Stoke fans loved the Irish midfielder and were sorry to see him go. Aston Villa fans are finding it hard to warm to him.
Glenn Whelan is more than capable of helping Villa in a promotion push this season.
Right now, with Whelan and his new side need is a victory. Three games into the Championship season and the Midlands side lie second from bottom after only one point in three games.
Villa defeated Colchester in the EFL Cup but their league campaign has gotten off to a rotten start. Eager to shore up his team's defence, Steve Bruce brought in John Terry from Chelsea and Whelan arrived from The Britannia Stadium as a defensive midfielder.
Villa have now conceded six goals in three league games and one of them was an own goal registered by Whelan in their 2-1 defeat to Reading, on Tuesday. Conor Hourihane - Whelan's international teammate - scored a late goal for Villa but it was not to be. Scott Hogan came off with an ankle injury in a game that was watched by Ireland boss Martin O'Neill.
Fans had already been grumbling about the Ireland international after the first few fixtures of the season but the loss, combined with Whelan's unfortunate own goal, has seen anger mount.
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Bruce has urged Villa fans to remain patient and give his new players a chance to settle.
He commented:
"Unfortunately we have got off to a poor start in terms of results... We showed a bit of fight and a bit of determination to get back into the game – and nearly managed it.
"We need to take the chances. We need to be more clinical and better in the final third."
As for Hogan limping off, Bruce admitted it was frustrating that the striker, who scored 15 Championship goals last season, was struck down by injury again.
