The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[sfx412]

I'm all for analysing these things objective with stats/facts but you do have to actually pay some attention to what the stats reveal.


 I like Nigel but I've always considered him a destroyer rather than a creator.

I concur and I couldn't agree more about Cokers best role, but Petrov does make passing errors, was awful for 2.5 seasons, and Coker is a far better passer of the ball than many try to promote, as is Cuellar, so was Wright, and McCann and so on.

[sfx412]

You're just wrong but there's little point arguing with you because you'll just continue to invent things to suit your petty little agenda.

Perhaps I am taking a lead from the way you do things ?

[Dave]

I'm all for analysing these things objective with stats/facts but you do have to actually pay some attention to what the stats reveal.


 I like Nigel but I've always considered him a destroyer rather than a creator.

I concur and I couldn't agree more about Cokers best role, but Petrov does make passing errors, was awful for 2.5 seasons, and Coker is a far better passer of the ball than many try to promote, as is Cuellar, so was Wright, and McCann and so on.

Every player makes passing errors from time to time - but Petrov makes far fewer of them than Reo-Coker.

I like both players and think that there should be a useful place for both of them in the squad, but if there is only one space available at the moment then it should definitely be Petrov filling it.

[paul_e]

I'm quite worried that I'm going to be stepping out into a river here but I can't help but think you're all reacting as you are because of who's talking about NRC rather than what is being said.

For what it's worth I think NRC is a much better player than he gets credit for on here.  Yes he looks a bit lost sometimes and he does give the ball away a little too often but I think it's a little harsh to say he can't pass.  If you watch the games back most of his stray passes come when he's trying to do too much.  When he plays it simple he's more than good enough for the role but he lets himself get a bit excited and tries to win the game by himself.

If we could get him a little bit cooler in possession he'd be a very good player as his work rate and defensive abilities are up there with the best in the league.  If he does leave and someone takes a gamble of sticking him in with a good sports psychologist he could turn out to be a huge loss.

[pauliewalnuts]

I'm all for analysing these things objective with stats/facts but you do have to actually pay some attention to what the stats reveal.


 I like Nigel but I've always considered him a destroyer rather than a creator.

I concur and I couldn't agree more about Cokers best role, but Petrov does make passing errors, was awful for 2.5 seasons, and Coker is a far better passer of the ball than many try to promote, as is Cuellar, so was Wright, and McCann and so on.

Every player makes passing errors from time to time - but Petrov makes far fewer of them than Reo-Coker.

I like both players and think that there should be a useful place for both of them in the squad, but if there is only one space available at the moment then it should definitely be Petrov filling it.

Petrov seems to manage, at least once in every game pretty much, to play a superb pass, something from the very top level.

Whether he's got it in him to do it more often, I don't know, and I don't really know why I'm mentioning it here, but it is something I noticed in the latter parts of the season.

[MoetVillan]

paul_e, good post.  His problem can be temperament, rash cards given out in the middle of the park, which then takes away his bets part which is his hunger to be involved.  I like a player having a bit of a nasty streak, as long as there arent too many of them, and they can keep a lid on it in tough situations.  ie, not getting sent off against Manure is a start.  I just wish he would look up and pass a bit more.  He was like that in his Wetspam days too though

[Chris Smith]

For what it's worth I think NRC is a much better player than he gets credit for on here.  Yes he looks a bit lost sometimes and he does give the ball away a little too often but I think it's a little harsh to say he can't pass.  If you watch the games back most of his stray passes come when he's trying to do too much.  When he plays it simple he's more than good enough for the role but he lets himself get a bit excited and tries to win the game by himself.

If we could get him a little bit cooler in possession he'd be a very good player as his work rate and defensive abilities are up there with the best in the league.  If he does leave and someone takes a gamble of sticking him in with a good sports psychologist he could turn out to be a huge loss.

I agree with that, Paul. The problem, as I see it, is that I'm not sure he's disciplined enough to just sit and play the destructive role and then give the ball to someone who can play. He seems to see himself as an all action, box to box player. That can look great when you see him chasing the ball down in the opposition half with 2 minutes left but what he should be doing is to get back in position shielding the back 4.

[Risso]

I think NRC is a very limited player.  He's got bundles of drive and energy, but very little footballing intelligence.  it's not so much his passing, which is OK when he keeps things simple.  It's his propensity to run with the ball in a straight line when he gets the ball, until he invariably runs straight into an opposition player.  

He's not a bad player, I just can't imagine any of the other top 7 sides wanting him in their team.  I think deep down he's remembering the rumoured interest from Arsenal a few years back, and believes that that's his true level.  In reality I can see him ending up at a team like Sunderland, Fulham or Blackburn.

[peter w]

Of course he can pass a ball. When I exaggerate to make a point its just that. What he can't do is make a run and then the right decision who to pass to, when to pass it, and the weight. Sometimes yes, but too often no. he's not got the range of passing needed for a side about to emabark on a Champions League campaign and until we have a team that all possess that ability we'll spend to much time trying to fit the Sidwells, NRCs, and Petrovs into a Europa Cup team at best.

Good as it is, its plateaued now and no-one is really wildly excited about finishing 6th again next season at the moment if the football is still the same.

[PaulTheVillan]

Warnock: I can see Milner leaving.

Thanks.

[peter w]

Seems a fair enough response to whatever question he was asked.

[garyfouroaks]

Stepehen ireland has just asked for a transfer .

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/mancity/7761797/Stephen-Ireland-demands-Manchester-City-transfer.html

So that is another potential part of the equation.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Let's buy him and keep Milner. At £10m it would be money well spent although I'm sure I've read somewhere that Chelsea are interested in him.

[SoccerHQ]

15m + Ireland + Onouha = 30m and done deal imo.

Onouha is a good defender and would give MON another RB/CB to play around with which would also speed up Davies's departure.

Ireland would be that elusive creative midfielder.

I'd expect 15m from the sale of cast offs so in total we'd have a war chest of 30m to sign another good central midfielder to cover until Delph comes back and of course that striker.

[TheSandman]

Ireland is a fantastic player. I'm just not sure of his mental temperament.