified.  If he buckled down and stopped acting the goat it could be him in forty years time.

Trouble is reports in today's press suggest he'll be out the door in the summer. Hopefully his Dad will tell him a few stories about Sir Brian and how he could follow in his footsteps. Hopefully not by starting in the 3rd Division and working up!

[mrfuse]

I cant really add anything more to the comments already made but It just feels nice to be able to post on a positive thread.

[dave shelley]

Since hearing this news yesterday, I've felt like I do after we've had a good win.  I've smiled a bit and was able to patronise two Manure fans on two separate occasions this morning.

[Ads]

The football knowledge from these two and specifically the football administration knowledge from Burnstein in particular is, as others have said, what we've lacked on the board since Stride called it a day.

It has actually given me some confidence that there is now a hand on the tiller.

[Tayls_7]

It would be good to think Jack Grealish might read this thread.  He could observe the journey of a lad from the youth team to admired and revered member of the Villa board, praised and glorified.  If he buckled down and stopped acting the goat it could be him in forty years time.

Trouble is reports in today's press suggest he'll be out the door in the summer. Hopefully his Dad will tell him a few stories about Sir Brian and how he could follow in his footsteps. Hopefully not by starting in the 3rd Division and working up!

and maybe we could induce him further with a 5yr 40k/wk contract. Or maybe we shouldn't give a shit.

[Nelly]

Who was Villa's number seven in that Portsmouth video? Sparkling player!

[Chico Hamilton III]

Who was Villa's number seven in that Portsmouth video? Sparkling player!

Graydon. He could probably still do a better job than our current bunch.

[The Laughing Policeman]

Who was Villa's number seven in that Portsmouth video? Sparkling player!

Graydon. He could probably still do a better job than our current bunch.

Jesus saves and Graydon scores on the rebound.

[Ads]

Pace, movement, tempo, three features of attacking play we lack.

[brian green]

And very strong physically. Ray was not a player to be bullied.

[ChicagoLion]

This is the first bit of good news for a long while.

[old man villa fan]

Brian Little is an ideal person to bring in.  He has done it as a player and done it as a manager.  He knows what 'good' looks like.  Even better, he has done it at Villa.  He came to the club as a youngster and worked himself up through the levels to become a true Villa hero, with greatness only curtailed by injury.  He could be a great inspiration for the young players because he can say he has been there and done it.

I always thought that Brian was too nice a guy to manage at the top for long but as an advisor he will recognise things that are not right but not the one that has to pull the trigger.

[Clampy]

And very strong physically. Ray was not a player to be bullied.

Before my time as a player but did a really good job managing Walsall.

[AV89]

Those pictures of Brian make my heart swell with pride and at the same time loss at times gone past. He was, in a unique Villa context, magic. My one-way time machine ticket is booked for 1976.

Do well Brian.

is the room for a stowaway? I never saw Brian play, but my brother did and his description was simple: the best player he ever saw including Best etc...

BL was s Villa great but just behind the God McGrath

T'other way round for me.

Me too.

McGrath's the best, Little's the greatest.

Quite ironic as God didn't have much good to say about Brians time as manager if you read his book.