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

[Dante Lavelli]

I cannot see the Spurs thing.  Unless they're planning ahead - i.e. to replace Bale - then I cannot understand their logic.  They've got Krancjar, Modric and that mexican fella who can also play there.  Plus the form of Bale has essentially meant that Lennon has been dropped so Ashley would be crazy to go there to sit on the bench.

Hopefully his comments are genuine, if not, we have Albrighton, Downing, Ireland and Bannan who can fill his shoes.

We could even improve if Houllier is given all the Milner (and possible) Young cash in order to build his own side in the shape that he wants.

[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.

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.

Thing is there is no point looking at this from an emotional standpoint. Footballers aren't fans, and for them this is business. I think he's doing the right thing from a career standpoint. I'm sure he wants to win things, and if in January and next summer we make a number of improvements on the field in conjunction with the change and influence brought on by the new management team, then he might think it's worthwhile to re-sign. Our job as a club, and as fans is to add an emotional element to the decision process and make sure he knows that we want him to stay. That's why I am surprised that some have turned on him so quickly.

[The Man With A Stick]

It's perfectly understandable him not wanting to have to think about a new contract, in case it distracts him during the whole hour-and-a-half that he puts in for us every week.  There are only so many hours in the day after all.

[Rigadon]

"Distractions"..  Really, let's not be taken in by this utter bollocks.  Would you be distracted by talking about your salary with your boss?  If anything it would focus me on what I was doing I think.  We are continually tangled up in this gigantic spiders web of spin and media speak and swallow it whole.  Either the lad wants to play for Villa long term or he does not. 

He does not.

I hope the club deals with it sharpish and find somebody who does.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

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.

Well let's hope Man City want him as they're the only club that will pay that kind of money.

Be prepared to get screwed over next summer.

[gervilla]

Ashley is trodding the same path as so many before him. He breaks into the England squad and is suddenly "Johnny big balls and too good for The Villa". It pisses me off but untill we are either challenging for trophies of paying ridiculous wages thats the way its gonna be.

[ROBBO]

Need to be proactive with this, i would be saying to AY you sign now or we will sell you to the highest bidder in January. Another player that thinks he's better than he is, lets face it he isn't the player of two years ago and the money we get for him plus the Milner money would give GH a top war chest for next summer.

[Shrek]

We need to sell Ash in January, If not we will get next to nothing for him in the summer.

It's a shame because Rooney has caused a right shit storm by his silly stunt, Ash was happy before Rooney put this stupid idea of not signing a contract in his head.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Really think we should sell Ash in January if he wont sign a new contract soon. If he is not commited after saying he is willing to put pen to paper. He is an important player to us but he thinks he is so much better than he really is.  Get as much money for him now as his value will diminish rapidly. We will then have a serious amount of money for next summer.  In January Houllier will bring in some already monitored french talent. And with Delph and Gardner on the way back. We will have plenty of attacking options .........

[KevinGage]

The one mildly reassuring thing about this is I'd be pretty certain GH won't only start scouting for a replacement when Ash has actually departed.

That's not to say that Ash has definitely gone -a combination of good business from us in the transfer market in Jan, a decent end to the season and Tottingham (the most likely bidders) finishing in their usual 7th-10th position again*- might be enough to see him remain.




*Admittedly more out of hope than expectation. But I can't see them finishing 4th again either way and the CL could (fingers crossed) screw up their season.

[The Situation]

What I don't understand is why all our best players are getting nabbed all the time? If spurs' overrated players are regarded so highly you'd see big clubs going after their players... same with Everton etc... Losing Barry and Milner in the space of year was gutting already, we don't need a stake driven through the heart with Ash being sold.

I wish other teams would just f-off and go and nab one of spurs or Everton's players. It really is surprising to see players like Modric, Arteta and even Lennon not getting any intrest by the bigger clubs.

[taylorsworkrate]

as its the sun, its made up.

i advise ashley to contact his lawyers as the sun have quoted him when hes not spoken to them.

[Toronto Villa]

as its the sun, its made up.

i advise ashley to contact his lawyers as the sun have quoted him when hes not spoken to them.

it's not made up that he isn't signing a contract at this time and will wait until the summer. GH spoke quite liberally about it during his press conference and was in full support of his decision. There's nothing made up about the story itself.

[PeterWithe]

From The Daily Mail

Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier fears 'tapping up' as Ashley Young deal stalls

Gerard Houllier refused to rule out the possibility that Ashley Young had been tapped up after the England player's U-turn over fresh contract talks.

The Aston Villa boss was at a loss to explain the winger's change of heart after Young said last month he was about to put pen to paper on a long-term deal.

The 25-year-old stunned Villa's management when he revealed: 'I've told the people at Villa that I won't be signing a new contract. I know they want to get it done now but there's plenty of time to talk again next summer.'

It is a major shift from four weeks ago when he was reportedly on the verge of agreeing a pay hike, with Houllier claiming the paperwork would be completed 'sooner rather than later'.

The Frenchman said it was possible an illegal approach had been made. 'You never know in football,' he said.

'I've read that Tottenham are after him and they are closing in. But it's not a matter of selling him. We don't want to sell him. We want to keep him. Maybe we will keep him until the end of his contract.

'Does anyone think a lot would have changed if he had signed? The club is protected until 2012. He is not out of contract at the end of this season.

'The main thing is that we show we wanted to keep him. We like the boy. He, I think, likes the place where he is. He probably knows he would improve. It's a matter of time if he signs now or at the end of the season.

'To my mind, nothing has changed. I think it's true when he said he wanted to concentrate on his football. I've talked to him and told him that the main thing for him is to step up a level.

'To do that, you can't lose two or three months talking about what might happen. He said he's happy with the fans, he likes the club, he enjoys the football we are playing.

'To me he's a good player. He could be a very good player. To do that, he needs to do things on a consistent basis. 'If you play one good game, no progress.

You need to be able to repeat spells of seven to nine games out of 10 at a very high level. 'That's what Ashley needs to do.'



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1323068/Aston-Villa-boss-Gerard-Houllier-fears-tapping-Ashley-Young-deal-stalls.html#ixzz13AHCSAQf

[Shrek]

Basically is saying your not that good, but you could be, an the best thing to do is stay put and achieve that consistent level of performance.