Villa blogger Dave Bytheway beams with his side firmly entrenched in the top four and wonders if the traditional stranglehold will finally be broken.

So, 15 games to go and 15 games to achieve what no team could apparently ever achieve. Can we do it? Can we break the so called ‘big four?’ I still don’t know, but we’re giving it a right good go!

Still, our squad is thin and we have more players out through injury than over the past few seasons, but we still keep scraping wins. Surely this is a sign that we are going places?

The likes of Manchester United and Arsenal have done this for years, normally against us, so it feels good being in the same bracket as these teams now. We are there on merit.

Our manager Martin O’Neill is a genius, no doubt about it. To use under 20 players in the Premier League – the main core of them English – and be fourth in the league only three points off the top proves that.

On paper our squad isn’t as impressive as most Premiership teams, but the way O’Neill makes them play as one, as a unit makes me think we can actually achive something this year.

The only worry I have is by judging from his comments, that we may have to let something go to be able to continue our League push. He compared our season to that of Bolton a few years ago, when they forsake the UEFA Cup to maintain top flight survival.

If we did the same and ended up winning the league for example, it would be a masterstroke. But I personally feel that this is the perfect time to add to our squad, to allow us to maintain our challenge for the three honours we are chasing.

The signing of Emile Heskey is one of the best since O’Neill too charge in my opinion.

OK, his goals per game ratio isn’t as good as it could be as a striker, but the way he brings others into the game and takes the pressure off his strike partner is unique.

I’m sure if you asked Wayne Rooney or Michael Owen who their ideal partner for England would be, they would say Heskey. His display on Tuesday proved what an asset he will be for us, not only with his great goal to win the game, but also in defence where he seemed to get on the end of most of the 17 corners Pompey had!

On another note, I see Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez cannot stop moaning at the moment and I am seriously wondering if he has lost the plot? Held 1-1 away at Wigan, so he takes Steven Gerrard off?

His reasoning? Their midfielder Michael Brown was too aggressive for Gerrard. Is this the same Steven Gerrard who kicks every other midfielder in the country?

The same Steven Gerrard who shall we say isn’t the most honest of footballers around the box? Come on Rafa, pull the other one, so with hindsight I bet even Villa midfielder Gareth Barry is breathing a sigh of relief he didn’t sign for him.

I’ll leave you with my player shopping list for the last four days of the transfer window, if we get more than one i seriously think it will be a good year for us.

Firstly, get Paul Scharner from Wigan. A versatile defender who will fill the aerial void left by Laursen. Next get Daniel Sturridge from Manchester City. A young pacey forward in the Gabby Agbonlahor mould to add a bit of competition.

Thirdly – and I’ll stick by it – Tottenham’s Gareth Bale I feel would add so much to our squad. Anyone else would be, in the words of O’Neill, terrific!

Have a good weekend. Up the Villa!