5 VILLANS in England Squad...and then 4 !!

[bertlambshank]

Downing should be no where near a England team, hasnt been good enough in the past isnt good enough now and in my view wont ever be good enough in the future.

I just don't understand why Downing gets so much stick from our fans, he's been consistently very good for us this season.

I also don't get the "he bottles tackles" line, either, as if flying into tackles is amongst the key requisites of a winger.

Marc Albrighton, on the other hand, who I think is also a fine player, seems more prepared to get stuck in - and once or twice as a result we've been punished from free kicks he's given away by doing so.

Downing whinces before getting to the tackle.Since his broken foot he has the back bone of a Frenchman.

[john e]

lets see what Downing does then if he gets on the pitch,

if i'm right he will run around a bit doing very little of any great note, get subbed at half time,
everyone on here will say he was played in the wrong posision, with the wrong players, in the wrong formation or any other excuse people can think up,
when all along he just isnt good enough to play at that level,

 but lets wait and see, time will tell, although i'm at the theatre on wed night so you'l all have to fill me in

[Risso]

I wouldn't expect a winger such as Downing to go flying into tackles.  I also wouldn't expect him to actively avoid any sort of physical encounter either though.  He's generally a very good player and I'm certainly glad we've got him.  He is a big soft ponce though.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

He is a big soft ponce though.

Can't deny this.
It's his job to be creative and not get stuck in, but bloody hell, he doesn't half shirk the physical stuff.

[The Left Side]

He is a big soft ponce though.

Can't deny this.
It's his job to be creative and not get stuck in, but bloody hell, he doesn't half shirk the physical stuff.

He bottled Vidic's goal at old trafford last week, I think he could have made more of an effort but I suppose we didn't buy him for that.

[paulcomben]

Aston Villa International bossing Denmark. Goals from Bent & A Young. Support from Cahill, Downing, Milner and Barry. Walker poised to outdo Johnson from the bench. (At 18 mins to go.)

[PaulTheVillan]

Where was ex Villa Crouch & Carlton Cole?

[Chris Smith]

I usually give up on friendlies after about 20 minutes but really enjoyed that. Obviously having Villa players helped but it just looked far better all round, more energy and drive but more comfortable on the ball too.

[Ian.]

He is a big soft ponce though.

Can't deny this.
It's his job to be creative and not get stuck in, but bloody hell, he doesn't half shirk the physical stuff.

Has he always been a wee bit soft? How did he break his leg before playing for us?

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

He is a big soft ponce though.

Can't deny this.
It's his job to be creative and not get stuck in, but bloody hell, he doesn't half shirk the physical stuff.

He bottled Vidic's goal at old trafford last week, I think he could have made more of an effort but I suppose we didn't buy him for that.

It was Petrov who "bottled" the Vidic shot. But he is lightweight in tackles and challenges though .........

[Clampy]

I usually give up on friendlies after about 20 minutes but really enjoyed that. Obviously having Villa players helped but it just looked far better all round, more energy and drive but more comfortable on the ball too.

I hope you made the most of it, it'll be the same tired old faces back for the next qualifier.

[paulcomben]

Where was ex Villa Crouch & Carlton Cole?

Sssshh we all agreed never to mention those embarrassing incidents again.

[Shrek]

Paul Merson "Milner looked superb, like his old self when he was in the U21's and at Villa"

Come back jimmy.

7 current or previous Villa players tonight.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Did they have to play bent for 90 mins?

[Nastylee]

It's ok, it doesn't run around too much so can't be knackered.