Villa striker Emile Heskey retires...

[Lucky Eddie]

My guess is that the same lads ripping the piss out of Emile Heskey today on here are the very same that ripped the piss out of Peter Crouch during his fledgling time at Villa Park. You can't reason with them because the rest of us know fuck all!

[achilles]

So someone who runs onto the pitch and runs around all game, huffing and puffing, we are to commend for his 'effort'?

Perhaps its just me but I want a bit more than that from a professional footballer!

[Small Rodent]

Shame he didn't retire before the WC as would have been nice to see the press scapegoat someone other than him for England's failure to score.

Yep. Easy target for them.

[Lucky Eddie]

So someone who runs onto the pitch and runs around all game, huffing and puffing, we are to commend for his 'effort'?

Above a more talented player who does not - A RESOUNDING YES from me! x

[achilles]

My guess is that the same lads ripping the piss out of Emile Heskey today on here are the very same that ripped the piss out of Peter Crouch during his fledgling time at Villa Park. You can't reason with them because the rest of us know fuck all!

Is that what you call reasoning, perhaps you should put it in capitals that way we could hear your swearing better!

[Lucky Eddie]

would have been nice to see the press scapegoat someone other than him for England's failure to score.

The English press haven't got the bollocks to launch into a more deserving case such as Terry, Rooney, Lampard or Gerrard!

Face it - OUR 'TOP' PLAYERS FAILED TO PERFORM IN SOUTH AFRICA.

I don't know a single club supporter of any side who spends his hard earned cash following England who places Heskey in the firing line of reasons we were found to be woefully lacking this summer.

[Risso]

My guess is that the same lads ripping the piss out of Emile Heskey today on here are the very same that ripped the piss out of Peter Crouch during his fledgling time at Villa Park. You can't reason with them because the rest of us know fuck all!

Crouch was a young player who had the misfortune to be at Villa at a time when the club was struggling, and probably wasn't given a fair deal by the fans, especially after he was considered to have replaced fans' favourite Angel.  Heskey had done sod all years before he signed, and has been poor ever since.  Most of us could see that his signing wasn't going to work out, but kept getting told that our opinion wasn't worth listening to as managers like Capello and O'Neill rated him.

To use your example, give me a player like Dalian Atkinson over an honest carthorse like Heskey anyday.  We might win something then.

[Lucky Eddie]

My guess is that the same lads ripping the piss out of Emile Heskey today on here are the very same that ripped the piss out of Peter Crouch during his fledgling time at Villa Park. You can't reason with them because the rest of us know fuck all!

Is that what you call reasoning, perhaps you should put it in capitals that way we could hear your swearing better!

I said I was guessing not reasoning!

[Chico Hamilton III]

 To use your example, give me a player like Dalian Atkinson over an honest carthorse like Heskey anyday.  We might win something then.

To be honest, I think Villa fans have always had a reputation for preferring an honest grafter to an erratic artist. Maybe it's a West Midland mentality, but it's one I share

Birch must be the ultimate example of that.

Those who really think Heskey is that bad should remember some of the real "couldn't give a shit" merchants we've had playing down the Villa, taking the piss out of us.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

So someone who runs onto the pitch and runs around all game, huffing and puffing, we are to commend for his 'effort'?

Perhaps its just me but I want a bit more than that from a professional footballer!

I agree.

Goals.

[Concrete John]

So someone who runs onto the pitch and runs around all game, huffing and puffing, we are to commend for his 'effort'?

Perhaps its just me but I want a bit more than that from a professional footballer!

I agree.

Goals.

In that case, what is the point of the question asked in your name on here?

[Risso]

Those who really think Heskey is that bad should remember some of the real "couldn't give a shit" merchants we've had playing down the Villa, taking the piss out of us.

What about Heskey's statement earlier this year when he wanted to leave as he thought his England place was in doubt due to not starting many games?  Nothing then about doing his best for Villa and getting back in the side on merit.

[TheSandman]

Because he's a lovely, selfless fellow who knew he wasn't as good as Gabby or Carew and didn't fit our style of play and hence wished to join a lesser club where he could play?

[pauliewalnuts]

would have been nice to see the press scapegoat someone other than him for England's failure to score.

The English press haven't got the bollocks to launch into a more deserving case such as Terry, Rooney, Lampard or Gerrard!

Face it - OUR 'TOP' PLAYERS FAILED TO PERFORM IN SOUTH AFRICA.

I don't know a single club supporter of any side who spends his hard earned cash following England who places Heskey in the firing line of reasons we were found to be woefully lacking this summer.

I haven't noticed the press scapegoating Heskey at all.

I agree, they were all shite, and the media seem to have been pretty forthright in saying as much, as far as I've seen anyway

[pauliewalnuts]

Although, having said that,  The Fiver have done some quality piss taking

THE MARK OF A GREAT STRIKER IS SCORING ONCE EVERY OTHER GAME; MR EM DIDN'T EVEN MANAGE A SHOT ON TARGET EVERY OTHER GAME

So farewell then, Emile Heskey, England international. We have seen the last of your lumbering runs, felt for the last time that bizarre combination of exhilaration and resignation which comes when you thunder clear on goal. We will wonder no more what the manager's thinking when you start loitering with intent near the fourth official in the 68th minute, and never again hear the words "yes but his link play is world class" in heated post-match discussions down the pub that always draw in one bloke you've never met before who was walking past on his way to the bog and couldn't help overhearing.

Consider yourself free, Emile. Free from the burden of our expectation. Free from long summers spent toiling through (the early stages of) major tournaments when every other footballer of your ability is quite rightly and deservedly enjoying a nice holiday. Free to resume a far more relaxing life on Aston Villa's bench, blissfully protected from rain, snow and our attention.

We will recall with fondness the great 5-1 victory over Germany in 2001, in which you combined so well with Michael Owen and scored your third goal for your country, in only your 17th game. Who would have thought on that balmy night in Munich that 45 subsequent appearances over 10 years would bring just four more, against Denmark, South Africa, Slovakia and Kazakhstan?

Who could have imagined back then, as you terrorised opponents with your bulk, your youthful vigour and your habit of falling over with almost virtuosic ease, that all but two of your seven international goals would come in three- or four-goal victories, that you would muster only two decisive strikes in your entire international England career and that those would come in friendlies against South Africa and Malta?

But it wasn't about the goals with you, Emile. It never was. It was about all the work you put in off the ball. The work television cameras, obsessed as they are with following the ball, completely missed and which - as a result - all but a handful of us have not only already forgotten but never actually knew about in the first place. The kind of shift that made Tony Cottee, your partner in those glorious early days at Leicester, call you "the dream guy to play with". And in many ways you were, Emile. The kind of guy who always managed to make the players around you look good, both intentionally and otherwise.

"I have enjoyed every moment of my England career," Heskey said as he announced his international retirement today. And haven't we all? Don't answer that question.