The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[mozza]

Let's get some perspective on the Milner situation -

He is fortunate to have made the grade as a professional footballer (something many of us have possibly dreamed about in our younger days) -

Not the most technically gifted of players but has phenominal stamina and never say die attitude -

He could possibly pick up a career ending injury at anytime and have to seek an alternative career at a relatively young age -

Market forces dicatate he can command high wages and seek alternative employers and he already enjoys a lifestyle seen in glossy magazines -

Obviously we are feeling hurt that a player who we thought would be a future captain and integral part of a successful Villa team for years to come has effectively turned his back on us -

I thought the world had come to an end when my hero Gerry Hitchens went to Italy (yes I've given my advancing years away) and since then have seen players like Platt & Yorke seek fame and fortune elsewhere -

I'll still be supporting Villa home and away but James Milner won't be getting praise or criticism from me for his performance in claret and blue ..........someone will take his place .........maybe young Marc Albrighton will grab his opportunity with both hands or the manager will bring in players like Flammini or Axel Witsel

If it helps to give Milner some stick for walking out on us - by all means do it on message boards and with your mates having a drink but not at VP or Eastlands - just an opinion

[Irreverent ad]

You're not sure on any of them ;)

Wow then we will have less money than even I thought! Haha

Who is else is stupid enough to pay that to those players!

[Dave Javu]

Well said, mozza - sums my thoughts up.

Trevor Ford did to my Dad what Gerry Hitchens did to you. For me, it was...erm, Sammy Morgan. I was only about 8, though.

[Mazrim]

Probably best to leave the pleas for reason until tomorrow at least chaps. For today is a day of rage.
In fact its not even that, its more like grumpy acceptance.

[Concrete John]

I interpret as O’Neill having to clear the decks of the players who don’t feature but are on incredibly good wages.

I'd understand this argument better if our wage bill was above average for the top 8 teams in the PL but it isn't, it is way below average for the teams attempting to win trophies and compete for top 4 places.

What kind of wages do you think we'll have to pay for the new squad members who aren't in the 1st 11?

I think you're looking at it the wrong way.

Beye, Shorey, Sidwell - is that wages money well "allocated" (in the sense that it's a finite commodity)?

I'd also be interested to see those wage bill figures.

Firstly, the traditional top four have world class players, so you'd expect them to have higher wage bills.

We know for a fact ours is higher than Spurs' wage bill. So that leaves Man City, who have a higher wage bill than anyone.

So, I'd guess

Man City
Chelsea
Man U
Liverpool
Arsenal
Man City
Villa
Spurs
Everton.

Looked at that way, it doesn't actually mean much, does it?

Man City are on that list twice.

That's as they pay twice what anyone else does.

[Dave Cooper please]

Villa fans in "angry and disappointed one of their best players is just another greedy twat" shocker.

Oh I agree entirely, it was just the grief some of us got for pointing out that Milner would probably be just another greedy twat once someone like Citeh came dangling their wads in his face that amuses me.

"No way, he's not in it for the money" came the cry!

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

I was going to say that its all a far cry from the James Milner awesomeness thread but was beaten to it by Mr Cooper, turns out he’s no different from the rest of them.

Decent player but it will be daylight robbery if we can get anything approaching £25m for him.

[Mazrim]

Villa fans in "angry and disappointed one of their best players is just another greedy twat" shocker.

Oh I agree entirely, it was just the grief some of us got for pointing out that Milner would probably be just another greedy twat once someone like Citeh came dangling their wads in his face that amuses me.

"No way, he's not in it for the money" came the cry!

Well, whoever said that or thought that will feel doubly hurt today. I prepared (or tried to) my brother for this eventuality by painting a picture of the modern footballer. I hoped he would prove different but in truth, after Dwight Yorke, nothing suprises me or can hurt so much again.
At least Dwight left for better things. Milner wont even be playing CL and by the time they get there, if they get there, he'll be long since out of their picture.

In the meantime, he's going to be called all sorts and he deserves it, even if he wont give a flying bollock.

[curiousorange]

He's not gone yet but I've already taken the Stalinist line - my desktop at work has been changed, all pictures of Milner have been removed from my scrolling screensaver and I have stopped 'liking' him on FB.

Childish, but necessary.

[andrew08]

To me its about trading up all the time. we buy Milner for £10m, then sell for £30m. Buy three more for £10m ea,sell em for £90m. Improve each year which we have ever since MON/RL arrived. To me its a good plan, and thank you citeh for helping it work.The Barry money got us to Wembley and back into Europe. It got citeh 3 points more.....well done.

We have a plan backed up by business brains and football professionals. Citeh are a rich sons toy with a bluenose pulling the strings.

Bring on August and wet spam!

[Dave Cooper please]

It's so much easier to be cynical when you support a football team Maz, it hurts less when you absolutely know (or at least convince yourself) that there is no loyalty between any of the fuckers.

[Concrete John]

Villa fans in "angry and disappointed one of their best players is just another greedy twat" shocker.

Oh I agree entirely, it was just the grief some of us got for pointing out that Milner would probably be just another greedy twat once someone like Citeh came dangling their wads in his face that amuses me.

"No way, he's not in it for the money" came the cry!

This is very true.  Will Gabby be the next one to break our hearts?

[VinnieChase84]

from extratime.ie

Martin O’Neill had a lot of things on his mind when he fielded questions at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links on Thursday morning ahead of Saturday’s friendly clash with League of Ireland Champions Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

Rumours are rife that his squad will face a big change -- with the interest of Man City in star performer James Milner and Villa's own targets of Aiden McGeady, Robbie Keane and Stephen Ireland -- but O’Neill has promised spectators that Villa’s strongest available squad will feature on Saturday.

“I’ve got most of the senior players here with me and I know how infuriating it can be to be making a lot of changes, particularly in the last minutes of the game for spectators who have come to watch them. So I will make a few changes at half time. But the idea is to give the senior players a half each.”

‘You’ve got 20 players with us at the moment, including two goalkeepers. Richard Dunne obviously will start the game but I would like the senior players to get a half each,” he said.

O’Neill went on to share the view that Irish winger Aiden McGeady could perform well in the Premiership.

“Aiden McGeady, I think he has got the ability to be able to play in the Premiership – without question. I had him when he was a kid at Celtic. I played him without worrying too much about his youth at the time. He played against AC Milan one night at Celtic Park in the Champions League and he was absolutely fantastic.”

However the talk was dominated by rumours about Milner, as a move to Eastlands looks inevitable.

“Obviously there is a question mark over James Milner. I had a conversation with James before the World Cup and he intimated that he would like to go at that time. I haven’t spoken to him since. I know there are conversations between his agent and our chief executive. Man City have made an offer for the player, but our valuation has not been met.”

“I’m sure things may well get resolved. James is due back next week along with the rest of our World Cup players. I would imagine things would get resolved one way or another in the very foreseeable future.”

“Aston Villa are a top quality side and we are linked with players. When Man City are interested […] obviously they are in a different stratosphere but they are building up a squad capable of challenging for the Premiership. So this year is going to be especially difficult.”

“As the chairman mentioned, maybe it is a case of probably having to sell to buy. That is something I’m delving into at the moment,” he said.

well thats just depressed the shit out of me!!! especially the bold. Thats pretty official that it is sell to buy! whats the fucking point, all this work and now were settling for not being able to challenge.

i need a beer!

[CT]

This is very true. Will Gabby be the next one to break our hearts?

Probably - especially if he bangs in 20+ goals this season.

[LeeS]

Villa fans in "angry and disappointed one of their best players is just another greedy twat" shocker.

Oh I agree entirely, it was just the grief some of us got for pointing out that Milner would probably be just another greedy twat once someone like Citeh came dangling their wads in his face that amuses me.

"No way, he's not in it for the money" came the cry!

This is very true.  Will Gabby be the next one to break our hearts?

The only thing to do is become emotionally detached from the whole thing. Then it doesnt get to the point of 'heartbreak'.

Of course, that also removes much of the pleasure.

In which case, maybe its better to have loved and lost...etc...