Villa Sending Out Right Message

Gary Cahill says with the new arrivals at Villa Park: 'I think we're sending out a signal to the rest of the Premiership that we mean business. The players can feel it and I'm sure the fans can. Getting new players in is all about adding to the competition for places and that's important if you want to do well. We look forward now and I think we're improving all the time.'

With just two more full days until the transfer window closes, Villa have brought in Phil Bardsley on loan from Manchester United, John Carew in a swap for Milan Baros (Lyon) and Ashley Young from Watford in a mega money move.

Cahill says: 'There's certainly competition at the back, I think there's two if not three players for each position. I think the gaffer's improving the squad so it's like that throughout the team. That's a healthy situation to be in, when everyone wants a place in the side and has to really fight for that place.'

And listen to the positivity here, what ever did happen to the doom and gloom, what will we moan about now?

'It's a great time to be at the club when you look at the signings we've made. It's given everyone a real lift and the training ground is buzzing. John Carew has played at the top level and he's obviously established himself as a great striker. With his height, he brings some physical presence to our team, so I think he's a great addition to the team. When you've played at the highest level, as he has, you've experienced a lot of situations. So he can help the young players and hopefully he'll do well down here.'

'Ashley Young has done brilliantly well at Watford and became one of their top players. He obviously felt it was time to move on and play for a bigger side - with respect to Watford. He obviously feels Villa are going to push onto better things and I certainly agree with him on that. He's a great player. He can play on the wings and he can play up-front. He's versatile and he has loads of pace. I've seen him play a few times and he's definitely a talent.'

I've had to start moaning about the weather and protest in Sainsbury in order to voice my opinions, there is nothing to moan about at Villa anymore. I stand in the queue in the shops and sing 'you don't know what you're doing' and heckle the bin men with 'you're not singing anymore'.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.