"Cole is a risk," BBC Radio's Pat Murphy said. "He's 32, with a lot of a miles on the clock in terms of problems with various injuries.
"But, at his best, he is a versatile midfielder player. He is adaptable, he can score spectacular goals and his CV is impressive.
"Manager Paul Lambert - himself no slouch as a midfielder player, good enough to play for Celtic in his mid-30s - knows what can be coaxed out of a midfielder's body in his mid-30s and he's very excited at signing Cole.
"Villa's midfield has been mundane, sluggish, and one-dimensional. At his best - and it's a major caveat - Cole could certainly make a difference."