MESSAGEBOARD MAN VILLA TOFF HAS HIS SAY ON THE COMINGS AND GOINGS AT VILLA PARK

So Aston Villa are once again in the thick of a 7 club battle for the top four Premiership places and, unlike last season, Martin O'Neill has strengthened his squad with some of the best players to be had.

Stewart Downing, Richard Dunne, James Collins, Stephen Warnock, Habib Beye and the youth powerhouse Fabian Delph have given Villa a very meaty look compared to previous seasons.

There is the question of players who were previously regarded as starters but who have now been eased onto the bench by better and more consistent performers; Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell, Craig Gardner spring to mind.

I would think Nicky Shorey and Marlon Harewood are already terminal casualties of a team bent on improving their squad, so little can be said of their future at Villa Park.

Sidwell has already clearly stated he is happy to fight for his place, likewise, Brummie Craig Gardner wouldn't swap a claret and blue shirt for any other colour.

And that leaves Mr Reo-Coker, a decent grafting wasp of a midfield player who gives 100% but who doesn't appear to possess the necessary quality required at the very top level. Reo just doesn't seem to have the speed of thought and action to feed perfect passes through to further attacking moves. Another minus is the fact that he doesn't score.

Nigel is going to have to make a serious decision and look at his own abilities in order to decide whether to stay and fight for a place in an ever improving team. He faces competition from the likes of young Delph and Sidwell, who are hunting down the very same place in the side held by diesel powered captain Petrov and England player Milner.

For Reo, neighbours Birmingham would seem an ideal destination. I have a feeling he will opt to play and so January would seem an ideal time, his loss would be minimal as Delph can easily cover what Reo offers, and some.