Burnleys first home shirt as an EPL club. Going for the classic look, I like.

Burnleys first home shirt as an EPL club. Going for the classic look, I like.

STEWART Downing has revealed he sought assurances from Martin O’Neill that Ashley Young would be staying at Villa before agreeing his £12 million move.

O’Neill issued a stern “hands off’’ warning to Young’s potential suitors after Downing’s arrival prompted fresh speculation that the former Watford winger would be sold.

Downing cites Young as a factor in him joining Villa for a joint club record transfer fee and the ex-Middlesbrough captain insists O’Neill’s team is big enough for the both of them.

“The first thing I asked the manager was ‘Are these players staying because I would like to play with them’ and his response was ‘No players will be leaving this football club, unless they’re maybe not playing’,” said Downing.

“But he said the likes of Ashley Young will not be leaving because he is trying to build a squad, not dismantle one.

“That was great news for me and that’s what made me sign really.

Fishdoll

I just heard that Freddie's been called up by Villa to play in the Peace Cup friendly tournament in Spain!

btw, check out the team photo on the gobbi page odf the peace cup's website. (link)

That photo is...older than Kurt, whose very favoritest UEFA president is 3d from the left in the front row.

I'm actually considering taking a trip to one of the Peace Cup matches, as I'm staying in Andalucia until the 31st.

Martin O'Neill last night moved to end the speculation surrounding Ashley Young's future by insisting that not even a £50m bid would prise the England international from Aston Villa this summer. Young has been linked with moves to Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona but O'Neill believes that the 24-year-old could not be at a better club for his development and claimed that Randy Lerner, the Villa chairman, would not countenance selling the winger.

"There are loads of teams that would want Ashley Young, top continental sides that would want him," said O'Neill, whose side take on Malaga in the Peace Cup tonight. "And Ashley Young, with a bit of luck, has a fantastic future ahead of him. But he's absolutely at the right club at this moment. Since he's joined us he's been one of the major reasons we've finished in the position we have done the last couple of seasons. But I couldn't be more strong on this. He's not going anywhere. And the teams that I've noticed that have been linked with him couldn't buy him.

"If somebody came in with £30m, £40m or £50m? I wouldn't do it. I'm not in overall charge obviously and it would be up to Randy but the last time I spoke to Randy he wasn't entertaining anything at any price."

O'Neill accepts that he cannot guarantee Young will be at Villa for the remainder of his career but, with the World Cup taking place next summer, he claims that the former Watford player's chance of being in the England squad would be enhanced through playing week-in, week-out at the club where he has performed so impressively since arriving from Vicarage Road for £9.65m in January 2007.

"Sometimes you leave a little caveat in somewhere along the way, where you feel that there is no chance unless someone makes a silly offer – that suggests there is a possibility," says O'Neill. "But there is not. He won't be going. We're really happy with him. He may not stay here at Aston Villa for the rest of his life; we're going to have to try and make progress. But my own view is that for him to go anywhere at this minute, even if it came to it, wouldn't be the right thing for him."

Fishdoll was sad. Freddie didn't play.

But it was a pretty even game. The commentator said during the game that Zat Knight has been sold to Bolton?

Ok, I'm 99% sure seeing Villa vs Atlante.

On the theme of laughing at Newcastle. Here was their line-up for todays friendly against Leyton Orient.

NUFC: Tim Krul, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Joey Barton, Damien Duff, Kevin Nolan, Jonas Gutierrez, Alan Smith ©, Oba Martins

I think you'd find that's pretty much their best XI. SO there's going to be some explaining needing to be done as they lost 6-1.

Leyton Orient? They lost 6-1 to... a single player?

Villa 3-1 Atalante
*Davies OG
*Albrighton
*Carew
*Young


Albrighton is absoloutely rapid. great turn of pace, super first time cross. Not too bad a header from Ashley either!

MoN's winger play is really good. I like that about his teams.

Newcastle legend.

And they sacked him for finishing 5th, I'm sorry but that's funny.

RIP to a footballing super legend. RIP Bobby.

It wasn't too funny when we sacked Carlo now was it?

It wasn't really a cry me a river moment either...

You are wise. Join the Toon army on Milanfan.

The BBC this morning reported the passing of Sir Robert William Robson, a legend of English football. A former player who as a coach went on to guide the English national team, earning worldwide fame, Robson managed many clubs during his long career, including Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona. At these three clubs he had as a collaborator José Mourinho, who learned of Robson's death after today's training session at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti.

Mourinho said: "I didn't talk with him in the last two months because it was hard for me. It was hard for me because I didn't want to think that he was dying, it wasn't that image of Bobby Robson that I wanted to keep forever, it wasn't that voice that I wanted to hear. I wanted, and I will always keep it with me, the Bobby Robson of every day, a man with an extraordinary passion for life and football, with extraordinary enthusiasm. Bobby Robson is one of those people who will never die, not just for what he did in his career, for a victory more or a victory less, but for everything that he gave to those who like me were lucky to know him and walk by his side. My thoughts and embrace go to his loved ones."

In his condolences, José Mourinho is joined by president Moratti and FC Internazionale, who are close to the family of Sir Bobby Robson in the memory of one of the great masters of English and world football.

Martin O'Neill has paid tribute to Sir Bobby Robson, insisting: "He'll be badly missed."

The Villa boss was speaking after the sad news this morning that the former England, Ipswich, Newcastle and Barcelona boss had died of cancer.

MON said: "He was held in very high regard by the players. They forgave all his eccentricities - it was legendary that he didn't know anyone's name.

"He had a fantastic career. Early on in the managerial stakes he had fights. Fulham got rid of him and then he went to Ipswich.

"He signed Frans Thijssen and Arnold Muhren, who were fantastic players.

"Thijssen was my kind of player because he dribbled everywhere. He signed proper players and made Ipswich a proper side.

"Then he went to have the time with England, went abroad, furthered his education at places like Barcelona.

"He will be badly missed. I hear there was a massive turn out for the game last week and I'm sure it was down to Bobby Robson.

"And when you think in his last days at Newcastle, they thought it was failure because he finished fifth."

You are wise. Join the Toon army on Milanfan.

cheeky bugger

in truth i think my local side will win the premiership _ well the closest premiership team to me

man city - best attack gd keeper gd defence gd midfield
WHY NOT

who has a better attack than man city in the prem - no one

i think i ll make the drive 15 mins away and see a game or two

Fishdoll notes that Villa are currently leading Porto 2-0, with goals from Heskey and Sidwell.

Fishdoll notes that Villa are currently leading Porto 2-0, with goals from Heskey and Sidwell.

Porto must be real bad to get beaten by Villa...