Aston Villa are in a slump - a slump that has lasted the bones of four years. It was only half a decade ago that the club were consistently challenging for the European places, recording three sixth-placed finishes in a row under Martin O'Neill. Since then, their assets have been stripped and the supporters have been forced to watch the mind-numbing dirge on display from managers Gerard Houllier, Alex McLeish and Paul Lambert. The multi-million pound superstars are gone, and in their place are a host of raw, unfurnished youth prospects. What of those who weren't deemed good enough for the club during their surge towards the upper echelons of the Premier League table? With the club forced to dip into the bargain basement for old-timers and never-beens, such as Joe Cole and Philippe Senderos, suddenly those cast-offs don't look so unappealing now. The entire outlook of the club has changed in recent years, as their priorities and prospects have been completely transformed. For all intents and purposes, Villa Park is an entirely different stomping ground to the fortress that Martin O'Neill left behind when he walked out in August 2010. Take a look at the ten former Aston Villa players that the club would relish having back at the club now, in their hour of need.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
