I'm going to make up for the fact that I'm usually a late entrant into the transfer debates by getting the bandwagon rolling myself this time.

There is a fortnight until the January sales start. Given a summer which most Villa fans would have described as disappointing, and the fact that Martin O'Neill must have been cute enough to gain some leverage with Randy Lerner from his refusal to entertain the England post, I think we have the right to expect some eyebrow-raising activity this winter. Especially as Villa have weaknesses which competing sides are starting to know and exploit.

I'm going to take this position by position, looking at it as a sort of review of the season so far and giving my own personal and subjective views on what we should be doing to strengthen and push on for that UEFA Cup spot.

‘Teams are beginning to recognise that Villa currently only have pace, skill and the ability to get behind defences on one flank – and switching Ashley Young from left to right doesn't cut it.’


Goalkeeper: This is a no-brainer. The books are closed on Thomas Sorensen leaving next month, and good luck to him, but – if he hasn't done so already – O'Neill must move decisively to agree a fee with Liverpool for Scott Carson and offer him a good contract.

His game isn't complete and he has his shaky moments, but he remains the brightest of England's young goalkeeping prospects despite being criminally over-exposed by McMuppet against the Croatians. If O'Neill is as determined as he seems to build a young side with a core of British talent – and I take no issue with that – then, to me, the permanent signing of Carson is a must.

Right-back: Early in the season, Craig Gardner filled in energetically in this role, winning himself the position for the England U21's in the process. Ollie Mellberg has done his level best since, but his pace, positional sense and distribution would only work as the right-sided member of a back three supported by wing-backs. That isn't going to happen.

To me, O'Neill's biggest clanger of his reign so far is coming into a defining season without a real right-back – whether or not deals fell apart at the 11th hour at the end of August.

This is a key signing – you only have to look at the contribution Glen Johnson made for Pompey last Saturday to see what a difference a versatile right-back can make. I've kept an eye on José Bosingwa at Porto this season, and he is a very fine player indeed – could he be tempted to Villa Park? I hope so.

Otherwise, if O'Neill continues to target the best of young British, then it may be possible to tempt Justin Hoyte away from Arsenal or even Wes Brown from United, if the rumours about his unwillingness to commit to a new contract are correct.

My greatest preference, now that Glasgow Rangers are out of the Champions League, would be to fork out for Alan Hutton. But that may be a real long shot. Twist.

Left-back: Freddie Bouma is having a good season, staying as fit and sharp as he looked last season but I don't think Freddie should be in O'Neill's longer-term plans. With Gareth Barry always available as cover, I think this is more of a summer than a January priority.

One thing O'Neill might like to consider is giving Steve O'Halloran a blooding – he's looking better and better in the reserves and has had exposure to top-level competition with Ireland already. If O'Neill disagrees with me, of course, then he may fancy doubling our Norwegian contingent by bringing John Arne Riise from Merseyside. Stick.

Centre-back: Zat Knight has had a mixed start, looking cool and imperious at times and soporific at others. He should be grateful to O'Neill for sticking with him when there is nine million quid’s worth of Curtis Davies on the bench. I wonder whether a stronger debut for Davies against the Foxes might have seen a different story, and many of us are a tad frustrated that we haven't seen more of the ex-Baggie.

Martin Laursen has been fantastic and will keep his place unless his knees give in. Providing we secure the services of a decent right-back, and Ollie can be persuaded to see out the season, January shouldn't need any more investment at centre-back. But if Ollie goes, we may need to bring in a squad player – it would all look a bit stretched with Mellberg gone and Laursen on the treatment table, especially as there are no players in the reserves ready to make the step up yet. We shouldn't forget, either, that Gary Cahill can be recalled at any time from Sheffield United. Stick unless Ollie goes.

Right and left-wing: With John Robertson as assistant manager, I'm certain Villa are going to look to play with two wingers. Teams are beginning to recognise that Villa currently only have pace, skill and the ability to get behind defences on one flank – and switching Ashley Young from left to right doesn't cut it.

I don't care whether Ashley plays on the right or the left, but a second winger is a priority. I'd love Villa to take Shaun Wright-Phillips off Chelsea's hands, but he is starting to settle at the Bridge and I think it unlikely. Celtic's qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League makes my dream signing of Aiden McGeady look very far-fetched now.

I wonder, though, if James Milner is Sam Allardyce's sort of player at Newcastle – especially with Damien Duff on the way back – and whether a deal for the Yorkshireman could be revived. I imagine he'd be welcomed back with open arms at Villa Park.

However, the favourite on the bush telegraph seems to be Giles Barnes. I've seen him play a bit, and he's a very useful young player – even if he does need a firm hand on his shoulder. Derby are going down, and maybe they should be looking to cash in on the lad now. Twist.

Central midfield anchor: Nigel Reo-Coker has taken his time to settle down at the Villa, but there are signs that he is starting to produce performances and, at his best, he can be dominant in this role. With Gareth Barry and Stan Petrov both fine players in the same position, and with both Craig Gardner and Isaiah Osbourne good young squad players, there is no need for investment here. Stick.

Attacking midfield: Alarm bells are ringing for me here, and a lot of it has to do with us failing to make the most of the millions we have given Gordon Strachan. Stan Petrov arrived as a playmaker but, lacking confidence, slow to settle down and needing to deputise on frequent occasions in an anchor role, he has never really produced playmaking form.

Just before his injury, I felt that at Ewood Park – in particular – Stan was beginning to show us what a dangerous and skilful player he can be. Patrik Berger is off the pace, and was frankly embarrassing against his old club Portsmouth. On to Shaun Maloney – why we haven't seen more of him, I can't imagine. A cheeky, jinky little pickpocket, with skill and attitude in equal measure and an eye for goal to boot, he looks to me like a bargain at a million. But let's face it, the signs are that he's back off to Parkhead.

Villa need emergency surgery in this position, and I'm not altogether sure where it's coming from. Harry Kewell may be tempted from the Reds, Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura may swap places with Super Shaun, although the favourite seems to be Nicolae Dica from Steaua Bucharest. I've watched clips on YouTube which suggest he might be a decent signing, with a handy goalscoring record. Twist.

Striker: Gabby Agbonlahor gets better and better, and the priority must be to secure his long-term services. If Luke Moore is to leave, and I for one won't be losing any sleep over it, then we must strengthen in this area. Must. I like Jermain Defoe, but with two wingers, we need a real centre-forward – and I'm not sure John Carew cuts the mustard. He's strong, he's awkward, he's a handful, and he gets to the ball hit long down the channels. But the problem is that he's not so clever with his feet, and so he tempts Villa into a long-ball game from the back which I don't like. Darren Bent may be available from Juande Ramos' Spurs, but the Yids wouldn't want too lose to much of the reported £18m they paid for him in the summer, and he's likely to be ring rusty and low in confidence.

There is a striker with real pedigree, a centre-forward's presence and great feet too – not to mention a superb goalscoring record. And that is Peter Crouch – my preferred forward signing, if Rafa Benitez will let him go.

Now, I don't expect Randy to free up the cash to bring in all the players I've highlighted. That's dreamland. But I wanted to give you an insight into my thinking and my hopes.

Let the bandwagon roll.

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