The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[pauliewalnuts]

Miner is a good player but he's really not worth 35m as some are suggesting.

The post suggesting he's better than Gerrard and Lampard were at his age is ridiculous

whilst I do worry about replacing him (mainly because I suspect it will involve Jermaine Jenas), I worry far more about what it says about the club, in particular to the other players.

What message does it send out to sell our best midfielder to Man City - a direct competitor - two years running?

We already have the issue that sixth, sixth, sixth is not progress at all for players who want to play in the champions league (and it gets harder to convince players we are a better bet for it than city if we keep selling them their colleagues)  

For that reason I think this decision is about much more than keeping James Miner.

[lovejoy]

Agreed paulie unless we went down the Arsenal route and started spending on up and coming youngsters to fill the gaps left. The consensus would suggest that we don't think MON can do a Wenger in the transfer market successfully.

[SashasGrandad]

This morning's papers are suggesting Citeh will offer us £20 million plus 1 from 4 players.

I'd ask for £20m plus Ireland plus one other and maybe we'd get the better deal! Roque Santa Cruz??

They have got lots of money but hopefully less common sense. Whatever we say about selling to our competitors they have got access to so much money the rules of the game are stacked against us.

We have to do what we can and try to get something out of it.

[Chris Smith]

Miner is a good player but he's really not worth 35m as some are suggesting.

The post suggesting he's better than Gerrard and Lampard were at his age is ridiculous

whilst I do worry about replacing him (mainly because I suspect it will involve Jermaine Jenas), I worry far more about what it says about the club, in particular to the other players.

What message does it send out to sell our best midfielder to Man City - a direct competitor - two years running?

We already have the issue that sixth, sixth, sixth is not progress at all for players who want to play in the champions league (and it gets harder to convince players we are a better bet for it than city if we keep selling them their colleagues)  

For that reason I think this decision is about much more than keeping James Miner.

Players will be fully aware of the economic realities associated with Man City so I don't think this will tell them anything that they don't already know i.e. that club is in a position to financially bully the rest of us. Redknapp mentioned it a few weeks ago in relation to how they warned Spurs of Bellamy by saying that they'd also bid for Palacios.

[Shrek]

Can someone explain why spurs and everton etc have all tied their players to new contracts before the world cup? Whereas we 'are happy' to wait till after the world cup.

Are Randy and Martin thick?

Milner should have been signed up before his hea was turned!

[davevillan]

This morning's papers are suggesting Citeh will offer us £20 million plus 1 from 4 players.

I'd ask for £20m plus Ireland plus one other and maybe we'd get the better deal! Roque Santa Cruz??

They have got lots of money but hopefully less common sense. Whatever we say about selling to our competitors they have got access to so much money the rules of the game are stacked against us.

We have to do what we can and try to get something out of it.

Of those, id agree with Ireland. We get a good profit and a good player from them in the process. Lets face it is he really worth £20m more then Ireland, who if im correct was their player of the season 12mths ago.
Take 12mts ago, we basically swapped B£rry for Dunne and made £6?
I think its fair to say we got the better half of the deal. IF this deal was to go ahead and we got Ireland plus £20 then again they will have helped strengthen us.

[Chris Smith]

Can someone explain why spurs and everton etc have all tied their players to new contracts before the world cup? Whereas we 'are happy' to wait till after the world cup.

Are Randy and Martin thick?

Milner should have been signed up before his hea was turned!

Yes, clearly it's just us that this happens to.

From the Liverpool Echo:

A number of Toffees stars are being linked with moves away from Merseyside, including Rodwell and Mikel Arteta, who is reported to be on the radar of Manchester City and Arsenal.

While Tim Cahill has committed his long-term future to the Blues, Steven Pienaar has postponed making a decision about his new deal until after the World Cup.

How are Carrick and Berbatov getting on at Spurs these days?

[Concrete John]

Agreed paulie unless we went down the Arsenal route and started spending on up and coming youngsters to fill the gaps left. The consensus would suggest that we don't think MON can do a Wenger in the transfer market successfully.

In another thread, the 'consensus' clearly states, rather than just suggest, that we would trust Martin with the money.

[Concrete John]

whilst I do worry about replacing him (mainly because I suspect it will involve Jermaine Jenas)

I'm pretty sure a lot of people were saying the same thing 12-months ago when Barry was leaving.  They were wrong then and I think you'll be wrong now.

Can we at least limit ourselves to having a pop at him for the things he HAS done?

[Rancid custard]

Don't forget the prices we'll be quoted, we will need a replacement and everyone will know we'll have around £30 million in the bank...

[PaulTheVillan]

http://buzztap.com/-v7PO7u

[richard moore]

Its all feels very frustrating doesn't it, like tending a rose bush in your garden, you dig, water and prick your fingers waiting patiently for it to flower.... only just as it comes into bloom your neighbour comes and digs it up and plants it in theirs.

If it kept happening you might be tempted to give up gardening.

Happened since time immemorial though. Teams like Liverpool, Spurs and Man Utd did it (and to each other) all through the 80s and 90s, one just didn't notice it as much as the only places you read about it were on the back of the daily paper or on Ceefax...

[hackneyvillain]

So far, the only thin we actually know, is that Man city have made a bid, which has been 'firmly rejected'.  Judging by what is being said on here you would think the cub have let him go on a free.

Like the poster a few posts up said, lets wait until we actually know some facts before slating MON/Randy/the groundsmen etc

[rogfromb6]

Can someone explain why spurs and everton etc have all tied their players to new contracts before the world cup? Whereas we 'are happy' to wait till after the world cup.

Are Randy and Martin thick?

Milner should have been signed up before his hea was turned!

Man City come knocking with their bottomless pit of cash and the fact someone has a 2 or 4 year contract makes sod all difference as to whether a player stays or go.

[Drummond]

I suggested earlier we'd get £15m and Ireland. I think it would be great business if we get an extra £5m, Ireland would slot nicely in the side to replace Milner and £20m for a new striker would be just what we need.