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Ashley Young – A Snapshot

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Martin O’Neill praised Ashley Young’s substitute appearance against Portsmouth saying it was a ‘snapshot of what he can do’.

I’m not sure if anyone is doubting we’ve a good young talent on our hands are they? Looks a great prospect to me, sure the money wasn’t cheap but it will be great to see how he develops and lets face it, the money wasn’t out of our pockets, so why worry!

O’Neill said of the England Under-21 international:

‘He came on and gave us a bit of life, but I have got no problems with him. He is getting used to the surroundings – and I have got no problems with Shaun Maloney either. I have got no problems with some of the players who didn’t play yesterday. Ashley provided us with a snapshot of what he can do. Running with the ball and going in between players is a trademark of his ability.’

‘I saw it in him at Watford, and that is what we have signed him for. He will get used to the surroundings and once he gets used to the place, he will be fine. Funnily enough, of all the positions he plays, wide right is his least favourite. I think he can play wide left and through the middle. In the longer term I really haven’t got a problem with him. If you analyse it – his confidence may have been affected after the Reading game.’

‘But he has genuinely never struck me as having lost confidence. With respect, this is a bit different to playing every week at Watford. There is greater expectation here. Within 15-20 minutes of signing for us he scored a goal at Newcastle and you might have thought that would settle him down. But it is like anything else; once a team hasn’t won for a few games it can be difficult.’

I think the whole club will benefit from a close season. The takeover was rumbling on through all of last close of season, Martin O’Neill came in late and even Petrov didn’t get any real time to settle. So this summer Martin O’Neill can settle all the players in properly, bring in some more and the guys behind the scene can stop fighting fires and get on with the business of taking Villa forward.

Ooooh, ‘ark at her talking sense….!

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