Aston Villa: Rating Each of the Club's Summer Signings so Far

With the start of the Premier League season just one week away, the composition of most of the clubs is almost complete. Aston Villa had one of the biggest turnarounds, bringing in a new manager and hopefully a new philosophy to the club.

Paul Lambert has a tough job on his hands to repair the damage done to the team ever since Martin O'Neill left the club in 2010. So far the Scot has signed four players (in addition to Brett Holman who had already signed) to help him bring the club back to it's feet.

How effective has he been in the transfer window?

Here are the ratings for each of Villa's signings for the new season? How would you rate each of these players? Comment below.

Brett Holman

Aston Villa's first signing this summer was agreed all the way back in March when AZ Alkmaar's Brett Holman agreed a deal to join the club on a free transfer.

The Australian winger has looked lively for Villa in their pre-season matches and looks as though he could be a starter when the season kicks off later this month.

Holman has shown great work rate in his matches for Villa so far and looks dangerous when arriving late into the box from the left flank. He strikes the ball very sweetly with his left foot and has already shown an eye for goal, scoring twice so far in pre-season.

The 28-year-old brings others into play very well and has already shown a good understanding with Barry Bannan, Karim El Ahmadi, and most of all, Stephen Ireland. With no transfer fee paid, if Holman can build on his early promise then he could be Villa's signing of the summer.

Rating: 8/10

Karim El Ahmadi

The midfield was Villa's Achilles heel last season so it is good to see that Lambert has reinforced the centre of the park with Feyenoord's Karim El Ahmadi.

El Ahmadi's role will be key to how well Villa play next season. If he can get the ball to Villa's more attacking players efficiently and not give the ball away then the team should see a serious improvement in goals.

However if, like the team did last season, he sits too deep and gets caught in possession, he could struggle to put his mark on the game.

El Ahmadi has the potential to play very well for Villa next season. At Feyenoord he looked composed on the ball and showed a fine range of passing. The physicality of the Premier League could be a hurdle for him, but if he can clear it then he could be the answer that the midfield have been looking for.

Fellow Dutchman and former Villa defender Wlifred Bouma has called the midfielder "one of the best players in the Dutch league", and Villa fans will be hoping he can replicate this form when the season starts next week.

Rating: 7/10

Brad Guzan

Paul Lambert decided to re-sign 'keeper Brad Guzan after the American had left the club when his contract expired at the end of last season.

Guzan provides good depth at the position but he will not be challenging Shay Given for the starting spot anytime soon. If Given goes down with an injury then Villa fans will be glad to have Guzan as a number two, but this signing won't be getting anyone excited.

Rating: 5/10

Matthew Lowton

Paul Lambert's third Villa signing was the £3 million acquisition of Sheffield United right-back Matt Lowton. Again this was a position that needed depth after Alan Hutton struggled last season.

The 23-year-old is not afraid to get forward and his crosses could prove fruitful for Darren Bent. Bent was starved of opportunities last year and if Lowton continues his pre-season form, then this should change.

The right-back also has also shown that he can be a goal threat himself. He has gone close from range on a few occaisions, and scored in Villa's American tour with a header against the Portland Timbers.

Defensively, Lowton has also looked solid so far but will need to prove himself against top quality wingers in the Premier League.

Rating: 7/10

Ron Vlaar

Villa's latest signing has been the biggest of the window so far. Dutch international Ron Vlaar has been brought in as a straight replacement for James Collins, who has been sold to West Ham.

The pairing of Collins and Richard Dunne in the centre of defence was an extremely solid one at first, but last season showed that it had run its course. After a shaky season marred by an off the field issue, it was the right time to let Collins leave the club.

On the face of it Vlaar looks like a very good replacement for the Welshman. The 27-year-old is an imposing presence in the air and refuses to be bullied by strikers.

As the more experienced of the centre-backs, Vlaar will need to adapt quickly to the tempo of the Premier League. Former Villain Wilfred Bouma told the Villa website that this could be the biggest obstacle to Villa's Dutch signings this season:

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"Sometimes in the Dutch league you can take a little breather but that won't happen in the Premier League."

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With Richard Dunne set to miss the start of the season with a groin injury picked up with the Republic of Ireland at Euro 2012, Villa have the perfect opportunity to build the defensive partnership of the future.

Ciaran Clark acquitted himself excellently in the heart of the Villa defence towards the end of last season, and he will hopefully form a reliable partnership with Vlaar.

Rating: 7/10