SSN: "Downing won't commit to Villa"

[PaulWinch again]

No. I'm affraid not.
I hope the club are planning on arresting this negativity thats swamping us at the moment.
We need some good news and soon.

Yes the club needs to think very carefully, I understand wanting to sort their finances out. But a massive part of that is getting the crowds in, and it is all unacceptably negative at the moment and that won't get people into the ground. You also need to sell shirts and getting in attractive signings is part of that. There needs to be positivity coming out of the club and it's up to the board to do something.

[Iago]

It is going to be a difficult season coming up for us. We must get behind the team regardless of our views about the board.

[Rico]

Personally I think any player who actively wants out should be allowed to go, but at a price that suits us, and at a time that suits us. So thẹ only real question is how much do we value him at? So if we value him at say 15 million, then we should add on an extra 5 million and say, go tell Mr. Dalglish this is what we want, straight cash, no installments and he's all yours, no haggling, no bargaining. Go away if you can't afford it, come back when you can. We can be a selling club, but a selling club that stands up for itself.

[Matt Collins]

I agree theres a risk that fab unrest pulls the club apart. Even in a worst case scenario we're still in a position that 10 or more epl clubs would envy by there's a risk that all the negativity becomes a real problem, especially at home.

Even a team of:

New keeper - young, Collins, dunne, Clark - albrighton , petrov, makoun, delph - gabby, bent

Subs: Marshall, lichaj, baker, bannan, Hogg, delfouneso, heskey

Which is about the most pessimistic I can possibly be, should be a mid table side.

[Holtenderinthesky]

When Downing goes it will just re-affirm that the "bright future" bollocks we were fed when Randy arrived is well and truly over.  We have got used to selling our best player every season but selling our best TWO in the same pre-season?  Who on earth is Alex McLeish going to be able to attract to a club with our current level of ambition that sells its best players all the time?  That's if he even gets any decent money to spend.  Anyone who thinks we'll use the Downing cash to buy Nzogbia is mad, as if we would be able to attract him now, and as if Randy will shell out for him.  Not a chance.  These are terrible times at VP.

[Irish villain]

Any muli-billionaire tycoons out there that would buy us?!

[kippaxvilla2]

I am that depressed at the moment that I would even see Gardner's return as a positive move.

[kippaxvilla2]

Why are we allowing Cuellar to leave also - didnt McLeish sign him for Rangers.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I am that depressed at the moment that I would even see Gardner's return as a positive move.

In a moment of bizarre daydreaming at the school's prizegiving today I thought exactly the same!
Looking at a few of the names we've been linked with - too many who I've never heard of before - my mind started to put economy and scrapping for points as a priority...
he was Blose best player last season and chipped in a few goals! He might at a bit of steel to the midfield. He wasn't all bad when he was with us. It would be lovely to have him in the same team as Gary!
I was trying really hard to justify this terrible scenario to myself!
Is this what it's come to?

[monkeyboy]

You can't blame Downing can you? Even leaving aside the possibility that our ambitions have arguably been reduced Liverpool are a better option than us as things stand. Same goes for Spurs. If Lerner is determined to run the club on the cheap then you definitely cannot blame Downing and everyone on this site who claims they would act differently if they were in his position is a liar.

If budgets are being reined in then the person I really feel sorry for is McLeish. He, like all of us, sees that the squad needs heavy remodeling but he may not get the money he needs to do it. The fact is with so many of our supporters ready to turn on him that if next season goes tits up he will be the person who will get the blame despite it not actually being his fault. If I was more cynical I'd suggest that if the board are prepared to dramatically rein in costs at whatever cost then an unpopular appointment might be a desirable one as it can act as a scapegoat.

Got to agree with the McLeish bit - he really is on a hiding to nothing isn't he.

If we are not 5-0 up by half time against Fulham - he's going to need a squadron of SAS  to escort him to his cuppa

I'm not prepared to give the board the benefit of the doubt re cynicism bit opposite needing a fall guy when this all goes tits up - i just think they have no real idea about what they are doing .

Think Downing will be pivotal - if they do flog him to the dippers - we are raising the white flag and nothing of quality will come in to replace them - why would they.

Think Lerner needs to say something to manage our expectations - along the lines of the first 5 year plan didn't work out, so the  next phase is going to be built upon mid table consolidation while we do x,y and z to push on for the future.

No expecting anything from the board - perhaps thats the route of the problem - i don't expect anything from this board!!!

Onwards and upwards - who knows perhaps there's a Saudi Prince out there thinking "that Aston Villa looks like a ripper place to sink a shedload of cash into - you know what thats what i'll do - fuck it!"

(Saudi Princes formerly associated with Portsmouth FC - kindly jog on :-))

[Villa'Zawg]

Lets sell Darren Bent too. I bet we'd get good money for him as well.

Good idea, we could probably get a few quid for Gabby while we're at it.

Spurs once sold their best player and look at them now!

By selling all of ours, we shall eclipse them within two years max.

ah but they applied the clever trick of taking the money they raised from selling their best player and then spending double that amount on buying new players.

[woody4866]

Why are we allowing Cuellar to leave also - didnt McLeish sign him for Rangers.

that probably says it all

if cuellar wants out and downing`s on the way (more than likely) and no replacements on the horizon - not even rumours, i say we are doomed - doomed i tell ya

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Why are we allowing Cuellar to leave also - didnt McLeish sign him for Rangers.

that probably says it all

if cuellar wants out and downing`s on the way (more than likely) and no replacements on the horizon - not even rumours, i say we are doomed - doomed i tell ya

The only possible replacements I've read about in the last 48 hrs are a Kenyan international and a bloke from a Dutch club I've never heard of. Perhaps we're going to specialise in uncovering real gems who will take the Prem by storm!
Or perhaps they're the only players we can tempt to join us!?

[hartman_1982]

Why are we allowing Cuellar to leave also - didnt McLeish sign him for Rangers.

that probably says it all

if cuellar wants out and downing`s on the way (more than likely) and no replacements on the horizon - not even rumours, i say we are doomed - doomed i tell ya

The only possible replacements I've read about in the last 48 hrs are a Kenyan international and a bloke from a Dutch club I've never heard of. Perhaps we're going to specialise in uncovering real gems who will take the Prem by storm!
Or perhaps they're the only players we can tempt to join us!?

Or you will wake up and realise we don't conduct our business in the press.

[holteender76]

Downing aint gone....... yet, but now I'm getting concerned hearing and reading more and more that he's gonna slap a transfer request in. This is my opinion and probably controversial I blame Mr O'niell for knackering my beloved Villa up by running the club like his play thing and Mr Lerner not keeping an eye or being fed duff info by O'niell that it was ok to build an amazing reserve side..... when Randy realised what MON was doing it was too late.... Im looking forward to next season but not expecting much ..... mid table plus a decent cup run seems like what I'll have to settle for. 'SIGH' you never know F'eck might pull some signings out the bag.