Oh okay.
Still quite a while ago those weren't they.
Even Curtis Davies think s we are better.
http://www.sundaymercury.net/midlands-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-fc-news/2012/09/30/west-bromwich-albion-are-the-top-midlands-team-now-says-curtis-davies-66331-31934513/CURTIS Davies reckons Albion are the strongest team in the Midlands – not Villa, the team he once joined from the Baggies.
After years of living in their bitter rivals’ shadows, Davies believes the Black Country outfit are now the top dogs in the region and says they are favourites ahead of today’s derby clash at Villa Park.
“Right now, in the Midlands, Albion have to be the best team because of the way they’ve started and the way they finished last season,” he said.
“You have to say so, because they’ve got a very strong squad and have brought in some top players. You would be a liar if you said anything else.”
Davies, who now plays for Blues, left The Hawthorns in 2007 to join Villa in a deal worth more than £10 million.
His switch was one of many big-money buys during the Martin O’Neill era as Villa regularly enjoyed European football.
But since the Irishman left, the claret and blues have slowly declined while Albion have consolidated their Premier League status and kicked on.
And 27-year-old Davies reckons that times have changed because of the lower budget that current Villa boss Paul Lambert has to operate with.
“I think Albion have overtaken Villa,” he added. “Albion are progressing more whereas Villa’s stance is that they are trying to buy young players and redevelop.
“Under O’Neill, Villa were known for signing big players at high fees, now they’re trying to sign younger players like the Bennetts, the Lowtons, etc.”
The big centre-half, touted as an England prospect when he joined Villa, believes that Lambert’s buys could bring the glory days back to Villa Park if given time.
“They’ve got the ability to play now but, in a few years, they’ll have incredible ability and they’ll be pushing with the rest,” he said.
