Written by Daniel Blazer for FootballFancast.com: Hyperbole is not only my new favourite word but it is also so common in today’s ‘beautiful game’ it is hard to decide whether a player has talent or has just had a few decent performances. Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly leading the chase to sign Aston Villa‘s Ashley Young with bids in excess of £25 million being touted in the media, but is the former Watford man worth it?
Ashley Young has phenomenal pace, numerous ‘showboating’ abilities and helps his teams cause with plenty of goals and assists. I can think of lots of players in the Premier League who have the very same attributes though, so is Ashley Young really going to led a new era at Manchester United or pull Liverpool back up into the ‘top four’?
Young joined Villa in a transfer believed to be just shy of £10 million from Watford, initially as a right winger, but Young’s performances in his new role just behind the striker is where he has been making the headlines this season. Ashley Young appears to thrive on the roaming role, much like Dennis Bergkamp did at Arsenal, being allowed freedom to drift to the wings, loiter on the edge of the area or bomb past his fellow striker. The role is suited to the England international because, as most Villa fans will tell you, Young’s crossing ability leaves a lot to be desired, a key skill needed by any winger in their ‘armour’.
Ashley Young has shown he can make the step up to the higher level on two occasions now, which is arguably a trait of a great player. At Watford it was the usual argument surrounding his multi million pound move to Villa Park, ‘big fish small pond’, but Young has appeared in the top 15 of most assists in all of his full seasons at Aston Villa. Furthermore, since Young has donned the shirt of the Three Lions, he has consistently impressed, so much so Wayne Rooney’s place in the side is under threat after Young’s displays against Denmark, Wales and his man of the match performance against Ghana.
The true greats of the game all have one thing in common: great character. Ashley Young is a player who is playing in a team surrounded by a media frenzy over dressing room unrest and hovering perilously close to the Premier Leagues trapdoor, yet week in, week out, Ashley Young continues to produce effective displays for the Villa faithful.
Ashley Young may not be worth as much as the reported £25 million but with the ridiculous sums of money being spent in the modern game, if sold, he will fetch a sum in the same sort of region. Young could offer either Manchester United or Liverpool different options but you have to think that under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson or Kenny Dalglish, Young’s talent can only improve, which is a scary thought; because in this writers opinion, Ashley Young is already a class act.
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I am sorry but this article is absolutely dreadful. Since Youngs arrival he has frequently been played at left wing, with Milner playing wide right and more recently Stewart Downing (however the latter will often swap throughout games). This season Young has been playing in a more central role, but almost no Villa fan will agree with you saying the ‘role is suited’.
His best attribute in my eyes is cutting in from the left wing and playing a ball in or shooting.
Capello is playing him on the wing as part of a 4-3-3, and Houllier finally realised he is best on the left.
In the middle he is not worth £25mill not even close, but he is one of the best left wingers in the English game on his day
Who writes these articles, I do not miss Villa games home or away!!
Ashley Young as most Villa fans will tell you is rubbish in the so called hole.
He made his name in previous season’s as a winger, he has been average at best this season.
The fee’s being talked about are great for our club, I will drop him off myself to what ever club he wants to go to, oh and I don’t want any petrol money.
On a serious note Downing is showing he is far superior this season, a real class act!!