Who do you want as the next manager? New poll option.

[damon loves JT]

Barry and Downing were both accused of being treacherous money grabbing gits when they left Villa

But James Milner wasn't. It's a fine line but it is there.

[not3bad]

I won't be of the opinion Martinez lacks ambition until he's made his decision this summer. I can accept last summer he wanted to be loyal to Wigan, if he does get offers from Liverpool and Villa this summer and declines both then he does lack ambition.

It's funny though.Barry and Downing were both accused of being treacherous money grabbing gits when they left Villa, yet when Rodgers and Martinez display loyalty to their clubs they are branded as lacking ambition.It's a fine line.

Barry left for a club that at the time had finished lower in the league than Villa.  Downing left for a club that had also failed to qualify for the champions league, and had only given Villa one half decent season of form after we had bought him in when he was crocked.

By contrast when Ashley Young left there was little bitterness and most people wished him luck.

[DeKuip]

I won't be of the opinion Martinez lacks ambition until he's made his decision this summer. I can accept last summer he wanted to be loyal to Wigan, if he does get offers from Liverpool and Villa this summer and declines both then he does lack ambition.

It's funny though.Barry and Downing were both accused of being treacherous money grabbing gits when they left Villa, yet when Rodgers and Martinez display loyalty to their clubs they are branded as lacking ambition.It's a fine line.

I was just about to type a similar thing.
Ridiculous how people think sometimes.

[Mazrim]

As football fans we reserve the right to be inconsistent, forgetful, fickle, irrational and forgetful.

[damon loves JT]

And pissed

[QBVILLA]

Barry and Downing were both accused of being treacherous money grabbing gits when they left Villa

But James Milner wasn't. It's a fine line but it is there.

So what's the difference? In Barry's case he played over 400 games for us, made the club an £11m profit and was a regular in the Man City side which won the FA Cup then the League title.Milner on the other hand has failed to nail down a regular spot.

[mazrimsbruv]

I won't be of the opinion Martinez lacks ambition until he's made his decision this summer. I can accept last summer he wanted to be loyal to Wigan, if he does get offers from Liverpool and Villa this summer and declines both then he does lack ambition.

It's funny though.Barry and Downing were both accused of being treacherous money grabbing gits when they left Villa, yet when Rodgers and Martinez display loyalty to their clubs they are branded as lacking ambition.It's a fine line.

I take your point but Milner & Young left for more money and weren't branded as such by most posters on here.

The distinction with Barry & Downing is that Barry said he wanted Champions League football then left for a team not even in the Europa League that had finished 4 places below us. Downing claimed he owed us for signing him whilst injured and said he was happy to stay, then left when he realised Liverpool wanted him.

[not3bad]

Barry and Downing were both accused of being treacherous money grabbing gits when they left Villa

But James Milner wasn't. It's a fine line but it is there.

So what's the difference? In Barry's case he played over 400 games for us, made the club an £11m profit and was a regular in the Man City side which won the FA Cup then the League title.Milner on the other hand has failed to nail down a regular spot.

The main differences were:

1) At the time Manchester City had finished below Villa in the league, so the conclusion was he'd gone for the money (i.e. he was a money grabbing fat arse).
2) Barry had already been tainted by the horrible mess with Liverpool the summer before.

[LeeS]

Barry and Downing were both accused of being treacherous money grabbing gits when they left Villa

But James Milner wasn't. It's a fine line but it is there.

So what's the difference? In Barry's case he played over 400 games for us, made the club an £11m profit and was a regular in the Man City side which won the FA Cup then the League title.Milner on the other hand has failed to nail down a regular spot.

The main differences were:

1) At the time Manchester City had finished below Villa in the league, so the conclusion was he'd gone for the money (i.e. he was a money grabbing fat arse).
2) Barry had already been tainted by the horrible mess with Liverpool the summer before.

Is it convenient revisionism for me to say that it was obvious Man City were going to overtake us in the next year or two? I'm not sure I felt exactly like that at the time, but I am pretty sure Barry did.

[glasses]

Barry and Downing were both accused of being treacherous money grabbing gits when they left Villa

But James Milner wasn't. It's a fine line but it is there.

So what's the difference? In Barry's case he played over 400 games for us, made the club an £11m profit and was a regular in the Man City side which won the FA Cup then the League title.Milner on the other hand has failed to nail down a regular spot.

Milner's 'loyalty' pales into insignificance next to Barry's, which is the odd thing considering the views some hold of the two. Two years and off at the first chance he got to Money City. I know who I have more respect for

[KevinGage]

I won't be of the opinion Martinez lacks ambition until he's made his decision this summer. I can accept last summer he wanted to be loyal to Wigan, if he does get offers from Liverpool and Villa this summer and declines both then he does lack ambition.

It's funny though.Barry and Downing were both accused of being treacherous money grabbing gits when they left Villa, yet when Rodgers and Martinez display loyalty to their clubs they are branded as lacking ambition.It's a fine line.

I take your point but Milner & Young left for more money and weren't branded as such by most posters on here.

The distinction with Barry & Downing is that Barry said he wanted Champions League football then left for a team not even in the Europa League that had finished 4 places below us. Downing claimed he owed us for signing him whilst injured and said he was happy to stay, then left when he realised Liverpool wanted him.

Bingo.

[DeKuip]

Barry left for a club that at the time had finished lower in the league than Villa. 
[/quote]

Barry left because he believed in the vision that Man City had sold to him. He believed had more chance of playing in the Champions League there than at Villa and his FA Cup and league champions medals are further vindication of his decision. I can be as one-eyed as the next Villa fan but even I can understand that.

Maybe if Martinez turns down Liverpool it's because he doesn't believe their vision, and that it's not right for him. That's not lacking ambition, it's being intelligent.

[AvFc4eVeR]

It'll be funny seeing Whelan's reaction if his 'best young manager in europe' stays and in twelve months time gets them relegated, having spent the £10 million thats been reported.

[olaftab]

As football fans we reserve the right to be inconsistent, forgetful, fickle, irrational and forgetful.

And pissed

and we pay good money to be all of those!

[Hoppo]

Why are you all slagging Martinez off? He hasnt said yes or no to Villa yet. He seems to have been right to stay away last summer. Martinez got Swansea on the straight and narrow and for them to still be in the Prem is a miracle if size counts for anything!