Inside Track: Emerys hopes Rashford will help him emulate Saunders
The Inside Track with Joe Carroll
Aston Villa are going well right now. They’re mid-table in the league, are still in the Cup, and, with luck, could benefit from a Manchester United off-load joining their ranks.
Unai Emerys is getting a good tune out of his players. He’s been in place for three years, having succeeded Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool legend didn’t cut the mustard at Villa Park, occupying the hot seat for just eleven months.
It remains to be seen if Emerys can get more from Marcus Rashford than Ruben Amorim did at Old Trafford. The Man U boss had given up on trying long before the England International changed jerseys a few weeks ago.
It was known there was no love lost between the pair of them, and when that’s the case, there’s little point in refusing to sign a transfer form, or in this case a loan form.
Maybe Rashford might help Emerys to emulate the greatest of Aston Villa managers. But it’s doubtful, even if his new signing recaptures the form that made him a regular on Gareth Southgate’s national team. Rashford might pay a dividend, but his new manager is unlikely to find a place alongside Ron Saunders.
Villa won the Cup in 1957, former Dundalk player, Peter McParland scoring both goals in the 2-1 defeat of Man U. However, in the early stage of Saunders’ stewardship, the Birmingham club were in Division Two.
They had a change of status in 1975 winning promotion and complemented it by taking the League Cup. The latter trophy was regained two years later; but in 1981 came Saunders’ greatest achievement, guiding his students to the First Division title, the big prize coming the club’s way after almost three-quarters of a century.
There were no trophy-wins to follow, just an impressive run in Europe. The year after their league triumph, Villa reached the last eight of the continent’s most prestigious competition. This was at a time when English clubs were dominant.
Between 1977 and 1982, the big trophy – in every sense – found a resting place in England, Liverpool winning it three times and Nottingham twice. Villa joined them on the podium, in 1982.
By then, however, Ron Saunders had taken his leave of Villa Park. He had asked for an extension of his contract, but was refused. He resigned, and the following year could only look on as his former changes progressed to beating to Bayern Munich in the Euro final.
On this day 43 years ago, Saunders took the short walk across town to take on the job as Birmingham City manager. And who else but his former club to fill the other dug-out in his first game. Villa won, and after that conquered Europe, while City found themselves in a constant battle against relegation.
Birmingham eventually went down, but spent just one season in the lower reaches before reacquainting with the First Division.
When, in 1986, Birmingham were beaten by non-league Altrincham at home in the Cup, Saunders quit. The former England player stayed in management, numbering Man City among his clubs, but never repeated his previous achievements at Villa, which had earned him a Manager of the Year award.
It wasn’t so good for Villa, either, in the aftermath of their European Cup success. Five years later they were relegated.