Its way to general to say sweeping statements such as its too late for lower league additions and we need proven premiership talent. It quite literally depends on the players in question. Ireland, N'Zogbia, Warnock and Hutton all proven premiership and they are either dissapointing or plain stinking up our team. Like wise one look at the Swansea, Norwich, Reading or Southampton team sheets will highlight many lower league talents who look the business this year in the prem.
Basically you can find examples from both sides that would be wrong for Villa, it depends on the individuals themselves, which I trust our manager to assess before buying. He SHOULD be ideally placed to uncover lower league talent having managed there less than 2 years ago, and seeing the players in question play each week. Its up to his judgement to bring those in he thinks can cut it at the top level. No one is disputing that ideally we would hire only premiership players but we did that for 3 seasons and we are still paying the price.