Ashley Young - tell it how you see it

[eastie]

Nani will be the 1st choice wide man - he's had a great season , ash will probably have to get used to rotation if he goes there and he sure won't get all the set pieces that he gets here- wherever he goes I wish him well, infuriating at times but he always gave 100%.

[Merv]

I've not seen enough of Valencia to compare the two, but surely Ash would be wide right & Valencia on the left ??

It's the other around, as Maz pointed out; but I mentioned Valencia purely as a 'class' comparison while we're debating whether Ashley's 'good enough' for United.... Valencia and Young are on the same level at least, I believe; in fact Young probably has more to offer. United need someone to fill Giggs' boots... and also, stories yesterday that Nani fancies a move to Serie A.

[WikiVilla]

Ash wins a lot of free kicks in or around the box.

That will be worth a lot of goals to ManUre as Ash won't be taking the resulting free kick

[Chris Smith]

As he's fucking off, I can see no reason to carry on pandering to him by having him play behind Bent.
Stick him on the wing where he can cause most damage, get Heskey up front with Bent.

I don't understand where this idea that picking him  to play the support striker role is pandering to him. The manager has tried him in both positions and, quite rightly, realised that he's more effective in the middle.

[eastie]

Totally disagree there chris, ash is far more effective as a wide man in my opinion.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

As he's fucking off, I can see no reason to carry on pandering to him by having him play behind Bent.
Stick him on the wing where he can cause most damage, get Heskey up front with Bent.

I don't understand where this idea that picking him  to play the support striker role is pandering to him. The manager has tried him in both positions and, quite rightly, realised that he's more effective in the middle.

I'm only going by the fact that it's his 'preferred position' (Houllier)
I think his best days with us were when he was playing left wing, he's still effective, obviously, but the left was where he caused most damage.

[WikiVilla]

As he's fucking off, I can see no reason to carry on pandering to him by having him play behind Bent.
Stick him on the wing where he can cause most damage, get Heskey up front with Bent.

Spot on, whoever buys him will restore him back to his natural wide left position, where he's most effective

[Rip Van We Go Again]

He's effectively playing as the second striker, but he's only scored 6 league goals so far.
Not good enough.

How many did he score as a winger?

[WikiVilla]

Watching him drift around at the The Reebok the other week, played ok, but was like a spoilt child

[Chris Smith]

He 's a better passer of the ball than he is a crosser. He creates far more for us  playing where he does now than when he's out wide. If the side that buy him have better options there then they will use him as a winger but I suspect one of the reasons that he'll be a target is that he can play either.

If he goes then it is a replacement for where he plays now that we should be looking at.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Ash wins a lot of free kicks in or around the box.

That will be worth a lot of goals to ManUre as Ash won't be taking the resulting free kick

Ye totally agree on the amount of free kicks he draws. Wish Houllier would insist on Downing taking the resulting free kick or if there is anyone else who might have some hidden skill ....

[Rip Van We Go Again]

He 's a better passer of the ball than he is a crosser. He creates far more for us  playing where he does now than when he's out wide. If the side that buy him have better options there then they will use him as a winger but I suspect one of the reasons that he'll be a target is that he can play either.

If he goes then it is a replacement for where he plays now that we should be looking at.

I always thought his strength was cutting inside from the wing and either passing from there or having a shot, a bit like Downing in full flow.
Playing on the left, he frequently dragged defenders out of position which benefited Gabby and Carew no end.
I honestly don't think he's the most effective partner for Bent, I think Heskey would form a better partnership.

[supertom]

I don't think Ash is much of a passer at all. His crossing flits between dodgy and brilliant. 3 years ago his crossing was exceptional, so I don't get why his delivery has become so erratic of late.

He just lacks the vision and cuteness to pick out the telling passes in the final third. I don't think he's clever enough for the 2nd striker role. In fact I struggle to remember a really standout game he's had playing there. Ironically when he played there for England, he looked far better, so perhaps it's not entirely his own fault that his form is very patchy.

For me, sell him, and play the best formation that suits our best 11, with players playing in their best positions. Clearly, Ash, Downing and Albrighton in the same side doesn't work. Right now, given the choice of which two to play, I'd go for Stewie and Mark. They've been the form players this season.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Ash wins a lot of free kicks in or around the box.

That will be worth a lot of goals to ManUre as Ash won't be taking the resulting free kick

Ye totally agree

Have you been on the Mead?

[Mazrim]

Albrighton should take any set piece that's wide and Downing any that are central or direct.