Their problem has been their transfers. When was the last time they brought in someone good?
They let go of Milner and Downing and never replaced them. They brought in Stephen Ireland but he never brought his Man City form from the year he got transfered in the Milner deal.
They got Darren Bent who was good last few seasons but he seems to have fallen off. I suppose he was never a complete player, just a finisher. Now that he's got nobody to deliver him the ball, he's turned into an average forward.
If Benbow posted still he'd be able to tell you more. He's a die hard Villa fan.