How good are they really

[LeeB]

I think Milner is easier to replace, but that's mainly because a) we are quite likely to get a good replacement as part of the deal (Ireland) and b) we might already have that replacement in Delph.

I'm not knocking Ash at all, but I do think Milner will prove to be a better all round player over the coming years.

I think Gabby will be the best of the three myself.

[Concrete John]

Here's another way of putting it:-

Who will get most caps for England - Gabby, Ash or Milner?

[Merv]

Probably Milner. But that says as much for the way the England team is run as anything else (see international caps comparison Le Tissier/Phil Neville).

Milner has that safe, dependable quality about him which means he's a shoe-in as an England regular for years. Ash has more of a maverick quality; although he's the most naturally gifted of the trio it wouldn't surprise me if he finished his career with only a sprinkling of England caps. Really can't tell how it will go with Gabby - the whole England striker thing revolves around Rooney.

[pauliewalnuts]

Milner is 80 percent effort, 20 percent skill.

Young is 20 percent effort, 80 percent skill.

Disagree with that , young cannot be faulted for his effort- there may be many things labelled at mons management, but effort is always 100%- young has often raced to track back and cover the defence and impressed me with his hard work.

Maybe you meant young is naurally a lot more skilful than milner which I would agree with.

I'm not faulting him for effort - I don't mean he puts in 20 percent effort rather than giving 100 percent, I'm saying that the skill is a much larger part of his game than Milner's.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think I'll have to agree with Paulie although perhaps not the same percentages.

Sometimes I get the feeling that Ash just isn't there. As if he can't be bothered.

I'm not knocking him though, I love the little cockney!

See above, that's not what I am actually saying.

[LeeB]

Milner is 80 percent effort, 20 percent skill.

Young is 20 percent effort, 80 percent skill.

Disagree with that , young cannot be faulted for his effort- there may be many things labelled at mons management, but effort is always 100%- young has often raced to track back and cover the defence and impressed me with his hard work.

Maybe you meant young is naurally a lot more skilful than milner which I would agree with.

I'm not faulting him for effort - I don't mean he puts in 20 percent effort rather than giving 100 percent, I'm saying that the skill is a much larger part of his game than Milner's.

I'm witcha'.

[Big Dick Edwards]

Ash is a tremendously industrious winger but has lost the consistency of delivery he had a couple of seasons ago. If he can get that back he'll once again be the best wide player in the country.

[Concrete John]

Milner is 80 percent effort, 20 percent skill.

Young is 20 percent effort, 80 percent skill.

Disagree with that , young cannot be faulted for his effort- there may be many things labelled at mons management, but effort is always 100%- young has often raced to track back and cover the defence and impressed me with his hard work.

Maybe you meant young is naurally a lot more skilful than milner which I would agree with.

I'm not faulting him for effort - I don't mean he puts in 20 percent effort rather than giving 100 percent, I'm saying that the skill is a much larger part of his game than Milner's.

I agree about Ash  - relies on skill when he's got the ball but not afraid to work without it.

As to Milner though, I think the immense workrate he shows can make people think that's all he's about, but I think he has much more ability than some give him credit for.  That goal away at Sunderland?  The pass for Dunne's goal at home to Portsmouth?  I think he's got plenty of skill to go with everythign else he brings to the side.

[Olneythelonely]

Milner is 80 percent effort, 20 percent skill.

Young is 20 percent effort, 80 percent skill.

I disagree, I think Young gives plenty of effort.

[Olneythelonely]

Milner is 80 percent effort, 20 percent skill.

Young is 20 percent effort, 80 percent skill.

Disagree with that , young cannot be faulted for his effort- there may be many things labelled at mons management, but effort is always 100%- young has often raced to track back and cover the defence and impressed me with his hard work.

Maybe you meant young is naurally a lot more skilful than milner which I would agree with.

I'm not faulting him for effort - I don't mean he puts in 20 percent effort rather than giving 100 percent, I'm saying that the skill is a much larger part of his game than Milner's.

Ahhh, I get you.

[mshurst]

I think I'll have to agree with Paulie although perhaps not the same percentages.

Sometimes I get the feeling that Ash just isn't there. As if he can't be bothered.

I'm not knocking him though, I love the little cockney!

See above, that's not what I am actually saying.

I know it's not what you're saying - that's what I'm saying.

[adrenachrome]

I think I'll have to agree with Paulie although perhaps not the same percentages.

Sometimes I get the feeling that Ash just isn't there. As if he can't be bothered.

I'm not knocking him though, I love the little cockney!

See above, that's not what I am actually saying.

I know it's not what you're saying - that's what I'm saying.

Say what, now?

[pauliewalnuts]

I think I'll have to agree with Paulie although perhaps not the same percentages.

Sometimes I get the feeling that Ash just isn't there. As if he can't be bothered.

I'm not knocking him though, I love the little cockney!

See above, that's not what I am actually saying.

I know it's not what you're saying - that's what I'm saying.

Say what, now?

I wish you'd all just come out and say it.

[Villa'Zawg]

Perhaps one way to think about Gabby's value is to look at the value of players who score "about" the same number of PL goals

09/10
8   Francesc Fabregas   Arsenal   15
9   Emmanuel Adebayor   Manchester City   14
10   Gabriel Agbonlahor   Aston Villa   13
11   Louis Saha   Everton   13
12   Dimitar Berbatov   Man Utd   12

08/09
4   De Souza Robinho   Manchester City   14
5   Fernando Torres   Liverpool   14
6   Gabriel Agbonlahor   Aston Villa   12
7   Darren Bent   Tottenham   12
8   Kevin Davies   Bolton   12

07/08
11   Jermain Defoe   Portsmouth   12
12   Wayne Rooney   Man Utd   12
13   Gabriel Agbonlahor   Aston Villa   11
14   Nicolas Anelka   Chelsea   11
15   Steven Gerrard   Liverpool   11

I don't see many players there who would be valued at less than £20m in today's market and then you take Gabby's age and inexperience into account...

[barrysleftfoot]

Good question, and as i said 6 mths ago, all 3 are worth in excess of £75m.

  If 2e caqn get £25m or more for Milner, then that is good business, out of the 3 , i think he is the easiest to replace.

  Gabby....has the potential to be as good as anybody.Yes he has'nt got the best touch, but he makes up for it with his pace and power.Would give anyone a game, and will be Englands CF for the next 4/5 yrs if Capello has any sense.Would'nt sell him, full stop.

  AYoung, should again, if Capello has any sense, be a regular in the new England team, his movement and mobility , and his talent, should be enough, again to be worth in excess of anything we get for Milner.

  And then we have Delf and Delph coming through......how much are they going to be worth?