The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[KevinGage]

Would prefer to see him go to Chelsea.

Citeh are (still just about) a direct rival. Lets face it, we won't be slugging it out with Chelsea for the league anytime soon.

From a footballing point of view, going to down south should make more sense to him too (I've wrote that and I can barely believe it myself, is this how bad the game is when Chelsea are almost the good guys now?). If he does pitch up at Citeh -who apart from wages can offer him little more than we can at present- you can forget any notions of him being 'different' from most footballers. He'll have shown himself to be as greedy and pre-occupied as the rest.

[BannedUserIAT]

Sorry but I just can't picture it. Chelsea - from top to bottom - are a classy, chavvy club. Just think about it for a second. Think of the names on the team-sheet and tell me if "James Milner" fits in.

[Mr Diggles]

£28m for Milner? I'd say that is good business, so long as the cash is spent well by the club afterwards.

[KevinGage]

Fans apart (some of them at least) Citeh are the same though.

In a lesser of two evils- type way,  I'd prefer him to go to the classless shite who've been rich a tad longer, as we still might be able to compete with the other lot (from a playing perspective at least).

Logic would indicate that if they throw enough money at the thing Citeh will eventually crack it. But there are no guarantees. If they go another season without either winning something or top 4, the Arabs   might decide that Eastlands isn't the best vehicle to promote their agenda after all.

[LeeB]

I'd say this.

This Uefa ruling is going to increase demand for homegrown players the closer it gets.

We play in the wealthiest league. James Milner is the golden boy of the next generation of English players. He will not regress next season.

If we think £28m is a lot now, it could look like chicken feed come next summer.

So, a one year contract extension, sweetened by a juicy pay rise and sold with the promise of a guaranteed central midfield starting place, keep your trap shut with the rags, smile and wave to the fans and we'll definately do business next year if we haven't made the promised land.

[Concrete John]

Quite frankly I don't really care where he goes if he is going, just that we get the best deal possible for Villa.

Despite the Mail and Mirror articles, I honestly don't think anything will happen until after the World Cup now as that's what Capello has said - no transfer/club matters during the tournament.  Doesn't mean that a deal won't be struck, just that it'll be kept quiet and concluded later.

[JJ-AV]

£28million = yes please.

Boussoufa, Keane and Onuoha with that money with 3-4million left over and another 15-20 to be raised with potential sales...

[Concrete John]

If this Boussoufa link is genuine and the £8m fee correct, that's a direct replacement and £20m left over if he goes for £28m.  I'd be tempted to take the majority of it, if not all, and spunk it on a striker, provided we can attract a crica £20m player to the club.  We then have the other player sales, plus our own own cash if needed, for everything else we need, which should be loads!

Sell Milner = Boussoufa and new striker
Sell NRC & Sidwell = 1 new midfielder (extra £2m needed)
Sell Young, Shorey & Beye = 2 new fullbacks (extra £4m needed)
Sell Davies & Heskey = the extra we need above

If handled right, we could end up a lot better for a net spend of zero!

[garyfouroaks]

Milner is, and has been, a great player for us. But £28m is a substantial profit that we could usefully reinvest in the team.

Even Ronaldo at the Mancs had a price.

[Des Little]

Never heard of this chap Boussoufa (sorry) - what's he all about?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Never heard of this chap Boussoufa (sorry) - what's he all about?

Tiny is the first thing that comes to mind. Very similar to Ashley Young, goes down a lot, talented, fast and overall looks a good footballer.

[Percy McCarthy]

Never heard of this chap Boussoufa (sorry) - what's he all about?

Tiny is the first thing that comes to mind. Very similar to Ashley Young, goes down a lot, talented, fast and overall looks a good footballer.

He's small-ish, but he's no Barry Bannan.

[JUAN PABLO]

Never heard of this chap Boussoufa (sorry) - what's he all about?

Tiny is the first thing that comes to mind. Very similar to Ashley Young, goes down a lot, talented, fast and overall looks a good footballer.

Played for Cheski once and scores a lot of goals from his position in midfield and can play on the flanks..

[Concrete John]

Never heard of this chap Boussoufa (sorry) - what's he all about?

Tiny is the first thing that comes to mind. Very similar to Ashley Young, goes down a lot, talented, fast and overall looks a good footballer.

He's small-ish, but he's no Barry Bannan.

Yeah, but even Inch High Private Eye is no Barry Bannan!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Never heard of this chap Boussoufa (sorry) - what's he all about?

Tiny is the first thing that comes to mind. Very similar to Ashley Young, goes down a lot, talented, fast and overall looks a good footballer.

Played for Cheski once and scores a lot of goals..

So did Carlton Cole and I most certainly don't want him anywhere near Villa Park.

If we did sign him we would probably have to play 5 across the midfield, as he's more your attacking midfielder or as those fancy Europeans refer to as the '10'. He doesn't appear to be your typical MON type player but then who knows, maybe Martin is looking to change things. I for one, certainly hope so.