The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

`There is no chance of Barry coming back and we have seen in Milner the type of player which is more effective. I think Ireland with an upgraded Reo Coker would be the way forward for Villa .............

[Mazrim]

Remember Wigan last season- I would like our signings done dusted and in the team on the opening day if possible!

The squad is stronger today than it was the first day of last season.

And I'd rather forget Wigan, to be honest.

Most people did when we shafted Liverpool in their own doorway.

The unfortunate thing is there were then far more performances at home from the Wigan mould than from the Liverpool away one.

Yes, the home form is the major issue that needs addressing. The away form is/was potentially league challenging standard.

[john e]

for all this done deal stuff,
 i'm starting to think Milner wont be going to Man City

[Olof's Beard]

for all this done deal stuff,
 i'm starting to think Milner wont be going to Man City

So am I.  And the strange thing is, I'm actually a little disappointed by that.  I'd already imagined what we could do with the £30 million.  And in truth, I have no doubt that if we got over 25 million for Milner then it's definitely the best thing for us to take the money.

[Mazrim]

I'm convinced we can build a team around him but we can also significantly improve the team with £30m extra.

We can keep Milner and add to the squad though and thats my preference. We dont have to sell him by my reckoning.
I dont even know where that notion comes from.

[nechells]

I'm convinced we can build a team around him but we can also significantly improve the team with £30m extra.

We can keep Milner and add to the squad though and thats my preference. We dont have to sell him by my reckoning.
I dont even know where that notion comes from.

Where would you play Milner in this team built around him?He had a good season in the centre but he is not £30mil's worth as a central midfielder.He doesn't score or create enough from that position.

As a wide player,I would go with him but that said,I would also like to see Downing given the chance of a full pre-season to prove himself.I remember Bentley & Berbatov a couple of seasons ago being the talk of the town,got their big moves & then flopped-There is always the chance that Milner won't match the high standards he set himself last season just as Young disapointed a little last season.I won't be suicidal if Milner stays but a lump sum plus Ireland or even just a lump sum is my preferred scenario

[Olof's Beard]

I'm convinced we can build a team around him but we can also significantly improve the team with £30m extra.

We can keep Milner and add to the squad though and thats my preference. We dont have to sell him by my reckoning.
I dont even know where that notion comes from.

Perhaps we don't need to sell him.  But the question in my mind is simply whether we could get better than James Milner for £30 million or less and my conclusion would be "yes".  

Nechells is right - he's a very good player but one to "build the team around".  I'm not so sure yet.  We desperately need to find more goals from midfield in open play next season and that would be the challenge if Milner left.  If we're going to go the same way as the fabled "modern football" and start playing one up front with a bank of three behind him then we either need the one up front to score the best part of 30 goals or we need a couple of midfielders to chip in with 15.  I see Milner doing the latter so we could do with finding someone who can.

[villaross]

Though he was one fo the few players to have a god World CUp the general stench that is hanging over the England team at present may have put off potential buyers?

Either way it is good news for us as he is a player we can build our midfield around. Then again if City are prepared to pay a player who hardly played last season £200,000+ a week they can have pretty much whoever they want.

[Mazrim]

Where would you play Milner in this team built around him?He had a good season in the centre but he is not £30mil's worth as a central midfielder.He doesn't score or create enough from that position.

As a wide player,I would go with him but that said,I would also like to see Downing given the chance of a full pre-season to prove himself.I remember Bentley & Berbatov a couple of seasons ago being the talk of the town,got their big moves & then flopped-There is always the chance that Milner won't match the high standards he set himself last season just as Young disapointed a little last season.I won't be suicidal if Milner stays but a lump sum plus Ireland or even just a lump sum is my preferred scenario

I would play him where he is most effective. In midfield. Possibly as one of three. He does score goals and create goals, he was one of the top midfielders in that regard last season.
As a wide player he is not as effective. I thought that was patently obvious by now.

You can build a team around him because he's young, a leader by example and definitely captain material. But if we do sell him and get a shitload of money for him to reinvest, so be it. But its my second preference.

[ozzjim]

It has gone quiet because he has gone on holiday according to the press, I am sure on his return he will go and sign for them. With the players they have, the crowds they get and the money he will be given you can't really blame him either.

[supertom]

Even if City pull out of trying for Milner, I'd probably expect another club to come in for him. Maybe Utd. He's exactly the sort of player they need.

I'd rather keep him, because as we know with O Neills transfer record, it's mixed to say the least. It'd take 2 decent players to plug Milners gap I feel. We'd have the cash to do that, not to mention fund a decent striker to boot.

But still, I'd rather go with the 20 mill we apparently already have, raise another 10-15 selling dead wood and bring in 3-4 quality additions.

[richard moore]

for all this done deal stuff,
 i'm starting to think Milner wont be going to Man City

So am I.  And the strange thing is, I'm actually a little disappointed by that.  I'd already imagined what we could do with the £30 million.  And in truth, I have no doubt that if we got over 25 million for Milner then it's definitely the best thing for us to take the money.

I am nudging that way too Olof, though I would be pleased too to hang on to him. Watching Germany in particular these last few days has reminded me how over-hyped and over-priced good'ish England players are. I think even Man City have realised that is daylight robbery for a player of Milner's ability

[SteveN]

Schweinsteiger has shown in the World Cup you don't have to be a hulking brute to play as one of a two in front of the back four.  And Germany have proved a good team will beat a collection of individuals.

Given that Man City have already hoovered up more midfield players than you can shake a stick at there must be a possibility that Milner will stay.

With existing players we could line up in the latest fashion:
Back Four
Milner - Petrov
Young
Albrighton - Downing
Agbonlahor

Chuck in the Fonz, Carew, Weiman (sp?) Delph NRC  then forget Keane (please MON) buy Ireland and/or a quality winger - forget McGeady(please MON) - and we won't be too bad. If...big if, we don't persevere with 4 4 2 and a big lump up front.

[Concrete John]

for all this done deal stuff,
 i'm starting to think Milner wont be going to Man City

So am I.  And the strange thing is, I'm actually a little disappointed by that.  I'd already imagined what we could do with the £30 million.  And in truth, I have no doubt that if we got over 25 million for Milner then it's definitely the best thing for us to take the money.

I am nudging that way too Olof, though I would be pleased too to hang on to him. Watching Germany in particular these last few days has reminded me how over-hyped and over-priced good'ish England players are. I think even Man City have realised that is daylight robbery for a player of Milner's ability

I think our first choice should be for him to stay - he's a good player and part of the 'young England' philosophy MON is building his team around.

But Stephen Ireland + the best part of £20m is a close enough 2nd prize that I won't be needing to join 'gregnash: everything is shite' support group if he does go.

[Olof's Beard]

Schweinsteiger has shown in the World Cup you don't have to be a hulking brute to play as one of a two in front of the back four.  And Germany have proved a good team will beat a collection of individuals.

Given that Man City have already hoovered up more midfield players than you can shake a stick at there must be a possibility that Milner will stay.

With existing players we could line up in the latest fashion:
Back Four
Milner - Petrov
Young
Albrighton - Downing
Agbonlahor

Chuck in the Fonz, Carew, Weiman (sp?) Delph NRC  then forget Keane (please MON) buy Ireland and/or a quality winger - forget McGeady(please MON) - and we won't be too bad. If...big if, we don't persevere with 4 4 2 and a big lump up front.

I just don't think that team has enough goals in it.  Unless Gabby pretty much doubles his league output or two of Young/Albrighton/Downing can find 12-15 goals from open play, we'll always be struggling to score enoughs goals, much like we did last season.  Carew is still crucial in that regard because he's liable to go on a streak, like he did for a month or so earlier this year.