Naylor shock at Villa link

Thursday 3rd July 2008, 11:53AM BST.

leenaylor.jpgFormer Wolves left-back Lee Naylor has reacted with shock and surprise to reports linking him with Villa.

The Celtic defender has been suggested as Martin O’Neill’s next signing as cover for first choice Wilfred Bouma.

When told of the story, Naylor was flabbergasted and said it was the first he had heard of the alleged move.

Rumours have circulated that the former England U21 international, who made 334 appearances for Wolves from 1997-2006, may be surplus to requirements at Parkhead.

Naylor is instead preparing to return to Celtic Park for the start of pre-season training tomorrow.

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan is believed to be scouring the market for a new left-back, with Hamburg’s Thimothee Atouba reported to be among the potential replacements.

He said: “Celtic are one of the most popular clubs in the world and their fans are among the best.”


  1. 1
    Doognwaggy

    Go get him Villa. It would make a refreshing change for you to get one of our dodgy cast-offs.

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  2. 2
    pip

    Decent player sometimes had trouble passing the ball.

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  3. 3
    dapster50

    What happened to you becoming an England regular Lee?

    That is why you moved from WWFC wasn’t it?????????

    Villa Reserves Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  4. 4
    Glorybox

    Possibly the most erratic player i’ve ever seen

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  5. 5
    Bridget & Tony

    The lad had his confidence near enough destroyed by our one season in the Prem

    Started off well at Celtic but lost his way

    Some people on here should try and remember that the lad was part of our side when we got promoted – so he was good enough then wasnt he?

    And that painfull off the line clearance against Newcastle at the Mol

    Good Luck lad whereever you end up!

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  6. 6
    S*U*P*E*R

    Whenever I think of Lee Naylor I always think of when he chucked the ball back to a Bolton player when we were one nil up with a minute left. They went up the other end and scored as a result of that!

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  7. 7
    Billy Whis-Man

    Best of luck-Lee- What you get from Lee is unpredictable but He’s a local lad doing his best would we want him back ?. Surely something to debate amoungst us “Bloggers” perhaps a subject -rather that this constant “Spin” from E & S- that players probably did not say !!!!!!

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  8. 8
    nige wolf

    5) spot on there, too many with short term memories, only remembering a players bad games, one of his problems wasnot having a decent enough player in front of him at wolves

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  9. 9
    garry

    would be a shocking signing, he didnt make an impact in scotland so what is the point in taking him to the premiership, complete backward step.
    i really hope this isn’t a glimpse of the signings we will go for?

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  10. 10
    Jonathan

    6. I remember that aswell.To be fair to lee he aint as bad as people say

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  11. 11
    phes-wolf (homless)

    my contact tells me that he’s already been sounded out for a move to Portsmouth …..

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  12. 12
    phes-wolf (homless)

    my contact tells me he’s already had a convesation with Pompey about a move

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  13. 13
    Doognwaggy

    8)Not all full backs need other players to bail them out. Kevin Muscat for instance.

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  14. 14
    Rutland Wolf

    2. Miss the decent bit off.
    5. I disagree. I hung the flags out when he left.

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  15. 15
    pyegreen wolf

    a great servant to our club allways gave 100% goodluck to the bloxwich brazilian

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  16. 16
    richwolf64

    Naylor was useless. One of the players who was never good enough at chapionship level, let alone premiership. Anyone with any pace at all, went round him like a hot knife through butter.

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  17. 17
    Celticbhoy1888

    get him gone bring wee Shaun Maloney back to the bhoys that will soot me perfectly!!!

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  18. 18
    Bojangles Wolf

    I always felt naylor was better going forward.

    He showed some touches of class but had too many bad games for us and I could never really take to him… But thats my opinion and I wish the fella luck wherever he goes…

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  19. 19
    blondewolf

    he isnt a bad player!hes quick enough,likes going forward,dont think he would be bad as back up?but not a first team regular at villa.he would love to come back to the area,all his family still live here,so a move could be possible,i believe stoke are interested too!

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  20. 20
    We8Albion!

    why don’t we re-sign him

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  21. 21
    brummie rob wolves

    I think that some of you are missing a major point…. he had the lazy Kennedy straight in front of him, so got exposed a lot!

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  22. 22
    Steffan Robertson

    He didn’t make an impact in Scotland did he No.9? I’m a Celtic season ticket holder and he has been fantastic for us, don’t know where you got that from. Came 2nd in Player of the Year voting to Nakamura in his first year up here – how many left backs do that. Was called up to the England B squad but had to pull out because it coincided with the Scottish cup final if i remember rightly. Nicky Shorey took his place in that and went on to play for the full squad. I think he had a lot of problems off the field this year but was our most consistent performer in all the Champions League games against the likes of Barcelona and Milan – a level your players will never have to worry about eh! He will be sadly missed.

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  23. 23
    Billywiseman

    Some I do agree with some I do not-Lee to me always looked out of position–One thing he did have was the long throw in-This we have not seen since heleft. I think he was asked to do to much at times corners-throw ins and then itailed it back to the defence.. By half time he was nacke–d- Give the lad his due he played for his shirt and I would rather have Lee back in the defence that COLLINS who has extended his contract–What for in ordetr to sell him–I think not–Yes we need a good experienced defender in–MM may suprise us yet I hope so–Look forward to the Stafford game when we can see the new lads perform–Regards to all Crazy Dave.

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  24. 24
    RC

    !00% player but totally unreliable and his distribution is woeful. I’d be amazed if he went to Villa.

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  25. 25
    John Aston

    Naylor….Shocked….so are we and that includes Wolves fans too.

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  26. 26
    garry

    re comment 22: nakamura, then naylor, dear god that doesn’t say much for the homegrown players. fair play if he had a good game against milan and barca, but a lot of players raise their games against the big sides.
    the SPL is a very poor league, filled with very average players playing against teams who would struggle against most championship sides.
    and as for the england call up, have you seen ashley cole recently? he is the poorest excuse for a left back you will see but as there is no-one else seemingly capable of dislodging him that just shows what a lack of quality there is out there.

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