From AVFC....Release list

[Tuscans]

 : Senior trio Guzan, Heskey and Cueller head Villa released list.

Brad Guzan, Emile Heskey and Carlos Cuellar have all been released by Villa.

The claret and blue trio were all the end of their contracts and will now seek pastures new.

Villa would like to thank them for their unstinting loyalty to the club and wish them all the best for the future.

Guzan has been at Villa for four years and will be remembered for his penalty-saving heroics in cup competitions.

In the pre-season Peace Cup tournament, the Chicago-born stopper saved penalties from Juventus stars Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alessandro Del Piero as Villa toppled the Italian giants in a shoot-out to lift the trophy.

Then in October 2009, Guzan denied three Sunderland players in a League Cup shoot-out to send Villa into the next round.

Unfortunately for the stopper, his path to Barclays Premier League action was generally blocked by the heroics of fellow USA ace Brad Friedel and Irish star Shay Given.

Heskey showed flashes of his undoubted quality throughout his three years as the powerful forward gave his all for the Villa cause.

He was a man mountain in keeping possession up top when Villa attacked, he scored a fair few goals and he was also a big voice in the dressing room too.

Cuellar never let anyone down for Villa as he excelled at centre-half, right-back and left-back.

In his five years at the club, he always gave his heart and soul in every appearance in claret and blue.

Ebby Nelson Addy, Connor Taylor, Charlie Ward, Reece Caira, Richard Bryan, Matthew Coton, Darious Darkin and Seb Jenkins have also been released from the academy.

[Summers]

"He was a man mountain in keeping possession up top when Villa attacked, he scored a fair few goals"

 

[andyh]

"He was a man mountain in keeping possession up top when Villa attacked, he scored a fair few goals"

 

 one word too many there.

[not3bad]

Bit surprised by Guzan's departure, thought he had a future at Villa.  But that will hopefully send a message to Mark Hughes that Shay Given is going nowhere!

[Irish villain]

Didn't Cueller join in 2008?

[UK Redsox]

Ebby Nelson Addy, Connor Taylor, Charlie Ward, Reece Caira, Richard Bryan, Matthew Coton, Darious Darkin and Seb Jenkins have also been released from the academy.

Were any of these once considered potential first teamers ? I can't remember any of our Reserve/Youth watchers raving about them.

[Percy McCarthy]

Not by me, no.

Good luck to them though.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Given the wage bill situation I would actually prefer that we had given Guzan a sensible contract offer, and offloaded Given who is injury prone, ageing and paid top whack. Guzan looked as good as Given when he had a run in the team, and we would have a decent deputy in Seigrist.

Cuellar and Heskey leaving will weaken the squad, as both were good players on their day and more than adequate back up. The wages they were on were silly though so I can see why they have gone - bit like Reo Coker last season.

[Le Lapin]

"He was a man mountain in keeping possession up top when Villa attacked, he scored a fair few goals"

 

 one word too many there.

I think there was two too many words. a and  fair .

[Dave Clark Five]

Not uncommon for several young players to be released. Worth keeping an eye on where they reappear. They have been to a top academy, that's for sure.

[richard moore]

Nice guys all of them but no great loss I'm afraid - the release from the club says it all really

[pmarachi]

Given the wage bill situation I would actually prefer that we had given Guzan a sensible contract offer, and offloaded Given who is injury prone, ageing and paid top whack. Guzan looked as good as Given when he had a run in the team,

I don't think many people would agree, but I do.

[JUAN PABLO]

Heskey leaving will weaken the squad, as both were good players on their day

Maybe one season at Liverpool , a long time ago .   

[JUAN PABLO]

I just wish we could release another 8  deadwood players at least .

[claretandblue barmy]

When a club has no manager, who decides that a player that is out of contract doesnt get another offer ?  Im not on about Heskey or Guzan ...but to replace a decent (ish) player like Cuellar will surely cost a few quid ??