The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[Mouse Potato]

Make that three. Long thought Milner is a decent player - witness that he can just about get into the England team - but hugely over-rated. He'll see the error of his ways the end of next season just as Barry will this...

But will they? (see the error of their ways).  They both went for the money and they'll get paid whether playing or plucking out arse splinters instead.

[richard moore]

Make that three. Long thought Milner is a decent player - witness that he can just about get into the England team - but hugely over-rated. He'll see the error of his ways the end of next season just as Barry will this...

But will they? (see the error of their ways).  They both went for the money and they'll get paid whether playing or plucking out arse splinters instead.

Fine by me if that is their sole motive. Barry will be completely forgotten by most within 5 years and Milner's honeymoon period is now over. He will have to perform to a very high standard for that money and his transfer fee and it won't be long before it starts to dawn on people that he's really not that good. As you say though, they'll both be very rich and of course that is the only reason all these players have gone there. Hilarious in the paper this morning to read some of these mercenaries trying to claim what an honour it is to play for Man City, a club they probably hadn't even heard of two years ago....

[eastie]

Milner will probably blossom at city and will probably go on to captain England in future, however Barry will struggle to get any games and may well have to move on if he wants to stay in capello's plans.

Mancini didn't sign him and he seems to be inkling out Hughes old signings one by one.

[Chris Jameson]

IF Villa can get Ireland plus money for Milner i'd say they've got a bloody brilliant deal. Much as I like Milner I think Ireland on his day is a better player, ignoring what mad Malcolm says whenever he's had a regular run in the City team he's looked a class act plus he won't be distracted by any International gubbins.

[frank]

Lerner and Faulkner are doing the negotiating, not o neill- I believe the price will be around £16m plus Ireland which is excellent business.

O neill has already stated he has had no part in negotiations with city, so let's give the credit to randy and Faulkner.

There was a quote on the Blue Moon site I mentioned above that said £16m plus £2m in add-ons plus Ireland.

What the add-ons are, I couldn't tell you.

Today's Times says the add-ons could lift the fee to £20m. But that would probably involve Milner playing regularly, which I doubt he will.

[JJ-AV]

While we'll obviously miss Milner's superhuman work rate and 60 yard runs in the 93rd minute on a rainy Tuesday night in Wigan, we will gain someone who can play a clever reverse pass to unlock some of the bottom half fodder.

If we can get Ireland anywhere near his 2008/09 form we'll be a better side, and if we can get him striking up a partnership with Ash like he had with Robinho we'll be in the top 4.

He might be a bit of a nutter but he's the real deal and Citeh are idiotic for letting him go.

Something along the lines of –

------------------------Petrov
Downing-----------------------------Ireland
-----------------Keane-------------------------------Ashley
--------------------------------Gabby


Would be brilliant, and whatever MON's tactics were couldn't help but play some attractive football.

IMO, anyway.

[Monty]

That's the sort of thing I'd be looking at, JJ. Kind of lop-sided, as Downing is better coming in-field deeper than Ash, who is better high up the pitch. They'd all interchange and go everywhere of course, apart from Petrov, who'll only have to mop up and will finally get the workload lifted from his shoulders - not least because we'd have more possession.

[citizenDJ]

I like that, but I think we'd have to try and get NRC in there somewhere to add some muscle.

[JJ-AV]

Could play Nige as a narrow right-sided player like he started 08/09 and finished 07/08 before Milner came into the side?

Some of his best form for us has been there, I reckon.

[Monty]

Nige is a liability. It's like someone (I want to say Paulie?) says on here about Cuellar - that at the top level teams press you into giving the ball to your worse footballers. Now, if 1-11 are good footballers, then they have a problem, but if we were to  have a right side of Cuellar and NRC - God help us.

[Mazrim]

If we just regimented NRC to break up play and give it to the attacking players he's be one of the best in the league. He's quick and strong as a horse.
We'd replace all of Milners workrate and if we got Ireland in or somebody like him, improve in the final third. There would be better balance.

So, I'd like to keep NRC and play a system which gets the best out of him.
I know this will be contraversial but I'd rather keep NRC than Petrov.

[JUAN PABLO]

If NRC breaks the play up and gives a simple ball to stephen Ireland , then we havent got a problem and nRC is a good player..  The problem is when NRC thinks he can do what Stephen Ireland can do   ;-)

[Monty]

If NRC breaks the play up and gives a simple ball to stephen Ireland , then we havent got a problem and nRC is a good player..  The problem is when NRC thinks he can do what Stephen Ireland can do   ;-)

Not only that, he never actually does pass short, even when the most obvious option in the world is on. Yesterday, against Valencia, he actually passed it well and competently - but it's the first time he's done it in nearly a year.

[citizenDJ]

If we just regimented NRC to break up play and give it to the attacking players he's be one of the best in the league. He's quick and strong as a horse.
We'd replace all of Milners workrate and if we got Ireland in or somebody like him, improve in the final third. There would be better balance.

So, I'd like to keep NRC and play a system which gets the best out of him.
I know this will be contraversial but I'd rather keep NRC than Petrov.

Yep, agree with all of this.

Well, maybe not the last bit. Maybe.

[russon]

I'd have Barry back as part of the deal. We'd soon forgive and forget but I think he's too proud to come back.