The Transfer Tavern has been a regular visiting area for Aston Villa fans this season as many of the claret and blue faithful have tried their hardest to drink away the football woes.
Times have been hard so far for the Premier League’s bottom club, with only one win so far in a campaign that has been filled with disappointing performances from a side that is capable of so much more.
However, with the January transfer window just around the corner and an unfamiliar sense of optimism over the appointment of new boss, Remi Garde, things could finally be looking up.
Villa fans now have a slight restored faith in their squad, especially after a brilliant draw at home to Premier League giants, Manchester City.
The resilient form shown by the Villa squad has also proven that the players are capable, even though fresh faces seemed a necessity.
In what could be the start of one of Villa’s biggest comebacks in history, here are five players that we think are key to keeping the Villains in the top flight of English football.
Click new Villa boss Garde below to see FIVE crucial players for Aston Villa
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Brad Guzan
The first player that we think is going to be key to Remi Garde in his time at Aston Villa is the shot-stopper, Brad Guzan. Although the goals conceded don’t look too pretty on the big American’s statistics so far this season but in terms of individual errors, he’s hardly one of the biggest culprits.
Since signing for Aston Villa in 2008, Guzan has made 126 appearances for the club so far, proving that he’s capable of performing in the top flight. With Villa only having one back-up goalkeeper in the squad, Guzan will be ideal to keep in the start of the team that could go on to escape the relegation zone.
Micah Richards
Micah Richards is undoubtedly going to be one of the key figures to Remi Garde this season. Since Tim Sherwood signed him at the start of the campaign, Richards has appeared in 11 games for Villa.
Although the defence seemed to be leaking goals at an alarming rate, their resilient performance at home to title-contenders, Manchester City, earlier in the week (with Richards in the heart of the defence) has showed some promising signs.
With the spine of the team able to keep teams such as City quiet on the day, consistency could be the only thing required to keep a string of clean sheets now and Richards could be just the man to keep that defence tight.
Leandro Bacuna
The 24-year-old Dutchman is the next on the list for Remi Garde’s mission to secure Premier League status. Since Bacuna signed a three-year-deal at Villa Park back in 2013, he’s made a total of 63 appearances for the club and managed to bag himself 5 goals.
He hit the ground running in his first season in the Premier League, making the majority of his appearances in the first season (38) and becoming a regular name on the Villa team sheet. However, despite the early signs of his potential, Bacuna’s time at Villa declined rapidly, struggling to get into the first team throughout the whole of last season.
Prior to this season, Bacuna has signed a new contract, indicating that he still has a massive part to play. Still only young and capable of impacting a game, it’s clear to see that the Dutchman has what it takes to play a part in Villa’s “Great Escape”.
Jack Grealish
Another youngster who has showed early signs that he is more than capable of making a name for himself, Jack Grealish, could be a key figure to new boss, Remi Garde. Since signing his professional contract in 2012, Grealish has made 26 appearances for Villa and was on course to become a fan favourite under Tim Sherwood.
The low-socked star was tearing the Premier League up on a regular basis and was fast becoming one of the hottest prospects in the English top-flight. With Villa being joint-lowest goalscorers so far in the Premier League this season, the Under-21 international could be the spark that Villa need to turn a game on it’s head.
Once Remi Garde manages to make this Villa team click, Grealish has enough in his locker to be a regular Premier League performer and even an Aston Villa hero.
Jordan Ayew
Last but not least on this list of key players is Ghanian frontman, Jordan Ayew. It’s no secret that Villa have lacked the firepower up front so far this season and this is one of the main reasons that Villa are already dragged into the relegation scrap.
With Gabriel Agbonlahor under speculation about his lack of form and his lack of goals, Villa need someone to step up and take responsibility and Ayew may be the man for the job. Since joining the club from Ligue 1 side, Lorient, at the start of the season, Ayew has managed two goals so far in his 8 appearances.
Although it isn’t a brilliant return, with the right service in front of goal, Ayew could be a consistent goalscorer and could end up scoring the winning goal to keep Villa in the top-flight.
