In the spotlight: Luke Young
Sunday, 10 August 08, 03:39 PM
"Fabio Capello has every reason to come to our games," proclaimed Luke Young the day after putting pen to paper on his Aston Villa contract.
"I think I'm at the right place at the right time. He'll be having a look at the exciting young lads we've got and that will give me a chance to show what I can do. Hopefully I can force my way back in."
Despite being a member of the squad for Euro 2008 qualifiers against the likes of Israel, Andorra and Russia last year, Young's last appearance for the national team was more than two years ago, in the build-up to the 2006 World Cup. Injury prevented him from getting on the plane to Germany, and left him unable to add to the seven caps he won under Sven Goran-Eriksson in the year before the tournament.
The former Spurs, Charlton, and Middlesbrough man was always tipped for the big stage. As a youngster at Tottenham, he was capped seventeen times for the England U21 side. His solid performances, along with his impressive form in 76 games for his club, tempted Charlton into paying £3million to take him across London a week after his 22nd birthday. He would more than repay the fee.
The defender played more than two hundred times for the Addicks as Alan Curbishley's men established themselves in the top flight. The club suffered from a strange pattern of form; often amongst the top six or seven at Christmas, they inevitably suffered in the second half of the season. The problem was most obvious in 2003/04. Having spent until January challenging the Champions League places, Charlton were crippled by the need to sell their star player, Scott Parker, to Chelsea, and slipped to seventh place - the club's highest finish since the 1950s, but ultimately disappointing.
More disappointing, though, was the season that followed Alan Curbishley's resignation in May 2006 after 15 years in charge. Iain Dowie was appointed to succeed the outgoing coach, but a number of disillusioned players - Young amongst them - handed in transfer requests. Young's was refused, with Dowie insisting that his best players were going nowhere.
Dowie, however, was not destined to spend long at The Valley himself. Twelve games into the season, with Charlton struggling, the former Crystal Palace boss was sacked and replaced by the former Technical Director of the Football Association, Les Reed, in November.
Charlton's results did not improve, with Reed taking a side that had always been comfortably ensconced in midtable to the bottom of the league in the build-up to Christmas. The club handed over coal in Reed's stocking: he was sacked on Christmas Eve and replaced with former player Alan Pardew.
The Addicks started to climb the table, despite injury to star striker Darren Bent, but could not do enough to stay in the top flight. With one game left of the season, their relegation was confirmed. Charlton would spend the 2007/08 season in the Championship.
Luke Young, however, would not. "I've got a lot of time for Luke and I appreciate he wants to play in the Premier League. There is no bad feeling," said Alan Pardew, as Middlesbrough swooped to beat a host of clubs, including Newcastle, Everton and, of course, Aston Villa to the defender's bargain £2.5m signature.
"There were other clubs interested but Middlesbrough showed me I was first choice for them," said Young, who knew he was joining international quality players like Jonathan Woodgate and Stewart Downing. "He's a good defender who's also comfortable on the ball and that's exactly what I look for in a full-back," announced a delighted Southgate.
Boro were certainly well-rewarded for their prompt action in snapping up Young. As well as doubling their money a season later, when Martin O'Neill moved to replace the outgoing Olof Mellberg, they received 42 performances of such high quality that their fans dubbed the right back 'Mr Consistency'. There was even a goal of the season contender against Spurs, Young's first club.
Unfortunately for the Riverside faithful, such consistency was enough to persuade Martin O'Neill to go back in for Young. "There was interest last summer," confirmed the defender, "but it didn't quite happen for whatever reason. I'm just glad to find myself here now.
"I think this is a great opportunity for me to try and win something. Villa are a notch above Boro and there's a great opportunity for me to play European football as well.
"I've worked hard over the last ten years to get the chance to show what I can do on a higher stage."
With the Premier League curtain set to go up next week, he won't have long to wait.
Comments (38)
I didn't rate young before he came, i dont really know if i rate him now either?? But i'm not into slagging off players that have decided to join villa "I can't believe that this was mon's 1st choice but hey thats the game and nature of football these days' moneymad! Anyways i will welcome him but still stay skeptical 8)
Also i don't believe those Joe Cole rumors that is complete rubbish it will never happen like bentley? Bidding and actually getting the goods are 2 different things!
I told everyone in may that we should go in for Bent 'the man can't stop scoring 10m & he would have been here? But not now.
if we get Santa Cruz even at £15 million
but im with you about Young, at 29 I feel we should have signed a younger full-back with more pace... especially if the deal was clinched at 6 mill..!!!??
but you have to just get behind the boys and he is waaaay better than Justin Hoyte so I am pleased in some ways.
He'll be good for us. I am delighted that one of our weaker areas (defence) seems to have had a decent makeover during the close season. Hopefully we can continue to score goals like last season and then who knows where we'll end up. Positive stuff.
Great article, thanks adam.
Personally a great signing. Luke Young is a consistent performer in the Premier League. He has proved this. In order for Villa to get into the top 4, we need established Premier League players. Personally I see this as less of a risk that others touted about (Miguel, etc). Winning the Uefa cup wont get us to where we want to be, although it would be a great achievement and silver in the cabinet.
The policy for me so far is working wonders. Buy British and buy established players. I would be more than happy with 5th or 6th again next season. I cant claim to be a regular visitor to Villa Park, hence my patience. Im sure the guys and girls that frequent Villa Park will want swift progress and big signings to justify there investment in a season ticket. This I can totally understand.
The Joe Cole rumour today was, if anything, another positive. Even if it is complete b*llsh*t, would we have been linked with such high quality signings a few years ago?! Its all progress, and long may it continue!
Happy if Barry stays aswell personally (again, Im not one of the people that pays there hard earned money to go to the games and look at the guy every other week). Watched the home leg against Odense and the guys clearly a class act. His vision, ball control and general play is well advanced on most of our current crop. Thats why hes worth £18m. Thats why we don't (/shouldn't) want him to leave.
Goldie 7 - Totally agree on Bent. Shame we didn't act sooner, but we didn't. You never know, he might look a light weight compaired to other players we might have in mind (OK, im an optimist!)
Very insightful read there. I think Luke Young will be a tidy, reliable signing for us.
We needed a RB, sure, but could we do with another one with slightly more quality? Say, the Ashley Cole to Luke Young's Wayne Bridge.
Anyway, I for one am sick of all the bitching about the business we've done this summer. Don't forget that we all moaned when MON signed Marlon and look how well he did for us last season! Lets get behind the manager/team, stop all the moaning and look forward to seeing players that actually [b]WANT[/b] to be at the club like Luke Young.
I wasn't pleased with the purchase of Young, and that was before i found out the tranfer fee.But we are starting the season with a righ-back and one that is capable of the demands of the pemier league, though i don't think he was anybodys first choice.
The mirror seem to think were still after Miguel despite the capture of Young.Can't see MON paying 6m for a replacement rb though.
apparently we are preparing a bid for joe cole as i said b4 ill eat my sock if we sign him
another strange link today is that we are in a race with fulham to sign another central midfielder in jaroslav plasil
this is prob not true as according to the daily star we are also in talks with ruben de la red but the deal hinges on gareth barry and his move to loanapool
to be honest i want an end to all the rumours and bring in de la red, dean ashton and anton ferdinand and i'll be happy
UTV :) :) :) :) :)
its nice to have a recognised rb. so i for one will give him the benifit of the doubt,and wish him well.
Off topic a little but i thought in was worth mentioning
[b]Damian[/b]
I think you should do a post about how many more signings villa will make in the remaining 21 days and who ever guess right wins a villa away(35 on sportsdirect 'fat mikes company'), but with a little twist we also have to name 2 of the signings. If many people guess the same answers they go into the hat for a draw????? Winner we be annouced on sep 1
e.g Villa will sign 5 more players from august 12th
P1: Titus Bramble
P2: Emile Heskey
I think it's a good ideal anyone agree................. ;)
One more thing most of us are not willing to pay the for the very expensive trip to Iceland, you probably already know this but:
The match is on [b]Channel 5 Thursday 6:50pm[/b]
Back to the good old days in europe..........yes
I think Damians answer will be "are you buying the shirt Goldie?"
Good concept though!
2 More Players - Gerrard & Torres when Gilette & Hicks admit bankruptcy and Benitez walks out ;)
goldie 7 like the idea
;D
would love to see rafa working for the villa
the hotel could do with a new waiter ;D ;D ;D ;D
Channel 5 you say, awesome... I hope Johnny Pearce is Commentating, I'll never forget getting home after I video plussed (how retro - video plus!!!) the atl madrid game to re-watch the match only to hear his scream when big stan popped that banger in the top bin!
Villa in Europe!
I still think we should let Barry have his way and put in a bid for Stevie G. If they want to play together so bad they should come to Aston England.
All this talk of missing out on Bent is off the mark in my eyes. He's had one good season in the Prem, and is clearly a player who, though he knows where the goal is, lacks the speed of thought and technical ability to be a real quality striker. He may prove me wrong and bag 20 goals this season, but the only thing he has over somebody like Gabby is that he buries chances. We need somebody with more than what Bent offers, a creative forward or attacking midfielder. I hope Gabby improves otherwise i would be tempted to cash in on him and look elsewhere...and i love the guy so thats hard to admit.....
Luke Young will do a job, as will Shorey. They may not have been MON's #1 choice, but his #1 cost Chelsea near to £20 million, and i dont think he is 3-4 times better than young.
Friedel
Young Davies Laursen Shorey
Sidwell NRC Barry
SWP Young
Carew
Anyone think that would be a hell of a side next year?
i also hope we get De La Red, or some class midfielder.
I can't stand Johnny Pearce
he's the commentary equivalent of a premature ejaculation
i still quite like the goal he scored!
UTV ;D
Personally I don't think there's any chance of us signing Joe Cole but vdave i agree with you about just the link itself being a positive thing. I think us villa fans are going to be in for a few shocks before August 31st. I reckon O'Neill has a few tricks up his sleeve and a couple of those 'quality' signings will arrive. Santa Cruz would be an amazing signing for us but again I think its unlikely due to the players Blackburn have already sold.
Its pleasing to see that O'Neill is now starting to look to Europe for quality signings, I was beginning to worry that we were becoming 'too English'.
The prospect of signing Ruben De La Red is exciting. He may not be a household name but he's still relatively young and at the end of the day you don't play for Real Madrid without being a top class player (i'm choosing to ignore Gravesen).
This signing would surely show the world that Aston Villa means business and is well on the way to mixing it once more with the big boys.
Returning to Joe Cole I think it may be a year too early for that kind of signing but depending on our progress this coming season it could soon be a realistic transfer.
We've signed 5 players so far this summer and I believe that another 4 or 5 are still needed. Possibly 2 maybe 3 of those will be key players but the depth of the team still needs to be improved. De La Red would be a great replacement for Barry and a right midfielder and goal scorer are still needed.
If this can be done I've really high hopes for this season. Success for me would comprise of consolidating our league position, a good run in the Uefa cup and silverware in the form of the league or FA Cup would be excellent.
Top article Adam.
FWIW, I think Damians's other man is Miguel.
Can I also just be a bit provocative and suggest the likes of Taglor and Jinksy and all the other constantly negative types are utter tools? :P
damian whats the latest on the de la red deal?
is it me or am i the only person who would prefer to see ashton coming to villa over santa cruz
I heard we are after Joe Cole!!!!
Fitzy, there is most likely nothing else to be heard, which probably means MON and the team are negotiating.
Whilst certain fools would have you believe MON is sat on his hands doing nothing and doesn't have a clue, I'd guess you can be safe in the knowledge that he's trying his best to get them in.
Oh, I wouldn't want Ashton or Santa Cruz, but what do I know?
Going back to your question, nothing happens over the weekend really, but I'd expect movement during the coming week.
One thing I can say (and I don't profess to have any insider knowledge) is that if you look at MON's record, he isn't shy at paying the wages.
What's all this about Joe Cole then? That is a fantasy signing so we may as well forget about it at the moment! So many rumours, but if we sign anyone else, I'll believe it when I see it!
As for Barry, if he really really won't consider staying, drop the price and get rid of him. This transfer saga is turning into a joke now
Young is a sound quality fullback who will be an improvement on a out of position Mellberg who was immobile.
We just need another quality midfielder, winger & 20 goal a season striker & we will have a first 11, then just 11 more as cover!!!!!
fitzy i would prefer ashton over cruz but would not like to see de la red at villa park why would we want to spend so much money on an unproven player i would rather get micheal johnson from city for £8m and shaun wright-phillips for £8m so £16m for the pair much better than the repoted £15-16m for de la red and we know what to expect from them and get ashton and sell barry to arsenal not liverpool they are a shambles and im glad randy doesnt work like the other americans at liverpool ;D
tanks guys this could be an exciting week so hopefully a few new faces arriving
FITZY, I would prefer ashton to santa cruz but with the amount of goals we scored last season coming from all over the field i would be more excited with a creative midfielder or SWP to play on the right (MON could get him back to his form of the Man City days) scoring double figures for the season.
I would be happy with a solid 5th/6th place Prem finish, qualifying from group stage of UEFA, and Quarter finals of both FA and League cup this season. And the scousers NOT robbing us of our captain!
What does everyone else think would be a good season for us?
completly off the mark but i need to know..... does anyone know if or when we are increasing villa park.because i know we have been granted an olympic grant to do so.
2012 it will be increased to 50,000
VILLA boss Martin Oâ€Neill may capitalise on Rangers†disastrous exit from Europe by tempting Carlos Cuellar to Villa Park.
LINK
joe cole ashley young = champion's league
kaboul at pompey and im relieved he cant talk english anyway
Damo, its been a quiet weekend. Have you any updates on DLR? bid accepted or not? Give me something to smile about here on a horrible monday morning ine the Emerald Isle :)
Great article,thank you Adam.
Young is a first class signing well done MON. Great to get one over Southgate, an original Judas. Who can forget Southgate and Boateng saying they were moving to a bigger club- Boro!! Southgate and their fans didn't want Young to go.
:D