Ash won't sign a new contract till the summer.

[dutchvilla]

his form may have tailed off compared to 2 seasons ago, but he is still our greatest creative force. What we need to do is strengthen centre midfield, upfront and cover at fullback, not create new problems by wishing away our best players.

+ if a reason for letting him go is that we're two points off a champions league place (actually 3) so we'll be fine without him, it's as easy to say that we're only 5 points off relegation so could freefall without him...

[not3bad]

Houllier Backs Young's Decision to Concentrate on Football

[TheSandman]

Let him go. Ash of two years ago would be a big loss. Ash now is not.

Agree. Ireland, Albrighton, Downing and Bannan can fill any void and that is before we account for any new signings. He has gone from a great player to one that just pisses me off.

I'm surprised by how little I care.

One thing it means is that if Spurs have turned his head it can clearly mean they are making an early move because they know Bale is off to United, City, Real or Inter and I'd be much less concerned with a Spurs team with Young than one with Bale even if I don't buy all this Bale is world class guff.

I do hope he sits down with GH and says ' ffs Gez, I need some quality strikers to play alongside me, if I keep playing with Carew and Heskey, what's the point of putting crosses in ?'

Really? Is this the Emile Heskey who has been in great form in recent appearances and has been putting his head to some superb balls? Not that these balls have been coming from Ashley.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The only thing that really worries me is how little we'll probably get for him next summer. Realistically, with a year left on his contract, we'd be lucky to get our money back on him.

[Toronto Villa]

I am a little surprised by some of the reactions on here to what in truth is nothing close to statement of definitive intent. He hasn't said "I'm not signing a contract and I'm off" like Mr.180, Wayne Rooney. He's one of our best players and some people have really turned on him here. Another player who's never had a bad word to say about the club. A bit like Carew. Disappointing to say the least.

[timeoutbigbar]

Agreed TV. 

Even when he's not on his best form and the team as a whole are struggling, he's always the most likely to do something, or he's willing to try something.  That obviously means he's going to waste a few passes or lose possession a bit more, because he's taking a risk.  At least he's not a sideways merchant.  I think he's by some distance our best player.

[Monty]

Ashley Young is a really good player and we should still do absolutely everything we can to keep him. Plus, I'm not sure Spurs could afford him (nor want him, really, with Bale around), Man City wouldn't want him, and United couldn't afford him either. I can't think where he'd go, really.

[pedro25]

We got £12 mill for Barry with a yr left on his contract so we should get £15-16 mill for Ash next summer given his age.  I imagine GH would find a better replacement for that kind of money than M'OM
N would have done.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I am a little surprised by some of the reactions on here to what in truth is nothing close to statement of definitive intent. He hasn't said "I'm not signing a contract and I'm off" like Mr.180, Wayne Rooney. He's one of our best players and some people have really turned on him here. Another player who's never had a bad word to say about the club. A bit like Carew. Disappointing to say the least.

Thing is TV, when a good contract is laid out in front of a player, regardless of what point in the season, they normally snap it up. Remember the contract for Laursen?
This smacks of 'I'll wait and see where we end up at the end of the season and who will be sniffing around for me.'

Still sounds like Spurs have had a quiet word with him on his wank-tastic mobile.

[TaxDodger]

I am a little surprised by some of the reactions on here to what in truth is nothing close to statement of definitive intent. He hasn't said "I'm not signing a contract and I'm off" like Mr.180, Wayne Rooney. He's one of our best players and some people have really turned on him here. Another player who's never had a bad word to say about the club. A bit like Carew. Disappointing to say the least.

Thing is TV, when a good contract is laid out in front of a player, regardless of what point in the season, they normally snap it up. Remember the contract for Laursen?
This smacks of 'I'll wait and see where we end up at the end of the season and who will be sniffing around for me.'

Still sounds like Spurs have had a quiet word with him on his wank-tastic mobile.

I'm still not sure he'd want to go there. Will the appeal of swapping Villa Park for White Hart Lane be that exciting at the end of the season when they finish 5th and we finish 7th? It's not like they'd pay him anymore than we will.

[N'ZMAV]

I don't get all this Spurs talk. Most of the players that play in a similar role to Ashley Young at Spurs are at least as good as him. If not better.

[KevinGage]

They always seem to get tapped up when they have been away with England.. 

For me, it's more the case that they just get more arrogant and develop delusions of grandeur when they called up for the national team. So far as I'm concerned I'm sick ofthe attitude of these professional footballers. A. Young can fook off, it doesn't matter to me who plays for the Villa nowadays, the idolation of these crass, self-obsessed, greedy idiots is symptomatic of all thats wrong with the game.

A few years back under O'Dreary and GT second time around we could only dream of having 3-5 players regularly involved in England squads - which seems to be the typical amount since about 2008 onwards.

Previously, having that many internationals could only be a good thing and would be indicative of a club moving in the right direction. Hats off to MON for having the foresight to select transfer targets that made the transition (it's not as if we signed a rake of ready made internationals as per Citeh) and hats off to RL for funding him.

But now I think having players even loosely associated with the national side is more trouble than it's worth. They must just sit around and discuss salaries whilst with Club England - as they sure as hell don't seem willing or capable of playing in a way that makes them contenders for major international trophies.

In future I'd rather give them the swerve, too much hassle in the long run.

[olaftab]

Good decision by the player. This is no time to be  worried about a contract. End of the season  is the time and yes Rene and Club do need to  make an impact on our better players.

[TopDeck113]

The next Barry/Milner thread starts today?

[vilan461]

They always seem to get tapped up when they have been away with England.. 

Absolute bang on--Barry,Milner now Ash, give it 2 seasons will it be Albrighton?---good job Bannan is Scottish and Clark has chosen the Repuplic Of Ireland-------presumably tapping up occours over the wine women cigars,& beer???