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After a difficult 2013/14 season, Aston Villa's start to the current campaign has been a breath of fresh air for fans of the Birmingham club.

With Paul Lambert and Roy Keane coaxing fine performances out of a modest squad, the mood is understandably positive at Villa Park after seven games of the season.

Here, James Nursey looks at what's gone right for the Villans:

New signings

Surely Villa's best signing this summer has been boss Lambert bringing in Keane as his new assistant. We broke the scoop in early June and I know Keane has gone down a storm in the Villa dressing room.

I think fans across the country view him as an unpredictable firebrand who is always letting rip judging by his appearances on TV and his new book. But Keane realises it is unsustainable to manage players that way by constantly criticising them and he has enjoyed building a rapport with the Villa players.

He has been hands-on at training and obviously his legendary playing career means he has the players' respect. I think his mere presence at Villa has raised training levels and that has been reflected on the pitch where the club have made an encouraging start.

Of the new players who have come in, the experienced Premier League duo of Philippe Senderos and Kieran Richardson have so far been the best additions in my view. Senderos is a talker who has organised and shored up Villa's defence while Richardson has added some much-needed top-flight know-how to the midfield. For example knowing when to win a free-kick when the side are under pressure etc.

(Image: David Rogers)

Aly Cissokho looks a decent new left-back capable of finally filling what has been a problem position for Lambert, while there are high hopes for Colombian holding midfielder Carlos Sanchez. Sanchez had a poor game when thrown in at short notice for his full League debut against Arsenal when Villa were ravaged by a sickness bug. But both team-mates and Lambert insist the £4.7million World Cup star will prove a snip in the long-term.

And Villa are already interested in signing loanee Tom Cleverley permanently next year as he has looked sharp in training. The only real disappointment so far has been Joe Cole, who I was looking forward to seeing play in his favoured position in the hole. But he has been dogged by injury problems which he appears to finally be over so let's wait and see.

Gaffer rating

I give Lambert a definite thumbs-up after Villa's start which sees them 10th with 10 points after seven games including tough fixtures against Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City.

I wrote at the end of last season that with the club up for sale, and engulfed in uncertainty as Randy Lerner expected to sell out and had put a block on new deals, that it was imperative Lambert stayed. I recall getting serious flak for it on Twitter but my point really was Lambert would provide some much-needed continuity and that has paid off so far.

Certainly Lerner, who has been unable to sell the club and has since reinvested in the side, must think so after rewarding Lambert with a new long-term deal.

(Image: Neville Williams)

I also think it is a sign of gratitude from Lerner as he must dread to think what an even bigger mess the club would have been in this summer had Lambert walked in the face of supporter unrest at his reign which may have prompted others to quit.

For with the club up for sale and little cash to spend, quite frankly who on earth decent would have come in under those circumstances?

But credit to Glaswegian Lambert for staying and tackling the challenge at Villa head on despite the lack of a big chequebook.

Given the investment into the team – which compared to their top-flight rivals must be less than most – Lambert has got Villa punching above their weight in my view and they look set to stabilise as a top-flight side after battling relegation the previous four seasons. And with striker Christian Benteke now finally back from a serious long-term Achilles injury prospects are definitely looking up.

(Image: Neville Williams)

Tactics working?

Under Lambert Villa remain a very good counter-attacking side away from home as they underlined this season winning at Anfield and Stoke. They have also so far improved their dire home form from last season as Villa have more experience and Premier League guile in their side which is helping get results.

Fabian Delph's continued fine form and the on-going emergence of Ashley Westwood means Villa are winning and keeping the ball better in my view which is crucial.

Are they currently meeting pre-season expectations?

At the end of last season when owner Lerner put the club up for sale and blocked potential new contracts and major signings, many fans feared the drop this term. But the club have actually thrived and improved as Lambert has made some shrewd additions after eventually being given money to spend and players like Delph have continued to develop well.

(Image: Clive Rose)

The ONE biggest issue that needs sorting out pronto?

For all the good results and progress at Villa this season I see MAJOR problems ahead on the contract front. There has been some great news for the club with starlet Jack Grealish committing despite interest from Chelsea but both Delph and captain Ron Vlaar are out of contract next summer.

They are arguably Villa's two best players and while the club are doing everything to tempt them to stay and have offered Delph a new deal and are talking to Vlaar, I remain unconvinced they will sign on. Because to be blunt the pair could both earn more and have better chances of silverware elsewhere. So it may well be that Villa face a huge dilemma in January of whether to sell the pair or let them run out their deals and risk losing them on Bosmans.