SSN: "Downing won't commit to Villa"

[MoetVillan]

Jockey, I hear you.  Unfortunately it doesnt get engraved on the cup "lucky to win".  The stats say "Winner".  Second in the league a few seasons back, fairly consistent CL qualifications up until Rafa fcuked it up.  Still doesnt make me like them, but thems the facts.  I thought it was interesting that De Jong spoke out and said City had now replaced Chelski as most hated club?  Sorry, both of these are pretenders to the Manx bastards thone, and they also have to get past Liverpool for me

[Billy Walker]

I know he is an ungrateful sod who seemingly wants out but how many of us really wouldnt be the same in his position- Liverpool are are the way up , rich new owners an incredible fan base and a history 2nd to none, add to that the increase in wages and greater chance of success and who would really blame him?

We as villa fans see it differently as this is our club but to downing it is just a job and he has no real long term ties to Aston villa- sad that football is going this way but I can see why he wants to go.

Sounds to me like you've been listening too much to Tarby,  Lawro and Hansen.

History second to none?! They had a fantastic seventies and eighties when they collected league titles like no one's business.  We'll overlook the amount of money they shelled out on players (I can think of a couple of British record transfers lurking in there along with spending sprees and record salary bench marks being set.)  If Man City go on to dominate the next twenty years will they then have a history second to none?

"Incredible" fan base?  Oh, come on Eastie!  What next, The Toon Army are the most loyal fans out there?  The Busby Babes were the greatest side ever?  You're swallowing up media P.R. nonsense - which is what the average footballer does too(!)

[Pete3206]

Liverpool are a bigger club than Aston Villa and they are heading in an opposite direction to us. If I were Downing, I wouldn't think twice about going.

[eastie]

During my school years most kids supported Liverpool or Leeds and Liverpool ruled in Europe in the 70s as well as in england- I hated the way they killed games and endlessly passed to clemence to bounce the ball roll it out then get it back and bounce it again- thank god for the backpass rule.

Liverpool like man utd have worldwide support and those two clubs are also the most successful English clubs in history- it delights me that they have not won the title since 1990 and have little chance of doing so in the near future, however we are not as likely to be chasing the top 4 as they are and sadly I doubt many top players would choose villa rather than Liverpool.

I am not singing liverpools praises but looking at it from downings view and can understand why he wants to go, besides the undoubted wage rise and signing fee.

[Rigadon]

Liverpool won't make the top 4 this year.  They have paid a fuck load of money for above average players, not world beaters.  Andy Carroll?  What has he actually done to justify the hype?  Same with Henderson.  To fund this spree they sold their best player. 

Had they not had a very successful 70's and 80's (incidentally the decades that most journalists remember the best and most pundits played in) they would not be seen as being a bigger club than Villa.  You might say that's 'ifs and buts' gone mad, but they haven't won the league in a very, very long time so why do people keep speculating it could their year? 

We're back to perception I'm afraid. 

[Villanation]

During my school years most kids supported Liverpool or Leeds and Liverpool ruled in Europe in the 70s as well as in england- I hated the way they killed games and endlessly passed to clemence to bounce the ball roll it out then get it back and bounce it again- thank god for the backpass rule.

Liverpool like man utd have worldwide support and those two clubs are also the most successful English clubs in history- it delights me that they have not won the title since 1990 and have little chance of doing so in the near future, however we are not as likely to be chasing the top 4 as they are and sadly I doubt many top players would choose villa rather than Liverpool.

I am not singing liverpools praises but looking at it from downings view and can understand why he wants to go, besides the undoubted wage rise and signing fee.

I totally disagree, Liverpool for the first time in a generation have the right man in charge, for all Man U's and Man City's money i think the big challengers for Chelsea and Man Utd this season will be Liverpool, Dalgliesh knows the club and knows how they tick, by the looks of it at the expense of Arsenal.

[Mazrim]

Liverpool will challenge for the title this season.

The title of best team in Liverpool. And they'll probably just about win.

[VillaAlways]

During my school years most kids supported Liverpool or Leeds and Liverpool ruled in Europe in the 70s as well as in england- I hated the way they killed games and endlessly passed to clemence to bounce the ball roll it out then get it back and bounce it again- thank god for the backpass rule.

Liverpool like man utd have worldwide support and those two clubs are also the most successful English clubs in history- it delights me that they have not won the title since 1990 and have little chance of doing so in the near future, however we are not as likely to be chasing the top 4 as they are and sadly I doubt many top players would choose villa rather than Liverpool.

I am not singing liverpools praises but looking at it from downings view and can understand why he wants to go, besides the undoubted wage rise and signing fee.

I totally disagree, Liverpool for the first time in a generation have the right man in charge, for all Man U's and Man City's money i think the big challengers for Chelsea and Man Utd this season will be Liverpool, Dalgliesh knows the club and knows how they tick, by the looks of it at the expense of Arsenal.

Dalgleish took over at Liverpool and had an excellent run of results working under no pressure following Woy's departure.He then signed a permanent contract and looked like they had an outside chance of qualifying for Europe and then lost the last two games.
The deluded Liverpool fans think they're title challengers this year.Pressures on for KK.I don't think they'll finish above 5th

[Villanation]

During my school years most kids supported Liverpool or Leeds and Liverpool ruled in Europe in the 70s as well as in england- I hated the way they killed games and endlessly passed to clemence to bounce the ball roll it out then get it back and bounce it again- thank god for the backpass rule.

Liverpool like man utd have worldwide support and those two clubs are also the most successful English clubs in history- it delights me that they have not won the title since 1990 and have little chance of doing so in the near future, however we are not as likely to be chasing the top 4 as they are and sadly I doubt many top players would choose villa rather than Liverpool.

I am not singing liverpools praises but looking at it from downings view and can understand why he wants to go, besides the undoubted wage rise and signing fee.

I totally disagree, Liverpool for the first time in a generation have the right man in charge, for all Man U's and Man City's money i think the big challengers for Chelsea and Man Utd this season will be Liverpool, Dalgliesh knows the club and knows how they tick, by the looks of it at the expense of Arsenal.

Dalgleish took over at Liverpool and had an excellent run of results working under no pressure following Woy's departure.He then signed a permanent contract and looked like they had an outside chance of qualifying for Europe and then lost the last two games.
The deluded Liverpool fans think they're title challengers this year.Pressures on for KK.I don't think they'll finish above 5th

I think the last 2 games of last season were weird for a lot of clubs, including Villa, as much as i'm loathed to say i think the red hoard will sweep through the Premeirship this season and be a real problem for the top 2, remember they went on that run without there best player, players and had just sold Torres, now if Dalgliesh works the transfer market the right way and builds his team on top of, they will be the team to keep an eye on IMO.

[eastie]

Liverpool may challenge for 4th place with arsenal
And spurs but I do not see them challenging for the title .

[Mazrim]

I think some Villa fans talk more bollocks about Liverpool than Liverpool fans.

[Billy Walker]

I think some Villa fans talk more bollocks about Liverpool than Liverpool fans.

But here is the problem. As Rigadon says, it's all a matter of perception and the media has played a huge role in this. According to the media, Leeds United are a huge club, with great tradition and a glorious past.  I'm pretty sure many pundits would say they are as big as Villa despite Villa winning loads more than them.  We have won as many trophies as Newcastle and Sunderland put together but our media profile would suggest otherwise.

Media perception does not just influence supporters, it clearly influences players too.  The cliques within the England squad, the fact that Downing wants  to play for Liverpool...it's as though this  "pecking order" and mythology is all set in stone and has been so for a million years.  It stinks and it does the game a huge disservice.

Moving onto Liverpool.  They are signing similar ranking players to what we were signing under Martin O'Neill a couple of years back...yet we were viewed then as outsiders for the top four and they are viewed now as a powerhouse going all out for the title?  Strange how media perception works. 

[Mazrim]

Yes and Dalglish has returned to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

They'll finish this season with what they took from Villa Park last season. Nowt.

[Chris Smith]

I think some Villa fans talk more bollocks about Liverpool than Liverpool fans.

Don't they just. They couldn't win the league with Alonso and Mascherano in midfield with Torres up front, do people really think they're going to do it with Lucas, Henderson and Carroll in their place?

[Iago]

Liverpool are a bigger club than Aston Villa and they are heading in an opposite direction to us. If I were Downing, I wouldn't think twice about going.

We will see.