The 2014-15 season was Aston Villa's 23rd season in the Premier League. The 2014–15 Premier League season was Villa's 140th season in English football. It was the club's 23rd season in the Premier League and 27th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. Villa participated in the FA Cup (reaching the final) and League Cup. The club was managed by Paul Lambert, until his sacking on 11 February 2015. He was replaced by Tim Sherwood on 14 February.
Lambert's third season had seen a different approach in the transfer market, with him opting to buy players with experience as opposed to the previous seasons, where the club would sign young prospects. Villa started well, with a 1–0 victory over Stoke City. This was followed by a 0–0 draw against Newcastle United, a 2–1 win over Hull City and a 1–0 victory over Liverpool. During this time, the new back four of Alan Hutton, Ron Vlaar, Philippe Senderos and Aly Cissokho were praised by the manager having gainied three clean sheets out of a possible four, whilst gaining ten points out of an available 12. However, the team then went on to have a five-game long goal drought, losing to Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton and QPR before scoring in a 2–1 loss at Villa Park to Tottenham. Villa then went on to gain some valuable points, drawing 0–0 with West Ham and 1–1 against Southampton. They then won 1–0 against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, courtesy of a Christian Benteke goal, followed with a 2–1 victory over Leicester City at Villa Park. On 11 February, Villa announced they had parted company with Lambert after a 2–0 loss at Hull, leaving the club 18th in the Premier League table.
On 14 February 2015, the club's official Twitter page announced the appointment of Tim Sherwood as new manager. Sherwood attended the following day's 2–1 win over Leicester City in the FA Cup and gave a half-time team-talk, his first game in official control of the team was at home to Stoke City almost a week later. Villa lost the game 2–1 after a 93rd-minute penalty from Victor Moses. After also losing his second game in charge, this time going down 1–0 to Newcastle United, Sherwood's first win came on 3 March 2015 against West Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion. The game finished 2–1, with Christian Benteke scoring a last-minute penalty, which shadowed the decision that went against Villa in the Stoke game. Sherwood led Villa to Wembley for the first time since 2010 just four days later, after winning 2–0 in the FA cup quarter-final again against West Bromwich Albion. Sherwood then led Villa to a third straight win, a 4–0 away win over relegation rivals Sunderland in which all goals were scored in the first half. On 19 April 2015, Aston Villa reached the FA Cup Final for the first time since 2000, coming from behind to defeat Liverpool 2–1 in their semi-final at Wembley. However, they went on to lose the final 4–0 to Arsenal.
Key events
12 May 2014: Randy Lerner announces that he has put the club up for sale after eight years of ownership. 20 May: Academy graduates Marc Albrighton and Nathan Delfouneso are both released from the club. 5 June: The club makes its first summer signing with former Arsenal and Fulham defender Philippe Senderos agreeing to join the club on a free transfer from Valencia. 10 June: Joe Cole joins the club on a free transfer. 1 July: Roy Keane is appointed as the new assistant manager to Paul Lambert, following the dismissal of Ian Culverhouse towards the end of the previous season. 8 July: Chief executive officer Paul Faulkner steps down from his role after failing to reach an agreement on a new non-operational role at the club. 11 July: Kieran Richardson signs for a fee believed to be £600,000 from relegated Fulham. 8 August: Aly Cissokho joins on a four-year deal from Valencia. 15 August: Colombian Carlos Sánchez arrives at the club for a fee believed to be £4.7 million. 16 August: Villa win 1–0 against Stoke City in the first match of the new season. 21 August: Tom Fox is appointed as the club's new CEO, after five years as Chief Commercial Officer at Arsenal. 27 August: Villa are knocked out of the League Cup after a 1–0 home defeat to Leyton Orient of League One. 2 September: Villa complete a season-long loan for Tom Cleverley from Manchester United, with a view to a permanent move. 17 September: Paul Lambert signs a new contract committing himself to the club until 2018. 4 October: Christian Benteke makes his return after six months out with a ruptured achilles tendon, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Manchester City. 2 November: For the first time since 1967, the club suffers its sixth straight league defeat after losing 2–1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur. 28 November: Roy Keane leaves his role as assistant manager with immediate effect. 13 January 2015: Carles Gil becomes Villa's first January signing after joining the club on a four-and-half year deal. 30 January: Scott Sinclair joins on loan until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent move. 1 February: A 5–0 defeat at Arsenal sees Villa go six league matches (612 minutes) without scoring. 10 February: Villa fall into the drop-zone for the time in the season, after losing 2–0 away to relegation rivals Hull City. This prompts angry scenes from the travelling support towards the manager. 11 February: Paul Lambert is sacked as manager 24 hours after defeat to Hull. 14 February: Tim Sherwood is appointed as the new manager of the club. However, his first match in charge ends in defeat against Stoke City (21 February). 28 February: Villa lose 1–0 to Newcastle United condemning them to a seventh consecutive defeat, beating the six recorded earlier in the season. 3 March: The run of defeats is eventually ended courtesy of a 2–1 victory over local rivals West Bromwich Albion. 7 March: Villa reach Wembley for the first time since 2010 after beating their rivals for the second time in a week. West Bromwich Albion go down 2–0 at Villa Park in the FA Cup quarter-finals. 14 March: The club records its biggest victory of the season, 4–0 away against Sunderland. All four goals were scored before half-time. 7 April: Christian Benteke scores a hat-trick to salvage a 3–3 draw against fellow relegation candidates Queens Park Rangers. 11 April: Villa beat Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 at White Hart Lane in Tim Sherwood's first game against his former employers. 20 April: The club reaches the FA Cup Final after a 2–1 win against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph scored the goals to take Villa to the prestigious final for the first time since 2000. 16 May: Despite being thrashed 6–1 at Southampton, Villa's Premier League safety is confirmed after Hull City lose to Tottenham Hotspur. 24 May: Villa end the season in 17th place in the Premier League, their second lowest finish since its inception, after a final day defeat to already relegated Burnley.
Players Squad No. Name Nationality Position Date of birth (age) Apps. Goals Notes Goalkeepers 1 Brad Guzan GK 140 0 13 Jed Steer GK 4 0 31 Shay Given GK 52 0 Defenders 2 Nathan Baker CB / LB 86 0 3 Joe Bennett LB 37 0 4 Ron Vlaar CB 87 2 5 Jores Okore CB 31 1 6 Ciaran Clark CB / LB 136 8 14 Philippe Senderos CB 10 0 21 Alan Hutton RB 68 1 23 Aly Cissokho LB 27 0 32 Janoi Donacien CB / RB 0 0 34 Matthew Lowton RB 82 2 35 Enda Stevens LB 9 0 – Antonio Luna LB 18 1 On loan at Spezia Calcio. Midfielders 7 Leandro Bacuna CM / RB / RWB 63 6 8 Tom Cleverley CM / AM 36 3 On loan from Manchester United. 9 Scott Sinclair LW / RW 12 3 12 Joe Cole AM 15 1 15 Ashley Westwood CM 101 3 16 Fabian Delph (captain) CM 133 8 17 Chris Herd CM / CB / RB 42 2 18 Kieran Richardson LW / LB 25 0 22 Gary Gardner CM 18 0 24 Carlos Sánchez DM 32 1 25 Carles Gil AM / RW 7 1 28 Charles N'Zogbia LW / AM 90 5 39 Riccardo Calder LW 0 0 40 Jack Grealish LW / AM 24 0 – Yacouba Sylla DM 24 0 On loan at Kayseri Erciyesspor. – Aleksandar Tonev LW / RW 20 0 On loan at Celtic. Forwards 10 Andreas Weimann ST / LW / RW 129 24 11 Gabriel Agbonlahor ST / LW / RW 352 83 19 Darren Bent ST 72 25 20 Christian Benteke ST 100 49 27 Libor Kozák ST 15 4 29 Rushian Hepburn-Murphy ST 1 0 37 Callum Robinson ST 5 0 38 Graham Burke ST 2 0 – Nicklas Helenius ST / RW 6 1 On loan at Aalborg BK.
Transfers
In Summer DatePositionPlayer nameOld clubLeagueTransfer feeNotesSource5 June 2014 DF Philippe Senderos Valencia La LigaFree transferOfficially joined on 1/7/14, after release from Valencia.10 June 2014 MF Joe Cole West Ham United Premier LeagueFree transferOfficially joined on 1/7/14, after release from West Ham.11 July 2014 MF Kieran Richardson Fulham Championship£600,0008 August 2014 DF Aly Cissokho Valencia La Liga£2,000,000115 August 2014 MF Carlos Sánchez Elche La Liga£4,700,0001
Winter/Spring DatePositionPlayer nameOld clubLeagueTransfer feeNotesSource13 January 2015 Carles Gil Valencia La Liga£3,200,000119 May 2015 Scott Sinclair Manchester City Premier League£2,600,0001Originally a loan, made into a permanent move.
Out
Summer DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueTransfer feeNotesSource20 May 2014 MF Marc Albrighton Leicester City Premier LeagueFree transferSigned for Leicester on 23/5/14 after release.20 May 2014 FW Nathan Delfouneso Blackpool ChampionshipFree transferSigned for Blackpool on 29/7/14 after release.10 June 2014 FW Jordan Bowery Rotherham United Championship£250,0006 August 2014 MF Samir Carruthers MK Dons League One£220,000 1 September 2014 Karim El Ahmadi Feyenoord Eredivisie£320,0001
1Fee officially undisclosed
Winter DatePositionPlayer nameNew clubLeagueTransfer feeSource23 January 2015 Daniel Johnson Preston North End League One£50,0001
Loans
In
Summer DatePositionPlayer nameClubLeagueDurationReturn DateSource2 September 2014 MF Tom Cleverley Manchester United Premier LeagueSeason-long30 June 2015
Winter DatePositionPlayer nameClubLeagueDurationReturn DateNotesSource30 January 2015 Scott Sinclair Manchester City Premier League5 months19 May 2015Move was made permanent on 19/5/15.
Out
Summer DatePositionPlayer nameClubLeagueDurationReturn DateNotesSource9 July 2014 FW Nicklas Helenius Aalborg BK Danish SuperligaSeason-long30 June 20151 August 2014 GK Jed Steer Doncaster Rovers League One3 months1 November 20144 August 2014 DF Antonio Luna Verona Serie A6 months2 February 2015Loan originally season-long but cut short in February.6 August 2014 MF Yacouba Sylla Kayseri Erciyesspor Süper LigSeason-long30 June 20158 August 2014 Daniel Johnson Chesterfield League One3 months8 November 201411 August 2014 Aleksandar Tonev Celtic Scottish PremiershipSeason-long30 June 201518 August 2014 Janoi Donacien Tranmere Rovers League TwoSeason-long30 June 201520 August 2014 Joe Bennett Brighton & Hove Albion ChampionshipSeason-long30 June 201526 August 2014 Gary Gardner Brighton & Hove Albion Championship4 months1 January 2015
Winter/Spring