SSN: "Downing won't commit to Villa"

[SteveN]

N'Zogbia for Young, Jarvis for Downing.

Martinez has said that Wigan would only let N'Zogbia go to a Chumps League club, although I doubt that would hold.

Larsson, Jarvis, Phillips if we are looking UK but you half hope we might find an exciting foreign prospect

[eastie]

N'Zogbia for Young, Jarvis for Downing.

Martinez has said that Wigan would only let N'Zogbia go to a Chumps League club, although I doubt that would hold.

Larsson, Jarvis, Phillips if we are looking UK but you half hope we might find an exciting foreign prospect

Phillips as in swp?

[Chris Smith]

N'Zogbia for Young, Jarvis for Downing.

Martinez has said that Wigan would only let N'Zogbia go to a Chumps League club, although I doubt that would hold.

Larsson, Jarvis, Phillips if we are looking UK but you half hope we might find an exciting foreign prospect

Phillips as in swp?

Leighton.

[Merv]

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

Matt Jarvis please.

What's the problem with N'Zogbia? Birmingham made a move for him, Wigan agreed the fee, Birmingham wouldn't pay his wages (the same reason they missed out on several players in the last year), N'Zogbia returned to Wigan and played his arse off for the club.

[SteveN]

N'Zogbia for Young, Jarvis for Downing.

Martinez has said that Wigan would only let N'Zogbia go to a Chumps League club, although I doubt that would hold.

Larsson, Jarvis, Phillips if we are looking UK but you half hope we might find an exciting foreign prospect

Phillips as in swp?

Good grief no - Phillips as in young Blackpool winger, or possibly Leslie. Ding dong.

[adrenachrome]

Sporting Life

BENT HOPES YOUNG AND DOWNING STAY

Darren Bent has pleaded with his England and Aston Villa team-mates Ashley Young and Stewart Downing to remain at their club - and continue to help him deliver goals.

Bent has benefited from the service provided by Manchester United target Young and Downing - linked strongly with Liverpool - since his £18 million move from Sunderland to Villa in January.

It has helped him to become a first-choice striker for England and he will be looking to score for the fourth successive international on Saturday against Switzerland at Wembley.

Bent said: "I've been in both of their ears trying to convince them (Young and Downing) to stay.

"They are two top, top players and, if we can hold onto them next season, it will be fantastic.

"I hope they stay. What is going on in their careers and lives is down to them.

"But for me, being a striker, you want the best service and they are probably the two best wingers in the league.

"If we can keep hold of them two I will be very, very happy."

Bent netted nine times in 16 games for Villa and carried that form into the international arena with his goals against Denmark and Wales after breaking his duck in the autumn against Switzerland.

He said: "A lot of people, when I made the move, were questioning if it was the right decision.

"I always knew in my head it was the right decision for me and my performances for Villa have been good.

"I've managed to get goals and my England career has picked up as well. For me, it was the perfect move at the right time."

[Summers]

Nice to see Benty being there to keep Downing and Ash on their feet while at Camp England. Barry and Milner came back with heads turned from it.

[Rigadon]

I might sound like a sad sack here but I think we'd be vulnerable to losing Bent too if we hadn't just signed him.  Away on England duty, had a great season etc.   

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Read his comments today. Bent loves it at the Villa.

[Dante Lavelli]

Controversial but could this actually be good news.  It wasn't so long ago that Downing was the target for the boo-boys and it is possible that - especially with a new manger - that he will return to that sort of form.

For once villa are in a pretty strong position here in the sense that he still has two years left on his contract so will attract the maximum fee.  Furthermore, he is almost 28, so his value will start depreciating soon (from an age perspective).

If we could get 15m (or more) then I would sell him and get a hungrier player who is looking to prove himself.  With 15m for Young, our new manger would have a decent "war-chest" to shape the team into his style.

[eastie]

Controversial but could this actually be good news.  It wasn't so long ago that Downing was the target for the boo-boys and it is possible that - especially with a new manger - that he will return to that sort of form.

For once villa are in a pretty strong position here in the sense that he still has two years left on his contract so will attract the maximum fee.  Furthermore, he is almost 28, so his value will start depreciating soon (from an age perspective).

If we could get 15m (or more) then I would sell him and get a hungrier player who is looking to prove himself.  With 15m for Young, our new manger would have a decent "war-chest" to shape the team into his style.

£18m please .

[Dante Lavelli]

A list of replacements off the top of my head:

Expensive:  Gervihio, Adam Johnson, Witsel
Cheap: Hoillet, Lasson, Jarvis, Chamberlain

Buy one from the top and one from the bottom, complemented by Albrighton and I think we would have the wide positions covered for a good few years.  We would almost certainly least break even and possibly have enough to buy a young prodigy for one of the other positions we need.

[Rigadon]

Read his comments today. Bent loves it at the Villa.

I read them, he loves it at Villa at the moment.  He probably loved Sunderland too.  I'm not trying to be controversial or anything, we are vulnerable and if Bent was 2 years away from the end of his contract he'd more than likely be making the same noises Downing is

[Dante Lavelli]

Read his comments today. Bent loves it at the Villa.

I read them, he loves it at Villa at the moment.  He probably loved Sunderland too.  I'm not trying to be controversial or anything, we are vulnerable and if Bent was 2 years away from the end of his contract he'd more than likely be making the same noises Downing is

Agreed, that probably is the reality so we should be scouting the world to find a young replacement for him now i.e. start planning.  My knowledge is far from extensive so I will pluck some predictable names to use as an example. 

So if we think Bent is likely to leave in two years time we need to try and guess who will be peaking at that point.  My guess would be The Fonz, Connor Wickham and Daniel Sturridge. 

1.  The Fonz is ours already so what can we do to make him better?  I'd suggest sending him on loan.
2.  Connor Wickham.  Could we do a deal with Ipswich where he signs with us but goes back to Ipswich on loan for two seasons.  It would make him more affordable and match ready for when Bent departs.
3.  I actually think that Sturridge would be a good punt for us now as he has the versatility to play in a number of roles.

[PaulWinch again]

His comments today irritated me a bit, but such is life. We shall see what happens.