SSN: "Downing won't commit to Villa"

[Holy Trinity]

if he cost 15 he certainly isnt there record! i think he must have been 15 with add ons if hes there record, officially jose antonio reyes cost 17.5 million so he's there record and dare i say it at the time not as good as downing. still 20 million is possible for them to throw in a player as a make weight 15 + bentner or eboue or almunia or ramsey theres a few good youths there aswel so dont rule anything out, especially as ashavin, nasri, fabregas, bentner, almunia, eboue all likely to leave and clichy already gone to city they are going to tear the squad up and try again downing and gerviniho either side of a 4 5 1 would suit there playing style

Reyes was £8m or £10.5m (depending on who's report you belive) plus add ons.  Recent reports say that Wiltord cost them more (£13m) and was their transfer record until they signed Arshavin.

See here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/4438430/Arsenal-wait-for-Andrei-Arshavin-transfer-to-be-ratified-by-Premier-League.html

And here http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/arsenal-could-smash-transfer-record-for-arshavin-1365851.html

I still doubt they'll spend that much on Downing.  Only Liverpool and Man City throw silly money around.

After a bit of digging it was 10.5 + 7 in add ons. Im guessing as he was shit it was only the 10.5

[Handsworth Wood Villa]

Dug out some quotes from Stewart Downing.

From this:

Yes, I am happy here. There is speculation that players are going to clubs all the time but I am happy here. Since the first day I came here I have enjoyed every minute

A lot of faith went into me when Martin paid a lot of money for me when I was injured

On a personal note I want to do well because the club put a lot of faith in me

It's a family club. You feel very welcome and there's a great environment. I love the fact the team has great ambition for the future

I'm looking forward to next season already. We're looking to really progress

I am thoroughly enjoying my time at Villa. Even though it's been a frustrating season, I see the bigger picture and the ambition of the club

It’s part and parcel of being a player and doing well. Ever since I was young I’ve read stories saying ‘you’re going here, you’re going there.' Obviously if you have a good season you get linked, but I’m happy here

There are terrific players here. I’m confident, despite this season, that we’re going in the right direction and, if we get the right players in, then I’m happy

The important thing in football is if you’re happy, then why change it. I know it’s been a disappointing season but I can see the bigger picture

To this

My agent had a recent meeting with our chief executive. However, I am 26, and at a major crossroads in my career, so I won't be committing to a new deal at the moment

I want to keep playing and enjoying my football. When I was injured that made me realise what it can be like to be out for such a long time. It hurt. The most important thing is to play football, but I do want to play in the Champions League at some point

With England as well, all the top players play in good teams. I'm no different

You just want the best for your career. You want to finish with medals at the end of it so, if it's a step up with Villa or with someone else, then I'm ready for it

You watch teams in the Champions League and it makes you wish you were there. You sit at home and watch it, hear the music come on, you see the teams and you think 'that's where you want to be.
It's the pinnacle. It's the best. It's the best standard with the best players. It would be nice to taste that one day

My agent had a meeting with the club - just one meeting - and he just felt it was the right time not to sign my contract

Will I be at Villa next season? I'm not sure

You hope they do (understand) but normal fans will want you to stay at their club for the rest of your life. If you do leave there's obviously a bit of bitterness there

You hope they do understand because, it's like any job, if there's a better job on hand, or a better level to do it, then people do it

It's up to their fans and their opinions of me. If they want to be loud and clear with what they think of me, then that's fine

 

[Jim Shoes]

Traitor's a bit strong imo, I'm disappointed but not surprised that he see Liverpool having a better chance of giving him CL football.

However they are no where near even qualifying (again imo) and the players that they have brought don't seem the type to get them into the top four, so I have my doubts he will ever get his wish.

If Villa can get around 20m and ONLY if he puts in a transfer request then would I sell if it were me but then it's not my money. RL, Mcleish might feel what's the point in waiting 12 months just to hear the constant bleating of his agent and then only get half of what he is worth today.

TBH I also think that if he stays he will get plenty of shit from the VP faithful that it wouldn't do anyone any favour's, better that he goes now.

[pooligan]

Agree with you Jim. I would also add the guy acted as a big fairy pulling out of any 50-50 tackle while he wanted to play for us,what would he be like if he was playing while his heart is not in it?

[Chipsticks]

Not quite the Judas Barry was. I can understand Downing leaving because of his International prospects and also mostly because of how poor we were last season, and maybe he sees the signing of McCleish as a lack of ambition. Barry had none of those factors, as we'd had a decent few seasons and he'd already secured a place in the England team.

Still, it's a shame - but I think "traitor" is a bit of a strong word.

[andrew08]

We will have got £40m for 2 players who divided opinion amongst the fans. A signicent number thought Ash was a diving over rated twat and I would personally view Downings increase in value from £12m to £20m as unturndownable.good business all round I'd say.

[alanclare]

You all carry on as if Premiership football were a gentlemen's club or an officers' mess, where codes of behaviour and ethics and loyalty and "doing the right thing" were what what mattered, way above such mundane things as a man's income or monetary value in a transfer market. This Division is a mad-house where incredibly lucky young men can attract offers of wealth beyond the realms of Croesus. And all this so that the games that they play, both on and off the pitch, can be watched on TV by a world-wide audience who are lured by their celebrity, largely generated by the media coverage that their wealth attracts.

I have said before - just accept that your job is that of an extra on a film set i.e. to provide the crowd noise and the passion. And you have to pay for the privilege of doing it.

[richard moore]

Well said Alan, you might as well start a thread like this for any premier league player you care to mention. I'm amazed anyone is in the slightest bit surprised and even bothers to comment about it any more!

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Downing was poor imo in his first season with us, but we stuck by him; he was arguably best of a bad bunch last season AND he broke back into the England team, while with AV, where he played the best I've ever seen him play - putting himself in the shop window?
As my old man used to say "would you go into the trenches with him?" NO!
Downing always has been and always will be a player with fantastic potential never quite realised because of his own attitude and lack of determination to really want to win, NOT because of the team he plays for. I just think he will ALWAYS be a bit disappointing, whoever he plays for.
Sell him, and if we get 20 miilion for him so much the better!

[darren woolley]

He just went about things the wrong way he should have not said anything about wanting to leave but because he as said he wants to leave after one good season I can see why we are all upset about him leaving.

[richard moore]

And well said Frank too - I sense a coming together of 'old gits' on this one with Alan. Things aren't what they used to be....!

[cheltenhamlion]

If he wants out then he can go at the right price. As long as reinvest the dough I can live with that.

[PaulTheVillan]

Downing pledges to stay at Villa

 

[Mazrim]

I've never thought of Downing as the kind of character who would act any differently to be honest so I'm not disappointed, or at least no more than usual. You hope for better but it's a fool's hope.
But, he can easily be replaced so I'm really struggling to give a fuck.
Just get the right deal for us and REPLACE HIM BEFORE WE SELL HIM!

As for traitors. There are few players who have any kind of honour any more. It's easier to think of players as a commodity now. They come and go and you buy and sell as you need. You get more attached to the ones you produce yourself but otherwise it's not at all how it used to be.

[Brend'Watkins]

It's not that he want's a move to a club that can give him CL football, that to an extent is understandable.   To pledge yourself in one breath to your current club is fine but to then openly come out and say pretty much the exact opposite in the next is not. 

It would be nice to think he read the Paul Scholes article yesterday and felt an uncomfortable rush of blood to his face doing so.