The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[BannedUserIAT]

Looks to me that if we lose Milner but add the likes of Ireland and Belamy, it'd be 2 step backward, 1.9 forward. Obviously not enough to push the Top 4 next season.

However, if we're planning on adding those names to play alongside Milner, then maybe, just maybe, this is the pushing out of the boat that we've been waiting for for a long, long time.

A 4-5-1 system with Milner, Petrov and Ireland in the guts, Ashley and either Downing or Albrighton on the wings and the option of Gabby/Carew/Belamy up front is, for me, a potential Top 3 side. Add in Hart and a REAL Left Back and I'd put some dollars on that Top 3 spot.

It would also afford us some flexibility to change our formation and tactics, change things about with some exciting substi........oh, yeah, sorry.

[Chris Smith]

Ireland is far too inconsistent to be considered as an equal to Milner. Yes he's got a bit of flair and an eye for a pass but he's a luxury player not one to build your team around like Jimmy.

For two years he was the very model of consistency, and was Man City's player of the year last season (07/08) at the age of 22.  This season he's been disrupted by injury and the general silliness at Man City.  I think you're being unduly harsh on him, he's an excellent player.  Given that Milner has only really caught they eye after a half season of playing in central midfield, I'm not sure how you can say one player is more consistent than the other.

He was their player of the year when they were a pretty average team, when they went up a level he struggled.

[PaulTheVillan]

Ireland is far too inconsistent to be considered as an equal to Milner. Yes he's got a bit of flair and an eye for a pass but he's a luxury player not one to build your team around like Jimmy.

For two years he was the very model of consistency, and was Man City's player of the year last season (07/08) at the age of 22.  This season he's been disrupted by injury and the general silliness at Man City.  I think you're being unduly harsh on him, he's an excellent player.  Given that Milner has only really caught they eye after a half season of playing in central midfield, I'm not sure how you can say one player is more consistent than the other.

He was their player of the year when they were a pretty average team, when they went up a level he struggled.

I just think Mancini doesn't like him. He prefers 2 deeper, more defensive midfielders.

[Concrete John]

I'd take Ireland with or without Milner going, but he isn't as good a player, IMO.

Yesterday's Sunday Mirror had an article comparing their stats and there wasn't much difference between Ireland in 08/09 and Milner for 09/10 in terms of goals and assists.  So we'd replace his offensive contribution, but not his work rate and industry.  So for me it shows Jimmy to be the better player.

How many penalties did Stephen Ireland take in 08/09?
I ask because I'm genuinely not sure, but from memory I don't think he was their designated penalty taker.

I like Jimmy, but given a straight choice I'd probably go for Ireland. Jimmy is a meat and potatoes player, a trier. 100% endeavour. Not completely without skill, but can look a bit one paced.

Ireland can do the unexpected, whether it's a sliderule pass, a welltimed run into the box to get on the end of a move or turn up to training in a pimped out Pink Landrover. Every good side needs that type of player (well except for the Landrover part, obv).

The stats were 7 goals for Milner and 9 for Ireland.  So whatever amount of penalties were taken, Ireland scored more.  However, two points:-
1.  That 7 is with Jimmy only playing half a season in the centre.
2.  Imagine what Jimmy might do if he wasn't trying to defend also, which is the way Ireland plays.

I think over the course of a 38 game season with both playing central midfield, we'd only see a small difference in the goals and assists figures.  When you take into account Milner can do that while also being the driving force and covering every blade of grass, it's clear to me who the better player is.

[Olof's Beard]

Ireland is far too inconsistent to be considered as an equal to Milner. Yes he's got a bit of flair and an eye for a pass but he's a luxury player not one to build your team around like Jimmy.

For two years he was the very model of consistency, and was Man City's player of the year last season (07/08) at the age of 22.  This season he's been disrupted by injury and the general silliness at Man City.  I think you're being unduly harsh on him, he's an excellent player.  Given that Milner has only really caught they eye after a half season of playing in central midfield, I'm not sure how you can say one player is more consistent than the other.

He was their player of the year when they were a pretty average team, when they went up a level he struggled.

When he came on at Villa Park this season he completely changed the game, eventually making a massive contribution to them earning a point.  He kept the ball and used it intelligently.  He's a little scrote but there's no doubt he's a great player.

[Drummond]

Richard Dunne was their player of the season in an average side too.

[Chris Smith]

Ireland is far too inconsistent to be considered as an equal to Milner. Yes he's got a bit of flair and an eye for a pass but he's a luxury player not one to build your team around like Jimmy.

For two years he was the very model of consistency, and was Man City's player of the year last season (07/08) at the age of 22.  This season he's been disrupted by injury and the general silliness at Man City.  I think you're being unduly harsh on him, he's an excellent player.  Given that Milner has only really caught they eye after a half season of playing in central midfield, I'm not sure how you can say one player is more consistent than the other.

He was their player of the year when they were a pretty average team, when they went up a level he struggled.

When he came on at Villa Park this season he completely changed the game, eventually making a massive contribution to them earning a point.  He kept the ball and used it intelligently.  He's a little scrote but there's no doubt he's a great player.

Great?

He's done nothing to earn that tag.

I've said before there are lots of things about his game I like, his movement and passing particularly can be top drawer but he can also go missing, he can't tackle and he is slow. Might one day be very good if he applies himself properly but at the moment he's a 'highlights' player for me, not one to build your team around.

[Chris Smith]

Richard Dunne was their player of the season in an average side too.

Several times.

[Concrete John]

Ireland is far too inconsistent to be considered as an equal to Milner. Yes he's got a bit of flair and an eye for a pass but he's a luxury player not one to build your team around like Jimmy.

For two years he was the very model of consistency, and was Man City's player of the year last season (07/08) at the age of 22.  This season he's been disrupted by injury and the general silliness at Man City.  I think you're being unduly harsh on him, he's an excellent player.  Given that Milner has only really caught they eye after a half season of playing in central midfield, I'm not sure how you can say one player is more consistent than the other.

He was their player of the year when they were a pretty average team, when they went up a level he struggled.

When he came on at Villa Park this season he completely changed the game, eventually making a massive contribution to them earning a point.  He kept the ball and used it intelligently.  He's a little scrote but there's no doubt he's a great player.

Great?

He's done nothing to earn that tag.

I've said before there are lots of things about his game I like, his movement and passing particularly can be top drawer but he can also go missing, he can't tackle and he is slow. Might one day be very good if he applies himself properly but at the moment he's a 'highlights' player for me, not one to build your team around.

Playing Ireland in a two would mean we'd need a specialist holding player behind him, so an upgrade on Petrov, which we need anyway.

[Risso]

Ireland is far too inconsistent to be considered as an equal to Milner. Yes he's got a bit of flair and an eye for a pass but he's a luxury player not one to build your team around like Jimmy.

For two years he was the very model of consistency, and was Man City's player of the year last season (07/08) at the age of 22.  This season he's been disrupted by injury and the general silliness at Man City.  I think you're being unduly harsh on him, he's an excellent player.  Given that Milner has only really caught they eye after a half season of playing in central midfield, I'm not sure how you can say one player is more consistent than the other.

He was their player of the year when they were a pretty average team, when they went up a level he struggled.

When he came on at Villa Park this season he completely changed the game, eventually making a massive contribution to them earning a point.  He kept the ball and used it intelligently.  He's a little scrote but there's no doubt he's a great player.

Great?

He's done nothing to earn that tag.

I've said before there are lots of things about his game I like, his movement and passing particularly can be top drawer but he can also go missing, he can't tackle and he is slow. Might one day be very good if he applies himself properly but at the moment he's a 'highlights' player for me, not one to build your team around.

He absolutely CAN tackle though.  He's at least as good a player as Milner, and is much better than Downing, who is the player you should be looking at if you want the definition of somebody who doesn't even attempt to tackle.

[ozzjim]

Chris, the season they had Robinho, De Jong, Bellamy, Given etc etc he wazs player of the year, not when they had Uwe Rosler and Paul Dickov. To belittle that achievement is frankly an absurd vantage point. Ireland is a very, very decent player going forward, and I would wager none of us (unless watching for the ROI) have seen enough of him through a whole game to notice his defensive side, as you simply don't scrutinize the opposition as readily as you do your own.

If we can get over 20 million plus Ireland for a player who has done 6 months in the middle and will only go if he indicates he wants to, then it would be a bloody good deal.

[Chris Smith]

Ireland is far too inconsistent to be considered as an equal to Milner. Yes he's got a bit of flair and an eye for a pass but he's a luxury player not one to build your team around like Jimmy.

For two years he was the very model of consistency, and was Man City's player of the year last season (07/08) at the age of 22.  This season he's been disrupted by injury and the general silliness at Man City.  I think you're being unduly harsh on him, he's an excellent player.  Given that Milner has only really caught they eye after a half season of playing in central midfield, I'm not sure how you can say one player is more consistent than the other.

He was their player of the year when they were a pretty average team, when they went up a level he struggled.

When he came on at Villa Park this season he completely changed the game, eventually making a massive contribution to them earning a point.  He kept the ball and used it intelligently.  He's a little scrote but there's no doubt he's a great player.

Great?

He's done nothing to earn that tag.

I've said before there are lots of things about his game I like, his movement and passing particularly can be top drawer but he can also go missing, he can't tackle and he is slow. Might one day be very good if he applies himself properly but at the moment he's a 'highlights' player for me, not one to build your team around.

He absolutely CAN tackle though.  He's at least as good a player as Milner, and is much better than Downing, who is the player you should be looking at if you want the definition of somebody who doesn't even attempt to tackle.

Seriously, he can't tackle. He tries but he's just shit at it. He makes Pual Scholes look like Roy Keane.

He is not as good a player as Milner. he might possibly be if he sorted his attitude out but there's a reason why Mancini is looking to replace him.

[Chris Smith]

Chris, the season they had Robinho, De Jong, Bellamy, Given etc etc he wazs player of the year, not when they had Uwe Rosler and Paul Dickov. To belittle that achievement is frankly an absurd vantage point. Ireland is a very, very decent player going forward, and I would wager none of us (unless watching for the ROI) have seen enough of him through a whole game to notice his defensive side, as you simply don't scrutinize the opposition as readily as you do your own.

If we can get over 20 million plus Ireland for a player who has done 6 months in the middle and will only go if he indicates he wants to, then it would be a bloody good deal.

He played in a team full of fancy dans who finished mid table because they were too soft. Ireland was a big part of that soft midfield.

[Concrete John]

Chris, the season they had Robinho, De Jong, Bellamy, Given etc etc he wazs player of the year, not when they had Uwe Rosler and Paul Dickov. To belittle that achievement is frankly an absurd vantage point. Ireland is a very, very decent player going forward, and I would wager none of us (unless watching for the ROI) have seen enough of him through a whole game to notice his defensive side, as you simply don't scrutinize the opposition as readily as you do your own.

If we can get over 20 million plus Ireland for a player who has done 6 months in the middle and will only go if he indicates he wants to, then it would be a bloody good deal.

It's quite an easy equation really:-
good player + £20m > better player

[ozzjim]

Chris, the season they had Robinho, De Jong, Bellamy, Given etc etc he wazs player of the year, not when they had Uwe Rosler and Paul Dickov. To belittle that achievement is frankly an absurd vantage point. Ireland is a very, very decent player going forward, and I would wager none of us (unless watching for the ROI) have seen enough of him through a whole game to notice his defensive side, as you simply don't scrutinize the opposition as readily as you do your own.

If we can get over 20 million plus Ireland for a player who has done 6 months in the middle and will only go if he indicates he wants to, then it would be a bloody good deal.

He played in a team full of fancy dans who finished mid table because they were too soft. Ireland was a big part of that soft midfield.

Ireland was the only one who came out of it with credit.