The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[VillaZogmariner]

I think that if we were to sell Milner MoN would be under pressure to make a "bums on seats" signing.

[Gerrin]

If we cannot keep milner we have absolutely no hope of ever keeping any players or building a team over a number of years. It seems all it takes is for a player to have one excellent season and they're off, we seem to be getting used as a stepping stone to greater things.

[Claret trim]

I see this morning that Citeh are simulataneously upping the ante (by threatening to go after Young too) and setting limits (fixing £30m as the price). Cute.

£35m, no less Martin.

[ROBBO]

Citeh will offer him twice the amount he gets at Villa, money talks.

[VillaZogmariner]

With all this talk of it dragging on, and Villa waiting until after the World Cup until we discuss a new contract with him, I'm surprised Capello hasn't said told Jimmy to get it sorted out before then so that he isn't distracted at all.

[TimTheVillain]

What a bunch of assholes and they used to be such an inoffensive club.
'Bluemoon, leave our players alone....'

[citizenDJ]

I don't want to get all "He isn't that good" churlish because he is, but he isn't THAT good. To say Milner would be the most important player for any team in the world for the next five years is ridiculous - more important than Rooney, Torres or Ronaldo? To put it into perspective, would Milner get in the all-time best Villa XI of anyone over the age of 30? I don't think so.

I agree with this, and have said as much before. I think Milner is a really good player, but to hear him described as being as good as, or better, than the likes of Gerrard or Lampard is really over-egging the pudding!
If anyone bids £25-30 million for him, then I would really think very hard about taking it.

Anyway, I preferred him when he played out wide.......

[Arsey]

Santa Cruz has been a flop and Ireland's a bling merchant and slightly mad - great swop..?

Milners fantastic engine and attitude naturally endears him to the fans but in my opinion his ability is limited and often leaves gaps whilst running around like a headless chicken.

He is not in the frame of a top international midfielder like your Lampards and your Gerrards - not by a long stretch.

Ireland would be more than a capable replacement and Santa Cruz would thrive on the service Ash would supply. It would be unrealistic to want money as well seen as Santa Cruz cost them a fortune only a year ago.

Milner is better than those two were at his age. He will be the most important player at his club over the next 5 years, whichever club he is at. I can't envisage any possible situation for Villa where selling Milner this summer is a better option than keeping.

What would it cost Man City to buy a 25 year old Lampard or Gerrard in this current market?

At 25 he was better than Gerrard...

are you sure about that one....

you mean 5 years ago when Gerrard pretty much single handedly won them the Champions league....

Milner is a very good player, model pro.... but Steven Gerrard he isn't and never will be.  This is from someone who hates the scouse diving bastard.

Gerrard was also voted the third best footballer in the world when he was Jimmy's age.

Lampard was pretty tasty at 24/25 too.

That period covering Ranieri's final season (Finished 3rd -15 goals scored) and Mourinho's first (Finished Champions - 19 goals scored).

James Milner is 24. Check Lampard and Gerrard's records at the same age. They were both a year or two older when they made the breakthroughs you describe.

Milner has all of the attributes those two had at his age and more.

Just because you post something doesn't make it true

Gerrard was, you guessed it, 24!!! when he won Liverpool the CL.  He had already been their most important player for a number of seasons.

Remember that night in Germany, 5-1 - Gerrard was incredible, he was 21!

[peter w]

Man City can play hard ball as much as they like. For all the criticisms I've aimed at MON his transfer dealings do not fall into that.

He proved with Liverpool a couple of seasons ago that he sells on his terms and his terms alone. If they did, and i doubt they have, come up with an aggressive policy of trying to dangle a carrot in front of his nose and saying, 'take it now or lose it', he'll just shrug his shoulders and tell them where to go.

Milner is good. Clearly, but I still don't think he's suited to the central midfield role as much as the Des Bremner role. If man City think otherwise, and want to give us 30 odd million then, yes, i'd be a reluctant, but very happy, seller.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I'd swap him for Ireland, Richards, and Hart.

Then buy Bentley and Doyle and sell all the rejects. We'd be a better team IMO.

Doyle?
A striker that doesn't score enough?

Heskey already fills that role for us.

[Shrek]

Milner is a top player, if you watch him in games he looks a class above playing for villa.

That's why he has looked so good playing with better players at enlgand.

If milner does go I hop it's to man u or Chelsea, as he will become one of the beat players there.

[Shrek]

I'd swap him for Ireland, Richards, and Hart.

Then buy Bentley and Doyle and sell all the rejects. We'd be a better team IMO.

Doyle?
A striker that doesn't score enough?

Heskey already fills that role for us.

at wolves! At villa he would score 10-15 goals and can actually hold the ball up well, unlike the donkey we have now who needs a tripod to stay on his feet!

[PaulTheVillan]

I'd swap him for Ireland, Richards, and Hart.

Then buy Bentley and Doyle and sell all the rejects. We'd be a better team IMO.

Doyle?
A striker that doesn't score enough?

Heskey already fills that role for us.

at wolves! At villa he would score 10-15 goals and can actually hold the ball up well, unlike the donkey we have now who needs a tripod to stay on his feet!

Heskey didn't score at Wigan!

Guess what? He still doesn't score at Villa!

We need a goal scorer, not any other type of striker.

I couldn't give a fuck how well someone holds the ball up.

[TimTheVillain]

Milner is good. Clearly, but I still don't think he's suited to the central midfield role as much as the Des Bremner role. If man City think otherwise, and want to give us 30 odd million then, yes, i'd be a reluctant, but very happy, seller.

And what would you do with the £30 million ?

Would you trust MON with £30 million ?

[Ozzjim]

I shudder at the thought that Milner is int he same league as guys that have scored 20 plus goals a season for the last 5-6 years. The difference with them is that they time runs to get beyond the forward to perfection, and have had the knack for years. Milner works hard, runs a lot, passes ok (he had some very dodgy games at the end of the season that were skimmed over as tiredness) and can score a few goals, but he is not it their class IMO. If I am proved wrong, I hope it is for Chelsea and not Man City mind.