Ashley Young (Goodbye and thank you)

[CT]

Let's go Ashley Young!
Brilliant official news he starts

I’d imagine if a certain ex player of ours had completely neglected his defensive duties like AY has today, you’d be slaughtering him.

[Footy-Vill]

Playing ok at left back this second half . Stopped Sarr from further damage .so hardly fair to say he neglecting defence with anything he's improved us second half ahead of Targett

[Rigadon]

Prefer him at left back to Targett.  I'd start him there when fit.

[N'ZMAV]

better at left back than in attacking midfield.

[CT]

Playing ok at left back this second half . Stopped Sarr from further damage .so hardly fair to say he neglecting defence with anything he's improved us second half ahead of Targett

Did you see the first half? Did you see him anywhere near helping Targett out? We were 2-0 down at half time.

[Demitri_C]

Did really well 2nd half. Diablocal by smith to keep targett there.

[pauliewalnuts]

Tell you what is going to happen.

He's going to become the one who inexplicably gets picked week after week and has us asking whether it's in his contract he has to start etc etc.

[dicedlam]

Young is a squad filler not a starter. He should no way of been selected to play in that wingers role. For all the plaudits he has received for his fitness, it still doesn’t alter the fact Dean Smith and the coaching staff thought a 36 year old bloke could be relied upon to to play 90 minutes and to expect him to track back a la Trezeguet. Madness.

[sickbeggar]

Playing him in midfield at that age. Smith has obviously got him confused with Messi

[Footy-Vill]

A solid performance by Young Vs Newcastle who deservedly kept his place though started and remained at left back

Youngy is one to have a go at other players and ref far more than Targett and brings that edge as well as quality and experience.
Certainly one to use and rotate position with Targett as MT played all of last season and now has fair competition for his place.

Well played Ash. A nice second debut . Clean sheet. Job done.
Particularly liked way gave words to the diver who tried to gain a penalty first half and then it all kicked off.
Young won't hold back with what he has to say.
Good voice to have on our team.

[jwarry]

Right now Young is the better option as Targett has lost his fitness, strength and confidence again.  The good news this time is that we don’t have to persevere as Ash is a more than able deputy

[supertom]

I don't want to write off Targett after one half. Ash played well at left back (but looked done at 75 minutes) and provides something a little different but he's not going to last 90 minutes every week. Targett is still the main man.

Ash doesn't look great as a winger anymore, understandably, but actually, he played a 10 role in Houlliers season. He's wiley, he was picking out some nice passes. As a potential 10 option every now and again (where pace isn't as much of a prerequisite) I could see him there too.

I don't foresee him starting over 30 games this season. He'll be playing a lot from the bench and that's in no small part why we've got him, as a useful squad option.

He certainly keeps his place for now, but there'll come a run of fixtures where he needs a break.

[Risso]

Young’s doing OK but in a left sided Elmo sort of way. For an ex-winger his crosses annoy me, every one yesterday was sort of wafted in with loads of back spin making them easy to defend.

[KevinGage]

From memory, Targett didn't play so well in the first game out against Sheff U last season. And then had an absolute stinker against Fulham away.  Shortly after that, we played Liverpool at home and he never looked back.

He's a touch player, who needs to play to get sharp and get focused.

Barring injury, suspension or whatever, he shouldn't be dropped for a 36 year old.

[pauliewalnuts]

I actually thought yesterday his passing quality was the best on the pitch. But I might have been imagining that.