RETRO VILLA | COULD THE 1997/98 SEASON BE REPEATED?

On the 23^rd October 2022 Sunday Times columnist Rod Liddle wrote an article entitled ‘Stevie G’s departure won’t leave Villa any better equipped for the relegation scrap’. Liddle’s argument in essence was that it didn’t matter who was Villa’s manager the club was always going to be spending the season “avoiding the trap door”. Liddle – or indeed anyone else – could not have imagined the subsequent impact that Unai Emery would have in B6. After Saturday’s win against relegation imperilled Nottingham Forest Villa sat sixth on a glorious and sustained run of form.

What is more interesting than Liddle’s headline is his argument for the ‘why’ Villa would struggle – principally based around a concept of economic adjustment. The argument would be that breaking into the upper echelons takes enormous sums of money beyond the (perceived) capacity of Villa’s owners. Emery’s transformation of Villa since arriving in Christian Purslow’s Lamborghini gives lie – at least in the very short term – to this and undermines the impact a great coach and thinker can have. The Villa team currently enjoying a moment in the sun is largely built from previous regimes of Dean Smith and Gerrard – Alex Moreno is the only Emery signing starting regularly.

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Numerous players who drifted under previous managers suddenly look indispensable – the key exhibit being Douglas Luiz. Described in these pages as the ‘regista’ by Ryan McKeown Luiz has conducted Villa’s play week on week, not least in the second half against Forest when a degree of control needed establishing. Whilst maybe not yet indispensable, Bertrand Traore is another case in point – rotated by Smith and discarded by Gerrard, he has found a new lease of life in this side contributing hugely to the last six points. For all of this Emery and his staff deserve huge credit – a change of thinking and culture is reaping rewards wherever Villa finally land in May.

Pictured – Traore scores against Forest

The progress under Emery thus far – and the ‘feeling’ as a Villa fan of that – reminds me of the end of the 1997/98 season when John Gregory took over from a faltering Brian Little in February. Little resigned with Villa in 15^th place and seemingly heading in one direction. I recall the time under Little that season being book-ended by two dispiriting defeats to Blackburn – 4-0 at home and 5-0 away. It felt a change was needed as the manager himself seemed to be feeling the frustration of failing to push on from previous steady progress and a League cup success.

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The appointment of Gregory was a surprise – although he had played and coached at Villa, he was managing Wycombe Wanderers at the time. Like Emery he inherited a talented if underperforming squad, and one that he would have to work with without addition. What unfolded was something rather special as Villa preceded to win 9 of the last 11 games to finish seventh and gain entry to the UEFA Cup. Highlights were numerous from Stanley Victor Collymore mauling his old team at Villa Park in Gregory’s first game to Dwight Yorke’s panenka penalty against Arsenal. My personal highlight was the second leg of the UEFA Cup against Atletico Madrid where despite an aggregate loss, goals by Ian Taylor and Collymore lit up an electric night at Villa Park.

Pictured – Stanley Victor celebrates after scoring against Atletico Madrid

The Madrid game showed how Gregory had galvanised a team and a fanbase in a short space of time – much as Emery has done to 2023’s vintage. The two men are from completely different backgrounds footballing experiences but both were able to tap into something in B6 and get our grand old club motoring again.

For Gregory the reward was seventh place and European football, and this may well follow for Emery. Unfortunately, the departure of Dwight Yorke in the Summer of 1998 put a big dent in Gregory’s plans and of course prompted the ‘if I’d have had a gun, I’d have shot him’ comment (hopefully no parallels with our current top scorer here). A sixth-place finish in 1999 was seen as largely positive as Paul Merson and Dion Dublin carried the load of the departed Yorke.

Gregory would be largely consistent as Villa boss, sixth again in 2000 along with an FA Cup final and League Cup semi. Who knows what the future holds under Emery, but as in those dog days of 1997/98 we can all enjoy the ride. UTV!

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AUTHOR | IVAN MCDOUALL

Author’s UTV PODCAST archive Ivan McDouall | UTV Podcast | An Aston Villa Blog

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