Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Holtenderinthesky on September 23, 2010, 07:10:57 PM
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http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6395433,00.html
If that is the case then we should move heaven and earth to get him to the table as soon as possible. We have seen what can happen when a player has only 1 or 2 years left on his current deal and with Spurs sniffing around and the constant threat of Arab oil money we should sign him asap. He has been a real oasis of light in a desert of darkness up to now this season and our best player by far imo. Hopefully now with GH at the helm he will show the form we know he is capable of and get himself into the England side and push us up the table.
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We have to sort this out quick.
Obviously Spurs would be a step up for him, a long term contract would stop them sniffing around.
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but surely these direct quotes from the man himself are wrong...
surely he is desperate to move back to london (despite coming from stevenage), and is desperate to join spurs?!?
thats how the meeja "understand" the situation, and never tire of telling us...
it must be a mistranlsation, that he has always wanted to stay and would be delighted to sign a new deal..
surely what he actually said was, "the meeja havent completely made up this link to another club and then backed it up with lies from a 'close source', at all... i am desperate to move back to london, despite the fact that i am not from london, and i am desperate to leave the villa for any meeja favourite flavour of the month club..."
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If he isn't signed up before January it's time to give up.
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The General said they are working on it so lets hope....
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Well he's come out in the press twice and said if he was offered a contract he'd sign. I'd say let's just get him signed up.
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I just hope and prey we can sign him up on a long term deal.
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Echo the other comments in here, I rate him very highly and believe he is key to anything we want to achieve. Fantastic player.
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Get it done. Ash is key for us. He's hitting form again. He's got 4 goals already this season, and it's high time he started to hit double figures. He's got close the last 3 seasons, but really, he needs to start getting 10-15 for us, especially with Milner gone. I believe he'll do that this term.
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Echo the other comments in here, I rate him very highly and believe he is key to anything we want to achieve. Fantastic player.
Agree 101% Ash is the main key to our future---get the deal sorted signed and delivered asap--Singing hi hi Ashley Ashley Young----
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We have to sort this out quick.
Obviously Spurs would be a step up for him, a long term contract would stop them sniffing around.
Spurs step up - tongue in cheek icon missed off?
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I think he's massively underrated by some Villa fans. I think he's probably the best forward player we've had since Yorke.
I just think he needs to be played through more. Which is why he doesn't work for England. If he does move on, I hope it's to Man Utd as opposed to Spurs or Citeh, as he's better than that.
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I think he's massively underrated by some Villa fans. I think he's probably the best forward player we've had since Yorke.
He's an infuriating player in some ways, but those ways are almost always about him not playing to the full extent of his talents.
He is, though, an incredibly watchable player. We have a lot of very good players, but not many watchable ones. If he left, we would be much, much poorer for it.
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Aye, for me there isn't anything more exciting on a football pitch than Ashley in full flight running and committing fullbacks - especially when he's in tandem with Gabby.
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Some very positive quotes from Ash which are in stark comparison to Gabby's less than enthusiastic interview at the weekend. It's good to see a player like him viewing the changes at VP as something which can have a positive impact rather than the likes of Petrov who seemed to want KMac to stay on because they like him and he's going to give them an easy ride. Ash obviously has ambition to win things with us and it would be good to hear some of the other players coming out with good stuff like this too.
We need to sort this out as a matter of urgency, as he's our best player by far and his commitment to the club will speak volumes to other players thinking of joining us.
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I wonder how much extra cash Young is asking for to sign this contract?
Isn't he already on top money and has his form justified a payrise?
His comments would mean more to me if he stated that he'd love to sign a contract extension on the same terms.
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On his day 'world class'.
The fact that defences always put 2 defenders on him is testament to his ability.
I am constantly rueing his poor crosses, shots and referee chasing, but all his frustrating attributes aside, he's our best player.
I think he's saying ' Villa, put the right money on the table, and I'm totally committed to the club' here.
So please Randy - JFDI !
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I can't resist:
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The hugs are a bit over the top though aren't they Leeg?
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I will never tire of that.
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Should really schedule that video in for whenever I'm feeling disillusioned with football. What a moment.
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All of a sudden that video is getting very boring.
Anyway, sign Young up.
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Said 2 years ago that Ashley would end up playing down the middle.If he keeps developing he could be THAT 20 goal a season man.
To play down the middle though he has to realise he has'nt got so long on the ball.
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Some very positive quotes from Ash which are in stark comparison to Gabby's less than enthusiastic interview at the weekend.
Gabby last week said he wanted to stay here for life.
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I've been pleased with his form so far and he's attitude, showing the form of a couple of years ago.
Im sure it will be done, nice to see a good player wanting to stay for once
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Some very positive quotes from Ash which are in stark comparison to Gabby's less than enthusiastic interview at the weekend.
Gabby last week said he wanted to stay here for life.
He didn't seem that enthusiastic in his interview the other day
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I think he's saying ' Villa, put the right money on the table, and I'm totally committed to the club' here.
So please Randy - JFDI !
I am sure he is doing that, and I cannot blame him. With Milner gone his leverage over the board is pretty strong however, as a club, we have to at some point say, "sorry we can't afford to pay you more each week".
Personally I am not sure Young is worth more than the £65k that he is reportedly on. There is a chance that football wages are about to go through a bit of an economic correction - especially with Liverpool close to administration - so we should still play hardball with Young and get the best deal for villa rather than "JFDI".
Sorry to be miserable and all that.
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I think he's saying ' Villa, put the right money on the table, and I'm totally committed to the club' here.
So please Randy - JFDI !
I am sure he is doing that, and I cannot blame him. With Milner gone his leverage over the board is pretty strong however, as a club, we have to at some point say, "sorry we can't afford to pay you more each week".
Personally I am not sure Young is worth more than the £65k that he is reportedly on. There is a chance that football wages are about to go through a bit of an economic correction - especially with Liverpool close to administration - so we should still play hardball with Young and get the best deal for villa rather than "JFDI".
Sorry to be miserable and all that.
I understand the sentiment but I have to disagree. The second you start stalling on a contract the likes of City and Spurs start tapping players up. Footballers hold all the aces in the modern game and refusing to offer an improved contract can and probably would be suicide.
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I admit it is a double edged sword but if Young was tapped up we'd be able to buy a replacement, possibly two with the extra cash.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't offer him a contract, far from it. I'm just saying we should not bow down to whatever he demands (and I'm sure we won't) as I think the power that footballers currently have will diminish over the next few years because there is less cash in the game.
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if Young was tapped up we'd be able to buy a replacement, possibly two with the extra cash.
Like the 2 replacements we have for Milner?
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I admit it is a double edged sword but if Young was tapped up we'd be able to buy a replacement, possibly two with the extra cash.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't offer him a contract, far from it. I'm just saying we should not bow down to whatever he demands (and I'm sure we won't) as I think the power that footballers currently have will diminish over the next few years because there is less cash in the game.
Players like Ashley Young don't come around every day, so if he says he wants to stay we should be building a team around him to help him flourish. We need to sign players that are excellent in their own right so he's left to do what he does best. I'm sure this isn't lost on the club and the new management.
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Players like Ashley Young don't come around every day, so if he says he wants to stay we should be building a team around him to help him flourish. We need to sign players that are excellent in their own right so he's left to do what he does best. I'm sure this isn't lost on the club and the new management.
A players value is finite though. Young saying he wants to sign a new contract is great but how much does he want to get paid? At what point would you say "sorry Ash, that's too much".
I have no justification but I just get the impression that Young will be asking stupid money, as he knows he is Villa's biggest asset having lost Barry and Milner in the past two seasons.
I think they might be empty words basically. Possibly even pricing villa out if the negotiations so he can justify a move in the summer.
I hope I am wrong and he signs a long term deal on similar money to what he is on now.
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quote author=Dante Lavelli link=topic=40372.msg1590965#msg1590965 date=1285359759]
I think they might be empty words basically. Possibly even pricing villa out if the negotiations so he can justify a move in the summer.
[/quote]
Wow. Cynical stuff there Dante. How Ash stating that he wants to stay could be construed like that I have no idea. I think he just wants to be settled and we should give him the contract he deserves.
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At this delicate time to keep Ash on board is crucial. We still can keep on track this season, so come Jan we could bring in a couple of players who see a team moving forward. If he was still being touted as a possible "target" for some other club. We would start to look like a team on the rocks ....
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Players like Ashley Young don't come around every day, so if he says he wants to stay we should be building a team around him to help him flourish. We need to sign players that are excellent in their own right so he's left to do what he does best. I'm sure this isn't lost on the club and the new management.
A players value is finite though. Young saying he wants to sign a new contract is great but how much does he want to get paid? At what point would you say "sorry Ash, that's too much".
I have no justification but I just get the impression that Young will be asking stupid money, as he knows he is Villa's biggest asset having lost Barry and Milner in the past two seasons.
I think they might be empty words basically. Possibly even pricing villa out if the negotiations so he can justify a move in the summer.
I hope I am wrong and he signs a long term deal on similar money to what he is on now.
He deserves to be paid according to his value in the market. I'm glad we have a top player on our books and I want many more. He saying he wants to stay and you're being critical and cynical. Slam the player when they openly want away, but give the fella a break for stating his loyalty in public. I hope you retract your cynicism if he signs up.
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Yes I am being cynical (not sure about the critical bit - I think he is a very good player) but it hardly as if I am at Villa Park booing him is it just voicing an opinion on the web and highlighting that his position of negotiation is now a lot stronger so he could ask for silly money.
Houllier said the other day that the negotiations with Young had been "positive". This suggests that I am wrong. Again, I hope this is the case but for me the long term health of the club is more important than any one player.
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Dante Lavelli = The new Greg Nash.
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Honestly, I'm not always like this. It's just strikes me as being a bit convenient that's all, or more to the point if I was Young I would be using the situation to my advantage.
Anyway, as I have already committed to being the arse of this thread, I'll jump in two footed and risk losing more friends. I have another conspiracy theory about Young:
I think that over the summer Young rather than angling for a move he has negotiated that he gets to play more centrally. I don't think Houllier was aware of this agreement and hence his 180 degree change of opinion about where Young's best position is.
Completely unfounded and not backed up by any evidence but that's my hunch.
What is it about Young that makes me completely not trust him?
Does that fact that he is prone to exaggerating contact in the tackle mean that his entire personality is flawed!
I sincerely hope he proves me wrong as Villa (and football generally) needs more good guys that are genuinely loyal to their club and not just after the money or fame.
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Dante Lavelli = The new Greg Nash.
The Gnasher, his work here done, has been returned to his Homeworld in Galaxy Three for repairs. Have no doubt that should the forces of evil ever again threaten the Villa he will, like a latter-day King Arthur, return to vanquish our foes.
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I think Ash knows that he could become an all time Villa legend here, and that drives his ego accordingly. Hence his eagerness to sign a new long term contract.
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The word 'willing' in that headline pisses me off. It's made to sound like he doesn't really want to stay but he's prepared to stay and do us a favour. Fucking press.
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Honestly, I'm not always like this. It's just strikes me as being a bit convenient that's all, or more to the point if I was Young I would be using the situation to my advantage.
Anyway, as I have already committed to being the arse of this thread, I'll jump in two footed and risk losing more friends. I have another conspiracy theory about Young:
I think that over the summer Young rather than angling for a move he has negotiated that he gets to play more centrally. I don't think Houllier was aware of this agreement and hence his 180 degree change of opinion about where Young's best position is.
Completely unfounded and not backed up by any evidence but that's my hunch.
What is it about Young that makes me completely not trust him?
Does that fact that he is prone to exaggerating contact in the tackle mean that his entire personality is flawed!
I sincerely hope he proves me wrong as Villa (and football generally) needs more good guys that are genuinely loyal to their club and not just after the money or fame.
I know where you're coming from chap, it's just modern football. I hope Ash is different, but we'll soon see.
Player says he hopes to work something out as he'd like to stay and you immediately think he's working the situation to his advantage. Particularly as he's sitting on a pretty lucrative contact as it is.
I hope he stays too, but my immediate thought was if he asks for crazy money or a release clause and we don't play ball he can make out that we've somehow let him down.
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He was superb again today - we need to get him on a new contract to protect ourselves, as much as anything else.
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Dante Lavelli = The new Greg Nash.
Is the old one still on here?
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If he knows he can get £70k or more a week in London, why is it a crime for him to be asking us for the same ?
If we're going to take steps forward as a club, we have to pay the likes of Ash the going rate or we'll be an 'also ran' club forever and ever,amen.
PS. Why are footballers salaries still talked of in weekly terms ?
No other profession does this anymore !
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PS. Why are footballers salaries still talked of in weekly terms ?
No other profession does this anymore !
Because the muppets in the press can't count high enough to work out what that would be a year
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PS. Why are footballers salaries still talked of in weekly terms ?
No other profession does this anymore !
Because the muppets in the press can't count high enough to work out what that would be a year
I think it's done like this so that the working man can then spout "It would take me two years to earn that" or executives of some failed bank can say "I wouldn't get out of bed for twice that".
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If he knows he can get £70k or more a week in London, why is it a crime for him to be asking us for the same ?
I read that he is on £65k. Relatively speaking, if he "only" asks for £70k then I'd snap his hand off as he's effectively be signing up to give us the best years of his career (26-30).
My fear is that he'll be asking £100k plus a week.
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If he knows he can get £70k or more a week in London, why is it a crime for him to be asking us for the same ?
If we're going to take steps forward as a club, we have to pay the likes of Ash the going rate or we'll be an 'also ran' club forever and ever,amen.
PS. Why are footballers salaries still talked of in weekly terms ?
No other profession does this anymore !
But what if he's asking for parity with the rest of the Club England muppets, say £120k+? Plus a release clause?
We just don't know what he's asking for.
I'm of a mind to think that he only agreed a new deal last year and that still has at least three years to run, so it's striking the balance between wanting him to stay and not being taken to the cleaners.
His agent will be making full use of recent circumstances, knowing we've lost two of our better players in the last two years and don't want to lose another.
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It's easy to be cynical and I wouldn't put it past teh modern footballer / agent to use the uncertainty to their advantage. The problem is that at some point, it Villa want to keep the better players we;re going to have pay the going rate. Not doing so will result in them leaving. If Man City aren't involved it always helps mind.
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We need to get his co tract done asap, he is having a good start to the season, so let's not give his agent any more excuses to ask for even more money!
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Reported on BBC Sport that Ashley on verge of signing 4 year contract :)
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Reported on BBC Sport that Ashley on verge of signing 4 year contract :)
Excellent news...................
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This is great news. Sod off Redknapp and any media outlet who thought he'd sign for Spurs.
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Yup - great news. The poster child for 'new Villa' needs to stay put and a marker needs to be put down. Until Man Cit come a-callin obviously ;)
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I'm of a mind to think that he only agreed a new deal last year and that still has at least three years to run, so it's striking the balance between wanting him to stay and not being taken to the cleaners.
Pretty sure he's into the last two years of his deal (summer 2012?). If there were at least 3 more years to go there would be no need yet to try and get him to sign a new one.
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Why the he'll is he not signing a 5 year deal?
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Why the he'll is he not signing a 5 year deal?
To be honest, I think the next 4 years will see the best of him.
5 years is a long term deal in football terms and it can be re-negotiated and extended at any time anyway.
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Signing Ash up for 4 years would be superb.
Let's build the team around him.
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The importance of this goes well beyond football.
It is a message to the witless media monkeys who spent the whole summer parroting that "selling club" nonsense and acting like it was a given we were selling Ashley.
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It seemed to me that most of the media was saying we would sell either Milner or Young, rather than both.
will the new contract make any difference if Man City come in for Young next summer?
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We are the only club that don't give 5 year deals.
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will the new contract make any difference if Man City come in for Young next summer?
About £10million probably.
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Sign him up, this would be very good news.
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I think Young is a very talented player but so often wastes the ball, he has had enough time now to get rid of this trait but he hasnt and probably never will,
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So is it a 4 year deal or just a one year extension as I saw in one paper? The one year extension to me would just me he'd be off the summer after rather than next summer.
Crucial player for us but I'd rather see him back on the wing as to me he dosen't influence play enough in the free role.
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I can't see us offering a one year extension, very little point. A long term contract will show he's committed.
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Can't remember the paper where I saw that, probably the Mirror so it's balls!
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Crucial player for us but I'd rather see him back on the wing as to me he dosen't influence play enough in the free role.
Although I think Young has performed pretty well in the central role, I think he is much more effective out on the wing, especially given that we now have Ireland who can play that advanced midfielder role so well. In fact, I'm quite convinced that the mere presence of Ireland in the team will give Ashley a new lease of life on the wing, simply because opposition teams won't be able to 'double-mark' him as our only threat!
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It seemed to me that most of the media was saying we would sell either Milner or Young, rather than both.
You must have heard the endless references to how we'd sold Milner and Young was going to go next.
will the new contract make any difference if Man City come in for Young next summer?
It adds significantly to his value if he has longer left on his contract, and in doing so, makes him a less attractive target for them than other players might be.
At the very least it is a two fingers at those who have been relishing calling us a selling club of late.
It strikes me that after being slated for selling Milner, the slaters (if such a word exists) should be more than happy we've got Ashley on a new contract.
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He hasn't consistantly got back to the form he was showing during 2008 when he was threating to become one of the best players in the league but on his day he's a joy to watch, gives his all and hopefully will continue to improve.
As long as we can keep him, Gabby and get Ireland involved upfront (and bring in another clinical striker from some far away land) I honestly think that will be us sorted upfront.
The more glaring area in need of rebuilding remains central midfield to me.
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I hope that Ireland is spending a lot of time getting familiar with Young.
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We must be mad, giving new contract to Young every time his agent mentions that he may look eleswhere if he is not given improved terms!!
If he does not want to stay on 60K a week then let him go!!
FFS this drives me mad last season he was poor know that he has a couple of good games we caanot wait to throw money at him.
Next we will give NRC an improved contract and he is really shit!! could not pass water,
It just makes me laugh one minute they are crap and we cant wait to get rid next minute they have a good game and suddenly they are the best palyers we have ever had!!
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We must be mad, giving new contract to Young every time his agent mentions that he may look eleswhere if he is not given improved terms!!
If he does not want to stay on 60K a week then let him go!!
FFS this drives me mad last season he was poor know that he has a couple of good games we caanot wait to throw money at him.
Next we will give NRC an improved contract and he is really shit!! could not pass water,
It just makes me laugh one minute they are crap and we cant wait to get rid next minute they have a good game and suddenly they are the best palyers we have ever had!!
I can't really remember anyone who couldn't wait to get rid of Ashley Young.
I agree, the routes via which players maneouvre themselves into improved contracts are really vomit inducing for those of us who live in the real world, but we're in a competitive league and need to be holding onto our best players wherever possible.
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Plus Mo'N fell out with NRC last season and barely played after.Surely he's more than entitled to try and prove himself in front of GH which I believed he has been doing admirably especially on Saturday. It's his career at the end of day.Why shouldn't he fight for a new contract? He never got a fair crack under MON
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The importance of this goes well beyond football.
It is a message to the witless media monkeys who spent the whole summer parroting that "selling club" nonsense and acting like it was a given we were selling Ashley.
but hes off to sign for tottingham hotspuds... surely?
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If he does not want to stay on 60K a week then let him go!!
Next we will give NRC an improved contract and he is really shit!! could not pass water,
I am so glad you are not the manager. This is 2010. Footballers hold the cards now and if we let him go then we will clearly be a lot worse for it. Cutting off your nose to spite you face a bit there I reckon. Ash is class and we should pay him whatever we can to keep him.
Regards NRC. If you think he is shit then I can only take it you have not watched us play this season. Either that or you have in mind a suitable replacement that will come to us in January for a modest fee who is much better than Reo. If so I'd love to know who?
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We won't have to improve Nigel's money, he will not get what he is currently on anywhere else.
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If Ash signs a new contract, then we can really start to build properly in the summer. Man City have indicated that their ludicrous player recruitment will slow down in order to meet the Platini rules, and if they are everyone is. That means that not only Young won't go (which he won't if he signs a new contract anyway), but if Albrighton or Ireland or someone has a mental season then nobody will come in for them either, because only City have the money.
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Ash is an English player that has 2 good feet is fast can cross dribble and score
so he is worth a great deal in todays market-home grown player rules etc
A long term contract is sensible for one of your main assets
no brainer 8)
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Regards NRC. If you think he is shit then I can only take it you have not watched us play this season. Either that or you have in mind a suitable replacement that will come to us in January for a modest fee who is much better than Reo. If so I'd love to know who?
In reply to the above from holte ender in the sky, I am a season ticket holder, so I have seen him play this season, last season and the season before and he is just a poor footballer who runs around like a headless chicken!!
If he was so good when he was available for transfer in the summer how many clubs came in for him..... I can tell you NONE.
I would rather we give the chance to young Delph when he is fit.
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I would rather we give the chance to young Delph when he is fit.
There ain't half some expectation being piled on the kid.
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Regards NRC. If you think he is shit then I can only take it you have not watched us play this season. Either that or you have in mind a suitable replacement that will come to us in January for a modest fee who is much better than Reo. If so I'd love to know who?
In reply to the above from holte ender in the sky, I am a season ticket holder, so I have seen him play this season, last season and the season before and he is just a poor footballer who runs around like a headless chicken!!
If he was so good when he was available for transfer in the summer how many clubs came in for him..... I can tell you NONE.
I would rather we give the chance to young Delph when he is fit.
Yes but Delph isn't fit though is he. And I do believe that NRC is taking his chance quite well at the moment. I don't believe I am the only one either.
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Yes but Delph isn't fit though is he. And I do believe that NRC is taking his chance quite well at the moment. I don't believe I am the only one either.
Yes I agree, NRC has done well this season. He makes mistakes, yes, but he's more than made up for those by the way he strengthens the spine of the midfield. Also, he can use the ball intelligently. Watch the build up to the goal against Stoke to see what I mean.
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Lets just wait and see what NRC is playing like by Christmas.
If he is doing ok then extend his contract by a season if not and he is out the team then tell him he will be moving on in the summer.
As for Delph when you spend the type of money we spent on him last summer then surely expectation is high for the lad to prove his worth.
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I would rather we give the chance to young Delph when he is fit.
There ain't half some expectation being piled on the kid.
I think it will be the rest of this season and then well into next before he is up to speed and capable of holding a regular place down in the team. For people to think he is the replacement for Petrov/NRC this season are, I think, under a big misapprehension.
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NRC is nowhere near what we need in his role. The summer transfer period proved that by not one club being seriously interested in him. We have no one else to play there (Sidwell is a joke) so along with a striker Houllier has to replace him in Jan and let him go when his contract runs out. Ash is class and he is the player we have to keep and work around ...............
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NRC is nowhere near what we need in his role. The summer transfer period proved that by not one club being seriously interested in him. We have no one else to play there (Sidwell is a joke) so along with a striker Houllier has to replace him in Jan and let him go when his contract runs out. Ash is class and he is the player we have to keep and work around ...............
I'm sorry I totally disagree. NRC has been superb.
Think back to last year at anfield, MOTM then dropped next week.
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NRC is nowhere near what we need in his role. The summer transfer period proved that by not one club being seriously interested in him. We have no one else to play there (Sidwell is a joke) so along with a striker Houllier has to replace him in Jan and let him go when his contract runs out. Ash is class and he is the player we have to keep and work around ...............
I'm sorry I totally disagree. NRC has been superb.
Think back to last year at anfield, MOTM then dropped next week.
Yes, for some reason O Neill and MacDonald have been pretty harsh on him at times. I felt last season, whenever Nige played we looked better for it, same this season. But he'd come in, play well, then get dropped.
I think Houllier is savvy enough to know, that with current options, Nige is a must pick. In fact I'd go as far as saying, besides Ash, he's the first midfielder you put down on the team sheet. Simply must play or we will just capitulate.
His ball use has improved immensely in the last year too.
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Spot on, I mean who could we get that could do a better job that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg.
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If Ash signs a new contract, then we can really start to build properly in the summer. Man City have indicated that their ludicrous player recruitment will slow down in order to meet the Platini rules, and if they are everyone is. That means that not only Young won't go (which he won't if he signs a new contract anyway), but if Albrighton or Ireland or someone has a mental season then nobody will come in for them either, because only City have the money.
It would be dangerous to think that Ash signs a new contract = worry over, he's staying for the foreseeable.
All it does is give us extra insurance in the event that another side comes in for him.
Completely different players, but Kevin Doyle signed a new contract for Reading a few months after we expressed our interest in 2008. A few months later he had gone -as Wolves paid the release clause the new contract specified.
Today contracts are barely worth the paper written on, it just ensures that player x gets a pay increase whilst he bides his time and his club are in a better bargaining position when it comes to the fee.
The only way we can really ensure that Ash stays with us is to show we mean business - by the players we sign and the plans we ourselves put in place to be competitive at the business end of the table. If we're content (as some seem to be) to write this campaign off as a season of transition I'll bet good money that Ash will be gone this time next year.
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Has he signed one yet?
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Im afraid contracts dont mean bugger all these days (other than a few extra ££££ to the selling club).
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To be fair to Ashley he's never made noises of wanting to move and has never been anything but committed.
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That's what I meant. With City's spending slowing down, the type of fee we'd be able to command will be beyond the reach of anyone who wants him. Therefore, he's not leaving this summer if he signs this new contract.
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Im afraid contracts dont mean bugger all these days (other than a few extra ££££ to the selling club).
Either way, it means better news for us than no new contract being signed.
He either stays and continues to be one of our best players or we get more money if we do decide to sell.
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If Ashley signs he'll be here for this season and next season at least.
Whereas if he dosen't sign he'll only have one year left in the summer so we would have to sell him.
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To be fair to Ashley he's never made noises of wanting to move and has never been anything but committed.
Until there is a legitimate offer and definite interest what would be the point?
Milner never made noises about wanting to move but as soon as Citeh came calling and actually put in a bid he didn't want to know.
There were whispers of interest from Tottingham, but that was most likely 'arry manipulating his Fleet Street sycophants to unsettle Ash and try to pick him up for a bargain.
The acid test will be when a concrete offer comes in. Will he say "I've only recently signed a new deal I'm staying put," or will he agitate to get away. Again, that will depend on our progress as a club and whether he is convinced he can achieve all he wants to with us.