[Update 118] The Scout RE: Young

[joey55]

Young had a very poor season last year so this is a big no for me. In fact I don't think he has played well since Corluka played him off the park after he demolished Zakora in the first half in our game the season before last.

No he didn't. This is one of the annoying myths that are formed with little evidence. I'm not having a go at you personally, but too often players are judged on what people read as opposed to what really happens on the pitch. I keep reading he's left winger, yet for the majority of last season he played on the right wing. That alone shows that fans know fuck all about half the players they post about.

 

[thfcsteff]

I just want to add that my support for a Young signing (and Bellamy for that matter) does not preclude my near-mental adoration for Luka Modric who is absolutely vital to our season. In fact, I would love Harry to get a top drawer finisher too so as Luka can play in the CL off said-signing...a fantastic player indeed!!!

 

[DoublePivot]

Jesus is pace overrated. I'm a dumbass and I know that you negate pace by lying deep. Skill and technique are better than pace ANY DAY OF THE WEEK

 

[jurgen]

Not sure his career is really 'off track' is it? According to Wikipedia (the font of all knowledge) he got 9 goals and 16 assists last season. For someone who plays largely out on the left that's not a bad return.

I'm still not sold on Young, BUT those numbers, in what was perceived a not particularly great season, show what he could bring. Arda may have more "skills" but if he could come from the Turkish league and provide more than 9 goals and 16 assists straight off the bat then it'd be a surprise, as with most of the links these days, we're not building a keepy uppy team, we're building an effective football team and though I'd love a more glamour signing, as with Bellamy, its another chance for H to prove us all wrong..

 

[thfcsteff]

No he didn't. This is one of the annoying myths that are formed with little evidence. I'm not having a go at you personally, but too often players are judged on what people read as opposed to what really happens on the pitch. I keep reading he's left winger, yet for the majority of last season he played on the right wing. That alone shows that fans know fuck all about half the players they post about.

he did mate, but that's as much down to Downing getting fit as anything else...i think what's interesting though is my theory (and it is absolutely only that, a personal theory) that Harry wants to give Lennon a real run for his money in terms of comfort and growth. i feel Harry obviously knows how great Lennon could be BUT is maybe a little concerned about his attitude? Again, no substance to this at all other than instinct and reading into what Harry's been saying for a while about Azza in various quips and comments the last few months...

 

[danielneeds]

No he didn't. This is one of the annoying myths that are formed with little evidence. I'm not having a go at you personally, but too often players are judged on what people read as opposed to what really happens on the pitch. I keep reading he's left winger, yet for the majority of last season he played on the right wing. That alone shows that fans know fuck all about half the players they post about.

What are you basing your assertion that he didn't have a poor season on then? Whilst chatting to Villa fans I work with, they said he had a very so-so past season, particularly when he was playing on the right wing.

 

[wadewill]

Bellamy and Young?! You sometimes wonder if Redknapp wants us to even make it as far as the Champions League.

Really??? With all apart from City not really strengthening on their squads of last season...Last season we came 4th.

Bellamy and Young would improve us as much if not more than the others have improved.

Although we would still need a CB and probably a striker on top of that....

 

[teddy_sheringham_125]

It depends how you look at it. How highly do you value Lennon? Well Young has contributed more in terms of goals and direct assists (not the be-all and end-all but a pretty good start) in both of the last two seasons than Lennon so could be valued similarly.

I agree that 20m sounds alot for Young but if Harry can convince Levy that's what he's worth then believe me that's what he's worth because Levy wouldn't spend that much money for a pup.

There seems to be a mix of people complaining about us not splashing the cash and those saying the players we're linked with are overpriced. I'm not really sure what some people want.

But this is part of what I'm saying. As a spurs fan, I would value Lennon at £40 million, because I would be genuinely miffed if he was to leave for less than that as I think he is key to our future plans. However, I think you'd be hard pushed to find a non-spurs fan who thinks he's worth that much, certainly not one who's club is interested in buying Lennon. I'm sure that they would argue that whilst he is good, there is no way that they want their club to pay that kind of cash. For me, this is exactly what would happen with Young. O'Neill has no need to sell and so would value him well above what he is actually worth.

People are moaning about is not splashing the cash, but there is a fine line between good sense and spending for the sake of it. If we were able to attract a world class player, I'd be more than happy to see us shell out £25 million, as long as he is what we require. However, if we spent this kind of money on Young, I think we'd be nuts since he is not a massive upgrade on what we already have. Although he's a left-winger, he's right footed and tends to cut back inside a lot of the time. I'm pretty happy that we already have a few people that could play that role.

 

[mil1lion]

Young would suit us better than Villa. I remember a time when Villa were more positive and played 4-3-3 and kept Young upfield. He thrived on that system and was rated as one of the best wide players in England. Then MON decided to go 4-4-2 after he signed Heskey, playing 1 of Heskey or Carew with Agbonlahor. That was the point where Young started to make less impact.

If we want to sign a wide attacker, then Young would be a great choice. I honestly think his dip in form is more a failing with Villa than Young himself. They used to play exciting counter attacking football before they went with 2 banks of 4, which really doesn't suit Young. He is at his best in the final 3rd, and we're a better team going forward than Villa.

I loved the attacking play out wide against Sporting Lisbon. We're at our best when we have pace out wide. Young would relish playing in our system.

 

[joey55]

What are you basing your assertion that he didn't have a poor season on then? Whilst chatting to Villa fans I work with, they said he had a very so-so past season, particularly when he was playing on the right wing.

There is firstly his productivity, whic alone makes a mockery of the claim he had a poor season. And i'm not talking just about the goals and assist that TSH mentioned but the fact he created 61 chances, the 4th highest of any wide player in the Prem. Secondly that I personally was impressed with him. Thirdly many on Villatalk say what rubbish it is he had a bad season. Fourthly MON said about 2 days ago that Young had as good a season as before.

MON:
"I felt myself that his form last season was every bit as good as in the previous year.

"Not everybody agreed with that but I thought Ashley was different class."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896...ager-martin-oneill-expects-interest-in-winger

 

[mpickard2087]

Just seen this, immediate reaction is please no!

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Ashley Young is a talented player, but I can't think that we have the kind of cash reserves or earning potential to fund both his acquisition, and the acquisition of a top, top striker, which for me is a much higher priority

You have to assume that to get the kind of striker we're talking about, we'd need to spend around £25m, possibly even more. Quite how that fits with spending £20m on Young I'm not sure

Talented player, but not sure we should go there.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Oh, and worth pointing out that I think with time, Niko could be brilliant for us, and he'll be backed up by any of Townsend and Rose as genuine left mids, and also you would have thought the likes of Mason, Bostock and Parrett could play there at a pinch in Modric - drifting type roles

Therefore, I think the £20m should be used elsewhere

 

[Samson]

Ashley Young is a talented player, but I can't think that we have the kind of cash reserves or earning potential to fund both his acquisition, and the acquisition of a top, top striker, which for me is a much higher priority

You have to assume that to get the kind of striker we're talking about, we'd need to spend around £25m, possibly even more. Quite how that fits with spending £20m on Young I'm not sure

Talented player, but not sure we should go there.

I can't see where the value in signing Young would be. He would cost as much as Milner. He might be worth that much, but 25-30 million would buy a lot of player.

I don't believe there is a top, top striker to be bought, however.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I can't see where the value in signing Young would be. He would cost as much as Milner. He might be worth that much, but 25-30 million would buy a lot of player.

I don't believe there is a top, top striker to be bought, however.

And you may well turn out to be right, but if that is the case, I'd rather we bided our time than spunked our transfer record on a player that we don't even need, and who would limit the chances of a talented group of kids

 

[danielneeds]

There is firstly his productivity, whic alone makes a mockery of the claim he had a poor season. And i'm not talking just about the goals and assist that TSH mentioned but the fact he created 61 chances, the 4th highest of any wide player in the Prem. Secondly that I personally was impressed with him. Thirdly many on Villatalk say what rubbish it is he had a bad season. Fourthly MON said about 2 days ago that Young had as good a season as before.

MON:
"I felt myself that his form last season was every bit as good as in the previous year.

"Not everybody agreed with that but I thought Ashley was different class."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896...ager-martin-oneill-expects-interest-in-winger

If he did create 61 chances that is impressive, although I am wary of stats like that as what constitutes a "chance" is very open to interpretation.

I still feel fullbacks knew what he was trying to do last year, and were all too happy to show him inside onto his right. I reckon he has to expand his game a bit, like Lennon did last season before the injuries.

 

[THOWIG]

I'm quite surprised at the negativity to this link, yet people are salivating over players they've hardly seen.

 

[MarkyP]

Would imagine it would be a player plus cash deal if we were to sign Young? Cant see us doing 20m odd on a player... One of Bentley/Jenas/Keane.. ? Maybe a combination of? If we sign him it would a good signing, if we don't, I wont loose sleep over it. Will he improve our squad ? Yes. If we don't sign him are we likely to perform worse than last year, No...

 

[Breezer]

Oh, and worth pointing out that I think with time, Niko could be brilliant for us, and he'll be backed up by any of Townsend and Rose as genuine left mids, and also you would have thought the likes of Mason, Bostock and Parrett could play there at a pinch in Modric - drifting type roles

Therefore, I think the £20m should be used elsewhere

Don't think Arry would want to depend on Townsend, Rose, Mason, Bostock and Parrett filling in for Modric at a pinch. Do you think them players can help us maintain a push for 4th or be able to compete in the CL?

IMO all need another season on loan playing every game.

 

[Casparian]

Thanks to thfcsteff's post pointing out the benefits of having Young in the squad as a natural LW,as oppose Modric who is playing the more cm/am role albeit lying deep.Bale is best at LB as was also mentioned regards his energy to run the flank all day long.I believe it would easily be a fine aquisition to compete mainly with Kranjcar for the left side berth.

Since all the focus or comment's appear to be about Young or the odd Young vs Bellamy.Is it not possible to believe Bellamy would sign on not only for his flexability,leadership skills and to simply replace the outward bound Robbie Keane? Last I checked no player is immune to injuries so who plays the pacey striker role in place of JD,should he need resting or indeed is injured 60+ games is quite a big ask IMO.

Furthermore regarding the finances,since nobody know's what money we actually have bar Levy.Is it not simple to decipher the sale of players would finance the marquee signing? Pav wont be playing in place of such a beast.Fairly certain like him or loath him JJ will fetch decent wedge as would O'Hara,even Hutton.All of that and thats without the knowledge of what exactly sits in our transfer kitty which has being estimated at £40m.

I don't have facts to back up the kitty remark but quite certain every summer we have spent somewhere close to that region.Also flogged deadwood either ending in profit or atleast very close to our initial outlay.Perhaps someone more statworthy would know these things.