The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[Mazrim]

I dont want to see that bell end in a Villa shirt ever again.

[achilles]

Apparently its done, £18 million plus Steven Ireland.

Bloody good deal in my eyes, although Petrov and Ireland will be too lightweight in a 2 in centre midfield (if MON does that)?

[Mazrim]

What's the source, achillies?

[richard moore]

I dont want to see that bell end in a Villa shirt ever again.

Nor me. He can go and sling one. He's got whats coming to him, though as he was only interested in the money anyway I'm sure he's not too concerned either way...

[Clampy]

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.

You know, it could happen. He's letting Shorey go, so we'll need a back up left back. Personally, he can stay where he is and wait for the Champions League he craved after.

[richard moore]

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.

I would play NRC, Petrov and Ireland and drop the luxury that is Stuart Downing, bringing him or Albrighton on as impact subs this season. We need to create much much more through the middle, particularly at home. Teams have sussed out our 'give it the wingers and sling it into the box' approach. I would then give Ash a roving wing role and still play Gabby and Carew up front, at least for home games....

[olaftab]

I would play NRC, Petrov and Ireland and drop the luxury that is Stuart Downing, bringing him or Albrighton on as impact subs this season. We need to create much much more through the middle, particularly at home. Teams have sussed out our 'give it the wingers and sling it into the box' approach. I would then give Ash a roving wing role and still play Gabby and Carew up front, at least for home games....

Now that would make lot of sense Richard and deliver results specially at home.

[achilles]

Can't reveal the source, but all the paperwork is being done at the moment everything has been agreed.

[richard moore]

I would play NRC, Petrov and Ireland and drop the luxury that is Stuart Downing, bringing him or Albrighton on as impact subs this season. We need to create much much more through the middle, particularly at home. Teams have sussed out our 'give it the wingers and sling it into the box' approach. I would then give Ash a roving wing role and still play Gabby and Carew up front, at least for home games....

Now that would make lot of sense Richard and deliver results specially at home.

It would also allow Petrov to get forward a bit more and reinvent his Celtic role where he used to score some cracking goals. Knowing us however, it will be Petrov who plays DM and NRC will be trying to run on beyond Gabby!!!!

[frank]

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.

As you say, he breaks up play, he's strong, he's great driving forward - but he can't pass accurately. That would be my worry about NRC

[richard moore]

Funny, but I am completely unbothered about Milner going. Not even really slightly sorry. Can't understand why that is, but it just isn't registering with me much at all...

[boboonthecorner]

Funny, but I am completely unbothered about Milner going. Not even really slightly sorry. Can't understand why that is, but it just isn't registering with me much at all...

Despite the fact he was our player of the year I don't think he's worth that sort of money. Normally I'd be ecstatic at us getting £25m but I expect it will be spent on another overrated English player big on effort but little on skill.

As for City I guess we'll see them this time next year when they come back for Albrighton???

[richard moore]

Funny, but I am completely unbothered about Milner going. Not even really slightly sorry. Can't understand why that is, but it just isn't registering with me much at all...

Despite the fact he was our player of the year I don't think he's worth that sort of money. Normally I'd be ecstatic at us getting £25m but I expect it will be spent on another overrated English player big on effort but little on skill.

As for City I guess we'll see them this time next year when they come back for Albrighton???

Nah, they'll still be signing mercenaries who aren't quite good enough to hold down a place in the top teams but who can kid City fans and the goons in charge that playing at the utterly soulless COMS is all they have ever dreamed of doing...

[Percy McCarthy]

Funny, but I am completely unbothered about Milner going. Not even really slightly sorry. Can't understand why that is, but it just isn't registering with me much at all...

I'm hoping he'll go in a swap with Ireland, it all goes tits up for him, and he comes back cheap next year to form the best midfield in the country with Ireland and Delph.

[KevinGage]

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.

Like others have said, I think we'd still need a NRC (or better) in there to let our attacking players do their thing.


I'd go either:




--------------------------NRC---------------Petrov------------------------------
-------------Albrighton-------------Ash------------Ireland----------------------



or:



--------------------------NRC--------------Petrov------------------------------
--------------Ash---------------Ireland------------Downing--------------------


There's a degree of flexibility in both of those midfields anyway, their position at kick-off won't necessarily be their position 20/30 minutes into the game.

I'm encouraged by the fact that we've spent a fair part of the pre-season with one up front, though I'm not entirely convinced that Ash has what it takes to play just off the forwards. He started out that way for us back in 2007 and was largely anonymous. It was only when he was switched to the left flank that he started to have any kind of impact. True, he did play there at the back end of 2008 and we scored a sheadload. But that was against some particularly poor opposition (Bolton/Derby/B-lose et.c).

The one obvious advantage of starting with him there is that if he is double tagged (as he so often is in the league) we still have two players out wide who can do damage from there.

I'd prefer to see Ireland in that role though, I think it could be the making of us.