Ashley Young

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

I don't know why, as I can't logically explain it but I think he'll sign a new contract to stay at Villa. I remember the open training session where all the other players couldn't get down the tunnel quick enough. However,  Ash stayed and signed autographs and had photo's taken with every single person in the ground much to the annoyance of the stewards and club officials. I think he enjoys being the Big Fish at Villa Park and will see what has happened to his mate Jimmy Milner at Man CiŁy.

[Concrete John]

I don't know why, as I can't logically explain it but I think he'll sign a new contract to stay at Villa.

Only way I can see this happening is if we get in a really high profile manager or player early in the summer and he gets excited about where we might be going next season.

[KidPoker]

I don't know why, as I can't logically explain it but I think he'll sign a new contract to stay at Villa. I remember the open training session where all the other players couldn't get down the tunnel quick enough. However,  Ash stayed and signed autographs and had photo's taken with every single person in the ground much to the annoyance of the stewards and club officials. I think he enjoys being the Big Fish at Villa Park and will see what has happened to his mate Jimmy Milner at Man CiŁy.

It makes no sense from a financial perspective though. He could have been on big wages before Christmas. He has lost out on quite a bit of money because he has refused to discuss his contract until the summer.

[gti2win]

I would understand if he does move on to an established top 4 club, he always seems to give 100% when on the pitch, sure he can be a little frustrating with his deadball stuff this last season or so, but we will miss him if he moves on imo, what i can't understand is why yesterday I had some "fan" yesterday behind me in the upper north going absolutely mental screaming at him everyname under the sun when he was subbed off.

[Duncan Shaw]

Mmmm, GMac on the Beeb..
Gerard Houllier to return as Villa boss - McAllister
Page last updated at 20:31 GMT, Sunday, 22 May 2011 21:31 UK
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Houllier a definite for next season - McAllister
Gary McAllister expects Gerard Houllier to return from a health scare to resume managing Aston Villa.

McAllister has been in charge of the first team since Houllier, 63, was admitted to hospital on 20 April before being discharged nine days later.

"Most definitely," said McAllister when asked after Villa's 1-0 win over Liverpool if Houllier would be back.

"As far as I'm concerned, every indication is that Gerard is going to be back here. He's the manager."

The Midlands side beat the Reds courtesy of a first-half Stewart Downing strike to end a frustrating season in ninth place.

Villa winger Ashley Young clapped the applauding home fans as he was substituted in the 89th minute - but McAllister insisted the send-off did not mean the England international was leaving the club in the summer.

"He had cramp," said the Scot. "It wasn't a case of him getting a standing ovation because it was his last game. The facts are he had cramp and had to get off.

"I can fully understand people being interested in Ashley and there is the lure of the Champions League but we are going to try to convince him to stay here and maybe one or two signings might change his mind, so we live in hope."

So if he's not going, why would one or two signings "change his mind"
Says it all, he's off.

[5ft811st2 Durham]

I've got no problem in Young leaving.

Sure he's a natural footballer but his style  isn't particularly exciting  compared to the likes of Tony Daley or Tony Morley.

 As a winger he isn't direct or quick enough and he's shown this season that he can't really cut it in a free role.

[Clark W Griswold]

I've got no problem in Young leaving.

Sure he's a natural footballer but his style  isn't particularly exciting  compared to the likes of Tony Daley or Tony Morley.

 As a winger he isn't direct or quick enough and he's shown this season that he can't really cut it in a free role.

He offers a large creative dimension to the team though. I would not want to see him go, but i would swap him for a defence like we had in the mid nineties and take our chances that the rest of our attacking players can do enough without him.

[Matt Collins]

I used to love Tony Daley, but Ashley Young is streets ahead as a player.

[Shrek]

11 assists this season, his drive and commitment will be missed and hard to replace.

[Somniloquism]

11 assists this season, his drive and commitment will be missed and hard to replace.

Ashley Young 9 goals and 15 assists from 39 games started plus 4 subs in all competitions.

Downing 7 goals and 7 assists from the same figures.

Although that looks like Ash is definitely the better player it must be remembered that he took the majority of freekicks, corners and penalties in our team and Downing played out of position for most of the season to accommodate him. I'm not denigrating Young as a player and he had some skill when required but when he does leave it might mean we become more expressive as a team as we are not channelling most of our attacks through one player. Downings pass to Bent which almost led to a tap in for Gabby made me think we would not miss him as much as suggested.

And include Marc with 6 goals and 5 assists in 22 Starts and 10 Sub appearances and I reckon we will be OK unlike when we lost Milner.

[Dave]

Downing played out of position for most of the season to accommodate him

Did he?

I'm pretty sure we'd have carried on playing inside-out wingers regardless. We've done it with Young for the last four years so I don't really see it as out of position. It's the style that we're choosing to play.

[ozzjim]

Downing has done well on the right when that side anyhow. The biggest mistake was playing 4-4-2 with 2 wingers and Ash in the side. It either has to be 4-3-3 with him and Downing wide of Bent, or flat 4-4-2 with him and another out wide. This in the hole bit without any midfield protection and him not creating while plying there hurts us.

[Somniloquism]

Downing played out of position for most of the season to accommodate him

Did he?

I'm pretty sure we'd have carried on playing inside-out wingers regardless. We've done it with Young for the last four years so I don't really see it as out of position. It's the style that we're choosing to play.

TBH you are probably right that the management team like that with the wingers. I think a breakdown of the assists from Downing and Albrighton would show most of them coming from their natural sides.

I can see why they like it if the player can also cross with their "wrong" foot but Downing has no confidence in it and Young just stopped doing that and always came inside at every opportunity. I think that was partly why he seemed to go backwards as he would prefer to go himself rather then cross from the byline for others. I always think playing wrong side makes the player too greedy, similar to Adam Johnson at Citeh. Giggs has pretty much played left side all his 20 years.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Downing played out of position for most of the season to accommodate him

Did he?

I'm pretty sure we'd have carried on playing inside-out wingers regardless. We've done it with Young for the last four years so I don't really see it as out of position. It's the style that we're choosing to play.

TBH you are probably right that the management team like that with the wingers. I think a breakdown of the assists from Downing and Albrighton would show most of them coming from their natural sides.

I can see why they like it if the player can also cross with their "wrong" foot but Downing has no confidence in it and Young just stopped doing that and always came inside at every opportunity. I think that was partly why he seemed to go backwards as he would prefer to go himself rather then cross from the byline for others. I always think playing wrong side makes the player too greedy, similar to Adam Johnson at Citeh. Giggs has pretty much played left side all his 20 years.

Giggs has been playing on several sides. Allegedly .....

[WA Villan]

11 assists this season, his drive and commitment will be missed and hard to replace.

Ashley Young 9 goals and 15 assists from 39 games started plus 4 subs in all competitions.

Downing 7 goals and 7 assists from the same figures.

Although that looks like Ash is definitely the better player it must be remembered that he took the majority of freekicks, corners and penalties in our team and Downing played out of position for most of the season to accommodate him. I'm not denigrating Young as a player and he had some skill when required but when he does leave it might mean we become more expressive as a team as we are not channelling most of our attacks through one player. Downings pass to Bent which almost led to a tap in for Gabby made me think we would not miss him as much as suggested.

And include Marc with 6 goals and 5 assists in 22 Starts and 10 Sub appearances and I reckon we will be OK unlike when we lost Milner.

This is how I feel. Young has got ahead of himself a bit, acting the star. Cannot fault his work rate, but his football is pretty poor to the amount of attention he gets. I cannot believe people think we need him that bad. Villa have lost far better players than Young and carried on. I believe he is a bit of a luxury to what he actually contributes on the field or should I say his success rate ie: corners , free kicks on target. I think some people like him because he looks good on the ball. In reality as a footballer he is pretty limited, for the money we can get for him we would and will replace him with a player who will bring more to the team, bringing more options to open up our attack more, instead of it going down a one way street. Like I said cannot fault his work rate, but it's no good having a player who cannot deliver consistently. All I see is a player who repeatedly does the same thing with the same result, I can honestly say I don't think I've seen him beat a player from a standing start. He is not that special, not as much as he thinks anyway.