At the heart of every successful side is a strong backbone around which a cultured style can be honed.

Manchester United have a solid structure, key men in key positions, and Chelsea likewise.

Surprisingly enough, Liverpool follow suit in that department and money men Man City are also building in a similar fashion.

But what of Villa? Well, an opening day collapse at home to relegation fodder Wigan Athletic is yet another unwelcome chapter of a sorry tale.

The Claret and Blue went on an horrendous run at the back end of the last campaign during which they won just two of their final 16 games.

That was after the side lost skipper Martin Laursen to a career-ending injury and the team has never been the same since.

Laursen was an immense figure - he held the defence together when everything threatened to crumble and games looked like being lost.

In front of him was Gareth Barry. The England midfielder was often simple but effective. He very rarely gave the ball away and he was a glue in the middle of the park.

Ashley Young was the first to notice when Barry was not in the team and a quite woeful display in the 3-1 defeat to Everton, which started the torrid run, encapsulated his need to play alongside Villa's talisman of the time.

Sceptics

Barry has now of course moved on to Man City, where he helped them to an opening day win at Blackburn. The final score in that game was 2-0 and it may not have escaped the notice of every Villan that their side won 2-0 at Ewood Park in February when hopes of a top three finish were very much alive and kicking.
How times have changed!

It is widely acknowledged amongst fans of the Villa that Laursen will be forever missed. Some, however, are not so sure that the same can be said about Barry.

After the disappointing opening display against a flowing Wigan side, the Barry sceptics may think again. But then again they always were a stubborn bunch.

Fabian Delph, they said, can replace Barry. 'He wasn't that good after all' some exclaimed.

But Delph is such a young figure. A 19 year-old who is expected to command the centre of midfield with the prowess of a wizened campaigner who has been at Villa for over 10 years.

Martin O'Neill and the fans who truly believe he is the midfield general for the here and now should hang their heads in shame.

Delph may well be the next Steven Gerrard but he will not even be the next Gareth Barry for a few years yet.

Exposed

As for the central defenders, Carlos Cuellar and Curtis Davies are not fit to lace the boots of players like Jamie Carragher and John Terry.

They have no air of authority about them, neither can lead from the back and their weaknesses were there for all to see last season. Laursen covered for them all to often, now they are exposed and fragile. A leader is required, and fast.

City, are not as some believe, a side with more money than sense. Mark Hughes has moved quickly to splash the cash on Kolo Toure, Barry and Emannuel Adebayor. Those three players will form the spine of the team and allow flair players Robinho and Steve Ireland to play their natural games.

Hughes knows that Manchester United have Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney, Chelsea have Terry, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba and Liverpool have Carragher, Gerrard and Fernando Torres. The Welshman is astute enough to know he needs a similar structure if he is to challenge at the top.

So who would Villa's backbone be? Davies, Stiliyan Petrov and Emile Heskey? Not good enough.

O'Neill needs to secure a new, commanding centre back, a midfield general and a striking ace before the end of the window. Never mind strengthening the squad, it is the first XI that needs shoring up.

Interestingly, Villa may have a midfield general already in their midst. Nigel Reo-Coker has bossed many a game for club and country (at under-21 level) yet he continues to be overlooked.

The message surely has to be 'Give him a game'. Go with the tried and tested not the young and inexperienced.

Now we will see what O'Neill is made of. Does he have the backbone to go out and buy a backbone? He must have if he really wants to hit the big time and bounce back from a shambolic opening day show.