Houllier says Ireland Must Up His Game

[Dante Lavelli]

Milner is twice the player.

Based on the value of the transfer being (18m + 8m) £26m then Milner is 3.25 times better than Ireland.  Until the rest of the cash is spent then it's pretty impossible to say who got the better of the deal.

[Somniloquism]

I was one of the ones who said the cash and Ireland would be a good deal if we could spend the money wisely. At the moment we haven't been able to do that and as we have lost such a key player it was always going to affect us.

I also did raise an issue that Ireland played really well when Robinho used to play. They had an understanding and it is no good playing really good balls if you do not have someone ready to anticipate them. Does anyone think Gabby has the same footballing brain and ability to read the game as Robinho?

[Bosco81]

The transfer fee is irrelevant, Milner will keep getting better, even on his off days he will still work his socks off. Ireland may well have an impact for us but it won't be anywhere near the consistency of Milner.

[Reality]

If you compare the stats of Irelands 08/09 season and Milner last season they are neck and neck.

The problem is getting Ireland to that standard.

[TheSandman]

Time will tell.

I think we will see a better Stephen Ireland in time. Whether that is an utterly top class player I am not sure.

[Bosco81]

I bet milner covers double the amount of ground Ireland does in a game, it's like comparing apples with pears

[Dante Lavelli]

How can you say that the transfer fee is irrelevant?  That is effectively the money we'll use to replace him so it'll have a direct bearing on how good the player we buy is.

[Dave]

I bet milner covers double the amount of ground Ireland does in a game, it's like comparing apples with pears

Probably, but Kevin Davies probably covers far more ground than Berbatov does. As you say, their games are about completely different things.

[Bosco81]

How can you say that the transfer fee is irrelevant?  That is effectively the money we'll use to replace him so it'll have a direct bearing on how good the player we buy is.

The fee isn't relevant because players like James Milner don't come around very often.

[Dante Lavelli]

How can you say that the transfer fee is irrelevant?  That is effectively the money we'll use to replace him so it'll have a direct bearing on how good the player we buy is.

The fee isn't relevant because players like James Milner don't come around very often.

That is certainly true.  It would have been great to see how good he could have become playing CM.  He had a certain talismanic quality which I fear will get lost amongst the egos of man city.

Regardless of this we should be able to buy a decent replacement with 18m, then we just have to hope Ireland comes good.

[SoccerHQ]

I still believe ireland will come good, more so when Gabby is playing again regularly as at least he'll then have someone quick to aim for upfront.

That said, it's unquestionable we're missing Milner badly, far more so than we missed Barry at any stage last season who won't be a regular at Man. City for much longer.

So we desperately need to sign a decent central midfielder in January.

[KevinGage]

Lot's of words but saying very little.

Come on Smudger, you can do better than that.

Or maybe you can't.

But I suppose I'll take saying very little (or more accurately questioning why someone normally so tolerant of piss poor performances from either players or management has suddenly done a complete volte-face) in contrast to your frequently and consistently getting it so very, very wrong.

DOL, MON and weren't you pretty much adamant that Milner wouldn't leave us because he was 'different?'   Have you still got that article from his old school teacher that formed the basis of your steadfast belief?

 Your track record is not that hot, lets face it.

[pauliewalnuts]

One thing I will say, Chris, is that on any thread regarding Gary Cahill, you always roll out the "he didn't want to stay, what could we do" argument, but with Milner, it is all about how he's twice the player Ireland is (the implication being that we've replaced a really good one with a much worse one in some downscaling exercise).

Surely Milner didn't want to be here either, so by your own measure, it's pointless bringing him into the equation when judging Ireland?

[KevinGage]

Also: as for nailing my colours to the Ireland mast I don't think that stacks up.
I want him to do well, think he has talent to do well but I have my doubts about this move.

I just don't see the sense in reaching any conclusions re his effectiveness for us so early into his Villa career. You may think that unreasonable, but there it is.

[Sexual Ealing]

One thing I will say, Chris, is that on any thread regarding Gary Cahill, you always roll out the "he didn't want to stay, what could we do" argument, but with Milner, it is all about how he's twice the player Ireland is (the implication being that we've replaced a really good one with a much worse one in some downscaling exercise).

Surely Milner didn't want to be here either, so by your own measure, it's pointless bringing him into the equation when judging Ireland?

Cahill was a young reserve centre-back, and left when we seemed fully stocked there.

I think most people would accept that Milner was a bit more important than that when he left. Spectacular offside goals against Blues notwithstanding.