Damian Dugdale gives Eugene YS Han his views about Aston Villa's performance five months into the 2009/10 Premier League season.

Up to this point in the season, what is the best  and worst your club can achieve this coming season?

Damian Dugdale: As I write this, confidence is generally high amongst the supporters. But, we are not yet half way through the season so it is still wide open. Most Aston Villa fans will know that after 18 games last season we were third, so we are not getting carried away just yet, despite having a stronger side.

The best we could hope for is to win the league and the worst is still relegation but in reality the best I think for us is a top four finish (maybe third) and the worst is probably eighth.

So far, who has been your key player?

The key player for us this season, I think, is Richard Dunne. We look more solid defensively this season that we did in the second half of last season and while he might not be the stand out player that most would pick (me included) he is the 'key' player to our excellent defensive record - which is, as I write this, the best in the league.

Who is the unsung hero in your team?

Our unsung hero really isn't unsung. James Milner is getting a lot of praise since he has moved into the middle of midfield and has looked a much better player for us. I have no doubt that he will be on the plane to South Africa next year and if he continues doing what he is doing he'll quite possibly be in contention to start.

Which new signing has impressed you most? Which one the least?

New signings. Well, Stewart Downing has impressed since he has come back from injury and James Collins has also looked very solid and commanding but I think the most impressive signing has to be Richard Dunne. I don't think I can give it to anyone else after naming him our key player this season.

As for the least impressive - I don't think I can name one as 'least impressive' as they have done as expected. We haven't signed another Wayne Routledge, let's put it that way.

Which area do you think your team needs strengthening in January?

This is tough. Since Milner has moved into the middle and Downing has come in, we've passed the ball about a lot more and the football is getting better and I know Martin O'Neill doesn't like to change things about. My heart says stick with what we've got and don't change things about but my head says we need a proven twenty goal a season striker or a Robbie Keane type player to link things up, just not Robbie Keane.

Who should they sell in January?

I don't think we should sell anyone. I can see Nigel Reo-Coker, Marlon Harewood and Nicky Shorey leaving some time fairly soon but I'm just not sure if that will happen in January or not.

Which area do you think your team needs strengthening in January?

My head says we need one more player and I just think that if we were to go out and surprise a few people with that particular signing, it might, just might be the catalyst to propel us into the top four and if, come the end of January, we had that particular player and we had a good January, I might just predict fourth. If we don't, I fear that we might run out of steam again and we might just end up exactly where we finished last season, 6th.

So - you are not getting an answer to that question just yet. I think January is important - much like it was for Arsenal last season and much like I think it will be for Liverpool this season and if we don't act, I think there is a chance that Liverpool might find what they've lost.

What do you think about the relationship between Martin O'Neill and Randy Lerner? Is it a shining example to the rest of the league?

On the face of things it appears like a marriage made in footballing heaven but none of us really know what is going on or what targets have been set or what the aims of each person really are. For all we know, O'Neill could be asking for more money and getting frustrated at his phone calls not getting answered or Lerner could be saying 'spend more' and he might be getting frustrated at the manager not spending.

Is it a shining example? I think we will find out soon. The next two transfer windows are very important.

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The Villa Blog is a site dedicated to Aston Villa Football Club. Any Aston Villa fan can contribute with news or opinion and we provide a friendly place on the web, for sensible and intelligent banter on all things claret and blue.

* Damian is part of the Aston Villa fansite The Villa Blog - very proudly claret and blue

* Look out for more fans' reviews of your favourite Premier League teams in the next few days!