The Milner Novela... Final episode page 296

[Holtenderinthesky]

I am struggling to believe that Ireland is part of the deal.  I reckon he'll stay at City and we'll get Onouha or just cash with add ons and incentives.  The only people talking about Ireland are us lot, even the media only give him a slight mention in relation to the Milner deal saying that we "could" look to someone like Ireland as a makeweight.  Nowhere have I seen anything more solid than that unfortunately.  Hope I'm wrong though, he'd be a cracking signing imo. Can't see it.

The Guardian, The Mirror and SSN have all mentioned him as part of the deal.

The Sun,The Mail & the Express also,as well as BT News

Perhaps Mr "in the sky" could point us to any section of the media that isn't talking about Ireland?

Perhaps you could point us in the direction of a quote from MON, or Mancini, or anyone involved with either club that mentions Ireland as part of the deal.  I'm not saying it won't happen, just that we haven't heard anything from the clubs or people involved.

[nechells]

I am struggling to believe that Ireland is part of the deal.  I reckon he'll stay at City and we'll get Onouha or just cash with add ons and incentives. The only people talking about Ireland are us lot, even the media only give him a slight mention in relation to the Milner deal saying that we "could" look tto someone like Ireland as a makeweight.  Nowhere have I seen anything more solid than that unfortunately.  Hope I'm wrong though, he'd be a cracking signing imo.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/06/man-city-stephen-ireland-james-milner

Well thats a bit better than what I had seen but its still mere speculation.  It says we have asked but does he want to come to us?

Have you actualy read any papers today?Ireland is mentioned in everyone I've read-As for "not wanting to come to us",it's amazing what the offer of an extra 10 grand a week does to a players aspirations.

Are we offering him 10k more than he is on at City?  I find that very hard to believe.  Also I have read the papers and they are simply suggesting that he could be used as bait, thats all.

Of course we're not offering him 10 grand more-He is negotiating a wage,he will not say "yes I'd love to play for Villa,in fact I'll take a drop in wages to do so"
He might ask for £90 grand,get offered £70 grand & then settle for £80 grand-thats laymans terms for you-Hope it hasn't phased you

[nechells]

I am struggling to believe that Ireland is part of the deal.  I reckon he'll stay at City and we'll get Onouha or just cash with add ons and incentives.  The only people talking about Ireland are us lot, even the media only give him a slight mention in relation to the Milner deal saying that we "could" look to someone like Ireland as a makeweight.  Nowhere have I seen anything more solid than that unfortunately.  Hope I'm wrong though, he'd be a cracking signing imo. Can't see it.

The Guardian, The Mirror and SSN have all mentioned him as part of the deal.

The Sun,The Mail & the Express also,as well as BT News

Perhaps Mr "in the sky" could point us to any section of the media that isn't talking about Ireland?

Perhaps you could point us in the direction of a quote from MON, or Mancini, or anyone involved with either club that mentions Ireland as part of the deal.  I'm not saying it won't happen, just that we haven't heard anything from the clubs or people involved.

But I'm not the idiot who says it hasn't been reported in the media

[Toronto Villa]

Please god let Ireland be part of the deal.  That one transfer alone would be enough to lift me from "meh, the season starts in a week" to "ohmifuckinggod, the football season is here again, you beauty!!!11111eleven"

Yep, Risso. Despite Ireland being a bit of nut, two seasons ago he was superb, and had a lot of admirers on this board. If he is coming as part of the Milner deal, plus some 20 million, then we have to applaud everyone at the club for pulling this off. I really like James Milner, but goodness me Man City will be paying way over the odds. Good for us, and if we can invest the funds in 3 or 4 other solid players (even Robbie Keane), plus the very promising kids coming through I think we can all start to look at this season with a lot of optimism.

[Holtenderinthesky]

I am struggling to believe that Ireland is part of the deal.  I reckon he'll stay at City and we'll get Onouha or just cash with add ons and incentives.  The only people talking about Ireland are us lot, even the media only give him a slight mention in relation to the Milner deal saying that we "could" look to someone like Ireland as a makeweight.  Nowhere have I seen anything more solid than that unfortunately.  Hope I'm wrong though, he'd be a cracking signing imo. Can't see it.

The Guardian, The Mirror and SSN have all mentioned him as part of the deal.

The Sun,The Mail & the Express also,as well as BT News

Perhaps Mr "in the sky" could point us to any section of the media that isn't talking about Ireland?

Perhaps you could point us in the direction of a quote from MON, or Mancini, or anyone involved with either club that mentions Ireland as part of the deal.  I'm not saying it won't happen, just that we haven't heard anything from the clubs or people involved.

But I'm not the idiot who says it hasn't been reported in the media

Where did I say that it hadn't been reported in the media?  If you read my post it didn't say that?  Why are you calling me an idiot, are you unable to express yourself without insults.  I am a fellow Villa fan.

[Risso]

If we get Ireland and one or two other decent players, I'll stick my neck and say we'll nick 4th place this season.

[Monty]

If we get Ireland and one or two other decent players, I'll stick my neck and say we'll nick 4th place this season.

Welcome back to the happiness fold, Riss.

I think we wanted Ireland before the Milner thing, so it follows that if Milner goes we'll get a replacement for him, hopefully a midfield with technique and energy to be an upgrade on NRC/Sidwell. Add this to Keane and the excellent kids coming through, and we certainly have a chance to compete.

[TheSandman]

If we get Ireland and one or two other decent players, I'll stick my neck and say we'll nick 4th place this season.

I've called the Isle of Man police. Obviously Villdawg has killed the real Risso ;-)

For me it depends on a) who the players are and b) if the manager has got past some of his annoying foibles.

[Brazilian Villain]

It's not that Ireland is better player it is that he is closer to what we need than Milner. If we get the right team around him we will be better for having Ireland than Milner.

Nail on head

If he is coming as part of the Milner deal, plus some 20 million, then we have to applaud everyone at the club for pulling this off. I really like James Milner, but goodness me Man City will be paying way over the odds. Good for us, and if we can invest the funds in 3 or 4 other solid players (even Robbie Keane), plus the very promising kids coming through I think we can all start to look at this season with a lot of optimism.

Agreed for the reason outlined above.

If we get Ireland and one or two other decent players, I'll stick my neck and say we'll nick 4th place this season.

Bloody hell Risso, have you been drinking?

BTW I like this new found burst of optimism.

[eamonn]

I wonder will a ''loyalty bonus'' hold things up further? I imagine Milner has kept schtum about his future as his agent wants to get as much from the deal as possible. Surely telling your manager that you would like to go to a certain club after their bid has been turned-down is in effect a transfer request?

Doubling his wages and him/his agent getting a nice chunk of the transfer fee (what's the common percentage - 1.5%?) would underline how much this thing stenches of filthy lucre.

[eastie]

Pat murphy on 5 live seems to think Ireland will come as mon likes him very much , he told him so last night in an interview.

[Brazilian Villain]

Pretty sure I once saw Dawn French, Jo Brand and John Leslie on the same tv chat-show sofa.

Just a shame Dawn French stepped in for Shami Chakrabarti at the last minute and Ed Balls was unavailable.

[KevinGage]

I am struggling to believe that Ireland is part of the deal.  I reckon he'll stay at City and we'll get Onouha or just cash with add ons and incentives.  The only people talking about Ireland are us lot, even the media only give him a slight mention in relation to the Milner deal saying that we "could" look to someone like Ireland as a makeweight.  Nowhere have I seen anything more solid than that unfortunately.  Hope I'm wrong though, he'd be a cracking signing imo. Can't see it.

The Guardian, The Mirror and SSN have all mentioned him as part of the deal.

The Sun,The Mail & the Express also,as well as BT News

Perhaps Mr "in the sky" could point us to any section of the media that isn't talking about Ireland?

Perhaps you could point us in the direction of a quote from MON, or Mancini, or anyone involved with either club that mentions Ireland as part of the deal.  I'm not saying it won't happen, just that we haven't heard anything from the clubs or people involved.

MON was just on SSN and faced that very question.

He shuffled in his seat and basically said he can't say anything at the moment. Based on his previous track record of dismissing links, it's a close as you're going to get to an admission that we're in for him.

[eamonn]

Murphy and McCarra are the two journalists worth listening/reading to in relation to Villa stories as MON seems to have a friendly relationship with both.

[Monty]

Murphy and McCarra are the two journalists worth listening/reading to in relation to Villa stories as MON seems to have a friendly relationship with both.

Also Stuart James at the Grauniad has a good track record. MacAskill at the Telegraph means well, but he does fall for official club spin a lot.