The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[Kid Loco]

True, but lets say we add those goals. The gaping hole left by Milner would still be gaping and like a green light signal for the oppositions midfield to steamroller though

[KevinGage]

Milner's energy is the main benefit to our side. His non stop engine both going forward and back. He probably covers more grass than 2 players in one game, adding a valuable bite to our side

Ireland to me is the absolute opposite

Dunno about that.

Ireland spent pre season a few years back bulking up and working on his stamina. Wasn't instructed to, just done it of his own bat.

A feature of his Player of The Year campaign a few years back were regular lung-busting runs to get on the end of things in the box. He can also pass with imagination, do the unexpected. A player like that is always worth his weight in gold (or pimped out pink Audi's).

He might not be exactly the same type of player Jimmy is, but what he has could be very good for us.

[Mazrim]

Ireland is perhaps slightly more creative and limited to an attacking midfield role.
Milner is all round a better player with far more dimensions to his game. The pair could play well together and hopefully will.

But in no way is Ireland a replacement for Milner.
The best you could say is that he'd cover one facet of Milners game admirably if he can keep his head together.

Its not beyond the relams of fantasy to say we could get Ireland and reshape the midfield to suit him with the extra money from Milners sale but we'd need to buy some bloody good player(s).

I still think the best solution is to get Ireland to play with Milner and pick up Kallstrom on a free as a good alternative to both and also an option for a three man midfield. Our passing from the midfield would be great.

[barrysleftfoot]

If you buy Ireland, or a player like him, you have to play a 4-5-1 system, or drop one of the "wingers", and play narrower as a team.


  For me that system suits us, and i think Ireland would fit well into our team.

  I hope , if Milner goes, he goes to Citeeeh......i think the players, and the money they offer us, suits us more than Chelsk, or Ure.

[KevinGage]

I'd like to think we'd start experimenting with three man midfield's and all the rest of it.

But MON seems very unwilling to drop 4-4-2, barring injury.

With that in mind a midfield of


-----------Petrov ---Diame/Diarra/ An other----------
 -Ireland----------------------------------------Ash

Would go a long way to addressing some of the major issues we faced last year.

Petrov and another DM providing the stability at the back . This might even free up Petrov to move further upfield where his passing could have more of an  impact. At the moment he has to pass with a fair degree of caution as he's usually the last man. Minimal risk being the order of the day. But he can vary it, and is capable of some very imaginative passing. He has that in his locker.

Ireland has played RM for Citeh before, but not RM in the truest sense. He was generally at his best when he started out wide either on the left or right, but with the freedom to drift infield and find gaps to exploit.

With the platform the two behind him would give, he could do that. Station Ash out on the left as our orthodox out-and-out winger, rather than dicking him about crossing flanks. It was a decent enough idea, but resulted in both Downing and Ash being less than effective.

Overall result is we'd have a lot more variation and be a lot less predictable.

Throw a decent striker into the mix, ie someone who actually wants to get into the penalty area and make things happen and we'd be in a pretty healthy position.

[Kid Loco]

I still think the best solution is to get Ireland to play with Milner

Agreed. Especially as we know he's available

[Ads]

I think Ireland is the more technically gifted player, while Milner has far more industry in his play. I think we could do with keeping NRC or at least replace him with somebody who has that energy level to compliment him.

As has been said, with say £25 million and £15-20 million off Randy, we’d be able to get a real high quality striker in, a better right back than Luke and a couple of creative/attacking midfielder types, such as Benayoun or Bentley to give us extra depth.

As much as I’d like to keep Milner, if the only way we can get three or four good quality attacking options in is to sell him, then that’s what we have to do.

[ozzjim]

Agree with the 4-5-1 comments. Petrov, NRC and Ireland with Gabby Ashley and a Benayoun type going forward would be pretty exciting to watch IMO.


Get someone like Diame, Diarra (the other one at Real, not Lassana, although did he not fall out with Jose once at Chelsea so may be on the path out of Madrid) and start playing the way the other clubs that are in that top 5 play, 4-3-3 with options to move about and be fluid. Puts less need on big bucks for a striker as Gabby as shown he is at his best alone up top. A second striker can play Anelka esque drifting from a touchline. We have to be mnore tactically versatile, whether Milner stays or goes. If he goes though, I would agree with Maz that it is an opportunity to re style the way we go forward, which would not be a bad thing.

And please, no more Kevin Doyle for 15 million suggestions, I need a lie down before any more of them!

[PaulTheVillan]

Agree with the 4-5-1 comments. Petrov, NRC and Ireland with Gabby Ashley and a Benayoun type going forward would be pretty exciting to watch IMO.

It would be exciting, as long as Ashley Young doesn't just constantly be ball greedy and over hit every cross.

[ozzjim]

I think it got the best from Young 18 months ago, so no reason to think he would. Still think we should offer Harry a straight swap of Downing for Bentley, and stop messing about with Young on the right.

[codyvillan]

i think some of ireland's flair and creativity would be very useful in addressing our problems winning games at home!

[barrysleftfoot]

Tbh as stated yday, i would swap the 4 Citeeeh players for Milner,...SWP, Ireland,Onohua, and Richards.Sell the likes of LYoung, NRC etc, sell Cuellar, and Carew as well, raise some money and buy 2 good attacking players.

    That would have a team as

                                           Brad
   
     Onohua...........Collins                     Dunne         Warnock


               Richards                        Petrov?


SWP                         Ireland                               Ashley

                        Gabby


   Add to that 2 quality players, not a bad team tbh

[PaulTheVillan]

I think it got the best from Young 18 months ago, so no reason to think he would. Still think we should offer Harry a straight swap of Downing for Bentley, and stop messing about with Young on the right.

I prefer Young on the right. On the left he tries to beat the man one too many times, always has to double back on himself. He very rarely uses his left foot.

[Small Rodent]

In an case, we all venture so many opinions on here that we're bound to get some right. It was just the dismisal of mine as pie-in-the sky dreaming and a basic lack of understanding re: the eternal supremacy of Liverpool, that irked so much.

But my mate did call Paul Weller a c**t!

[Kid Loco]

Tbh as stated yesterday, i would swap the 4 Citeeeh players for Milner,...SWP, Ireland,Onohua, and Richards

Not for me. Richards is a joke and we dont need another winger (SWP)

Wouldnt say no to Onohua as some back up to Carlos but i doubt he'd swap one bench for another.