Luke just needed Moore time
Tuesday, 27 May 08, 04:03 PM · Comments (27)
There was a time when Luke Moore was tipped to be the next big thing and rumours were rife that Manchester United had bid £5 million for the youngster; long before Ferguson had shown interest in a certain Wayne Rooney, if I recall correctly.
Now, after being loaned to rivals West Bromwich Albion last season, it looks like he is going to join the newly-restored Premier League side on a permanent deal.
Moore spent the final two-and-a-half months of the season on loan at the Hawthorns and the next option available to Tony Mowbray is to make the move permanent.
This is a move that no-one could have predicted less than a year ago after an amazingly successful pre-season tour, impressing Villa fans and manager Martin O'Neill alike with a hat-trick in the opening North American tour game against Toronto FC.
"His goals were terrific and his overall play was really excellent," O'Neill said in pre-season.
"Luke knows if he puts the work in, he's got the natural talent and you wouldn't want it to go to waste. He can conjure a goal when things aren't going well. If he works hard, he has the ability to be anything."
Moore Jr. alongside his older brother Stefan, were the key cohorts of the Villa FA Youth Cup-winning side in the 2001-2 campaign; the competition that brought attention to the likes of Rooney, Michael Owen, David Beckham and Paul Scholes. History tells us that those likely to impress in the Youth Cup are destined for great things on the Premier League stage. Something that Luke Moore only really showed in dribs and drabs in an Aston Villa shirt.
For me, Luke Moore’s inability to fulfil his pedigree has been a combination of injury bad luck and not having the chance to consistently prove his ability at the big stage.
Moore had been dogged by a shoulder injury that had given him recurrent pain for a solid three years which lead to major surgery in October 2006, an operation that sidelined him for three months at a most inconvenient stage of his career.
David O’Leary showed faith in the youngster in the last six months of his Aston Villa tenure. A player cannot do more to show his promise than by bagging a Premier League hat-trick; a feat Moore achieved against Middlesbrough in February 2006.
Lady Luck was certainly turning a blind eye to the lad as when Kevin Phillips had left and Milan Baros was injured towards the end of the 2005-6 season it looked like Moore was being lined up for a regular starting place. Only half a year later at the end of the season his three months on the sidelines was a near kiss of death for his Aston Villa future.
Would Luke Moore have a future at Villa if he wanted to stay? I think the club has moved on. We have a new wave of young talent from the next generation with the likes of Agbonlahor and Young. The two have entrenched themselves in the starting XI whilst Luke was on loan and recovering from the injury.
O’Neill achieved 6th position without Moore’s input and it is likely the manager has the England Under-21 international in the peripheries of his vision for next season.
Should he put pen to paper on a four-year contract for Tony Mowbray, I’m sure no fan would begrudge him a bright future away from Villa Park.
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27 Comments · Add yours
I heard that the shoulder injury was caused by the big chip he carries on it ;D
The word is he has a bad attitude and is a poor trainer, which would explain MON's comment about work.
Shame, as he does have the talent, but someone who won't work at it, is not going to push on, IMO.
What's the odds on him scoring against us?
I really think he just didn't have the talent his potential suggested at the end of the day he is yet to score 20 goals and he has played over 100 games.
His talent was on view for all to see, as was his poor attitude on the pitch aswell as off. It's no one's fault but the player's own when they don't live upto potential. There were more than enough chances for luke to show he was a consistent performer last season but he didn't take it or at the beginning of this.
Meh good riddance, if he wanted to be starter week in week out he should have showed more desire and determination to get a place.
I speak alot with a Baggies season ticket holder and when they signed him on loan he asked me if he is good. I said if he wants to play he will score at Championship level and possibly bag a good few should you get promoted. The fella came back to me after a few games and was pretty angry, he said he's really lazy just like you told me.
He has not been at all impressed by him and says he just doesnt do enough, im glad hes gone from Villa and if he continues to be lazy I dont wish him success. If he works hard and does well then fair play.
ye dead rite,he a lazy f##ker!.. better off witout him cuz he isnt gud enuf 4 villa lik ridgewell samuel cahill nd other players mon got rid of..i trust mon nd tink he knows wen a player is gud enuf r not..
I know a few albion fans and all of them are gutted they are going to make this deal permanent!! Says a lot that they dont want him
I once said that Luke Moore had more natural ability than Defoe, i still believe thats true, but it means absolutely nothing when you are a lazy arrogant twat......Should have used him to get Gera in a swap deal and just paid cash for Davies.....
No way MON would've let him go if he really thought he'd produce the goods. He always looked like he couldn't be bothered, and seemed unwilling to do the hard work, pouting instead of getting stuck in. I think it was easy for him at one level, but when his natural talent by itself was no longer enough to excel and he had to dig down, a lack of character showed through.
He might grow out of that...and if he does, well done. But I think MON wanted to show the lads that talent/potential alone is not enough to be a Villan.
I happened to be in Norwich at the game when they played West Brom the other week. The Baggies played pretty well, but Luke came on as a sub - Kevin Philips went off - and they lost their way a bit. Maybe it was the lack of interest up front from Luke, because he was certainly more interested in posturing and acting like he blamed everyone else when things didnt go right. Which they didnt. His bad attitude was clear and Ive seen it often enough at Villa to not be too sad he is going. A real shame, because i hoped he would come good, but he certainly isnt a MON type of player. £3.5m would be a decent deal for us.
Albion fans I know have told me a familiar story.."talented player but he just doesn't seem bothered enough"..for £3.5m I'd say we've shifted dead weight and made a good profit, seems like good business to me.
Luke Moore always seemed to have an indifferent attitude imho. £3.5 million is good business for us.
To be fair to Moore he won't want to be sitting on the bench the lad wants to play football. I hope whatever happens it good for his career.
Luke just needed Moore time
^^^^ So untrue the lazy git had pleanty of time to take his chance but no he wanted to be a lazy little git
Fact is he is a champions leauge player nothing more nothing less
All he used to do when playing for us is score in pre season freindlys if you like strikers like that i advise you to support moor green football club or some team like that
Id take 99p for him his that bad
Not champions leauge player sorry CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYER luke moore could never be champions leauge player ;D ;D :D :D
pair of losers. typical villa fan mentality "oh these kids are half caste and look like thierry henry so they must be world beaters, oh and there brummies so we must like them"the moores villa fans my arse, pair of overhyped, jumped up fairies. good riddance!!!!
@Villa_Rules
moor green is now solihull moores
I have heard so many times that he needed a run of games, i used to think that too. But he was given more than a fair chance a villa and he was crap and he will be crap for WBA. If he was any good it would have been noticed straight away, thats what good players do they force their way into the team. I bet doesn't start more than 5 games for them this year.
When he did come back from his shoulder injury in form at the end of last season and scored a hatful of goals for the Villa Reserves O'Neill overlooked him for selection at a time when the selected Villa strikers were not exactly firing on all cylinders, however at the start of this season he got a chance in the first team for a while when MON had no other alternatives mainly due to injury to Carew etc, he was clearly not in form and I think he got disheartened with life at Villa!
had plenty of potential and its a shame he never came good, the baggies fans i know just say "first touch" and then shake their heads!
i hope he doesnt disappear completely like his brother
anyone also seen that former villa youth player darren byfield has been released? i tell thee we've got a good youth set up! the number of guys that look like they'll make it when they are with us and then fail is mad
well many of you are glad to see luke go ok he may of felt out of his depth in the prem but that dont make him a bad player hes had that injury for over 3 years and i reckon he gave his all for the cause lazy no dont think so just not good enough at the present time hope he signs for the baggies and proves all you so called supporters wrong any player that plays in our famous claret and blue shirts should get our full support at all times not just when they have had a good game i feel so sorry for the morons who are quick enough to kick our own players in the teeth are they supporters no i dont think they are but everyone has there own opinions then you wonder why players wont sign, come on support aston villa fc not just one or two players
Off topic I know but Lerner is to take the CEO role at Villa..
What does this mean in terms of getting some cash flowing? Could be great news...
Link to the article
LINK
I think its the right move! the last few times he played for us, he just didn't look interested! To be honest, i never realy rated him anyway!
never looked like he would bring the goods to the table in all honesty. cant explain why, as he had all the ability. but suppose some players never fulfil potential. had to go in my opinion as he was never gonna take us forwrd
him and his brother have ALWAYS and will ALWAYS need more time..
with the amount of effort they use on the training field especially...
never filled the boots of dwite yorke more like darius vassel. altho lukes great in football manager but its a new season with new players that will be brought in very late on knowing MON
id go for ustari or akinfev as our new goalie instead of 10mill on carson who would be a gd number 2
AVFC TIL I DIE