Ashley Young

[luke25]

Id managed to convince myself that Barry and Milner were gonna stay and then ended up been pissed off even more when they did eventually leave, so im not gonna make the same mistake again as in all honesty I think he will go and i'll wish him well..... As long as it aint bloody Spurs or Man City.

[Greg N'Ash]

way i see it is milner and barry could argue we weren't CL bound but we were there or there abouts. Barrry, well he put in a long shift with us but he shouldn't have gone public. Milner well he was fucked  over by MON in the press whether you think he was desperate to leave or not. Young has benefited immensly from joining Villa but so have we from his presence. We're 2 seasons from getting back to where we were IMO, so fair enough. if he's offered a gig at a top 4 club you can't blame him

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I'd be suprised if he stays too but he hasnt gone yet. It's not yet a certainty.
And if he goes he'll have given us 5 years and always done his best. I don't begrudge him moving on if that's what he wants.
I do know he is very fond of this club though so we'll see what happens.

I wouldn't put money on him staying, put it that way, but you never know.

The minute he said
'I don't want to talk about contracts till the end of the season' he was off.
A happy player will snap a club's hand off to get a contract signed and sealed straight away.
He hasn't put his cards on the table as he didn't want to alienate the supporters.

He's out of here, sadly.

[Mazrim]

I think we'll be right back up there next season with a bit of cute wheeler dealing in the summer.
Top 4 will be very tough to break though, as usual.

[Mazrim]

I'd be suprised if he stays too but he hasnt gone yet. It's not yet a certainty.
And if he goes he'll have given us 5 years and always done his best. I don't begrudge him moving on if that's what he wants.
I do know he is very fond of this club though so we'll see what happens.

I wouldn't put money on him staying, put it that way, but you never know.

The minute he said
'I don't want to talk about contracts till the end of the season' he was off.
A happy player will snap a club's hand off to get a contract signed and sealed straight away.
He hasn't put his cards on the table as he didn't want to alienate the supporters.

He's out of here, sadly.

Maybe. I am... (sits in meditative position) prepared for it.

[Matt C]

Nothing new here really - Young on SSN: http://dlvr.it/NyyX1

[WikiVilla]

I just hope Obatan / Gibson / Evans / O'Shea are not part of the deal
No cast offs thanks, just the £25m

[seanthevillan]

A few weeks ago I felt that Young wasn't really playing that well, didn't look committed at all and could have been subbed in a few games. His level and attitude had all the hallmarks of a player who couldn't wait for the summer to come so he could move on.

But at West Ham (which is the only game I've been to all season, so maybe I've been harsh on him) he played brilliantly once he got on the ball. In the second half he was head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch in terms of technique. And his workrate was excellent too.

One moment that stand out was after Heskey went off and he was playing behind Bent - showed for the ball in central midfield with his back to goal, dropped a shoulder and turned left but in one movement went into a double drag-back turn through two defenders and slid a ball the other direction to Gabby on the left-wing - breathtaking piece of skill.

I don't think we've seen him do that enough for the last few years and, really, he probably needs a move to step up to a consistent higher level. Anyone else got the feeling he's stagnated a bit and not made the most of his talent? That's why I do care about where he goes - because I'd like to see him become a great player.

[*shellac*]

I just hope Obatan / Gibson / Evans / O'Shea are not part of the deal
No cast offs thanks, just the £25m

How about Hernandez?

Very unlikely, but would be good if it works out.

[Villa'Zawg]

I don't think he has stagnated. I think we got better as a team, which means he hasn't stood out as much as he did at first.

Everyone appears to agree that Downing has had a very good season with 6 goals and 8 assists, Ashley has 6 goals and 9 assists (5th in PL) even though he has been playing in a new position most of the season.

One of his key attributes is that he is consistent, you can almost guarantee that he will create chances every game. I think Ashley is 2nd only to Fabregas in assists since 2006/7 with Gerrard and Lampard the only other 2 players close to him.

I think we may be surprised by the price we get if he goes in the summer because I think every team at the top of the league will want him and just as importantly, will want to prevent their rivals from getting him. That's if he doesn't go to one of the big clubs abroad.

[WikiVilla]

I just hope Obatan / Gibson / Evans / O'Shea are not part of the deal
No cast offs thanks, just the £25m

How about Hernandez?

Very unlikely, but would be good if it works out.

No chance of that possibly get Michada now or Smalling

[Mazrim]

No thanks on both counts.

[seanthevillan]

Smalling's their third choice centre-back - he won't be part of any deal.

And Villadawg, off the top of my head Young scored about 8 goals and made another 15/16 in 07/08 - and at the end of that season the general consensus amongst football supporters/commentators in the whole country was that he was destined to be an England regular and world class player.

Correct me if those stats are wildly inaccurate but he has probably stayed at about the same level since - though his freekicks seem to have dropped way down - and I think in light of that he has stagnated a little, or at least not fulfilled his potential.

[Merv]

Smalling: the man's a mystery to me. I just don't get it.

Anyway, our Ashley: I always think he gets harshly judged. I can't see how anyone can fault his effort, his energy, his commitment, and his contribution to the team. He could do some things better, yes, but he's given us fantastic value since the day he signed. His appearance record is impressive.

I'm expecting him to go, but I hope he goes somewhere where he gets CL football, and genuinely steps up to the next level. Man Utd, Arsenal - I think he deserves to play under Ferguson or Wenger. I'd be pissed off if he ends up at City, Spurs - even Chelsea.

[eamonn]

Everyone appears to agree that Downing has had a very good season with 6 goals and 8 assists, Ashle has 6 goals and 9 assists (5th in PL) even though he has been playing in a new position most of the season.

How many of Ashley's goals have been penalties though? Cracking free-kick against Bolton but he's scored, two/three goals from open play, whereas Downing's have all been like that.