The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[Concrete John]

davies - had the contract bust up, shorey had a bust up but anyway Davies is/was a disaster. Cost more than centre halfs like vidic, injury prone, worse than cahill. Can't see how you can claim anything other than that.

It was hardly a 'bust up' - if you believe the press he wanted his new deal early as he played through an injury and was rightly told 'no' and that was the end of it.

As a player, he looked very good next to Laursen, which suited his game as more of a covering defender sweeping up behind a big man, but couldn't get the partnership with Cuellar to work.  Was a big part of our side for two years and contributed towards two 6th place finishes during those years.  I do think we payed over the odds for him, but on the pitch I think he was far from the disaster you make out.

If we flog him for a lot less than we payed then it's bad business, but if we can get say £7m then I'd see it as a reasonable bit of short term transfer dealing for a relatively modest net outlay.

[KevinGage]

davies - had the contract bust up, shorey had a bust up but anyway Davies is/was a disaster. Cost more than centre halfs like vidic, injury prone, worse than cahill.  

That's where we would differ a wee bit, Greg.

I wouldn't be claiming Davies a rip-roaring success, but thought he looked good alongside Laursen in 07/08 and for the first half of 08/09. Think he was on the fringes of the England squad on a few occasions.

A combination of Laursen being out and Curtis himself sustaining a shoulder injury in the latter half of 08/09 did for him. He never looked convincing alongside Cuellar, whether it was the knock, a communication thing or a combination of both. He looks the type that needs to be told what to do.

Was badly advised on the contract issue too, making that public won't have endeared him to O'Neill. But he did play through the pain barrier from Feb -August last year, so maybe he felt he was justified.

Get the feeling that the next club he goes to will be getting a bargain. If he's paired with a wily old pro you'll probably see the best of him. Might even make it back into the England reckoning.

[Greg N'Ash]

mebbe, but i think "alongside laursen" probably explains most of it. Still think we were ripped off big time even if we only paid 8.5m for him. shocking to think he's our most expensive defender evoh.

[supertom]

I rate Davies, but I'd cash in now simply because he'll get a better fee than Cueller. Martin rates the other 3 more anyway I guess. Clarks gonna be decent too.

We do need to raise money, so much as it might be regrettable in the case of Nigel and Curtis, I'd still flog them. With what we raise from those two, there's enough for a quality midfielder who'd improve the side.

[Merv]

I rate Davies, but I'd cash in now simply because he'll get a better fee than Cueller.

Not so sure on that, Tom. If Real are genuinely interested in Carlos - and it's all been rumour so far - I reckon we could get £10m from them. They like paying over the odds.

If we sell Davies, there will always be an element of 'what if?' for me. I fear he'd come to haunt us, ala Cahill.

[villa for life]

If Jack Rodwell is reported to be going for around 20 million, why are the Milner bids or rumoured bids only a little higher? Really strange! Look at how many games they've played, not just last season in the premiership, but in their careers. Look at which is in the International etc?!! Anyone else think it is strange!

[johnc]

I wouldn't feel that Cahill has come to haunt us. After Cahill's peformance at VP this season I reckon John Carew still haunts him

[Concrete John]

Davies hardly featured last season and we still had a fine defense, which to me is evidence that we don't NEED him, even though I do rate the player.

When it comes to NRC, taking into account the Delph injury we'd only have two central players in Milner and Petrov should he and Sidwell go.  Adding one would give us a healthy four once Delph is back, but until then we'd be too short in there, especially if we wanted to play with a five.  Will two central midfielders be brought in?  I don't think so, which means NRC should stay at least until Delph is fit.  Sidders staying would achieve the same thing, but I rate NRC higher and he'd give adequate cover for Petrov as a defensive midfielder, which Sidwell would not.

I'd make the same argument about Luke Young and the fullbacks!

[Concrete John]

If Jack Rodwell is reported to be going for around 20 million, why are the Milner bids or rumoured bids only a little higher? Really strange! Look at how many games they've played, not just last season in the premiership, but in their careers. Look at which is in the International etc?!! Anyone else think it is strange!

I think it's strange in that Rodwell is being quoted as such ridiculous figures - never seen why myself!

[PaulTheVillan]

If Real Madrid want Cuellar then I hope we sell him. Can't stand another season of him at Right Back.

[TimTheVillain]

Somehow I don't think that Real Madrid would even consider playing Cuellar at right back also....
Re. James Milner, we shouldn't even consider any deal unless it's in Villa's interest, i.e. Bellamy, Ireland and Santa Cruz plus £10 mill.

[Concrete John]

Somehow I don't think that Real Madrid would even consider playing Cuellar at right back also....
Re. James Milner, we shouldn't even consider any deal unless it's in Villa's interest, i.e. Bellamy, Ireland and Santa Cruz plus £10 mill.

These large transfer speculations alway seem to have a mixture if players going the other way, but when they actually happen they hardly ever involve swaps.  I'd say that should Milner go, which I doubt he will and hope he won't, I think it's more likely to be a straight cash deal.

Ireland I would like, Santa Cruz is a 'maybe' and as far as I'm concerned Bellamy can only sign for us once he gets a neck and stops being an utter prick!

[YamPie]

I like and rate Davies. But its a simple fact we can now do without him. He got injured, we had to bring players in they've done better than expected. Thats the way its happened and is no bad reflection on the lad or the club

We now have 3 class centre backs in the team most weeks (even if one is playing right back) and we have two excellent lads about to start knocking the squad door. Clark in particular

Surely 4 centre backs is more than enough ?

Davies can go, and Baker can go out on loan

[pauliewalnuts]

With Davies I suspect it's more complicated than a "keep him vs do without him" choice.

He still has a certain transfer value, I think the question will be whether it is best to keep him in the knowledge he'll be "back up" for much of the season, or sell him to release that value to be used elsewhere and promote Clark.

With all the talk of Randy wanting some of these players' futures looking at (whether it is true or not), I'd have thought Davies is a good example of where it would make sense.

For example - Clark (cheap but less experienced) or Davies (could get 5 or 6m for him, and expensive wages)?

[PaulWinch again]

I like Curtis, but I guess it makes sense to sell if we promote Clark. As far as Jimmy goes, I would only sell him if it was a ridiculous offer, not what is being touted around.