SSN: "Downing won't commit to Villa"

[nick harper]

There is no way the club will consider letting Downing go if Young leaves.

[PhilGibson]

Rather annoying from Stewart, considering he came to us on one leg, we paid his wages which are probably very significant for over 6 months without him playing a game, he has one decent season, when the team is really struggling, gets back in the England side and then starts to stir up wanting away.

God I hate modern day football.

[Clampy]

Rather annoying from Stewart, considering he came to us on one leg, we paid his wages which are probably very significant for over 6 months without him playing a game, he has one decent season, when the team is really struggling, gets back in the England side and then starts to stir up wanting away.

 

Could he be a contender for a Steve Hodge Award?

[LeeB]

Rather annoying from Stewart, considering he came to us on one leg, we paid his wages which are probably very significant for over 6 months without him playing a game, he has one decent season, when the team is really struggling, gets back in the England side and then starts to stir up wanting away.

 

Could he be a contender for a Steve Hodge Award?

Fucking hell, I was just about to post that there is a whiff of the Hodge about this smog munching fool.

[eastie]

Nick harper once a player wants out it's best to cash in and get rid rather than keep an unhappy player- it's not the clubs fault he's a greedy ungrateful tosser- get rid at a big fee and let's het players who are hungry to play for Aston villa .

[Rigadon]

Disappointing. 

It really is as simple as this, if we have a promising young player who gets into the England squad, not long from from that point, i.e the next available transfer window, we are going to lose them to a club in the Champions league (or one expecting to be soon).  Even if we appear to be on the cusp of qualifying we will lose the player (see Barry). 

Anybody calling for Albrighton to be included in the national team? 

Villa need to come out fighting here.  As others have said, get rid now or shut Downing up until next season.  Anything to avoid a 'saga'. 

[Merv]

Hmmm. He's had a good season, but even before this little twist I had the feeling he was our Player of the Year largely in part to the indifferent form of many around him. He was good, but not great. Most of the 'starting X1s' I posted in pre-match threads had Albrighton on the right and Young on the left; I still find it difficult to really warm to Downing, he doesn't excite me as a player and I didn't like seeing him in England squads before he joined Villa. It's different when he signs for your club, of course - you support him and want to see him do well, naturally.

Losing him and Ash in one summer would be a blow, I admit. But while I do think it'll be tough to replace Young, I think we can replace Downing far easier - N'Zogbia is an obvious candidate, Matt Jarvis another. Downing, a good season behind him and back in the England squad, is probably at the peak of his value now and £15-18m now should be considered. More than considered.

[damon loves JT]

Trying to use the press to engineer a move away when you've still got two years on your contract.

Good luck with that, Downing.

[Summers]

Didn't sound like he wanted away when SSN spoke to him at the England camp. He has two years left and we have no manager right now. He has every right to wait and see what happens before committing. If we sold Young, brought in a poor replacement and brought in Curbishley or someone, then he might well want to consider his future - and he wouldn't be able to do that if he signed a new deal. I say we wait before the people start the insults. If he does make noises and kick up a fuss about leaving, then start. I just think he's being cautious.

[Jim Shoes]

Downing the new Hodge hahahaha, I hated that fucker before the 86 WC, hated hearing fellow Villans saying "Our man Hodge" and that day against Oxford at VP I could (if I wasn't a mild pleasant natured person ;-) ) have punched his light's out.

Downing at the moment is just getting my right eyebrow raised, and IMO is a long way to go before he gets the Hodge Hatred.

To show how "mild mannered" I am for my "sins" when I lived in Birmingham a friend of mine was............I can hardly believe I'm about to admit this on a Villa forum, Robert Hopkins. Now there's a name to get most of the older Villans back up. lol

[damon loves JT]

You don't have to be a genius to know what this means.

If somebody wants to pay silly money, then fine. Otherwise I expect him to play well until the moment his contract expires.

[eastie]

i wouldnt put downing in the hodge bracket yet , although if we do play norwich early next season and he passes back and gives away a goal i will concede he is indeed the new hodgie!

[Rigadon]

How many times have we seen a Villa player in an England tracksuit talking about playing on the 'biggest stage'? 

1 decent season.

[jonzy85]

His comments re MON and Houllier are interesting. On the one hand he credits MON for giving him the belief to get back in the England team, no mention of Houllier's contribution. On the other, he seems non plussed whether Houllier stays or not.

Hardly a ringing endorsement for Houllier from our player of the season. You would think that he of all the players would be appreciative of the supposed "improvements" under Houllier, but not a dickie bird of praise from Downing in a lenghty press conference, just the bland "I had no problems with him" and "I've enjoyed working with him". Yet he still has time to praise our former manager.

I think that people have lost sight of the fact that Houllier is not the man for the Villa job healthy or otherwise. It seems the sympahty that has come from him being ill has clouded people's view of how bad he has been. If players like Downing and Young have very little good to say about him, I think it shows what was suspected throughout the season, that the players dont have time for him. It's not just a select few who have had rows with him.

As for Downing seemingly wanting out...can you blame him? A player in or around the England team should be looking at playing Champions League football. He joined us on the basis that we might be a club to challenge for it and now we arent. 12 months on he will be the next Barry/Milner/Young anyway in what is becoming a depressingly familiar theme. Maybe we should sell him now, maximise the funds. Or maybe the owner will insist in getting an out of favour player the manager doesnt rate in lieu. 

[Summers]

The article just proves to me it's his agent trying to get a move going, and Downing just wants to challenge for honours. Can't blame him for that. If he wants to go, ship him off for a very nice fee. If he wants to stay but just wants assurances on us pushing to achieve then give him the assurances. It's what we all want, Aston Villa winning things.