The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[Concrete John]

If you say that you have to balance it with the fact that Carew and Gabby cost relatively nothing in terms of transfer fees.

[TheSandman]

Interesting photo's of Milner laughing

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/FootballNewsDetail/0,,10265~2106329,00.html

of course Pravda could be doing this for obvious reasons. However on the link on the front splash page Milner is prominent.

IS that a message he is staying

He's talking to Sidwell. It's far more likely Sidwell did something stupid.

Look at MoN's legs in those pictures. Fine legs for a man of his age I must say.

[LeeB]

50:50 isn't a great success rate when you think what the transfers of Harewood and Heskey cost in fees and wages.

The wage fees are slightly offset by the fact that £7m in transfer fees for two premiership strikers is buttons in todays game.

I would concur that their subsequent performances would suggest it's wiser to outlay a bit more next time.

[mshurst]

Interesting photo's of Milner laughing

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/FootballNewsDetail/0,,10265~2106329,00.html

of course Pravda could be doing this for obvious reasons. However on the link on the front splash page Milner is prominent.

IS that a message he is staying

He's talking to Sidwell. It's far more likely Sidwell did something stupid.

Look at MoN's legs in those pictures. Fine legs for a man of his age I must say.

Who wears short shorts...

[cdward]

50:50 isn't a great success rate when you think what the transfers of Harewood and Heskey cost in fees and wages.

50:50 isn't a bad success rate either.

[Risso]

50:50 isn't a great success rate when you think what the transfers of Harewood and Heskey cost in fees and wages.

50:50 isn't a bad success rate either.

It's awful, surely?  The half that failed have taken about £20m out of the club.

[old man villa fan]

50:50 isn't a great success rate when you think what the transfers of Harewood and Heskey cost in fees and wages.

50:50 isn't a bad success rate either.

It's awful, surely?  The half that failed have taken about £20m out of the club.

The half that did well put us into the top six and kept us there.  It's not awful, surely?

Half empty, half full, matter of opinion.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

50:50 isn't a great success rate when you think what the transfers of Harewood and Heskey cost in fees and wages.

50:50 isn't a bad success rate either.

It's awful, surely?  The half that failed have taken about £20m out of the club.

Agree with Risso, it is awful.
Ask Randy if he's happy with that success rate, considering MON is supposed to be a managerial genius, that's a bad strike rate.

[Risso]

Do a similar exercise for Harry Redknapp, and then ask yourself why they're in the top 4, and we're not.

[Monty]

Come on, Riss. When MON took over at Villa we weren't in any position to sign the sort of players that Spurs had at the time, let alone who they've signed since.

[Ozzjim]

Nothing infuriates me more than the claims we could not have signed the players spurs have. With a bit of ambition of course we could have done, and it is only the short sightedness of the manager in the market that has prevented us from signing the players they have. They have a lower wage bill by all accounts, and a much more exciting line up realistically. We have had the cash and wage budget to compete over the last 3 years and have not seized the opportunity. Martin has not seized the opportunity.

[taylorsworkrate]

Now that it looks as though Stephen Ireland would not be coming as any part of a deal for Milner, MON should increase his hardball stance.

I was excited at the prospect of Ireland coming as i believe that he has the potential to be one of the best midfielders in the country.  I was of the opinion that we would be improved as a team with Ireland, and the rest of the Milner money reinvested.

Out of the players in that position we could realistically sign, none is of the quality of Ireland.

I suggest we now bump up our asking price to £35 million.  Which is around double what hes worth imo.  Unlikely that City will pay that, but now theres no Ireland the incentive for us to sell has been diminished.

[eric woolban woolban]

Looking at those Portugal pics I wonder how much Petrov sweats?

[Risso]

Come on, Riss. When MON took over at Villa we weren't in any position to sign the sort of players that Spurs had at the time, let alone who they've signed since.

Come on?  Players like Kranjcar, Crouch, Bassong and Defoe are out of our league are they?  I'd suggest not personally.  If you're willing to blow £12m on Stewart Downing, then you can afford any of those.

[PaulTheVillan]

Missing out on £2m Kranjcar was poor.

Bargain of the season.