LITTLE: NEVER TOO LATE
Villa legend can see history repeating itself
Saving his beloved club on the final day of the campaign and undertaking radical close season changes.
And then seeing a new, rebooted Aston Villa emerge... the similarities between the two are uncanny.
Little faced a rebuilding job after Ron Atkinson ran out of steam at Villa Park in 1994.
The Geordie eventually fashioned a team that won the League Cup, reached the semifinals of the FA Cup and finished fourth in the Premier League – the club’s best season since winning the European Cup in 1982.
As Smith returns to the scene of the club’s great escape at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow, Little can see similar green shoots of recovery taking hold.
He said: “It was in our hands on the final day of the 94-95 season.
“It was either us or Crystal Palace. We were at Norwich, they were up in Newcastle.
“At half-time, we were one-up and they were losing 3-0.
“I knew then that something spectacular would have to happen for us to go down.
“But it was too close for comfort. I’d started well, but lost six out of 10 and it was a struggle.
“The likes of Kevin Richardson, Ray Houghton and Guy Whittingham had gone and Ian Taylor, Gary Charles and Tommy Johnson came in.
“It all takes time to gel – and you’re trying to get results.
“But at half-time at Carrow Road, I was thinking to myself, ‘Right, we can get to work now’.
“I drove home from Norwich. I didn’t go on the team bus – that sent a message to the players that I was up to something.
“But for me put to those plans into place, we had to survive. And it’s been the same for Dean.
“My first year was a learning curve – finding what we had and what the Premier League was all about. Don’t forget, last season was the club’s first in there for three seasons.
“For me, from avoiding relegation on the last day, it didn’t take much to move us on.
“It was only three players who changed the whole scope of our season.
“I decided to give Dwight Yorke a real chance. I didn’t want him living in the shadows of Dalian Atkinson – God rest his soul – and Dean Saunders.
“Two mega-talented players and two huge characters – but Dwight was always going to be No.2 with either of them around and I felt he needed the chance to thrive.
“I brought in Savo Milosevic, Gareth Southgate and Mark Draper – and we were megacompetitive the next season.”
Smith has operated along similar lines, smashing the club’s record transfer fee to sign striker Ollie Watkins, adding Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal in goal and Ross Barkley on loan from Chelsea.
Little said: “I think they are a good side. Very good to watch.
“They’ll be disappointed to have lost three home games. But in each of them, they could easily have taken something.
“Also, I do think this team would be inspired by a crowd. They play quickly and with real quality.
“And what also stands out for me in the dozen or so games is that the team hasn’t changed.
“From last season, they have made their three or four changes and it’s made a massive difference.
“I can see what Dean is doing and there’s no question the club is moving in the right direction.”