To say that Aston Villa have been on a downward spiral in recent seasons would be an understatement, and with a steady decline comes its fair share of disappointing signings.
After their relegation from the Premier League last season, Villa have endured a nightmare campaign in their first season back in the second tier of English Football since 1988.
Championship football is all but confirmed for next season and Steve Bruce will be planning on putting together a side capable of mounting a serious promotion challenge. We take a look at five players who arrived at Villa Park with high expectations with a hefty price tag to match, only to repay the club’s supporters with frustration and mediocrity.
Aston Villa’s Libor Kozak has played two games in the Championship this season
Libor Kozák
The giant centre forward came to Villa Park with a reputation to match his frame, arriving at Villa Park from Lazio in 2013. Injuries have played a part during his torrid spell in the Midlands.
After breaking his leg in training, he would be out of the side for 15 months. His luck has not improved in the Championship as he has only managed to play 75 minutes of football all season.
The 27-year-old has only featured in 22 games in total – scoring four goals across a four year spell. An average of one goal a season does not represent good value for money. A fresh start is needed for Kozak and a move away from English football will be the most likely outcome in the summer.
Eric Djemba-Djemba
Once touted as the great Roy Keane’s replacement at Manchester United, Djemba-Djemba’s time in England was turbulent to say the least. After an uninspiring spell at Old Trafford, the Cameroon midfielder moved to Villa Park in 2005, in the hope that he could make his mark on English soil.
When it became apparent that he could not break into the Villa team, he was loaned at to Burnley who were plying their trade in the Championship at the time. Despite having an FA Cup winner’s medal to his name, he will be remembered by many as one of the Premier League’s most high profile flops.
His career has taken him across the globe, appearing for clubs in Qatar, Serbia, Israel, Scotland, Indonesia and Denmark. Now 35-years-old, he can found strutting his stuff in for FC Vallorbe-Ballaigues in the Swiss fifth division.
Micah Richards had a spell on loan in Italy with Fiorentina
Micah Richards
Micah Richard’s career is comparable to Aston Villa’s slump. In the early stages of his career at Manchester City, he was being lauded as one of England’s top young defenders and backed to win the highest honours in a long, illustrious career.
Things have not quite gone to plan after lifting the Premier League title with City in 2012. He spent the next couple of seasons warming the bench at the Etihad and was released by the club following an unsuccessful loan spell with Fiorentina.
Richards had the dubious honour of being the captain during Villa’s relegation campaign. Injuries have limited the 28-year-old to just two appearances in the Championship this season. Now he is fast approaching the peak years of his career and fans will be hoping that his fortunes in the claret and blue change drastically.
Ross McCormack
Signed in a big money move in the summer from Fulham, McCormack was proclaimed as the man that would fire Villa back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. The Scottish international had built himself a reputation as one of the Championship’s most sought after forwards.
He scored goals on a regular basis for Cardiff City and Leeds United as well as Fulham, his ability to find the back of net eluded him once he arrived at Villa Park. After six disappointing months, he was loaned out to Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest.
Steve Bruce revealed that the 30-year-old had missed a number of training sessions and was openly critical with his general attitude. He was left furious with him after the infamous electric gate incident, as reported by the Mirror.
Darren Bent
At one stage of his career, Darren Bent was one of English football’s most highly sought after forwards. Villa were so impressed with his goal scoring credentials, that they decided to sign him in a club record deal worth £24 million from Sunderland back in 2011. (Guardian)
The England international had rebuilt his reputation at the Stadium of Light as one of the country’s most prolific strikers after a frustrating spell at Tottenham Hotspur. After netting 32 goals in 58 league games for the Black Cats, Bent headed to the Midlands with a great weight of expectation.
He started well enough, but was unable to replicate his goal scoring heroics consistently and in a four-year spell at the club scored 21 goals in 61 league games. Bent is now with fellow Championship side Derby County and looks set to be a free agent in the summer as it looks likely his contract will not be extended.
Darren Bent is Aston Villa’s club record signing
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