Ashley Young - A failed footballer

By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88

It has been another difficult week in the life of Ashley Young. Just weeks after a storm over his diving antics to win a penalty in a Premier League match against Crystal Palace, the winger has not listened to criticism from the press, his supporters and even his own manager.

On Tuesday night, Young won a cheap penalty with another fall that would have been more akin to be seen on a Sunday league field, let alone a Champions League match at the San Sebastian Stadium. Luckily, justice was done as Robin van Persie’s spot-kick hit the post and rebounded back into play as Manchester United laboured to a 0-0 draw in Sociedad.

With Premier League leaders Arsenal ready for another crucial test at Old Trafford this Sunday, it is time to examine what happened to Ashley Young. One of England’s brightest talents a few years ago is now no more than a failed footballer.

On 28 August 2011, Young was on a crest of a wave. He had just smashed in two dazzling strikes in United’s 8-2 humiliation of Sunday’s opponents at the Theatre of Dreams. Whilst Arsene Wenger was having nightmares about his team’s defending and lack of confidence on that day, things couldn’t be any better for Young who went to play a key role in Montenegro less than five weeks later as England secured their place at Euro 2012. So, what’s changed?

Injuries have played their part in the lack of his development. He has spent far too long on the treatment table for the liking of anyone since his £15m move from Aston Villa in June 2011. Rather than work hard though to win his place back as a permanent fixture in the Red Devils starting 11, Young clearly decided looking into an alternative career. In April 2012, he dragged his leg in the box to ensure he clipped Ciaran Clark against his former side, conning the referee into a penalty when United met Villa in a Premier League match. Whilst the outcome of the final scoreline was never in doubt (4-0 the result), it was the first signs that things were not the same for Young and his abilities as a footballer had dwindled.

At Euro 2012, he looked physically shattered and devoid of any ideas. Despite a couple of positive performances in Roy Hodgson’s first two games in charge in friendly wins over Norway and Belgium, Young’s contribution to the team in Ukraine was insipid to say the least. When he walked to the spot to take a penalty in the quarter-final shootout defeat to Italy, I knew deep down he was going to fail from 12 yards. Sure enough, he delivered. At least he didn’t resort to diving in that tournament but it was antics like this that have made his name in the press more recently.

Psychologically, you have to question if there is something wrong with his mind. His attitude has been shocking and his performances have been truly dreadful. It says a lot that new boss David Moyes has often preferred the inconsistent but occasionally brilliant Nani and the new teenage sensation in Manchester, Adnan Januzaj to Young on the left side of United’s team. Whilst the case for Shinji Kagawa’s lack of football is a mystery, Young has no defence. When he plays, he lets the side down and this has led to this ‘new career’ he seems to have taken up.

Tom Daley shouldn’t be losing any sleep though. I am totally against the concept of diving in football but if people decide to go to ground easily, then at least make it look convincing. El-Hadji Diouf is an expert at this, whilst it is a technique that Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets is still struggling to pioneer. Young doesn’t go down like he has just been shot by a professional assassin; he makes a complete porridge of it in the opponents’ penalty area. 

Defenders will soon be scared to touch his heels, let alone have a small tug of his overpriced shirt because he is more likely to hit the ground than almost anyone else in the professional game. I would go as far as saying that Young is not a ‘professional’ but an amateur who wants to mix it with the big boys but has more chance of appearing in an episode of Hollyoaks rather than making the plane for Brazil 2014.

One person who defended him for his latest dive was former Premier League referee Graham Poll. Poll said in his Daily Mail column: “Ashley Young was fouled by Markel Bergara last night (Tuesday) and, by the letter of the law, referee Nicola Rizzoli was absolutely correct in awarding a penalty. Watching the replays, whilst Young’s delayed fall was comical and unsavoury there is some contact and the level is irrelevant.”

Poll seems to be suggesting is that clearly we will soon be seeing seven or eight penalties per match at the top level. I’m afraid he doesn’t qualify for a view. Does anyone remember that this is the same referee who once booked a player three times in the same match during a World Cup! If you don’t know the basics about refereeing laws, something that he always seemed to have trouble understanding, I think he should keep his mouth shut, firmly shut.

So what does Manchester United do about this situation? Well it is unlikely that Young (pictured) will figure at all during the weekend, so Arsenal shouldn’t need to worry about any blatant diving from a footballer who is so bad; he would struggle to get into a celebrity select XI, let alone a first team at Old Trafford. This could be the problem for the club. Young is only halfway through a five-year contract and clearly earns quite a decent wage to be at the club. The fans don’t want him around, I doubt David Moyes wants him around and the media certainly don’t want him anywhere near a football field.

This former Watford and Aston Villa star, one of the brightest talents in the game just a few years ago has no star quality to him. Considering he makes a meal of his attributes, you’d wonder if a career in a fast food restaurant would suit him because as a footballer, Ashley Young is a spectacular failure. The sooner he disappears from the public spectrum, the better for the English game in general as the sport does not need players like him who think they’ve got talent but clearly have as much ability as a sea creature when it comes to playing football.