Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Monday September 7 2009
Time: 11:42AM
UK time is: 17:47:05
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Heskey - No Complaints If Dropped For England
Villa and England striker Emile Heskey has admitted in the Daily Star that he wouldn't be in a position to complain if he gets dropped for England's crunch game v Croatia on Wednesday night and replaced by on form Spurs man Jermain Defoe.
There appears to be more and more talk about the use of Emile, who lets face it has got to have 'something' that a lot of us fans miss because he's sold for a fortunes worth of transfer fees throughout his career despite rarely actually scoring!
I had to smile on Sunday watching the Sky Sports Sunday Supplement show when one reporter said he'd start again with Heskey and the other two said they liked their strikers to actually be able to score!
If only Emile used his physical assets and added some aggression, he could have been a terror, that said, he does appear to have the eye of Fabio Capello like so many before him. Not that that is a high recommendation when you look at the lack of success for England and the lack of goals for Emile!
Full article and quotes on Vital England: Click Here > www.england.vitalfootball.co.uk
So what do you think, Emile Heskey or Jermain Defoe? 
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Your Comments
He doesn't get a regular start for us, doesn't score when he does and can't buy a goal for England.....how does he get in the England team!?
juddy
He doesn't get a regular start for us, doesn't score when he does and can't buy a goal for England.....how does he get in the England team!?
juddy
Heskey's very lucky to be playing top flight football & especially International football when the likes of Dennis Mortimer & Ian Taylor never even got 1 cap between them (Ridiculous!). He couldn't complain if Kevin Davies took his England place, nevermind Defoe!
I remember reading on the Villa website he promised to score more goals. Glad 2 see he's a man of his word. (How many already this season?)
StuLinney
Heskey's very lucky to be playing top flight football & especially International football when the likes of Dennis Mortimer & Ian Taylor never even got 1 cap between them (Ridiculous!). He couldn't complain if Kevin Davies took his England place, nevermind Defoe!
I remember reading on the Villa website he promised to score more goals. Glad 2 see he's a man of his word. (How many already this season?)
StuLinney
Would love to see him dropped from Villa - let alone England.
xfranc
Would love to see him dropped from Villa - let alone England.
xfranc
he should be dropped for saying that. can you imagine beckham saying the same about shaun wright phillips? It shows a lack of passion, he should be saying 'i dont care how many goals he's scoring, its my place and he's not having it'
bobbyfett
he should be dropped for saying that. can you imagine beckham saying the same about shaun wright phillips? It shows a lack of passion, he should be saying 'i dont care how many goals he's scoring, its my place and he's not having it'
bobbyfett
How he is even in the squad beyond me!! I would have him 3rd choice striker.......in our Villa team.....of English strikers! After Gabby and the Fonz!! Push came to shove in a striker crisis I would happier see Milner our Young put in an advanced role!! The silly thing is he is clearly a decent, quality striker.....he just is not a Villa player!! Does not fit the mould we need!
deano.avfc
How he is even in the squad beyond me!! I would have him 3rd choice striker.......in our Villa team.....of English strikers! After Gabby and the Fonz!! Push came to shove in a striker crisis I would happier see Milner our Young put in an advanced role!! The silly thing is he is clearly a decent, quality striker.....he just is not a Villa player!! Does not fit the mould we need!
deano.avfc
Harewood is a better striker than Heskey IMO.
StuLinney
Harewood is a better striker than Heskey IMO.
StuLinney
Thats stupid StuLinney Harewood is awful, Heskey play is very good except he doesnt often score, Rooney, Owen, Capello, O Neil etc cant all be wrong can they!!!!!!!!!!
astonsteve
Thats stupid StuLinney Harewood is awful, Heskey play is very good except he doesnt often score, Rooney, Owen, Capello, O Neil etc cant all be wrong can they!!!!!!!!!!
astonsteve
Strikers are judged on goals. Last time I checked, Harewood has scored more 4 us than Heskey on less starts. I'd like to check the goals to minutes ratio though & see which 1's is better. I'm guessing Harewoods would, but I may be wrong.
I've got more confidence in Harewood putting away the sitters that Heskey misses on a regular basis.
StuLinney
Strikers are judged on goals. Last time I checked, Harewood has scored more 4 us than Heskey on less starts. I'd like to check the goals to minutes ratio though & see which 1's is better. I'm guessing Harewoods would, but I may be wrong.
I've got more confidence in Harewood putting away the sitters that Heskey misses on a regular basis.
StuLinney
he shouldnt even have any complaints if he is dropped and replaced by me
goodb_2
he shouldnt even have any complaints if he is dropped and replaced by me
goodb_2
stu, got to agree with you on that one.
bobbyfett
stu, got to agree with you on that one.
bobbyfett
There are some players that the footie public love to hate. Panto villains (not Villans), like Robbie Savage. There are some players, however, like Heskey, Owen Hargreaves and increasingly Michael Owen too, who they just seem to genuingly loathe. Heskey could've been another Joe Jordan. Physically he has the attributes. He just doesn't have the aggression, ruthlessness and selfishness.. He's footballs Frank Bruno. I remember when he kept the suberb Jari Litmanen out of Liverpool's first team. Why Houllier made that decision I'll never know. Some of the stick Heskey gets is vindictive and too personal. Crowds are unforgiving though. If he wants to be at the World Cup he needs to be a first teamer. Can't see that happening at Villa now. Wouldn't surprise me to see him move to a relegation dogfight type club in Jan.
VillaWillRiseAgain
There are some players that the footie public love to hate. Panto villains (not Villans), like Robbie Savage. There are some players, however, like Heskey, Owen Hargreaves and increasingly Michael Owen too, who they just seem to genuingly loathe. Heskey could've been another Joe Jordan. Physically he has the attributes. He just doesn't have the aggression, ruthlessness and selfishness.. He's footballs Frank Bruno. I remember when he kept the suberb Jari Litmanen out of Liverpool's first team. Why Houllier made that decision I'll never know. Some of the stick Heskey gets is vindictive and too personal. Crowds are unforgiving though. If he wants to be at the World Cup he needs to be a first teamer. Can't see that happening at Villa now. Wouldn't surprise me to see him move to a relegation dogfight type club in Jan.
VillaWillRiseAgain
Maybe but Heskeys all round play is far better, Not dis agreeing about his goal ratio, it isnt good enough, but he does create space 4 others and is a good sqaud player 4 us, the bottom line is that while he is at the VILLA i will support him.
astonsteve
Maybe but Heskeys all round play is far better, Not dis agreeing about his goal ratio, it isnt good enough, but he does create space 4 others and is a good sqaud player 4 us, the bottom line is that while he is at the VILLA i will support him.
astonsteve
Agreed, aston steve. The fans should be supporting the players that are in Villa shirts, not dreaming about those (Van der Vaart etc), who aren't.
VillaWillRiseAgain
Agreed, aston steve. The fans should be supporting the players that are in Villa shirts, not dreaming about those (Van der Vaart etc), who aren't.
VillaWillRiseAgain
Um... Maybe its just me, but strikers are called strikers because they score GOALS!?!?!?! Basically strikers and forwards fit into two molds... One is a goal scorer whether they are predators, aerial etc. and two is a creator of goals and is generally high up on the assist list. Heskey is neither, so what does he being to the team? He isn't a goal scorer, he doesn't provide assists, he doesn't rough up the opposition, he doesn't tackle, he isn't that good in the air and I can go on and on. So can someone tell me what he adds on the pitch? And if glowing reviews were goals heskey would be prolific...
Astriel
Um... Maybe its just me, but strikers are called strikers because they score GOALS!?!?!?! Basically strikers and forwards fit into two molds... One is a goal scorer whether they are predators, aerial etc. and two is a creator of goals and is generally high up on the assist list. Heskey is neither, so what does he being to the team? He isn't a goal scorer, he doesn't provide assists, he doesn't rough up the opposition, he doesn't tackle, he isn't that good in the air and I can go on and on. So can someone tell me what he adds on the pitch? And if glowing reviews were goals heskey would be prolific...
Astriel
he's a nice guy, though.
benji_starsky_avfc
he's a nice guy, though.
benji_starsky_avfc
All of this is irrelelevant in terms of assists/aggression and other attributes he may or may not have. In terms of PERFORMANCE, you cannot judge by any factor or area in which Heskey is a better player than anyone in our team. You often see our Top 5 players ranked on sky teletext or newspapers and whether it is goals, touches, tackles etc. Heskey never makes top 5 in any of them. In short he just doesnt contribute towards the team. I can honestly say that v Vienna he was nowhere. Absolutley anonymous and we might as well have been playing with 10 men. But that is with Villa. If you took all the English strikers in the Premiership and lined them up, yes most managers would have Heksey picked 2nd, 3rd 4th but most Villa fans (me included) would rather have Defoe, Crouch, Bent, Cole, Ebanks-Blake, Owen, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, Campbell, Davies, Nugent and I am sure many more than him. I can honestly say I have never seen him have a good game since his debut......although I said that for a long time about Petrov - lets hope it happens here!
deano.avfc
All of this is irrelelevant in terms of assists/aggression and other attributes he may or may not have. In terms of PERFORMANCE, you cannot judge by any factor or area in which Heskey is a better player than anyone in our team. You often see our Top 5 players ranked on sky teletext or newspapers and whether it is goals, touches, tackles etc. Heskey never makes top 5 in any of them. In short he just doesnt contribute towards the team. I can honestly say that v Vienna he was nowhere. Absolutley anonymous and we might as well have been playing with 10 men. But that is with Villa. If you took all the English strikers in the Premiership and lined them up, yes most managers would have Heksey picked 2nd, 3rd 4th but most Villa fans (me included) would rather have Defoe, Crouch, Bent, Cole, Ebanks-Blake, Owen, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, Campbell, Davies, Nugent and I am sure many more than him. I can honestly say I have never seen him have a good game since his debut......although I said that for a long time about Petrov - lets hope it happens here!
deano.avfc
i wouldn't go near nugent mate.... ... .. . !
footy_fans
i wouldn't go near nugent mate.... ... .. . !
footy_fans
i dont hate heskey, and i couldn't call myself a villa fan if i did. i didnt hate Alpay and he justified the loathing more than heskey ever could! i just dont think he's good enough for Villa or England. he obviously has his attributes, but they are similar to Carew (strength, height etc) and we all know who we would prefer to see on the pitch.
bobbyfett
i dont hate heskey, and i couldn't call myself a villa fan if i did. i didnt hate Alpay and he justified the loathing more than heskey ever could! i just dont think he's good enough for Villa or England. he obviously has his attributes, but they are similar to Carew (strength, height etc) and we all know who we would prefer to see on the pitch.
bobbyfett
Weird. Top players such as Rooney and Owen frequently go on record as saying Heskey is the guy they most want to play alongside. Top managers (the list's too long to type) play him in their teams. But the average terrace hero just can't see ANY value in him. Why is that?
BobTheBuilder
Weird. Top players such as Rooney and Owen frequently go on record as saying Heskey is the guy they most want to play alongside. Top managers (the list's too long to type) play him in their teams. But the average terrace hero just can't see ANY value in him. Why is that?
BobTheBuilder
surely you aren't suggesting the average terrace hero doesnt' know what he is on about?!?!?! :o)
The Fear
surely you aren't suggesting the average terrace hero doesnt' know what he is on about?!?!?! :o)
The Fear
Never used to mind Heskey until he signed for us. Never really rated him but I thought under O'Neill he might do OK. He hasn't brought anything. (Except false hope when he scored a good goal against Pompey.) What happened to covering the area near the front post Emile like your manager suggested? The amount of times O'Neill & his staff shout at Heskey to stay upfront seems to be going ignored. Oh by the way, is it me or does Heskey always seem to be giving quotes in the media? Never noticed it before, even though I care less now about what he has to say.
StuLinney
Never used to mind Heskey until he signed for us. Never really rated him but I thought under O'Neill he might do OK. He hasn't brought anything. (Except false hope when he scored a good goal against Pompey.) What happened to covering the area near the front post Emile like your manager suggested? The amount of times O'Neill & his staff shout at Heskey to stay upfront seems to be going ignored. Oh by the way, is it me or does Heskey always seem to be giving quotes in the media? Never noticed it before, even though I care less now about what he has to say.
StuLinney
Why would other strikers rather play along side Heskey? Would it be because they are likely to be to scorer, earner, celebrity etc if they play along side someone who don't sciore?
RiF
Why would other strikers rather play along side Heskey? Would it be because they are likely to be to scorer, earner, celebrity etc if they play along side someone who don't sciore?
RiF
he is a joke and soon will be shown up for being so poor
whitey0372
he is a joke and soon will be shown up for being so poor
whitey0372
bobbyfett - I never hated Alpay - but then again Im not English!!! He was a quality centre-back!! Haha! I dont hate Villa players at all. I just think Heskey is a poor poor player for VILLA. For other teams he is vital. Unfortunatley I cant see us putting out an XI where he would play well, we could not even build a team round him! Only hope was us buying Zaki or Owen this summer - and even then they would have been behind Gabby and Carew. We may be worrying over nothing. We play one up front. Heskey is now definitley 3rd choice. He wont get many games and will know he may not go to the World Cup so will demand a move in January!!
deano.avfc
bobbyfett - I never hated Alpay - but then again Im not English!!! He was a quality centre-back!! Haha! I dont hate Villa players at all. I just think Heskey is a poor poor player for VILLA. For other teams he is vital. Unfortunatley I cant see us putting out an XI where he would play well, we could not even build a team round him! Only hope was us buying Zaki or Owen this summer - and even then they would have been behind Gabby and Carew. We may be worrying over nothing. We play one up front. Heskey is now definitley 3rd choice. He wont get many games and will know he may not go to the World Cup so will demand a move in January!!
deano.avfc
Alpay was awesome... Not spectacularly good but I would trade him for any of our current defense! Heskey on the other hand is a joke... Can't create... Can't score. Enough said!
Astriel
Alpay was awesome... Not spectacularly good but I would trade him for any of our current defense! Heskey on the other hand is a joke... Can't create... Can't score. Enough said!
Astriel
Its Heskey's appalling low self esteem and feebleness which gets me. As a striker, you have to be a bit greedy/cocky and a lot of it has to do with confidence. If you are admitting to the world that you don't deserve to start, then there's something wrong and managers can only tell you so many times that you are great etc before you need to find inner confidence. I would love to see more of his side when he headbutted the opposition player and got sent off in the peace cup. At least it shows that he's got some gonads!!!!!!!!
Villan444
Its Heskey's appalling low self esteem and feebleness which gets me. As a striker, you have to be a bit greedy/cocky and a lot of it has to do with confidence. If you are admitting to the world that you don't deserve to start, then there's something wrong and managers can only tell you so many times that you are great etc before you need to find inner confidence. I would love to see more of his side when he headbutted the opposition player and got sent off in the peace cup. At least it shows that he's got some gonads!!!!!!!!
Villan444
Basically, to summarise everyones thoughts, we'll go with this... "We don't hate Heskey, but he isn't the goalscorer Villa or England need."
footy_fans
Basically, to summarise everyones thoughts, we'll go with this... "We don't hate Heskey, but he isn't the goalscorer Villa or England need."
footy_fans
Bang on Footy Fans! Astriel, the line about cant score...cant create, reminds me of that old KITKAT ad with the band-you cant sing, cant play and you look awful...... You could do a youtube spoof with heskey - you cant score, cant create and you look awful....you'll go a long way!!
bobbyfett
Bang on Footy Fans! Astriel, the line about cant score...cant create, reminds me of that old KITKAT ad with the band-you cant sing, cant play and you look awful...... You could do a youtube spoof with heskey - you cant score, cant create and you look awful....you'll go a long way!!
bobbyfett
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