Unfortunately this is part of football, but we've all become accustomed to it, and it happens to everyone. Hai Ronaldo, Suarez, Fabregas etc. I'm talking players who were good for your Other 14 club, got their move to one of the scum, or were sensible and went abroad, then struggled and you've never been able to understand why.
Villa have been raided more times than I care to mention over the years. Although it's less than I expected when you write them down. Yorke, Bosnich, Barry, Milner, Downing, Delph, Grealish. Naturally, you think they'll all do well, and most of them did barring probably Downing, and especially Bozzie, who just went off his head, did a load of gear and got fat. But that's a part of the legend. Grealish has obviously been pepnerfed as well (this kid was serious, serious business at Villa), but he started all season during their treble win, so I'll give him a marginal pass.
There is one though, who I was convinced would go on to be an absolute superstar. When he was at Villa, I remember thinking he'd end up at a Real Madrid. A complete machine and he could do EVERYTHING you need from a centre forward. Left foot, right foot, head it, hold it, run fast, bully defenders, score screamers. Carried a shit team for three years. I give you...Christian Benteke. Best centre forward I've seen at Villa in 38 years, and that isn't a bad list to be top of...Atkinson, Saunders, Milosevic, Yorke, Angel, Carew, Agbonlahor, himself, Watkins, Duran to name a few. Never once saw that player again for the rest of his career. Baffling.
So, who's yours?