Villa striker Emile Heskey retires...

[stevenjos]

Heskey is a waste of a player on the pitch. and we will be a better team when he leaves. Even if he's replaced with a corner flag.

I don't think Peter Crouch will be available for transfer this summer.

Made me laff!

[Concrete John]

I have no problem with people expressing their views on him as a Villa player, and despite what you think mine won't be all that disimilar from yours, but I do think it's a cheap dig to do so in response to people saying he tried hard for England.

[Villa'Zawg]

If it wasn't Heskey it would probably be Cuellar (there will always be at least one scapegoat). You can ask them to discuss why Cuellar finished last season as the 3rd highest ranked defender on the official PL stats and perhaps isn't as bad as they claim. The answer will be that he is shit and we definitely, definitely need a new left back.

I love how you've created your own brand new argument about Cuellar out of nothing, and then decided what other people will argue.  I can't even see why Cuellar being shit (which nobody has argued) would mean that we'd need to replace Warnock.  Oh well, carry on.

Sorry, I meant right-back.

I don't think it was too difficult to understand that I was making the point that some people will always strive to have a scapegoat. I wasn't simply creating a brand new argument.

Still, your response is what I would expect.

[pauliewalnuts]

I have no problem with people expressing their views on him as a Villa player, and despite what you think mine won't be all that disimilar from yours, but I do think it's a cheap dig to do so in response to people saying he tried hard for England.

I've absolutely no idea why you've even mentioned that, John, I certainly didn't raise it. In fact, the only point at which I've mentioned England in this thread was the other day to say that they were all shit.

I was replying to the posts suggesting he gets a disgracefully hard time.

In as much as I care what he does for England, he was one of our "best" players against the USA.

[pauliewalnuts]

If it wasn't Heskey it would probably be Cuellar (there will always be at least one scapegoat). You can ask them to discuss why Cuellar finished last season as the 3rd highest ranked defender on the official PL stats and perhaps isn't as bad as they claim. The answer will be that he is shit and we definitely, definitely need a new left back.

I love how you've created your own brand new argument about Cuellar out of nothing, and then decided what other people will argue.  I can't even see why Cuellar being shit (which nobody has argued) would mean that we'd need to replace Warnock.  Oh well, carry on.

Sorry, I meant right-back.

I don't think it was too difficult to understand that I was making the point that some people will always strive to have a scapegoat. I wasn't simply creating a brand new argument.

Still, your response is what I would expect.

What about the possibility that people genuinely do think he's not very good?

And if Heskey is a scapegoat, whose deficiencies is he being made to carry the can for?

[Risso]

If it wasn't Heskey it would probably be Cuellar (there will always be at least one scapegoat). You can ask them to discuss why Cuellar finished last season as the 3rd highest ranked defender on the official PL stats and perhaps isn't as bad as they claim. The answer will be that he is shit and we definitely, definitely need a new left back.

I love how you've created your own brand new argument about Cuellar out of nothing, and then decided what other people will argue.  I can't even see why Cuellar being shit (which nobody has argued) would mean that we'd need to replace Warnock.  Oh well, carry on.

Sorry, I meant right-back.

I don't think it was too difficult to understand that I was making the point that some people will always strive to have a scapegoat. I wasn't simply creating a brand new argument.

Still, your response is what I would expect.

Have you ever actually looked up the meaning of the word scapegoat?

[Concrete John]

I have no problem with people expressing their views on him as a Villa player, and despite what you think mine won't be all that disimilar from yours, but I do think it's a cheap dig to do so in response to people saying he tried hard for England.

I've absolutely no idea why you've even mentioned that, John, I certainly didn't raise it. In fact, the only point at which I've mentioned England in this thread was the other day to say that they were all shit.

I was replying to the posts suggesting he gets a disgracefully hard time.

In as much as I care what he does for England, he was one of our "best" players against the USA.

When did I say that?  If you go back to my post that started this, I was simply trying to offer the other side of the argument when you suggested people were getting on their high horses over the difference between his ability and his effort:-

Surely when people refer to him as a "sack of shit", other posters must realise they're talking about his footballing abilities?

Or is it just a chance to clamber onto a high horse?

By the same token, when people say he should be applauded for his efforts for England, compared to the rest of the squad who didn't seem to care, they must realise we're talking about his character and not his footballing abilities?

Or is it just a chance to get in a few thinly veiled digs at Villa manager?

My last sentence probably came across as having a pop, which is fairness it was, but not directed at you personally.

[pauliewalnuts]

I have no problem with people expressing their views on him as a Villa player, and despite what you think mine won't be all that disimilar from yours, but I do think it's a cheap dig to do so in response to people saying he tried hard for England.

I've absolutely no idea why you've even mentioned that, John, I certainly didn't raise it. In fact, the only point at which I've mentioned England in this thread was the other day to say that they were all shit.

I was replying to the posts suggesting he gets a disgracefully hard time.

In as much as I care what he does for England, he was one of our "best" players against the USA.

When did I say that?  If you go back to my post that started this, I was simply trying to offer the other side of the argument when you suggested people were getting on their high horses over the difference between his ability and his effort:-

Not entirely sure I follow that - who made the cheap dig?

[Concrete John]

We seem to have 8 pages of them so far - pick one!

[pauliewalnuts]

No, in response to people saying he tried hard for England, I mean.

[somersetlion]

Heskey is not a scapegoat, he is factually rubbish.

In 45 appearances for Villa he has scored 7 goals and had 5 direct goal assists.  Thats it.  Gabby gets more stick on here than Ivanhoe and his record is infinately superior.

On top of that I'm mystified how anyone that has ever watched him play can say he contributes to the team.  Its a myth, he doesn't.  He slows things down, gets in the way.

Other teams know they are playing against 10 men which means they can concentrate on marking our better players.

I'm a MON fan but Heskey was and is a terrible signing.

[pablopicasso_10]

Heskey is not a scapegoat, he is factually rubbish.

In 45 appearances for Villa he has scored 7 goals and had 5 direct goal assists.  Thats it.  Gabby gets more stick on here than Ivanhoe and his record is infinately superior.

On top of that I'm mystified how anyone that has ever watched him play can say he contributes to the team.  Its a myth, he doesn't.  He slows things down, gets in the way.

Other teams know they are playing against 10 men which means they can concentrate on marking our better players.

I'm a MON fan but Heskey was and is a terrible signing.

i agree... he is one of THE worst players i have ever seen in a villa shirt...

[Olneythelonely]

In 45 appearances for Villa he has scored 7 goals and had 5 direct goal assists.  Thats it.  Gabby gets more stick on here than Ivanhoe and his record is infinately superior.

That is very untrue.

[Olneythelonely]

i agree... he is one of THE worst players i have ever seen in a villa shirt...

You must be about 14 years old then.

[Villa'Zawg]

If it wasn't Heskey it would probably be Cuellar (there will always be at least one scapegoat). You can ask them to discuss why Cuellar finished last season as the 3rd highest ranked defender on the official PL stats and perhaps isn't as bad as they claim. The answer will be that he is shit and we definitely, definitely need a new left back.

I love how you've created your own brand new argument about Cuellar out of nothing, and then decided what other people will argue.  I can't even see why Cuellar being shit (which nobody has argued) would mean that we'd need to replace Warnock.  Oh well, carry on.

Sorry, I meant right-back.

I don't think it was too difficult to understand that I was making the point that some people will always strive to have a scapegoat. I wasn't simply creating a brand new argument.

Still, your response is what I would expect.

What about the possibility that people genuinely do think he's not very good?

And if Heskey is a scapegoat, whose deficiencies is he being made to carry the can for?

Then those people should have any difficulty explain why Capello chose to use him ahead of his other options. I've explained that I think it is because he is a selfless player who creates opportunities for his teammates. Why do you think he played in the England world cup team?

Some people spend a lot of time on here complaining about the Villa and the manager, they then use Heskey (for now) as a scapegoat to support that opinion.