The 2004-05 campaign delivered a respectable but ultimately frustrating 10th-place finish for Aston Villa, as The Villans failed to build on the previous season's push for Europe. Leading the charge with his trademark creative flair was the Peruvian midfielder Nolberto Solano, whose 8 crucial league goals, including spectacular finishes, anchored the attack. It was a turbulent year under manager David O'Leary, marked by a mid-season slump that saw the team fall away from the top six, but it served as a vital season for the emergence of young talent like Steven Davis.