SSN: "Downing won't commit to Villa"

[garyshawsknee]

It sums up modern football,the guy has a decent six months and thinks he should be in a champions league team. A few good performances in an England shirt and he turns into Steve Hodge.

[eastie]

Personally, I'd let Downing and Ash go and sign N'Zogbia and Larsson - leaving us with about £20m profit.

Good point jj, although a lot depends on how the new manager likes to play, he may not want to use 2 wide men and we have marc already here , interesting few weeks ahead i feel.

[kippaxvilla2]

Quite simply no player should be allowed to leave Villa until the new manager is in place.  What the fuk has happened to football where the manager is having no say on who stays and who goes.  If Liverpool want Downing they can pay us a fukin inflated fee or we say no your not for sale - similar to Barry.  It worked that season and it can work again.  And is Downing thick anyway - the last time I checked Liverpool were not in the Champions League and I think they have as much chance as no one next season of entering into it.  Now, if he is on about a potential lucractive move to Shakhtar Donetsk, then that's different as he would walk into their side probably and get a CL place he so covets.  God these blokes are in another world.  Agents should be Struan(g) up.

[Merv]

Personally, I'd let Downing and Ash go and sign N'Zogbia and Larsson - leaving us with about £20m profit.

Me too. Start with N'Zogbia on the left, Albrighton on the right next season; use Larsson if we want a tighter 4-4-2 or play him on the right of a midfield three if we go 4-3-3/4-5-1.

Don't tell Wigan would turn down £10m for N'Zogbia - and Larsson's on a free.

[Rigadon]

The problem is that Larsson isn't as good as Young or Downing and Albrighton is still very young.  We need players of equal or better ability or well have more talk of transition for another year.

[boboonthecorner]

I don't want our best players to leave, and I don't hate them for being ambitious.

But I hope he doesn't expect us to bend over and be shafted just so he can get exactly what he wants.

If he wants away then fans turning on him helps him feel better about it.

He earns £60k a week, I'm sure he give a rats arse what the fans think. There's no defending his words, as I said before Young has earned his shot at the big time. Downing was injured when we bought him, if he's using the fact that MON has gone then why was he so average when he was still here? He had a good season in an average team, shut up and earn your fucking money you whinging twat.

[Merv]

That's why, for me, Larsson isn't a nailed-on starter. But he gives you more toughness and tenacity at RM, so you can take Albrighton out of the firing line when he needs a rest. Larsson is also a genuine RM rather than a RW - we've not had one for a while - so he'd give us more tactical flexibility, be comfortable playing CM or, as I said, on the right of a midfield trio.

N'Zobgia, for me, is at least as good as Downing. Albrighton is young but not that young - 22 later this year. Ready to play more regularly, IMO.

That covers our wide positions and allows us to recruit an attacking midfielder, perhaps.

[Rigadon]

Valid points Merv, it's just Larsson always looked rather limited when I've seen him play for Blues.  Albrighton ought to be ready to pay a bigger part this season, he certainly looked the part during the first half of the season but he did tail off (as younger players invariably do).  The last game I saw him play was Wigan and he looked like a ghost of the effervescent ball of energy from pre-Christmas.  Surely just a confidence issue from playing in a struggling side.  I hope he'll step up and seeing as we do not take first team training at Villa, we'll have to see what the new manager thinks when he gets appointed I guess. 

[eastie]

larssons set piece delivery impressed me greatly on occassions i saw him last season -on a free he would be a useful addition.

[john e]

as someone who never thought he was any good and still dont, i would actually love it if he shipped out to Liverpool or Spurs or anywhere really for a load of dosh,
i'm sure we could get someone else in who would be a lot better with the cash

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Agreed john e!
Downing's had a pretty decent season...but he should! He's a senior professional on a lot of money who should be able to have an influence on a game. Haven't seen him do that very much at all. His work rate has improved recently but it has been really crap at times - in my head I still have the image of Kyle Walker pointing to Jarvis and telling Downing to mark him - Downing didn't and we went down at home to Wolves!!! Good players don't do that. I think he's got great potential and keep waiting for him to do great things but he rarely does. I can't really see him making a big impact with any of the CL teams. In his defence I think I would not commit yet either, simply because of the GH situation. Bring in the right man and I'm pretty sure he will be happy to stay. Ash going to ManU is different. As a player who wouldn't want a go with them? His dead ball delivery has been pisspoor at times and we waste so many potential scoring chances because of it. Larsson's been good in that department in a struggling team.

[TheSandman]

So some people criticise Downing's mercenary attitude and want us to sign N'Zogbia. Fuck me.

Matt Jarvis please.

[ozzjim]

N'Zogbia for Young, Jarvis for Downing.

[eastie]

N'Zogbia for Young, Jarvis for Downing.

We have albrighton here and the new manager may well not to want to play with 2 wide men in the team.

If it is hughes i would expect ireland to play a key role in the team as hughes got him playing superbly under him at city.

[supertom]

Downing will only ever be a good player. He'll never be really good, let alone great. As long as we get good money and signed someone as good or (hopefully) better, I wouldn't be too sad.

Frankly I'm more excited having Albrighton in our line up and kicking on to be a potential Villa great.

Downing will only flatter to decieve at a "bigger" club.