Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: bobcat on July 16, 2010, 01:59:36 AM
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From the Sun:
STEWART DOWNING has launched an amazing attack on England boss Fabio Capello.
The Aston Villa winger was ditched from Capello's World Cup squad without any explanation.
He said: "There were a few surprises in the 30 names picked.
"A lot of people who had not played were in the squad as were people out of form - but others were left out.
"It was a little bit strange and I was very disappointed as I thought, maybe, I had a chance to get in the 30 at least.
"He obviously has his reasons why but the disappointing thing was I didn't get told why I wasn't in the squad.
"That's his choice and there's no point in moaning about it now.
"I was in the squads leading up to my foot injury. I recovered and he put me back in the squad after only three games.
"That was a great confidence boost. I then thought we'd had a good end to the season, the team was playing well."
Meanwhile, Downing reckons selling James Milner to Manchester City could be a great piece of business for Aston Villa.
City are poised to make an improved offer of around £25million for England midfielder Milner, 24, after seeing a £20m bid rejected.
And Downing said: "The money they're talking about is a substantial amount for one player.
"If we can replace him with a player of his ability then it's good business."
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If that's a 'blast', then I fear his kids will grow up to be right little oiks.
And if he thinks it's a bit strange he was dropped then he's a bit short of grey matter.
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Classic tabloid spin, Downing explained that he was disappointed but he has already moved on,yet the Sun interpreted that as an 'amazing attack'.
No wonder the player hate talking to the press..
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Do any of us read The Sun for its coverage of football, or for information or views on anything else ?
The term 'blast' in a headline for stories about a person expressing views about another person seems to have become more prevalent.
The other headline word I hate is 'caged' as when its a story about someone being sent to prison.
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More concerned by his milner comments!
Downing was lucky to get in the villa team from feb onwards never mind England.
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I found his comments on Milner much more interesting than his Capello "blast".
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"If we can replace him with a player of his ability then it's good business." - Players as good don't come around all that often so to replace him with someone equally as good for less money isn't really going to happen. Why wouldn't Man City go and sign the player as good as but cheaper if there was such a player?
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Oh, and the fact that Downing was shit for the majority of his games for us, I don't see how he can consider himself to play for England.
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It's that rag the Sun. enough said.
UTV
The Doc
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Downing is correct. Players picked for England , at minimum, should be regulars in their Club team.
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"If we can replace him with a player of his ability then it's good business." - Players as good don't come around all that often so to replace him with someone equally as good for less money isn't really going to happen. Why wouldn't Man City go and sign the player as good as but cheaper if there was such a player?
not 100% sure but i think theres a home grown quota coming in to effect soon. I imagine Milners value and citys interest is somewhat increased by the fact they will need to fill that quota and i think alot of their british players are leaving.....
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Hardly a blast but he's right about the strange selection. Capello made a big thing about not picking players who weren't playing regularly or were out of form or not fully fit, and then he selected players in all three categories. If he took King for example, why not Michael Owen - as an impact sub at least, he'd have scared the bejaysus out of a lot of teams on reputation alone. That said Downing simply wasn't good enough last season.
On Milner, he seems ot be implying City would be paying over the odds and we could get someone as good for less (Ireland?). I wouldn't disageree with that but I don't think our players should really be expressing opinions on team mates possible transfers.
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While it isn't a blast, I'd say it's still the sort of statement that managers don't take kindly to. I wouldn't expect to see Downing back in the England squad for a while.
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There's a certain manager that might not take too kindly to his Milner comments as well - remember what happened to Berger?
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"If we can replace him with a player of his ability then it's good business." - Players as good don't come around all that often so to replace him with someone equally as good for less money isn't really going to happen. Why wouldn't Man City go and sign the player as good as but cheaper if there was such a player?
Well you could get a far better player than lescott for what they paid. If we get over £25 for milner and spend it wisely we could get a better player and have 5-10m to spare imho. Of course that snag is that would probably mean shopping abroad.
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The England stuff is them trying to create a story that simply isn't there. And I don't think Downing did enough to be in contention either. The only bit that should be of interest to us is:-
From the Sun:
Meanwhile, Downing reckons selling James Milner to Manchester City could be a great piece of business for Aston Villa.
City are poised to make an improved offer of around £25million for England midfielder Milner, 24, after seeing a £20m bid rejected.
And Downing said: "The money they're talking about is a substantial amount for one player.
"If we can replace him with a player of his ability then it's good business."
The bit in bold are his comments, so ignoring the Sun's spin on it I think he's trotting out the party line in order to prepare us for Milner's departure. I haven't got a problem with that, especially as I agree with what he's saying!
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There's a certain manager that might not take too kindly to his Milner comments as well - remember what happened to Berger?
Berger said Barry leaving was good for the player. Downign is saying that Milner leaving might be good for the club. Quite different things, IMO.
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Sorry Downing, your not good enough for England, especially the way you run away from challenges. Now stop moaning and try and learn to be a winger again.
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There's a certain manager that might not take too kindly to his Milner comments as well - remember what happened to Berger?
Berger said Barry leaving was good for the player. Downign is saying that Milner leaving might be good for the club. Quite different things, IMO.
I agree John. I'd say it's now pretty well certain that Milner will be on his way.
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Sorry Downing, your not good enough for England, especially the way you run away from challenges. Now stop moaning and try and learn to be a winger again.
Although I agree, quite a few that DID go also fall into that category.
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The Guardian's take on Downing's 'blast' comes across rather more reasonably....
Having missed out on the World Cup, Downing admitted he is keen for the new season to get under way. He is particularly eager to force his way back into the England squad after missing out on the World Cup. The winger had hoped at least to make it into Fabio Capello's provisional 30-man squad for the finals in South Africa and remains upset that the England manager gave him no explanation for his omission.
"In the 30 I think there were a few surprises, not only out of the squad but in the squad as well. The only disappointing thing is I didn't get told why I was not in the squad. I am sure a lot of people are in the same situation as me. There's no point moaning, the only thing I can do is make sure I have a good season with Villa and get in the qualifying squads. The manager has said there will be changes, so we'll wait and see when he names that squad in August."
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Sorry Downing, your not good enough for England, especially the way you run away from challenges. Now stop moaning and try and learn to be a winger again.
Although I agree, quite a few that DID go also fall into that category.
I'm far from convinced that Downing is good enough for us, let alone for England. Massive season ahead for him.
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Sorry Downing, your not good enough for England, especially the way you run away from challenges. Now stop moaning and try and learn to be a winger again.
Although I agree, quite a few that DID go also fall into that category.
Oh definately, but thats why capello is martin mk2!
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I think if he knuckle's down and produce's quality like we know he can then he will get back in the england team now he has had pre season training. I would like milner to stay but i can't see it happening.
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Hardly a "blast".
Slightly concerned about the Milner comments, mind, just the fact he's commenting on it at all as much as what he actually says
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From the Sun:
"That was a great confidence boost. I then thought we'd had a good end to the season, the team was playing well."
The team may have been playing well Stewart, but you certainly weren't.
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the sun peddling shite to brain dead moronic sheep again, i see...
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Downing should not be making comments about possible players leaving- I don't think mon will be happy to read his comments- far easier to just say no comment!
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Downing should not be making comments about possible players leaving- I don't think mon will be happy to read his comments- far easier to just say no comment!
Agree.
It's not a 'blast' but he shouldn't be saying things like this.
Get on with yer own game Downing.
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This 'attack' on Capello is about as strong as one of his tackles.
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This 'attack' on Capello is about as strong as one of his tackles.
you've seen one? do you have video footage?? =P~
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From talkiing to cricket journos I have a vague understanding of the process.
The player is interviewed by the journo, who then writes the article. Then (this is where the wheels fall off). The article is passed to sub-editors, who quite often have no interest or understanding of the subject. They look through the article and try to find something juicy. Very often the headline has nothing at all to do with the actual content of the story.
Many years ago Birminghan Speed way had a match against Coventry. The Mercury had an headline, which suggested that the Brummies had lost very heavilly. However the score in the match was 40-38 (the smalllest loss possible in speedway)
The problem with these types of articles is that the player and the journo get flack for it.
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His blast whilst more like a plastic cup being trod on than a landmine is pretty on the money. It's like what much of us have said about the World Cup squad. That said as others have said I don't quite think he should have been in the squad. Mind the way Lennon and Wright-Phillips played I might well have been wrong.
What he says about the Milner transfer is also fairly accurate but I don't think a player should come out and say these things.
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If Downing really doesn't know why he didn't go to the World Cup, I'll tell him. After being unexpectedly picked in the England squad in March, he immediately had a chance on a big stage (The Carling Cup Final at Wembley), in front of the watching Capello to show what he was made of. Instead, as I remember, he was invisible. He blew his big opportunity. No phone call was necessary Stew. You just didn't deserve to go to South Africa ahead of others in your position, ie Lennon, Wright-Phillips, Milner and Cole.
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Stuart, if we could get the money back we wasted on you "that would be a great bit of business".
Worry about being good enough to play for your club first mate.
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To be fair to him, I'd be a bit miffed if Wright-Phillips went to the World Cup instead of me. He's absolutely gash.
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To be fair to him, I'd be a bit miffed if Wright-Phillips went to the World Cup instead of me. He's absolutely gash.
Still better than downing was for us from march onwards though!
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To be fair to him, I'd be a bit miffed if Wright-Phillips went to the World Cup instead of me. He's absolutely gash.
Still better than downing was for us from march onwards though!
Did he actually do anything other than score against us and whine about wanting a new contract last season? At least Downing had an excuse for not being 100%...