MR.Smalljob Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 LUKE Young fears his Villa days are numbered after confessing he has done everything in his power to force his way into Martin O’Neill’s plans. Young is resigned to leaving Villa Park this summer despite admitting his strong affection for the football club and the supporters. Other than occasional runs in O’Neill’s first team, Young felt a peripheral part of the squad last season despite being “in the shape of my life”. His agent met with O’Neill earlier this month and was told Young could leave as soon as the club decided a price and a matching bid was received. But Young insists he has never had a bust-up with the manager and will leave Villa with regret if he moves to a new club this summer. The 30-year-old denies he has ever complained about being used out of position at left-back and would happily play anywhere for Villa. “I’ve been fighting for my position but it never seems as if it’s been a fair fight,” said Young. “I don’t want to leave Aston Villa because it’s a great club, but I don’t know what more I’ve got to do to get into the team. “I feel fitter than I’ve ever felt, I’m in the shape of my life, and I think my form has been good whenever I have played. “I’ve been working with reserve coach Kevin MacDonald, which has been great for me, and I’m always as professional as possible when I train. “Other than the Chelsea game, when the whole team had a nightmare including me, I think I can hold my head up high about all of my performances. “It just seems that however hard I work in training or however well I do in games that I don’t get judged by the same standards as some players.” Young was signed for £5.5 million two summers ago from Middlesbrough and was an overwhelming success in his first season at Villa Park. Despite spending half of the campaign in an unfamiliar position at left-back, he was regarded as one of Villa’s most consistent players. But after injury disrupted his pre-season preparations a year ago, the former Spurs and Charlton full-back struggled to regain a regular place last term. New signing Habib Beye, initially, and then converted centre-half Carlos Cuellar, were the preferred choices at right-back for most of the season. Young made 14 from 38 Premier League starts and despite occasional cup appearances was an unused substitute for Villa’s two trips to Wembley. Young is proud of his relationship with the Villa fans and claims their support has given him encouragement during his long spells on the sidelines. And he was humbled by the ovation he received when he entered the Villa Park pitch as a substitute in the final match of the season against Blackburn. “The fans have been fantastic and it was great to get that reception when I came on in the last game the other week,” he added. “I think it was a little bit of an ironic cheer because they probably feel a bit sorry for me because I’ve not been involved that much. “But I’ve always got on really well with the fans and that’s another reason why I’ll be sad if I have to leave.” Feel sorry for him and others who don't get a fair treatment by the manager link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMAICAN-VILLAN Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 I posted this in the transfer speculation thread, i'm highly pissed off at MON for Luke Young, and agree with everything he's said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reality Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 What a disgrace this really is. He is an excellent player for us, but seems to have been pushed to the side. Unbelievable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted May 22, 2010 Moderator Share Posted May 22, 2010 A professional footballer who gets paid as much in a week as most of us earn in a year and also gets more time off to mourn the loss of his brother than anyone would ever get in most other jobs hasn't been treated fairly? No he simply isn't first choice, thats got nothing to do with being treated unfairly. If he goes, well he goes he won't be a huge loss, I'd prefer him to stay but its his choice really Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMAICAN-VILLAN Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 A professional footballer who gets paid as much in a week as most of us earn in a year and also gets more time off to mourn the loss of his brother than anyone would ever get in most other jobs hasn't been treated fairly? No he simply isn't first choice, thats got nothing to do with being treated unfairly. If he goes, well he goes he won't be a huge loss, I'd prefer him to stay but its his choice really Bicks the point is, whether you agree or not, he's a zillion times better than Cuellar at right back, and could have added so much to our team, even after mourning the loss of his brother, he has wanted to play and simply hasnt been, for a CB who is shit at RB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reality Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Sorry, but his brother was murdered, wasn't he? If so, is it any wonder he has needed extra time off? Sure he is a professional footballer, who earns more in a week than most people do in a year, but he is also a human being, who can take things just as bad as the next person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR.Smalljob Posted May 22, 2010 Author Share Posted May 22, 2010 And our old keeper thomas sørensen got the same treatment wonder if the are the only ones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phumfeinz Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 I find it utterly bizarre that after such a solid season MON decided to drop him just to accomodate a CB. I was really excited by the prospect of Warnock and Young as our fullbacks but alas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Dogg Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Sorry, but his brother was murdered, wasn't he? If so, is it any wonder he has needed extra time off? No he wasn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisVillan Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 I can't believe O'Neill is actually going to let this happen. Ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.I.C.O. Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 One of MON's most baffling decisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMAICAN-VILLAN Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Sorry, but his brother was murdered, wasn't he? If so, is it any wonder he has needed extra time off? No he wasn't. EDIT - Double checked, you're right he wasn't, but should it make a difference the way he died? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis_B Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 JV wrote Bicks the point is, whether you agree or not, he's a zillion times better than Cuellar at right back, Of course that's YOUR opinion clearly not that of the manager. Do you really think that MON would deliberately keep out a better player to the detriment of the team? His job, his choice and his opinion. He clearly must have his reasons for doing so but what we lose from not having LY in the side he believes we gain something with Cuellar in it. Only three clubs had a better goals against last season (Chelsea, Manure and Plop) and that is with us being spanked 7 at Chelsea when who played in that team....oh yes, Luke Young Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis_B Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 I can't believe O'Neill is actually going to let this happen. Ridiculous. Let what happen? He told the player to move on and of course this is exactly the response you would expect isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Dogg Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Sorry, but his brother was murdered, wasn't he? If so, is it any wonder he has needed extra time off? No he wasn't. Yes he was. No he wasn't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepDish Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 I find it utterly bizarre that after such a solid season MON decided to drop him just to accomodate a CB. I was really excited by the prospect of Warnock and Young as our fullbacks but alas. First: Young was injured in the first matches this season and had a compassionate leave after his brother's death. So he was not dropped. Second: In the first 5 matches, there was no CBs that were playing as right back. It was Habib Beye. Feel a bit sorry for Young for getting two starts less than Heskey this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reality Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 Bah, I thought his brother was murdered for some bizzare reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisVillan Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 I can't believe O'Neill is actually going to let this happen. Ridiculous. Let what happen? He told the player to move on and of course this is exactly the response you would expect isn't it? In my opinion Luke Young should be our first choice right back, he has been appallingly treated this season and letting him go as a result would be a ludicrous decision. But not surprising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis_B Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 But not surprising Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisVillan Posted May 22, 2010 Share Posted May 22, 2010 But not surprising Why? Because he's been frozen out all season so that one of our best defenders can be disappointing out wide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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