And so this was mentioned to be the summer of Ashley Young. Would he stay, would he go, how much money would we get, and what does it illustrate to lose the best players at your club.
We saw it last year with James Milner, we saw it the year before with Gareth Barry. We anticipated that this year would be Ashley Young year. With current reports, it seems like next year may well be Stewart Downing’s.
What we are finding in football, time and time again, is that it is a very mercenary sport. There’s always two sides to a story of course, but for every aggrieved Villa fan upset about Young (and now Downing’s) non-committal attitude, there’s an angry Sunderland fan upset about Bent, or any other player who “moves up in the world.”
Transfer ecology
Don’t get me wrong. Movement in the transfer market is natural. The fact that we have thoughts to purchase the likes of N’Zogbia and co from Wigan, the fact that we bought Downing from Middlesbrough, and the fact that we have played this game for many years is part of the same ecosystem. You look at smaller clubs, you buy the biggest players, and you develop. Of course, that mercenary way of stealing others best players leads you to the same problem when they decide that our club isn’t big enough. It is a bit like people who date others who are cheating on their partners. Then they are with them, and the pattern repeats with some other person. Leopards don’t change their spots.
Most players don’t have patience. They are guilty of the instant gratification culture that permeates our society far wider than just a couple of footballers. It is the reason for the recent financial crisis – “buy now, (don’t) pay later”. When it comes to jobs, most average people would move on if they got offered a doubled wage, or some kind of fame so, to that end, footballers are no different. The only real difference to that end is whilst my career or your career can last 40+ years, most footballers are lucky to realistically get past 15. Of course they are paid far more than us mere mortals, but sometimes money isn’t your motivator. Sometimes you want to win trophies and, to that end, Villa haven’t had the best record in recent years.
The problem is this. To get traction and start developing, you have to keep hold of players for long enough for a) them to gel, and b) for them to create a nucleus of a long term side. Look at the top clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, or Manchester United. Most players who leave them will be leaving because they aren’t good enough. You will always have the Ronaldos of the world who transcend even the biggest clubs in the country, but most leave because of being judged not good enough.
Villa have to accept that, realistically, while we may be a big club, we are still a feeder for clubs with bigger histories (Liverpool & United), or bigger wage packets (Chelsea & Man City). To that end, the logic with Downing should be this – sign a deal Stew, or we’re selling you. We can’t rely on Man City constantly overpaying for our players to justify them getting to the last year of their contract.
Here’s a final thought – Gabby Agbonlahor is a Villa fan, and would never leave of his own choice. Some argue he isn’t good enough. Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. Either way, perhaps that personification illustrates what Villa are – divided by fan opinion, and maybe not as good as some would think.
*** ADDENDUM *** – Somewhat bittersweet to announce but Downing was voted your player of the season in our recent poll with 57.14% of the vote. Darren Bent (my pick) was second with 17.86%, with Nigel Reo-Coker and Marc Albrighton tied in third with 7.14%. Free psychotherapy (or a comedy award) will be sent over for the one player who picked Stephen Ireland.
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