Ashley Young

[Rosco]

Ashley Young may leave Aston Villa if squad is not strengthened

• Ashley Young urges club to make big-name signings
• Chelsea maintain interest in winger



Aston Villa will need to make a couple of stellar signings to match Ashley Young's ambition and avoid losing their most ­valuable asset this summer. The England international is concerned at the club's direction in the wake of Martin Laursen's retirement and Gareth Barry's decision to join Manchester City, and unless ­Martin O'Neill can recruit two high-profile replacements Villa face a battle to keep hold of the player the manager described as a "genius" last year.

Young is Tottenham Hotspur's No1 target and, while Villa will strongly resist any offers from White Hart Lane, which are likely to involve player exchanges plus cash, it will be more difficult to reject an approach from Chelsea if interest at Stamford Bridge hardens. The 23-year-old is known to have been discussed by the Chelsea hierarchy and was expected to be one of the names considered when senior figures met to talk about the club's transfer plans last week.

Whether an offer materialises remains to be seen, with Chelsea pursuing more ambitious signings, but there is a ­feeling that if the London club continue to miss out on their favoured choices – Kaka preferred Real Madrid and David Villa looks set to stay in Spain – then Young will become a realistic option, despite the former ­Watford trainee not fitting the profile of English player (below the age of 23 and yet to become established at first-team level) being actively pursued.

Villa would be likely to demand around £25m for Young, a fee that would not be beyond Chelsea's reach but is likely to deter Spurs unless Harry Redknapp can persuade O'Neill to accept a couple of players as makeweights. While players such as Jermaine Jenas and David Bentley are of interest to O'Neill, the Villa manager would be extremely reluctant to enter into a swap deal involving his best player, in particular with a club regarded as direct rivals.

Young has no intention of forcing the issue and has enjoyed his time at Villa, where he has developed into one of the most exciting talents in the Premier League. He feels a debt of gratitude to O'Neill, who was seen by many to have paid over the odds when he agreed a £9.5m deal to bring him to Villa Park in January 2007, and is not pushing for a new ­contract, having signed a lucrative four?year deal last November that ties him to the club until 2012.

But he is understood to be worried that Villa will be able to maintain the level of performance that for much of the ­season promised a Champions League place unless O'Neill has the funds to attract players of the same quality as Laursen and Barry. Manchester City and Spurs are both expected to be more competitive next ­season and O'Neill himself ­acknowledged yesterday: "We are going to have to try and improve – even to stand still in this league."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jun/18/ashley-young-aston-villa

 

[Boozer]

Who'd have thought one player could have such an impact. Laursen's injury stopped a Top 4 challenge and now their best players are jumping ship.

 

[Ryan]

I read somewhere that they might get Bentley for 7M. That's an absolute steal.

 

[ankreds]

Young or Silva?

 

[HC]

I'd rather spend £25M on Young than Silva.It's about £5-10M too much in each case though.

How about an English summer; Owen, Johnson and Young?

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=ankreds link=topic=34246.msg891108#msg891108 date=1245369768]
Young or Silva?
[/quote]

Young is hugely overrated.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=34246.msg891105#msg891105 date=1245369626]
I read somewhere that they might get Bentley for 7M. That's an absolute steal.
[/quote]

Depends what Bentley shows up, and where they play him. Milner has the right wing slot. So I guess Bentley will get to play a more central role?

 

[Hansern]

Bentley is also horribly overrated.

 

[LadyRed]

SIGN SIGN SIGN

 

[Squiggles]

I rate him highly but I don't believe he's worth £25M

 

[LadyRed]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=34246.msg891289#msg891289 date=1245404757]
I rate him highly but I don't believe he's worth £25M


[/quote]

Hmm, I know what you mean, but it's hard to argue with it in a world where Glenn Johnson is worth £18million.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

Fuck me these Journo's are mad for it this summer.

Any decent player is now the subject of 'well, are they staying?' rumours.

Cocks.

 

[spider-Neil]

overrated. for the amount of first team football he plays his goals/assist stats should be much higher.

 

[jan]

[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=34246.msg891109#msg891109 date=1245369866]
I'd rather spend £25M on Young than Silva.It's about £5-10M too much in each case though.
[/quote]

Me too, I'm very very doubtful about Silva.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Anita link=topic=34246.msg891290#msg891290 date=1245404802]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=34246.msg891289#msg891289 date=1245404757]
I rate him highly but I don't believe he's worth £25M


[/quote]

Hmm, I know what you mean, but it's hard to argue with it in a world where Glenn Johnson is worth £18million.
[/quote]

True, fee aside I'd take him in a shot.

He's quick and is the best crosser of the ball in the Prem, IMO.

 

[rebel23]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=34246.msg891292#msg891292 date=1245404865]
overrated. for the amount of first team football he plays his goals/assist stats should be much higher.
[/quote]

so true.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

How does he compare with others in that position? Robben, Lennon etc.

 

[keniget]

[quote author=Rouge Penguin link=topic=34246.msg891321#msg891321 date=1245407860]
How does he compare with others in that position? Robben, Lennon etc.
[/quote]

Favourably.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

so on one hand he doesnt score enough, but on the other against equal or lesser players, he's better? Is it because you're all got a stiffy for ronaldo, and he's the bench mark all new payers have to meet?

Its more ridulous rumour mongering, jsut because there's fuck all else to write about, but i wouldn't mind signing him. We need exciting on the wings. Not Side-Side-Right-Back.

 

[nornirongooner]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=34246.msg891105#msg891105 date=1245369626]
I read somewhere that they might get Bentley for 7M. That's an absolute steal.
[/quote]

:-\ :-\

Yet you say Young is vastly over rated? Bentley is average hence why he cant get a look in at Spurs

 

[ILD]

[quote author=nornirongooner link=topic=34246.msg891416#msg891416 date=1245415001]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=34246.msg891105#msg891105 date=1245369626]
I read somewhere that they might get Bentley for 7M. That's an absolute steal.
[/quote]

:-\ :-\

Yet you say Young is vastly over rated? Bentley is average hence why he cant get a look in at Spurs
[/quote]

Bentley at 7million or Young at 25million? The 7 million is obv. less of a risk. At 7 million, I would take a punt on Bentley. He could slot in perfectly on the right of Torres and give Kuyt competition. I would def. consider it after our main priorites are signed.

For what it's worth I think Young is a bit over rated too. He had a poor end of season after a very promising start to it. I think the media went into a Ashley Young frenzy after he scored the winner against Everton. I think he scored two goals since that.
He should stay at Villa for another season where he will play every game and get a chance to get more games under his belt.

 

[LadyRed]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=34246.msg891306#msg891306 date=1245406614]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=34246.msg891290#msg891290 date=1245404802]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=34246.msg891289#msg891289 date=1245404757]
I rate him highly but I don't believe he's worth £25M


[/quote]

Hmm, I know what you mean, but it's hard to argue with it in a world where Glenn Johnson is worth £18million.
[/quote]

True, fee aside I'd take him in a shot.

He's quick and is the best crosser of the ball in the Prem, IMO.
[/quote]

I'd go with that. I'd have him over Silva, he's less of a risk.

 

[ILD]

[quote author=Anita link=topic=34246.msg891440#msg891440 date=1245416217]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=34246.msg891306#msg891306 date=1245406614]
[quote author=Anita link=topic=34246.msg891290#msg891290 date=1245404802]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=34246.msg891289#msg891289 date=1245404757]
I rate him highly but I don't believe he's worth £25M


[/quote]

Hmm, I know what you mean, but it's hard to argue with it in a world where Glenn Johnson is worth £18million.
[/quote]

True, fee aside I'd take him in a shot.

He's quick and is the best crosser of the ball in the Prem, IMO.
[/quote]

I'd go with that. I'd have him over Silva, he's less of a risk.
[/quote]

Its a tough choice for me. Silva oozes class but Young also has qualities that I like, directness, pace, crossing ability, set piece taking, nice touch. They would fecth a similair fee too.

 

[LadyRed]

Same age too, so nothing to chose between them there. But Young is English, so would be a better buy if these quota regulations come in.

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=34246.msg891292#msg891292 date=1245404865]
overrated. for the amount of first team football he plays his goals/assist stats should be much higher.
[/quote]

haha how many should he have ?

While i think he's generally overrated on here he's a good player. You do realise it's daft to criticise his amount of assists don't you ?

It's not his fault Heskey played up front for half of the season.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=nornirongooner link=topic=34246.msg891416#msg891416 date=1245415001]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=34246.msg891105#msg891105 date=1245369626]
I read somewhere that they might get Bentley for 7M. That's an absolute steal.
[/quote]

:-\ :-\

Yet you say Young is vastly over rated? Bentley is average hence why he cant get a look in at Spurs
[/quote]

He was in the England side 12 months ago, he'll be back in it in the future too.

Just because he's not getting a game ahead of the in-form Lennon, doesn't mean he can't play.

He can, and 7M is great value.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=34246.msg891558#msg891558 date=1245423672]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=34246.msg891292#msg891292 date=1245404865]
overrated. for the amount of first team football he plays his goals/assist stats should be much higher.
[/quote]

haha how many should he have ?

While i think he's generally overrated on here he's a good player. You do realise it's daft to criticise his amount of assists don't you ?

It's not his fault Heskey played up front for half of the season.
[/quote]

Everything is there for him to be a really good player, the stats mean little at this stage, the potential for him to thrive in a big team is obvious.

 

[TheBunnyman]

I'd prefer Silva, but would still be happy if Ashley Young was our only other (apart from Johnson) signing this summer. The Barry saga puts me off the idea of buying from Aston Villa, but maybe we could wait in the wings for Chelsea to make an acceptable offer, then match it and let the player decide. He'd get more games with us, that's for sure.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=34246.msg892660#msg892660 date=1245655624]
I'd prefer Silva, but would still be happy if Ashley Young was our only other (apart from Johnson) signing this summer. The Barry saga puts me off the idea of buying from Aston Villa, but maybe we could wait in the wings for Chelsea to make an acceptable offer, then match it and let the player decide. He'd get more games with us, that's for sure.

[/quote]

I think anyone choosing Chelsea over us would be more or less going for the money. I know they're an attractive proposition, but we're both pretty much at the same level with us having more stability at managerial level and offering more guarantees (for someone like Young) of first team football.

Who wouldn't want to play in a side that has Torres and Gerrard? Baffling.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=34246.msg892661#msg892661 date=1245655863]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=34246.msg892660#msg892660 date=1245655624]
I'd prefer Silva, but would still be happy if Ashley Young was our only other (apart from Johnson) signing this summer. The Barry saga puts me off the idea of buying from Aston Villa, but maybe we could wait in the wings for Chelsea to make an acceptable offer, then match it and let the player decide. He'd get more games with us, that's for sure.

[/quote]

I think anyone choosing Chelsea over us would be more or less going for the money. I know they're an attractive proposition, but we're both pretty much at the same level with us having more stability at managerial level and offering more guarantees (for someone like Young) of first team football.

Who wouldn't want to play in a side that has Torres and Gerrard? Baffling.
[/quote]

a little bias there marky? chelsea have good players too, who wouldn't want to play alonside a monster like essien or feed nico?