Aston Villa have had mixed fortunes over the past 15 years since the turn of the Century. Read Aston Villa has decided to compile what we think is the best Villa lineup since the turn of the century. Some players have harshly been left out.
Brad Friedel
Picking a goalkeeper from the past 15 years was tough, as put simply, Villa have struggled to find a goalkeeper who was consistent and led the backline sufficiently for the most part of their Villa career.
Brad Friedel got the nod ahead of Brad Guzan, Thomas Sorenson, and David James, quite rightfully. Friedel joined Villa from Blackburn Rovers in 2008 and went on to make 114 appearances before moving onto Spurs in 2011. It was arguably the most successful years of Villa in the past 15 years, with runs in the Uefa Cup common, and two trips to Wembley; one for the FA Cup and one for Carling Cup Final against Manchester United. Friedel was a safe pair of hands in the sticks and never really was to blame for goals. It is hard to argue against the decision to make Friedel the top goalkeeper in the past 15 years at Villa Park.
Mark Delaney
It has to be one of the easiest picks of all at right-back, Mark Delaney. Delaney made his debut back in 1999 for Villa and went on to make 158 appearances in the famous Claret and Blue shirt.
Injuries blighted what was a fantastic time for him in a Villa shirt. Delaney was a popular figure with the Villa Park faithful and made 36 appearances for the Welsh national side. Marauding performances and stellar showings put Delaney down as one of the best players to ever grace the hallowed Villa park pitch. His highlight came in 2000 where he helped Villa to the FA Cup finals. Injuries got the better of him though, being forced to retire in 2007.
Martin Laursen
Martin Laursen is a hero in our opinion. Villa have had many great centre-backs from times gone by Paul McGrath and a certain Swede that also features in our team come to mind. Laursen was one of the greatest also.
Laursen joined Villa in 2004 after having a mixed time at AC Milan. The Danish international suffered more than most when it comes to injuries. The Dane had thick skin and was vital when involved. Villa fans saw the best of Laursen in the 2008/09 season, the year he was also made captain. Stellar performances happened week in week out and was a big inspiration on and off the pitch during his time at Villa. In 2009, he sadly retired after suffering an injury relapse after a major operation.
Olof Melberg
Braveheart himself, Melberg has to be one of the greatest players ever to play in a Claret and Blue shirt let alone in the past 15 years.
Melberg made 263 appearances for Villa, with his commitment never in doubt. Melberg retired last summer after spells at Juventus, Olympiakos, Villarreal, and Copenhagen. Zlatan Ibrahimovic hailed Olof Mellberg as ‘the greatest Swedish defender of all time’ upon his retirement. Ibrahimovic is correct about Melberg because he truly was incredible. Melberg will be remembered for his beard, and the famous quote after his negativity to local rivals, Birmingham City saying:”I could never think about playing for Birmingham City. That’s not an option, I don’t like Birmingham City at all” A gentleman who never let his side down.
Steve Staunton
The left-back position has become infamous with Villa fans over recent years, but once upon a time ago, Villa had a left-back who went by the name of Steve Staunton.
Staunton first played for Villa in 1991 until 1998 featuring heavily for the club. Having left for Liverpool in 1998, Staunton returned to Villa Park in 2000, taking his total appearances for Villa to 350 games, he again moved in 2003 with his stock starting to decline. You cannot doubt the likes of Alan Wright were also great servants, but Staunton takes it due to his dynamic displays in different roles and being the forever reliable figure.
Paul Merson
Merson is the epitome of the sort of player needed in a side.
Merson joined Villa in a £6.75m move from Middlesbrough in 1998 playing in front of the claret and blue faithful for four seasons, before leaving in 2002 to Portsmouth, during his time at Villa he played 101 times scoring 18 goals. Despite his negativity over the current crop of players – Merson is a Villa legend. The ability he had to change a game in the middle of the park was extraordinary. His love for the club was shown by his sheer passion and admitting that he cried when he was told he was going to be sold to Portsmouth.
Stiliyan Petrov
Stiliyan Petrov is the motor needed in midfield with the cutting edge to change the game. The Bulgarian signed for the club in 2006 making him the first signing under the tenure of Martin O’Neill. Petrov was a hero and took over the captain’s armband when Laursen retired. Petrov stated that leading a “great club with a long tradition and history” would be “a great honour”. He led the side to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the final of the League Cup in his first season holding the armband. The Bulgarian is also a hero after being diagnosed with Leukemia in 2012 he has since gone on to make a strong recovery. He made 186 appearances for Villa.
Gareth Barry
Barry will always feature in a top ten for Villa legends. The former-England international played 365 times for Villa before leaving for Manchester City in 2009. During his time at Villa, he was left at left-back but soon was moved into midfield where he dictated the play. It all turned sour though in 2008 when Barry handed in a transfer request and publically criticised Martin O’Neill when trying to force through a move to Liverpool. Barry was subsequently stripped of the captaincy.
The midfielder ended up leaving in 2009 for Manchester City much to the dismay of fans. He made 441 appearances for Villa, scoring 52 goals in the process.
Ian Taylor
Ian Taylor was a hard working, box to box maestro. For what he lacked in skill he made up for in his heart and soul performances in the Claret and Blue side. Even when not playing Taylor stood on the Holte as any fan does. He made the famous last trip to old Wembley when Villa lost to Chelsea in 2000.
Taylor made 290 appearances for his boyhood club and will forever more be a legend in the eyes of the Aston Villa faithful.
James Milner
After his season on loan at Aston Villa under David O’Leary, Milner was immediately loved by the Villa faithful.
When Martin O’Neill splashed out £12m for the England International in 2008, the memories of Milner being a shining figure in a struggling side in the 2005-2006 season did everything to appease fans. Duly did Milner deliver, being a star in his last season at Aston Villa, especially in the 2009-2010 season before heading to Manchester City for a cool profit.
Juan Pablo Angel
You could pick a few forwards, Agbonlahor, Carew, Benteke, or even Balaban…….Balaban being Villa’s worst striker in the past 15 years. But TVV have chosen Juan Pablo Angel. The Colombian signed for Villa in January 2001 and became Villa’s record signing. The Columbian quickly became a fan favourite at the club with his high work rate and superb technique – despite slowly adapting to the Premier League.
In his best season for the club, Angel played 39 times and scored 23 times.
Five That Missed Out
- Christian Benteke
- Alan Wright
- Ashley Young
- Gabriel Agbonlahor
- John Carew
