A polarised season comes to a close during which John Gregory’s fascinating, frustrating, entertaining boom or bust style has been seen in full effect. There really is never a dull moment under John Gregory, on or off the pitch. Although not creative geniuses, the 1998 version of Villa were virtually unbeatable and able to win against any opposition in any circumstances. 1999 Villa however looked bereft of ideas, bewildered and firmly in relegation form. 

Goalkeeper Michael Oakes, 25, makes his 61st and final appearance in a Villa shirt (59 Starts) to make it W22 D13 L26, 79 Goals Conceded at a rate of 1.30 goals per game and 20 Clean Sheets (33%) across his Villa career. Oakes would move on to Wolverhampton Wanderers in October 1999 for a fee of £675,000.

Centre back Riccardo Scimeca, 23, makes his 97th and final appearance in a Villa shirt (68 Starts) before moving on to Nottingham Forest for £4,050,000 in July 1999 leaving with a record of W45 D18 L34, 2 Goals and 5 Bookings across his 3 seasons in the Villa first team.

Grumpy full back Simon Grayson, 28, plays for the first time in 3 months and makes his 64th and final appearance in a Villa shirt (43 Starts) before moving on to Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £750,000 in July 1999. Grayson left with a record of W30 D11 L23, 2 Goals, 2 Assists and 5 Bookings across his two, apparently miserable, seasons with the club.

Steve Stone makes his 10th appearance in a Villa shirt (9 Starts) to make it W3 D2 L5, 3 Assists and 1 Booking so far in his Villa career.