Dean Smith Aston Villa
Posted in2020-2021-Season Daily News

#PremierLeagueStories – Boyhood fan & current manager #DeanSmith corrects reporter’s wrong knowledge on Aston Villa in press conference #AVFC

December 11, 2020
Aston Villa supporters need no reminding just how big a Villa nut Dean Smith is. The boyhood Villan took his dream job in October 2018 and it's been a successful and enthralling ride ever since after sealing promotion in 2019 before fighting off relegation last season. After a brilliant summer of recruitment, head coach Smith now looks to have taken Villa to the next level after statement-like victories over the likes of Leicester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, the latter an emphatic 7-2 triumph at Villa Park. This season, Smith has stuck with the same starting XI other than swapping the injured Ross Barkley and Conor Hourihane and, to date, has used the fewest number of players in the Premier League (18). Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon8Cancel It's a tact that mirrors Ron Saunders' historic and heroic Villa team that clinched the First Division title in 1981 and, when asked about using less players this season, was quick to remind reporters of Saunders' exploits when he used just 14 players during Villa's title-winning campaign. "I need no reminding but Aston Villa won the league in 1980/81 using only 14 players," Smith commented. "It won’t be done again, no, but it shows you the capacity for players to play football matches is still there. It was there then and is there now. "I remember sitting with Tony McCoy and he said, 'I have still not seen a footballer carried off a field with exhaustion yet.' "But I want every one of my players to play football. I don’t want any of them to be happy not being in the team. If I’ve got that then I’ve got players playing consistently well. We’ve had that so far this season and we’ve probably used a lot fewer players than other teams for that reason." Read More Related Articles Read More Related Articles Smith, meanwhile, was quick to pick up on a reporter on Thursday who asked about the 1982 squad rather than the 1980-81 crop - and the boss was quick to pick up on that error. "[Saunders] always has been an inspiration to me as a Villa fan at that time and, sorry to pick you up on it, but the title win was actually 80-81; 82 was the European Cup final season! Aston Villa Manager Ron Saunders with his team, receives the Evening Mail Sports Personality of the Month award from April. (Image: Mirrorpix) "Ron Saunders was a manager in the golden period when I was growing up as an Aston Villa fan and going to the games and so I look back on those times with fond memories being a supporter. "I want every one of my players to play football. I don’t want any of them to be happy not being in the team. If I’ve got that then I’ve got players playing consistently well. We’ve had that so far this season and we’ve probably used a lot fewer players than other teams for that reason." The Villa boss was then asked to name all 14 players used under Saunders during the title-winning 1980-81 campaign and, true to form, Smith didn't disappoint. Reporter: You've got to name the 14, Dean... Smith: I can name them, no problem. Reporter: Come on then, let's hear them... Smith: OK. Jimmy Rimmer; Kenny Swain; Ken McNaught; Allan Evans; Gary Williams; Colin Gibson; Dennis Mortimer; Sid Cowans; Tony Morley; Des Bremner; Peter Withe; Gary Shaw; Eamonn Deacy and David Geddis. Reporter: Just checking, well done!