Ashley Young

[PaulTheVillan]

I really want Larsson.

I get the feeling that if he came to us then GH would play him in the middle, kind of in the Petrov role.

[SoccerHQ]

City with either Milner or Adam  Johnson in return please.

This.

I can't see City being interested in him though.

Think it will be a straight cash deal anyway wherever he goes.

[WikiVilla]

Ci£££y may get involved just to gazump ManUre, who knows

[Villa'Zawg]

I think he is quite simply one of the best players in the Premier League. It's a crying shame that none of us can see Villa being able to retain his services. It seems hugely unlikely that we would be willing to match the financial offers he will recieve from other clubs, let alone his sporting ambitions.

[Dave]

I'm pretty sure we'd be willing to break the bank to keep him.

If he has the chance to move to Man Utd though then he'd be daft not to go for it.

[Villa'Zawg]

I'm sure we'd be happy to have him as our highest earner but I don't think we would offer him the kind of money that Man Utd, Man City or Chelsea would.

[not3bad]

Incidentally, it's "maths'.

*thumbs up*

[Dante Lavelli]

I reckon we'll offer more than man u. More than anyone except city I suspect.
Keeping young would be a huge statement of intent and the extra money could be recovered by selling downing.

[AV82EC]

To summarise my feelings.  Ashley Young is our best player.  We shouldn't be considering selling him under any circumstances.  However I'm enough of a realist to understand that he holds the power and if he won't sign a new contract then we would have to sell this summer to gain maximum value.  If thats the case and Messrs Lerner, Faulkner and Houllier can't persuade him to stay (and that should be there number 1 priority onced the liverpool game is out of the way) then bidding starts at £20m.  He would improve every one of the top 5 in the left midfield position apart from maybe Citeh and because of that we're in a strong position if a few of them want him.

The one caveat I have onYoung and where I disagree with Houllier is that his best position for me is left wing/midfield.  He's not good enough to play the withdrawn striker role as he doesn't possess the range of passing that the true masters in that position provide.  His workrate, crossing ability, pace and ability to beat a man are better deployed out wide where he gets more space.


And as for people suggesting we should sell Downing, words fail me.  Best and most consistent player this season by a country mile.   

[midnite]

[quote author=AV82EC link=topic=43140.

The one caveat I have onYoung and where I disagree with Houllier is that his best position for me is left wing/midfield.  He's not good enough to play the withdrawn striker role as he doesn't possess the range of passing that the true masters in that position provide.  His workrate, crossing ability, pace and ability to beat a man are better deployed out wide where he gets more space.


And as for people suggesting we should sell Downing, words fail me.  Best and most consistent player this season by a country mile.   
[/quote]

With you on that. Downing has been our best player this season. He should defintaley get player of the year.

[cheltenhamlion]

Downing is going as well. The Sunday papers decided that months ago. Do keep up.

[Ian.]

Without Downing this season we would have a step closer to relegation.

It would be great if both Young and Downing stayed and if GH can get the best out of Young consistently we will just need to eradicate the defensive failures and we'll be a very good team again.

[MoetVillan]

I think they are both staying.  Downing has been tremendous this year.  Young has had a poorer run, but his work ethic and desire to win is always there, and last two games has been unplayable once more.  I think Milner becoming a bit part player at City will work in our favour.  Our team should be built around these two, and they will be revered and first names on the sheet.  I think that counts for something.... 

[TimTheVillain]

I think they are both staying.  Downing has been tremendous this year.  Young has had a poorer run, but his work ethic and desire to win is always there, and last two games has been unplayable once more.  I think Milner becoming a bit part player at City will work in our favour.  Our team should be built around these two, and they will be revered and first names on the sheet.  I think that counts for something.... 

Hope you're correct Moet !

[Stu]

According to the Rumour Mill he's off to Liverpool. We should be able to resist them lot though, they can't give him chumps football and I can't see Dagleish getting them back in the top four next season, he just has momentum behind him at the moment.

Linky: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/apr/18/football-transfer-rumours-ashley-young