Ashley Young - tell it how you see it

[Clampy]

My only worry is that we've finally got a 20 goal a season man in Bent and other than Downing's cross at Old Trafford, he's not had a great deal of service to work from. I think the majority of us agree that Ash playing through the middle and Gabby out wide dose'nt seem to be working as well as it could. No, we're not losing many, but we've only picked up 2 points out the last possible 9. 

If we want to get out of trouble and have a comfortable end to the season, maybe changing it slightly could be the way to go.

 

[Monty]

TRue monty, we need to find the right man to play the attacking midfield role and link up the play and get a few goals into the bargain , one thing very evident is that Ashley young is not the right man for that role , however much he enjoys it.

I would rather actually having a midfield three who work more as a team, rather than being reliant on one individual 'number 10' type. I do think that we have a number of the players to make this work both short- and long-term, but it'll take time, training, and probably one or two more very good signings.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

"Bzzz" -  bang head on window - "Bzzz" -  bang head on window - "Bzzz" -  bang head on window - Bzzz" -  bang head on window - "Bzzz" -  bang head on window - "Bzzz" -  bang head on window

Chris Smith actually does look like Jeff Goldblum.

[eastie]

I like the look of makoun, and I'd like a good look at Bradley, delph, gardner and bannan to see exactly what they can do between now and may , we may not need to spend millions as we may already have players in our midst who can adapt to the new system.

[TheSandman]

Agree mark Kelly, albrighton beats his man and crosses the ball , no dallying about , this is what's needed., he's had a couple of weeks out of the team and I hope he comes back refreshed and delivers the final ball that has been so lacking from others.

Agree wholeheartedly. He has to come in and give us the directness we need. Downing and Young are very similar. Both look most comfortable wide left and both try to be more sophisticated than a direct Albrighton. For me it has to be one or the other for wide left. What we need is a direct player who puts in good crosses for Bent to score from.

Monty's team principle for the central midfield will work very well with our options. If you watch Makoun or Bradley for long enough you will see that they can operate both defensively and in an attacking sense. Even Bannan despite what you might think of him from his lilliputian physique can do a bit of dirty work and get stuck in. I know from watching them that Bannan and Makoun can provide a good long pass or ball. Bannan especially has the sidness (I'm not resting till that one makes the difference) to deliver the ball and read the runs of other players so we look well set for a three man midfield next season if Ash goes. 

[Monty]

Monty's team principle 

I'm f**king trademarking that. It's got a ring to it, like 'Fermat's last theorem' or 'Newton's third law of motion'.

I agree entirely with the post, by the way. How often do you find it that a team sells it's individual 'star' and moves onwards and upwards to better things? The best recent example is probably Inter selling Zlatan and then winning the treble. The point is not trying to replace the player exactly, mainly because all players are different and unique individuals, but finding a new, better way to play - and using the money from that sale wisely, of course.

Ash is an excellent individual talent. But with the youngsters being brought through (carefully and precisely by GH, by all accounts), with the money that should be available from the sales of Young and a couple of others, and with some of the players already brought in, I think next season we can really push on properly.

[eastie]

Yes , yes , and yes , onwards and upwards !

[Merv]

I like Ashley Young, but I'm beginning to wonder how effective he's actually been for us this season in terms of end product and also whether he's now inadvertently hampering the team by being played/asking to be played in this free role. It's actually leading to one or two other players being forced into roles that don't suit them...

[kippaxvilla2]

He has not been effective since April 20th 2008.

[SoccerHQ]

He has not been effective since April 20th 2008.

Wasn't Everton away after that?

To me he's still o.k on the wing, he at least scores from open play out there and can cross when he dosen't want to be 5 defenders over and over.

[SoccerHQ]

My only worry is that we've finally got a 20 goal a season man in Bent and other than Downing's cross at Old Trafford, he's not had a great deal of service to work from. I think the majority of us agree that Ash playing through the middle and Gabby out wide dose'nt seem to be working as well as it could. No, we're not losing many, but we've only picked up 2 points out the last possible 9. 

If we want to get out of trouble and have a comfortable end to the season, maybe changing it slightly could be the way to go.

 

Dosen't helped we've just stopped playing Albrighton as soon as he signed who has shown this season consistantly he's an excellent crosser.

[Bad English]

I can see the ****** wearing sunglasses and big headphones on the pitch when snoods become too uncomfortable to wear in sultry spring and summer Birmingham.

[eamonn]

He has not been effective since April 20th 2008.

Bollocks.

His winner at Bolton in April '10 was a fucking peach.

We're a poorer side without him and unless he's adequately replaced if/when he goes I think we'll miss him much  more than most seem to think.

[Goldie.7]

He has not been effective since April 20th 2008.

Bollocks.

His winner at Bolton in April '10 was a fucking peach.

We're a poorer side without him and unless he's adequately replaced if/when he goes I think we'll miss him much  more than most seem to think.

What that over-hit cross i remember that match like it was yesterday a unconvincing 0-1 win.

[Goldie.7]

He has not been effective since April 20th 2008.

What game was that? Everton away was on 7th December 2008.