So summer is over, well not officially until September 23rd but in terms of football at least, and where does that leave us?

Having lost Webcam and Pid, NRC, Big Brad, several bit-part and youth team players, and perhaps most devastatingly Mike Bradley (I still haven't got over it) the mood amongst most Villa fans was fairly negative, just for a change. However, I'm fairly happy with the business we have conducted this transfer window.

We have an amazing goalkeeper in Shay Given, who let's face it has a better record so far this season than Brad, and is someone whose name was always on my wish list whenever the prospect of a new keeper arose; a brilliantly creative force in Charles N'Zogbia, which is something we certainly needed with the loss of Young and Downing; and an exciting prospect in Enda Stevens from what I've heard from those whose business it is to know.

I wasn't expecting much from transfer deadline day given the current financial situation at the club and the apparent need to cut our somewhat extortionate wage bill, but was pleasantly surprised by the news that Alan Hutton and Jermaine Jenas were very definitely on our radar.

Athletic full-back Alan Hutton has plenty of experience playing at the highest level and is a great addition to a defence that's been looking solid already this season. He certainly seems to have the right sort of temperament and could be a very influential player for us. Jermaine Jenas is a dynamic midfielder, which is the area in which we perhaps are lacking most, and hopefully has a point to prove after struggling to curry favour at Spurs, although I just hope we don't have another Walker situation where he plays brilliantly all season only to return to his parent club at the end of it. Several of our current players certainly seem enamoured by the prospect of playing with the pair, and they both seem delighted to be here.

We all want our club to sign the top name players, but there are only so many of them to go around, and the draw of a top club, European football and stupidly high wages is too much for most of us to compete with. With realistic expectations, our signings this summer are indeed top name players of the standard befitting our current situation.

While part of me does think signings would be better done prior to the season starting so that they could at least get some pre-season training in, transfer deadline day is always exciting and keeps the fans hooked. A special mention should go to the local media guys who kept us abreast of developments throughout the day, and to the AVTV team who were working until 3am to bring us the first pictures and interviews with our new signings, by which time Jack had forgotten who he was.

Welcome to Villa Park boys. Let's make it a good one.