Morpheus

Can you blame him. Most players want to better themselves by moving upwards to a club who will win trophies or at least be able to compete. Though he has just seen 2 players better themselves to the tune of £36m from Villa this summer. Given that there is no CL side in for him, he could do worse than ply his trade here for a season if he wants to move on. Not saying I'd like that attitude as a fan, but he could certainly be thinking it. Agreed but just wish we were in the process od building a team rather than continually dismantling one.

Can you blame him. Most players want to better themselves by moving upwards to a club who will win trophies or at least be able to compete.

Length of contract equates to drop in wages. Welcome to the Villa Shay!

Fully agree 'John.' Getting him for 10m is a snip in my opinion. We shouldn't even be haggling over this. How are we going to look if Sunderland come in and offer the 10m plus the wages he wants and we're left looking at the possible purchase of Mc Geady?

We will sign Zog no problem and pay what it takes.

The keeper i wanted and the best available. Just hope this is the start of the same type of quality coming to us.

yeah, you have a point. A settled back line of Warnock, Dunne, Collins, Young with back-up of Clark, Cuellar, Beye, Baker, Lichaj. It could be a pretty good defence if they get back to playing well, like the season before last. Strange comments to make on this back four when we shipped goals for fun last season. If we are to have any success this coming season then apart from Young, the other three should be sold and replaced!

I strongly suspect that conversation has already taken place Not a chance. Either way it will happen quite soon if we don't bring quality in.

A midfield of Johnson Milner Parker and N'Zogbia to start the new season will do just fine.

Stated some time ago that he would go and now that he has gone it is up to the board and manager to replace the players we have sold and released with either the same or better quality. N'Zogbia and Johnson would do just that. Definately more creativity in our team with those two in. It might also stop Bent having a word with his agent. As for the rest there are quality players available to improve the team but i'm not sure i have the confidence in the board and the manager to spend what is needed to heal the wounds at our Villa at the moment.

Downing although being a very good player is certainly not irreplaceable. Totally agree that we need more options and thats why i have continually avocated that if Downing is to leave then we must have a replacement lined up such as Johnson from Citeh. A first choice of N'Zogbia and Johnson with Albrighton as backup would be ideal. I believe Johnson would come here as he is not playing regularly for citeh and it wouldn't harm his place in the England squad at all!

Far be it for me to agree with a Moderator :shock: but 'Trent's overview of the Downing situation is spot on.

Its only my opinion but Zog coming to us is practically a done deal as a direct replacement for Ashley Young and selling Downing will have no bearing on it. I don't think even AM is stupid enough to expect Albrighton to step into the shoes of Ash and play in that position for the whole season.

Wouldn't want either. I think £10m + Kuyt for Downing would be an outstanding deal for Villa. I've never understood why some people don't rate Kuyt. Fantastic work rate, never stops running, no small skill, scores quite regularly whatever position he's playing in, makes things happen by sheer persistence... what more do people want? 10m for a workhorse like Kuyt is a hell of a lot of money. Not to mention i can't see where we'd play him Totally agree and if we proposed that deal to plop they'd snap our hand off. I still believe Downing will go and if we get the muted 18-20m i'd hazzard a guess that Man Citeh would then snap our hands off if we offered that for Johnson. Johnson is a better player than Downing and has still room to improve.

Sell him back to Big Sam at spam and use the money to help fund the purchase of Enrique.

Wouldn't want either. Would rather have the 20m and reinvest three quarters of that that in purchasing Johson from Man Citeh!

Sounds good although I'd rather play a 4-3-3 with Milner, Makoun and Petrov making up the midfield. If we play Petrov in our midfield this season then he will become a liability.

Not sure about Hutton. Not sure he is all that solid defensively and thats what we all want for the new season, a more solid defence.

As Neo said "it's an honour to meet you!". Could not agree more, if we could get 2 out of the 4 it would be good. 3 or all 4 would be amazing! Petrov is passed it, needs to go. Possibly back to Celtic! The honour is all mine mate. Agree about Petrov as well. O'Neill gave him a four year contract at 29 when he was already showing signs of being fatigued after 60 minutes in games.

Said it before. Downing will go when Liverpool stop trying to buy him on the cheap and offer what we want. I'd be chasing Man Shit for Downing's ready made replacement, Johnson. N'zogbia and Johnson on the wings and Parker and Milner in the centre. Top six no problem!

Downing stated he wanted to leave in May, before Houllier had gone .... ..well appointing a manager with worse PREMIERSHIP EXPERIENCE pedigree than Mick McCarthy was hardly going to change his mind . This appointment has sent out big signals to everyone including the players. Its made Downings pondering whether to leave or not a lot, lot easier. or better premiership experience than villas boas?7 stuf about the mccarthy stuff anyway, he's a fantastic manager What has Mick McCarthy won? hes never been at a team with the resources to win anything. he made ireland one of the better footballing teams in europe with a limited squad not too long ago Yes mate and there is a reason for that!

Downing stated he wanted to leave in May, before Houllier had gone .... ..well appointing a manager with worse PREMIERSHIP EXPERIENCE pedigree than Mick McCarthy was hardly going to change his mind . This appointment has sent out big signals to everyone including the players. Its made Downings pondering whether to leave or not a lot, lot easier. or better premiership experience than villas boas?7 stuf about the mccarthy stuff anyway, he's a fantastic manager What has Mick McCarthy won?

Downing stated he wanted to leave in May, before Houllier had gone .... And if we'd appointed someone like Ancelotti do you not think Downing would have reconsidered? The appointment of 'Tin Tin' smacks of a lack of ambition and has sent a clear message out to the rest of the Premiership. Now that it is clear for whatever reason that Downing will go, 20m is too light in my opinion. Henderson went for 20m and is still unproven. I'd hope that our board would have the sense to price Downing at 25m!

After 'Tin Tin' was appointed by the board i stated on here that Downing would leave. Bent will be next, maybe not until January but he will be off too.

No.