Aston Villa: Ashley Young puts in extra effort to regain his set-piece flair
Dec 5 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
ASHLEY Young has thanked his Villa colleagues for staying behind after training to help him try to rediscover the secret of his set-piece specials.
Young’s direct free-kicks have yet to live up to his previous year’s efforts but the England hopeful has claimed several assists from inswinging corners.
And the former Watford winger has paid tribute to Villa goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan for giving up their time to assist him on the practice pitches.
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“I always practise set-pieces,” said Young.
“The boys are always staying behind after training and hopefully, fingers crossed, in one of the games it will come off.
“The keepers are brilliant, Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan and even the younger keepers as well.
“They’re always willing to stay behind after training so we thank them.
“They don’t have to stay behind. They’re out first in the morning and then come in last with us. There’s quite a few boys that stay out after training and practise free-kicks and shooting.
“I don’t practise as much with my left foot as I do with my right but obviously there are times when I do.
“It’s my all-round game that I practise and want to better.’’
Villa boast a whole host of deadball experts this season with James Milner and Stephen Warnock sharing setpiece duties with Young and Stewart Downing also available now.
But last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year admits the decision over who takes free-kicks from particular positions is decided democratically by the players on matchdays.
“It just depends where the ball is, whether it’s round the box or to the left or right and how far out it is,” said Young.
“We decide on the day, it’s just spur of the moment whether I’m going to take it or whether someone else will.
“Nobody looks to the bench when it’s a free-kick round the box.
“We know exactly what we’re doing and whether we’re going to have a shot or put it in a certain area.
“On the day of the match, there’s not really any arguing. We always decide who’s going to take it straight away.
“If you’ve stepped up and it doesn’t go well, you just want to take the next one.’’
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