Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[Concrete John]

Downing would fetch a fair bit more than the £12m we payed for him now.  Presuming he has a similar season then in summer 2012, when he still had a year left, we'd still be making a profit on him.  On that basis lets keep him, get that extra year, and if he isn't going to sign get rid then.

However, one day we will have to ask ourselves why our best players keep going.

[andyh]

Downings being a right c unt here.
He is not at a 'major crossroads of his career' as he states.
He has 2 FUCKING YEARS LEFT on his contract.

He will be at a major crossroads in 2 years time when his contrcat expires, or approaching one next year when there is a year left.

BUT THAT IS NOT NOW!!!!
As its stands he is only half way through his current contract.

God, I hate modern day footballers...they are all wankers !!

   
 

[Villan For Life]

He says that he wants to play in the CL "at some point". I would imagine all players do. Nothing to panic about.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

However, one day we will have to ask ourselves why our best players keep going.

We're simply not good enough, we're in the also rans bracket and I can't see that changing anytime soon.

[*shellac*]

He says that he wants to play in the CL "at some point". I would imagine all players do. Nothing to panic about.

It's only when he says he wants to play in the Championship we have to worry.

[Chris Smith]

Downings being a right c unt here.
He is not at a 'major crossroads of his career' as he states.
He has 2 FUCKING YEARS LEFT on his contract.

He will be at a major crossroads in 2 years time when his contrcat expires, or approaching one next year when there is a year left.

BUT THAT IS NOT NOW!!!!
As its stands he is only half way through his current contract.

God, I hate modern day footballers...they are all wankers !!

   
 

I think you're going way over the top here. Why should he sign a new contract just because it is offered? Doesn't it make sense, from his perspective, to wait a while to see what direction the club is going in?

[Irish villain]

Saw the Downing quotes in a Boro paper yesterday. Very different from a month ago, so must have been having an agent whisper sweet nothings into his ear. Villa need to learn from past mistakes, 2 years out, sign or sell or we will be in the same position again next season. If he won't sign, then pull the 15-20 million in for him that we can get right now and flog him. We have to be more business savy and wheel and deal more.

It's a hard one to make out really. My first reaction was to wonder who had tapped him up, but then when I thought about it, what player, coming into the peak period of his career, would sign a new long-term contract when there's so much uncertainty over the manager?
I would imagine that if we have an excellent summer transfer wise, and get an answer one way or the other on the manager, that he could easily be persuaded to sign.

I agree with Ger. People won't like me saying this but there is still an air of instability at the club with question marks over the manager. It all needs to be sorted out asap.

[andyh]

Downings being a right c unt here.
He is not at a 'major crossroads of his career' as he states.
He has 2 FUCKING YEARS LEFT on his contract.

He will be at a major crossroads in 2 years time when his contrcat expires, or approaching one next year when there is a year left.

BUT THAT IS NOT NOW!!!!
As its stands he is only half way through his current contract.

God, I hate modern day footballers...they are all wankers !!

   
 

I think you're going way over the top here. Why should he sign a new contract just because it is offered? Doesn't it make sense, from his perspective, to wait a while to see what direction the club is going in?

My point is Chris, that he is only half way through his contract and already he making out he has a critical decision to make.
I could understand that next year, but bloody hell, the ink is barely dry on the last contract he signed.

[Concrete John]

However, one day we will have to ask ourselves why our best players keep going.

We're simply not good enough, we're in the also rans bracket and I can't see that changing anytime soon.

I think it's a chicken and egg scenario as I'd argue we're in that bracket BECAUSE our best players keep leaving. 

[Chris Smith]

Downings being a right c unt here.
He is not at a 'major crossroads of his career' as he states.
He has 2 FUCKING YEARS LEFT on his contract.

He will be at a major crossroads in 2 years time when his contrcat expires, or approaching one next year when there is a year left.

BUT THAT IS NOT NOW!!!!
As its stands he is only half way through his current contract.

God, I hate modern day footballers...they are all wankers !!

   
 

I think you're going way over the top here. Why should he sign a new contract just because it is offered? Doesn't it make sense, from his perspective, to wait a while to see what direction the club is going in?

My point is Chris, that he is only half way through his contract and already he making out he has a critical decision to make.
I could understand that next year, but bloody hell, the ink is barely dry on the last contract he signed.

Yes, but it's us who want him to sign a new one whereas, at the moment, he's quite happy to stick with what he's got. If he start agitating for move then I'll agree with you, Andy, but at the moment it looks to me like he just wants to keep his options open.

[andyh]

Downings being a right c unt here.
He is not at a 'major crossroads of his career' as he states.
He has 2 FUCKING YEARS LEFT on his contract.

He will be at a major crossroads in 2 years time when his contrcat expires, or approaching one next year when there is a year left.

BUT THAT IS NOT NOW!!!!
As its stands he is only half way through his current contract.

God, I hate modern day footballers...they are all wankers !!

   
 

I think you're going way over the top here. Why should he sign a new contract just because it is offered? Doesn't it make sense, from his perspective, to wait a while to see what direction the club is going in?

My point is Chris, that he is only half way through his contract and already he making out he has a critical decision to make.
I could understand that next year, but bloody hell, the ink is barely dry on the last contract he signed.

Yes, but it's us who want him to sign a new one whereas, at the moment, he's quite happy to stick with what he's got. If he start agitating for move then I'll agree with you, Andy, but at the moment it looks to me like he just wants to keep his options open.

But Chris, you know as well as I that HE IS agitating for a move now.
The comments he has come out with is footballer speak for, I have had enough of this club now. I want to earn more money elsewhere.
Its all too reminicent of Milner, Barry and Young. 

[Ryu]

If he was just waiting and seeing, or 'keeping his options open' he would have just kept quiet about it. As it is he has started talking about being at a 'crossroads' and playing in the CL, which is a bit of a u-turn on previous comments about his future. Looks to me like another Villa player who has a good season looking to use the press to get him a move.

[Chris Smith]

But Chris, you know as well as I that HE IS agitating for a move now.

No, Andy, I don't KNOW that. I accept that is one interpretation but another is as I have suggested.

If he doesn't sign then we sell him next summer but I'd rather have another season of hin than a few more million now.

[pablopicasso_10]

hes not even been that good!!

[Chris Smith]

If he was just waiting and seeing, or 'keeping his options open' he would have just kept quiet about it. As it is he has started talking about being at a 'crossroads' and playing in the CL, which is a bit of a u-turn on previous comments about his future. Looks to me like another Villa player who has a good season looking to use the press to get him a move.

It looks like to me like he's been asked about signing anew contract and has answered accordingly.

How the club react will tell us a lot.