We earned a great point up North and made a few points too

We also made a few points to our detractors whilst winning a point at St James' Park.

Paul Lambert picked a brave team and formation to go away to an in-form Newcastle and was rewarded by a great performance.

Dropping Shay Given was a masterstroke which needed to be taken and would have sent a message to everyone in the dressing room that no shirt is safe. Given was probably the worst player in Euro 2012.

He let his country down by playing when clearly unfit and picked up this season where he left off.

He dropped a clanger against Everton and now the American Guzan, who left us only to come back a few months later, is between the sticks.

He had a blinder against Newcastle and must feel his position is in his hands.

My only worry about Given is about his contract, we gave him four years and if he doesn't recapture his form he might be another player hard to shift off the wage bill.

Lambert also played two up front, away! Fancy that kind of madness during last season's defensive hell.

And we had a refreshing transfer deadline. I remember the days when the Villa fax machines only took incoming calls on the last day but not this time.

Buying young and hungry players from the lower leagues is exactly what we need, people who want to succeed and are not just happy to pick up a fat pay check.

Our team is already starting to look like a Lambert team. Vlaar will be a star and in our mercurial Moroccan we might have found the long term replacement for Petrov.

I can't wait to see Benteke up front for the Villa, we have been lacking proper power up front for years, ever since Carew left really. 

And I'm also looking to see how our big brute from Chesterfield is going to fit in the team. I've enjoyed hearing how the Villa are dead certs for the drop.

Due to the Premier League being so uncompetitive the circus which blows smoke up its arse try like hell to make it sound like one of the most interesting leagues in the world.

Narratives are needed to keep it interesting and one of this season's narratives is 'Villa will go down' as a big club going down is big news.

Red trouser wearing Robbie Savage started the party off by tipping us for relegation, which is laughable and hilariously his Radio 5 colleague Pat Murphy pointed out on Twitter that Savage wasn't known for his research, and how it shows.

We will not go down, there is enough dross in this league for the Villa to rebuild this season and be safe.

And if it does go wrong and we are tanking at Christmas Randy will use the January sales to keep us up. We, like the vast majority of Prem sides, are stuck in this league for years to come without a hope of ever winning it unless some oil types come calling.

However, despite that depressing thought being able to watch the Lambert revolution take shape will be a joy to watch as will some attacking football at last! Up the Villa

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