Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Friday July 21 2006
Time: 10:41AM
UK time is: 07:20:10
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Should 'Our Brian' Return To Villa?
Former Villa hero, Brian 'he who walks on water' Little has thrown his hat into the ring for a return to Villa Park as manager.
The 52-year old former Villa striker is quoted in the Daily Express saying he can pull things together.
Little was at Villa between November 1994 and February 1998 enjoying one of our most successful spells under the tenure of Doug Ellis. Little's team played some of the most attractive football we've had, especially when John Gregory was in his backroom staff. He also won us the League Cup and reached the FA Cup semi final and Uefa Cup quarter final.
Brian Little might be an attractive target for Doug as he left Tranmere last month and no compensation would be needed for him to return. It seems Big Sam Allardyce would command a hefty compensation fee for Bolton were he to be approached and agree to come, Curbishley is apparently not interested and reports suggest O'Neil won't come unless Doug Ellis leaves and a new consortium take over.
Little told the Daily Express: 'I'm sure I could provide the buffer between the chairman and fans and restore harmony.'
Adding 'A lot of people thought I left because of Doug, but that wasn't the case. I had to resign because of family problems. I'm re-married, have two young children and know I could walk back and do the job. Doug and I got on well and he has provided money to buy players for every manager he has employed.'
Oh Brian, he has provided money but most of the money has been generated by selling players, we've never fully built a squad!
'Since I left I've seen big changes at Villa and it concerns me they have fallen behind the likes of Bolton and Blackburn. When the downward spiral starts it's difficult to get out of it. Obviously there is a lot of room for improvement. All the bits are in place, it just needs someone to pull it together.'
Must admit, I loved the Little era, but I'm far from convinced that a manager should return, Graham Taylor did it and it worked out very badly and tarnished the mans great name Villa. Mind you, if Little could come back with John Gregory in toe........... hmmm! Will never happen though!
Our latest poll asks if Brian should return to Villa Park, so what do you think?!
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Your Comments
no hard feelings brian but i think we deserve a top name after the last three years we have had to endure. O'Neil is the only man to get doug (temprarily) off the hook. Anyone else and its protests and rallies for me.
tylervilla
Why has it taken him 8 years to say he didn't leave because of Ellis?
Steve W
I liked Brian when he was with us both as a player and a Manager and I was sorry to see him go. However his record since leaving is not great and we really need someone with more recent experience. That being said if it stopped Souness (and I do not like the rumblings regarding him) getting the job then yes big time.
irish villa
As much as I like Brian Little, I don't think he is the man for us at the moment. The club has changed immensly from the one he knew, although he did a fantastic job of building a team at VP, clearing out all Big Ron's old pro's and replacing them with people like Gareth Southgate. However, he had money to spend and this time he wouldn't have that. It has to be O'Neill, but I doubt he would take it. Would rather see JG back than Little but anyone other than Souness
DougInABox
I'm sorry as much as I admired Brian Little as both a player and a manager I feel his re-appointment would be a backward step. He shouldn't return and possibly sour the memory of his fantastic liaison with Villa over the years. i think Graham Taylor showed that you should never go back.
still skeggy
Brian's a nice guy, but it would be a backward step to take him. I think he could only take us so far. His job at Tranmere puts me off as well.
thekentvillan
I think Brian's been away from top flight management for too long, and hasn't really shone in the lower leagues. You need to be looking at higher profile names, and not looking back
cherry_brandy
Cherry_brandy for a Bournemouth fan and a woman to boot you don't have talk sense girl.
still skeggy
Thank you very much Mr Skeggy ;)
cherry_brandy
You should never look back, and you can never go back. A good rule for life, let alone football. Thanks for the memories Bri, but no thanks.
glensider
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