Wainy316 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 I don't mind one of Ash or Downing leaving because we have options to accomodate one leaving, but both would be catastrophic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexicon Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Milner's departure is a very large reason as to why we have gone from 4th place contenders to relegation candidates. I guess it comes down to your definition of irreplacable. I'd say it was more to do with O'Neill walking out. Milner wasn't that good. A fine player, but I didn't like the way he moved from the club. A bit too snide for me. Milner was that good and we sorely miss him - we don't have anyone with his sort of drive and enthusiasm in the side. He would always be involved and helped link up the play, particularly through the middle, and got his fair share of goals and assists. That's why it took so much money for us to sell him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudevillaisnice Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Milner's defensive work yesterday were superb.. attacking play more so.. people trying to say we don't miss him are obviously kidding themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guus Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Errrrr....Milner was quality. The last game he played for us against West Ham was one of the best individual displays in a Villa Shirt I have seen in the last 10 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS-T Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 We need to remember that Downing signed a contact with AVFC. We hold all the power in the situation - the ball is in our court. If we receive offers, we can choose to reject them. Simple as. Unless we receive an offer that is too good to refuse of course (Carroll for £35m? Downing for £40m?) If not, reject the bid. Easy as that. Downing will only be leaving the club if AVFC wishes that to be the case. All this "Downing will be off to Liverpool". Er, we'll decide if Downing is going anywhere thanks very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maradona10 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 I think he'll go unless Randy and co pull something extroadinary out of the bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRDR Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Milner wasn't that good. Madness deacey! As much derision and ire as his departure may draw, he was still one of the best players we've had for a good long while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juanpabloangel18 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 On irreplaceable - I could've 'replaced' Jimmy as our starting CM. But I wouldn't have been a good replacement. The term carries certain implications No i get that, Im just amazed you dont think theres a good replacement out there. If it wasn't difficult to find players of Milner's standard, and subsequently manage to attract them to a club of our stature (for a reasonable fee + wages).......surely we'd have bought one by now? I struggle to see where you're coming from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry'sboots Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Milner's departure is a very large reason as to why we have gone from 4th place contenders to relegation candidates. I guess it comes down to your definition of irreplacable. I'd say it was more to do with O'Neill walking out. Milner wasn't that good. A fine player, but I didn't like the way he moved from the club. A bit too snide for me. Milner was that good and we sorely miss him - we don't have anyone with his sort of drive and enthusiasm in the side. He would always be involved and helped link up the play, particularly through the middle, and got his fair share of goals and assists. That's why it took so much money for us to sell him. I'm with you Lexicon. I think its not so much that Milner was really good, although I think he was and he was certainly my favourite Villa player during his time as a CM'er, but more that we have not replaced him with a similar type of player i.e. an attacking CM'er. We have looked really poorly balanced this year as all of our CM'ers are deeper lying - some are a bit more box to box like Coker, Bradley and possibly Delph but they do start from deep positions. This is compounded by the fact that all of our strikers like to play right up top on the CB's shoulder. We thus have a huge gap between the CM and the striker that a player like Milner would have occupied and linked up. Ash is not this type of player IMO and looks too weak to play in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cracker1234 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Birmingham Mail exclusive. Stewart Downing is happy at #avfc and ready to sign a new contract until 2015 http://alturl.com/2cy3b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cracker1234 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 PLAYER-of-the-season Stewart Downing is ready to commit his future to Aston Villa until 2015 after revealing he is happy at the club and has already opened new contract talks. The treble award winner has discussed a potential offer and is expected to agree a bumper new four-year deal during the summer to banish speculation about his future. It will make Downing Villa’s joint top earner and provide a major boost for the club in a gloomy campaign which is set to culminate in a tug-of-war for Ashley Young. Reports this week claimed Liverpool were favourites to sign Young providing they make a tempting enough offer, but Villa have yet to be contacted by potential suitors. Nothing will happen with Young until the end of the season when Villa hope to start a bidding war possibly involving Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City. But it transpires fellow Reds-target Downing will not be leaving for Anfield or anywhere else after telling the Birmingham Mail he will gladly extend his stay at Villa. “I think there’s been a couple of conversations already with my agent,” said Downing. “I’ve already spoken to the manager who has said he’d like to keep me. “I’m enjoying my stay here. I’ve enjoyed it since the first day I came. It’s a terrific football club. It’s fantastic they want me. “There’s terrific players. I’m confident, despite this season, we’re going in the right direction and if we get the right players in then I’m happy. “The important thing in football is, if you’re happy, then why change it? “I know it’s been a disappointing season, but I can see the bigger picture.” Downing, who is currently contracted until 2013, believes he owes Villa a debt of gratitude for signing him while he was on crutches with a fractured foot in July 2009. The former Middlesbrough favourite has re-established himself in the England set-up since his £12 million move and is confident the club is heading in the right direction. He cites the record signing of Three Lions striker Darren Bent in January as proof that Villa are still a “massive” club despite a frustrating season of under-achievement. “It’s great,” said Downing. “I’ve still got two years left and they’ve come to me with an offer. “For a player that is brilliant because it gives you confidence that they have faith in you and that they reward people if they do well. “If you see the young lads this season, they’ve all signed up to new deals so we’re heading in the right place. “Darren Bent’s come here, he’s a big player and probably the main striker for England at the moment. I know he was desperate to come here. “It’s a fantastic football club, it’s massive. We all know it should be doing a lot better than this and we will.” Downing, who won the supporters, players and sponsor’s player of the year awards at Monday’s dinner, shrugged off speculation of a move to Liverpool. “I think it’s part and parcel of being a player and doing well,” he added. “Ever since I was young I’ve read the papers and it’s said, ‘You’re going here, you’re going there’. “Half of it’s not even true, it’s just speculation. Obviously if you have a good season you get linked. But I’m happy here. “I’ve had a good season and hopefully I can carry that on.” Birmingham Mail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fran_villa Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 I hope he stays more than Ash tbh, i think the loss of Downing would be greater as we have a good replacement for Ash with Albrighton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoody Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Beat me to it cracker. Him signing a 4 year contract will be great for the club to be semi-confident of keeping him for atleast another 2 years, would be better if we could push him to a 5yr deal like Newcastle have been doing recently. Makes no difference to the player in my mind, if they want to go they are usually allowed just means a bigger fee usually to the selling team. Either way, ecstatic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolteEndRob Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Great news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaAlex Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Good to hear! Fair play to him if he signs a new deal, sticking to his words. It'd be great news after this disastrous season, in a better team who knows what he is capable of. Yes I'm expecting us to improve, no thinking how he would do elsewhere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DotsandCrosses Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Brilliant news, good to see some loyalty and sense of repayment. He's improved immeasurably from the one-dimensional up-and-down winger we signed. Turns out 12 mil was a pretty good deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoody Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 He cant leave anytime soon now he's said this. Because, quite simply, I will hunt him down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrackpotForeigner Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Fantastic. Hope his optimism is based on some itk info, not just the well-deserved dollar signs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beasley14 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 He's a top lad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juanpabloangel18 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Best news in a while. Some very nice quotes in there too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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