Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Ashley Young’s showdown Villa talks
Thursday 12th August 2010, 11:59AM BST.
Ashley Young heads into showdown talks with Villa today with the club needing to convince him not to follow James Milner and boss Martin O’Neill out of the door.
Young, who impressed as a substitute in England’s friendly win over Hungary last night, and his representatives will meet club officials today and the direction owner Randy Lerner plans for the club in the wake of O’Neill’s shock exit on Monday will be high on the agenda.
Lerner’s statement yesterday suggested the American intends to tighten his belt, but he will have to disregard that intention if he wants to keep hold of top earner Young, who would expect an improvement on his current £65,000 a week wages if he is to sign the new four-year deal being proposed.
Club director General Charles Krulak has already insisted the winger, who has two years remaining on his existing deal, isn’t going anywhere but Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is a long-term admirer of Young and is rumoured to be ready to try to take advantage of the current instability at Villa Park.
Villa are already resigned to losing their other crown jewel, James Milner, with the midfielder expected to finally complete his move to Manchester City by the close of play today.
Milner, who along with Young featured from the bench at Wembley last night, is due to join for £18million with City’s Stephen Ireland moving the opposite way, but talks with the Irishman are not as advanced.
Young gave arguably his best performance in an England shirt after coming on as a substitute and was picked out for praise by coach Capello.
The Italian said: “I am happy for Ashley Young. This time he played with confidence.
“The confidence he didn’t play with before in the two games at Wembley.”
Young, who was instructed by the Football Association not to speak on club matters, added: “I was just delighted to get the second-half in and I thought I did well.
“Fingers crossed I’ve shown the manager what I can do. I just need to keep doing what I’m doing.”
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How the hell can these talks be described as a ‘SHOWDOWN’? It was only two weeks ago that this paper was running the story that Ashley Young wanted talks to EXTEND his contract and increase his already inflated salary!
C’mon guys! You can’t have it both ways. Or is this another case of the paper trying to create a story rather than reporting on one?
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Things change quickly in the Greed League Bilson Villan. You were the top West Midland team, but, not anymore. Bottom half, no question.
Milner gone, Young gone O’neill gone…and that’s not all.
Still at least the reserves will get a fair crack of the whip.
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