The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[Risso]

Stat for Ireland Milner:

Stats

The stats seem to back up the views of the few City fans I know who say that he works very hard for the team.  For the 08/09 season, that's an awful lot of tackles for somebody who isn't very good at it. (In fact, exactly the same "tackles per minute" as Petrov).

[Chris Smith]

Stat for Ireland Milner:

Stats

The stats seem to back up the views of the few City fans I know who say that he works very hard for the team.  For the 08/09 season, that's an awful lot of tackles for somebody who isn't very good at it. (In fact, exactly the same "tackles per minute" as Petrov).

 
I don't need stats I've seen Ireland plenty of times to know that he's not a tackler. You wouldn't risk him in a 4 which means that you'd have to change the whole style of play to suit him. Some players are that good to make it worthwhile. Stephen Ireland isn't one of them.

[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.

If you say so but when the team improved he got left behind.


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

[Olof's Beard]

 
I don't need stats I've seen Ireland plenty of times to know that he's not a tackler. You wouldn't risk him in a 4 which means that you'd have to change the whole style of play to suit him. Some players are that good to make it worthwhile. Stephen Ireland isn't one of them.

Would that be such a bad thing?  One might say we need to change our style of play once in a while anyway, it might improve on our home wins ratio a little bit.

[Risso]

Stat for Ireland Milner:

Stats

The stats seem to back up the views of the few City fans I know who say that he works very hard for the team.  For the 08/09 season, that's an awful lot of tackles for somebody who isn't very good at it. (In fact, exactly the same "tackles per minute" as Petrov).

 
I don't need stats I've seen Ireland plenty of times to know that he's not a tackler. You wouldn't risk him in a 4 which means that you'd have to change the whole style of play to suit him. Some players are that good to make it worthwhile. Stephen Ireland isn't one of them.

The stats say that he made over 100 successful tackles in the 08/09 season.  People I know who regularly watch Man City say he's no Roy Keane, but neither is he Stewart Downing.  If those 100 plus tackles weren't actually tackles, what where they?

[DBTW]

 
I don't need stats I've seen Ireland plenty of times to know that he's not a tackler. You wouldn't risk him in a 4 which means that you'd have to change the whole style of play to suit him. Some players are that good to make it worthwhile. Stephen Ireland isn't one of them.

Would that be such a bad thing?  One might say we need to change our style of play once in a while anyway, it might improve on our home wins ratio a little bit.

The way milner leaves us over exposed we should change the way we play to fit him in the central position. Ireland would be more disciplined in holding the central area. Not saying Milner isn't meant to roam, but it does leave us open

[eastie]

Ireland and £20m would be a great deal in exchange for milner-as long as mon invests wisely on decent players!

[not3bad]

Ireland and £20m would be a great deal in exchange for milner

Not if Milner has a good world cup.  Make it £25 - 30 and we'll consider it.

[Concrete John]

What is Ireland actually valued at?  I think I read £12m a week or so ago when he said he wanted to leave, but with a clearly unhappy player and a club that hardly needs the money, surely he'd be chepaer in an open market situation?

I'd say £9m is a likely price and we should be screwing them for at least £30m for Milner.  So £20m + Ireland should be the very bottom end of our valuation!

[Toronto Villa]

As nuts as Ireland appears at times, you simple cannot deny he was superb two seasons ago. He's being pushed out because Man City have new delusions of grandeur, and as such even good players will be replaced to make way for fan and Garry Cook appeasing mercenaries. If Ireland lines up in a Villa kit in August I'll be delighted.

[MoetVillan]

I think that had City gone with Ireland more often, they would have finished fourth.  Mancini went too conservative.  He was the difference in the game against us, and should (imo) have been starting with Barry for more games.  If you play Ireland, you are going for the win, and the rest of the midfield need to work like fuck to keep it tight.  I dont think Petrov is fast enough or industrious enough to play with him and fill those holes that teams like Spurs, Manure, Chelsea and Arsenal will pour through though.  Why dont we trade Milner for Barry and Ireland and 10 million?

[Dante Lavelli]

I would like to see us change our formation regardless of whether Milner leaves or not.  Adding some class (possibly Ireland) to the centre and giving Young, Downing/Albrigton and one of the CM more license to get forward would hopefully make us a better stronger unit.

I think it mitigates against our weaknesses (Petrov's legs/our soft centre and a lack of partner for Gabby).  It also emphasises our strengths (Young's ability and Milner's energy to get forward).

[Rudy Can't Fail]

What is Ireland actually valued at?  I think I read £12m a week or so ago when he said he wanted to leave, but with a clearly unhappy player and a club that hardly needs the money, surely he'd be chepaer in an open market situation?

I'd say £9m is a likely price and we should be screwing them for at least £30m for Milner.  So £20m + Ireland should be the very bottom end of our valuation!

If we are interested in Ireland, why don't we just put an offer in now. Milner is now off limits until after the World Cup, so no business can be done on that front. If they ask stupid money for Ireland, they know they'll get slapped twice as hard when they return for Milner.

There's no rule that Ireland has to be part of the Milner deal. Personally, I'd like to see them both in a Villa team. Pull your finger out, Martin and surprise us.

[Brend'Watkins]

What is Ireland actually valued at?  I think I read £12m a week or so ago when he said he wanted to leave, but with a clearly unhappy player and a club that hardly needs the money, surely he'd be chepaer in an open market situation?

I'd say £9m is a likely price and we should be screwing them for at least £30m for Milner.  So £20m + Ireland should be the very bottom end of our valuation!

If we are interested in Ireland, why don't we just put an offer in now. Milner is now off limits until after the World Cup, so no business can be done on that front. If they ask stupid money for Ireland, they know they'll get slapped twice as hard when they return for Milner.

There's no rule that Ireland has to be part of the Milner deal. Personally, I'd like to see them both in a Villa team. Pull your finger out, Martin and surprise us.

That's what I'd like to happen too.

If it doesn't and we have to lose Milner for Ireland and £20 million, as long as it's put towards a recognised quality striker then I feel we'll be stronger and will improve.

[Chris Smith]

What is Ireland actually valued at?  I think I read £12m a week or so ago when he said he wanted to leave, but with a clearly unhappy player and a club that hardly needs the money, surely he'd be chepaer in an open market situation?

I'd say £9m is a likely price and we should be screwing them for at least £30m for Milner.  So £20m + Ireland should be the very bottom end of our valuation!

If we are interested in Ireland, why don't we just put an offer in now. Milner is now off limits until after the World Cup, so no business can be done on that front. If they ask stupid money for Ireland, they know they'll get slapped twice as hard when they return for Milner.

There's no rule that Ireland has to be part of the Milner deal. Personally, I'd like to see them both in a Villa team. Pull your finger out, Martin and surprise us.

I'd be happy with that.