Aston Villa started the season with the abrupt departure of Martin O’Neill, who had guided the side to back-to-back top six finishes in the previous two campaigns. The Irishman was arguably unhappy with the lack of investment in the side and the expected departures of key players such as James Milner. After a six-game interim by reserves coach Kevin McDonald, the top job went to Gerard Houllier, who had been languishing in a pen pushing job at the French Football Federation. By then, Villa were already out of the Europa League and, with a rather thin squad at his disposal, the Frenchman was unable to improve on a rather chaotic start of the season by his side. At Christmas, the Villains were dangerously close to the drop zone, due mainly to poor away form. More worryingly, the defensive solidity of the O’Neill years had gone, with only four clean sheets in the first half of the season. Houllier recruited in earnest over the January transfer window, with Darren Bent, Kyle Walker, Jean Makoun and Michael Bradley joining the side. By the time Villa bowed out of the FA Cup in the fifth round at Eastlands, there were rumours of unrest behind the scenes, with a number of senior players voicing their discontent at the new regime’s methods. Houllier momentarily dropped Richard Dunne in central defence before reinstating the Irishman with James Collins at the back. Luke Young and Kyle Walker were the full backs of choice throughout the second half of the season as Stephen Warnock, Carlos Cuellar and Habib Beye were relegated to the reserves. In midfield, Downing and Ashley Young remained the main sources of inspiration but had average seasons by their standards. Nigel Reo-Coker returned in favour under Houllier in the holding role as Jean Makoun and Michael Bradley struggled to get in the pace after their January moves. Stilyan Petrov, whose starting role came under threat under Houiller, returned to the starting line up towards the end of the season as Villa managed to steady the ship. Though he did not come cheap, the signing of Darren Bent from Sunderland was key to Villa’s recovery in the second phase. With Agbonlahor looking for his best form all season and Heskey and Carew both clearly over the hill, Villa had struggled to find a reliable source of goals upfront. With nine goals in 17 starts, the England striker’s contribution was probably the difference between a rather safe finish in mid-table and a relegation battle for Villa. Houllier suffered a recurrence of heart problems towards the end of the season and his assistant Gary McAllister took over the reins in the run in. With seven points in their final three games, the Villains ended in ninth place which did put a little gloss on what the most upbeat Villa fans will call a season of transition. Most of them will call it big step backwards. A new manager is expected to be appointed over the summer as Villa have indicated that Houllier will not be returning at the helm next season.
