SSN: "Downing won't commit to Villa"

[pauliewalnuts]

In which case this is a fire sale of sorts and we will end up with new owners halfway through the season.

You know how to put a man's mind at rest, Nirog.

*cries*

[Nirog72]

It's one option. Would it be the end of the world? No. I genuinely don't know whether having seen how things have panned out under MON Randy now feels he may like to move on. I also don't know how the worldwide recession has hit him personally. I also don't know how much he 'gambled' on getting that top 4 place and the holy grail of Champions League. Everything is speculation at the moment, I was just adding another possibility. If he sold the club tomorrow what would he get for it? How much has he personally (rather than AVFC) spent on players and is he trying to recoup this? As I intimated, if it's a fire sale he hasn't gone about it in a traditional way as he has spent far too much of his own cash to  make it that worthwhile. I normally talk shit so probably am now too!

[JUAN PABLO]

how the fook has he got 27 england caps .. 

[David_Nab]

The Sun is running a similar story.

[eamonn]

If he wants to go, for £20m I'd let him. His stock will never be higher and based on Big 'Eck's transfer dealings at Blose, I would trust him to spend that and they Young money and improve us. If he's not given the full proceeds, as others have mentioned, Randy probably needs to think about why he's the custodian of the club anymore.

[The Left Side]

The Sun is running a similar story.

Indeed and it looks like it may happen!

[Dante Lavelli]

I'd sell for £20m. His stock will never be higher than now and personally I'd prefer players who want to be here. With £35m we can replace one left winger and still have money left over to invest elsewhere.

Whilst I liked young and downing, by playing both (all the time) we always seemed to be compromising one of their talents by playing one out of position.

[Redman]

I remember big 'Eck pushing hard to sign Jovanovic before we got him.

How would you feel about throwing him in as a sweetener?

I quite rate the guy to be honest and am a bit disappointed he never got a decent crack under Roy or Kenny.

[*shellac*]

He was quite good in Resident Evil.

[Toronto Villa]

if this goes through between Benitez and Dalglish, Liverpool would have paid £95m for these 4 English players - Glen Johnson, Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing. Now I'll accept that the four players in question are decent, but surely that same money could have been much better spent?

[sg]

18months of 'service'... its fucking laughable if true.

Id take the cash personally. Then on 17th Dec, designate a special man marking role to Mr Petrov, job done!

[PeterWithe]

I remember big 'Eck pushing hard to sign Jovanovic before we got him.

How would you feel about throwing him in as a sweetener?

I quite rate the guy to be honest and am a bit disappointed he never got a decent crack under Roy or Kenny.

One of the papers ran a story last week that moves to some Belgian clubs had fell through as he was on over £100k a week with two years left on his deal, if I were him I'd be going nowhere either.

[PeterWithe]

Seems only the Mirror are running with this at the moment. In the same piece they appear to be suggesting that Liverpool will sell 'deadwood' like Merales to pay for Downing, wasn't he one of the best players for them last year?

[Phil from the upper holte]

If true he's a prick let him go. Wanker

[supertom]

To be honest, 20 million for Downing would be daylight robbery on our part. I'd take the money and buy then with our add it to the coffers and sign some decent foreign talent to compliment our quality youngsters. Downing was easily our best player last season but that was more an indication of how poor our season was. I'd still only say he had a 7/10 season to be honest. And if I'm further being honest, that's the best you'll get from him. Fuck him off, and buy someone better. He's a good player, but he'll never be close to being a great player. Ash Young will be missed far more.