Ashley Young: Staying or going?

[SoccerHQ]

Young isn't that good in the free role.

Young is much better on the wing.

I await all these examples to the contary.

You may be right. But is he better on the wing than Albrighton has been this season? Or Downing when on the left? One of the drawbacks of Ash playing on his favourite left wing, is that it means Downing on the right, where he is half the player.

Tbf when I made this point before I always made it as one of Albrighton and Downing on the right depending on who was in form/needed a rest in the case of Albrighton especially as Marc has faded a lot in the second half of games this season.

I agree Downing isn't as effective on the right which is a bit of a problem.

[lovejoy]

Take Ash out of our team and we could be in a lot of trouble, we'd only need to look on the 2nd page of ceefax.

Like we are now you mean?

If he's our best player then god help us. The most overrated player i think i've ever seen.

I've just contacted the Guiness Book of Records for you. You must be closing in on the world record for continuously ludicrous statements on an internet message board. Keep going I say.

Everyone standback, I think I can deal with this one.
Blackcountryvillain have you ever see Shaun Wright Phillips?

[Shrek]

I think Ash is playing much better in the free role, the team is far more balanced and effective with Downing Ash Albrighton behind a striker.

We just need a 20+ goal a season striker in front of them.

[stevenjos]

bye bye stutter man.

[N'ZMAV]

I think Ash is playing much better in the free role, the team is far more balanced and effective with Downing Ash Albrighton behind a striker.

We just need a 20+ goal a season striker in front of them.

I think Ash is better when he is more involved in the game. We should play him as the second striker, or the hole, whatever you wish to call it.

[Nelly]

Could we not keep Young out on the left and put Downing in the hole? Didn't he play there for Middlesbrough?

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I reckon the money we got from Milner won't buy a player half as good as him. The same would happen with A.Young, so what's the point in selling just to get some money when there's no-one we could get who'd be as good for the same amoun or less?

I find it all ridiculous that people are willing to sell A.Young yet not consider Downing, Sidwell or a whole host of other players to get rid of before him.

You don't sell your best players. When A.Young gets the ball, you expect something to happen, there is no other player in the team that carries that expectation at the moment.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Could we not keep Young out on the left and put Downing in the hole? Didn't he play there for Middlesbrough?

I've said this for a while. Play him (Downing) where Barry used to play.

[Chris Smith]

Could we not keep Young out on the left and put Downing in the hole? Didn't he play there for Middlesbrough?

I've said this for a while. Play him (Downing) where Barry used to play.

Our best performances this season have been with Downing on the left, Albrighton on the right and Young in the middle. We're missing Albrighton hugely, partly because he's a good player but also because we're better balanced with him in the side.

[PeterWithe]

Its a measure of Albrighton's progress that we seem to have missed him more than any of the other, more experienced players with the possible exception of Gabby.

[The Situation]

Could we not keep Young out on the left and put Downing in the hole? Didn't he play there for Middlesbrough?

I've said this for a while. Play him (Downing) where Barry used to play.

That has been discussed before, but I think a few Villa fans think he'll be too lighweight in midfield and not doing enough defensive work.

[PeterWithe]

Downing is currently the best crosser of a ball we have and for that reason alone I'd keep him wide as I dont think he would be at all suited to the hurly burly of a centre midfield slot.

[TheSandman]

Downing's main problem is that he doesn't get stuck in. Why should we play him in a position that requires more of that?

[Nelly]

All fair points actually. I might be wrong, it's just that I seem to remember Downing having a good time of it in the middle for Boro. It might accommodate our players better too. Imagine if we had, say Reo-Coker, dedicatedly breaking things up and allowing Downing to concentrate more on the attacking aspect. He wouldn't need to get stuck in any more than he does (or doesn't) now.

Then again, maybe Ash just needs a bit of time/luck/patience to bed into the new role behind the striker. Personally I wouldn't sell him. We need more like him, despite him clearly not having the best of times recently.

[London Villan]

He's a winger and most wingers haven't been known to be tough tacklers, that's the nature of them. Play him on the left where he is a fantastic crosser of the ball.