Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Murph 
Date:Friday August 22 2008
Time: 1:54PM
UK time is: 20:36:55
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Lonely Maloney Returns to…Scotland
Shaun Maloney has departed Aston Villa.
In what must be considered a protracted transfer arrangement, even by Villa`s standards, the deal to take Shaun Maloney to Celtic has finally been closed, having started more than likely the day after Maloney joined Aston Villa from Celtic.
As the official site randomly wanders into contradicting itself, the "versatile 25-year old" hasn`t quite had the versatility to settle in the West Midlands, with the Malaysian born midfielder/forward often being quoted as being homesick from those mysterious 'sources close to the player.`
Martin O`Neill discussed the departure of Shaun, briefly, to avfc.co.uk:
"We're going to try and get some more in because we need to strengthen. We've taken a few players on but Shaun's gone now and we still want a few in. We'll be working vigorously towards that end.
"The players need that strength in depth. If we can get a bit more competition, that's really healthy. Sidwell's desperate to get back and involved, Cuellar is the same."
Sorry Shaun, you just didn`t do enough. As far as I will remember you, as a misery faced, "homesick" player who showed very brief flashes of ability, and little else.
Bye!
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Your Comments
Finally he shows some ambition.
weetim67
One that got away in my opinion. He is talented and it is a shame he never showed it. I agree he could sulk at times and could be found lacking for effort, but he always gave the impression that he could deliver so much more, perhaps as a front partner to Carew. Now we will never know.
Gordonsleftboot
I disagree about the brief flashes. I thought he had ability and given more of a run out would have shown us what he was capable of. I agree though that he never settled and its all been a bit of a waste of time.
cap10xb1s
Ambition-thats a good one. Playing in a league that only has two teams is ambition? Its too bad little Shaun didn't step up to the plate and deliver, he's a talented player. Now sod off weetim, we're all tired of you now and you're giving Cletic fans a bad rep.
gwyllum18
i think his inability to deliver stems from lack of opportunity. o'neill has always favoured dogged pragmatism in favour of flair, meaning that maloney would often be sacrificed for a bigger more physical player when battling to secure the points that would move villa up the table. it's shame o'neill couldn't provide the kind of environment where shaun would have flourished as it's obvious he has incredible ability. but there you go, sometimes things just don't work out. anyway, seems like both parties are quite happy with this arrangement.
leedscelt
As soon as I saw the title of the thread I knew Murph had written it.
The truth is maloney never said one word against the club in all the time he was here, except for the fact that he wanted to get a place in the first team.
The rest of it was the usual media *********, so leave the bloke alone.
I for one wish him all the best. I would have loved to have seen him make it at Villa but it wasn't to be.
jonah
7 goals in 33 games is by no means a poor showing for a midfielder who has to play with the qualty goalgetters we have already i for one hope he can show us his stuff for the green hoops.
thanks for the 2 against the foriegn legion
Astonian Villan
weetim67 by returning to Scotland.... very very comedic indeed.
col8
still scored some important goals for use, fulham at home last minute, 2 at chelsea and a cracking free kick against sunderland when we were poor!
Not good enough when he has played at times but good luck, just dont think it worked out the way everyone wanted. it happens sometimes!
Upthevilla_83
Little toad should never have come :
"I shouldn't have come to a situation to leave Celtic," Maloney said.
"I knew it was not the right move and I really struggled - in my heart of hearts I knew Aston Villa was not the club I wanted to play for."
xfranc
he is a boy and remains a boy. I doubt he would have settled anywhere even if it was the likes of man utd. He did ok but now he is returning to easy football where he will be adored for scoring the winner against teams like st mirren...
rotter82
He had talent and a bloody great big sulk too. Bye, watch the door don't bang your arse on the way out, mind not to trip up on that lower lip too.
koolbill
He had nothing but kind words for Villa and said he missed pressure of winning things and european nights. Also knows he will have to fight again to make team.
LARSSON*7*CFC
He was never going to make it here, destined to always be a bit part player. Dont think his heart was in it from day one, and that accompanied with the fact that I dont think he was good enough for the premiership, ended any chances he had. He had opportunities, just never took them. Shone in brief patches, then disappeared from the game. I liked him, I admire the fact that he wants to play football as opposed to sitting on the bench and picking up his money, and I wish him well. We'll move on, there's a lot better out there. Shaun Maloney and AVFC was never meant to be.
glensider
Hopefully he'll put a smile back on his face up at Celtic. The lad always looked so incredibly miserable, it was a downright tradgedy.
Good luck to him, Good luck to Celtic. Lifes too short to be as downhearted and unhappy as lil Shaun obviously was.
glensider
on the tele saying he never should have joined villa and never really wanted to play for us and it was one of his toughest times,Well Trot off home and back to that crap little league.How can you be homesick when you haven`t even left the ******** island?He basically took a long drive down a motorway.Prat,Try 6 months in afghanistan on ***** pay and then pull your little sulky face.
lerneravfc
His interview was praising of villa but he wanted to be back at Celtic. Good player but poor mentality.
LARSSON*7*CFC
Things have been said, AND, gone on behind the scenes. He was never going to get a decent run once MON knew his heart wasn't in it. Complete waste of time, he should have been *****ed off the minute it was evident he had no bottle.
mackaavfc
For a player who hasn't made it and angled for a trip back "home" , it is nice to see that most of the comments are supportive and wish him well. This is a reflection me thinks of the positive side that was seen of him and the uncertaiinty felt by many that he wasn't given the chances others have had. Best of luck Sean. Why some think he deserves abuse just cos it didn't work out I can never understand. Abuse should be the reserve of Robby Savage etc not our players, unless they have been genuinely unhelpful and uncommitted to the cause (e.g. the Berger departure)
stennyvilla
As I mentioned in the article, time and time again "sources close to the player" mentioned homesickness, failure to settle etc. Why so persistent rumours. We're quick to suggest that agents are getting moves for their clients by releasing news to the media, is this not the case with Shaun?
murph
Like other Scots before him, Miller and Mcfadden, he couldn't cut it in England. Perhaps their league is dumbing them down and they are not developing properly north of the border??
Villan444
He'll no doubt pick up his career back at Parkhead, but surely he will always have regrwets that he couldn't cut it in the big-boys league?
glensider
I agree with macka, we held on to him too long. Dont think his heart was ever in it.
glensider
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