Tom Cleverley - Loan Confirmed

[DrGonzo]

Times may have changed him, but Milner is a famous teetotaller, early to bed guy.  Someone who has worked very hard to become successful at his profession, not the most naturally gifted, he acknowledges that his career is likely to be short and he can do what he likes in 5 years time.  Not all brickies love laying bricks they see it as a means to an end, why should a footballer be any different? 

Anyhow, Cleverley...he's overrated, isn't he? 

[Singapore Villa]

Are we linked with Cleverley or Milner?  Thought so.  Any chance we can talk about the topic in hand.

Does anyone have any updates on talks/twists?

[silhillvilla]

Is it the law on H&V that every transfer topic is a road that ends in James Milner .

[N'ZMAV]

#BringMilnerBack

[Richard E]

#LetItGoItsNotHappening

[lovejoy]

Does the passage of time sine this story broke mean it's not going to happen before the deadline?
Personally I will be disappointed if we don't bring in at least one more player.

[Clampy]

Not everyone is driven by the pursuit of the almighty dollar like you are Dave. No way you would be a journalist for the Guardian you are Torygraph through and through.

Verbal warning.

On a slightly different note though, Chris Eubank said that the only reason professional boxers fight is for the money; if they did it for the love of the sport they'd stay amateur. I don't see that the vast majority of footballers think any different.

You're likely to know more than me but somewhere in the recesses of my mind I remember Eubank saying he never liked boxing and it was always a means to an end. Totally understandable opinion as he truly had some brutal wars. Football on the other hand to me at least is the dream job and I am sure it must be for the vast majority of footballers.

I think you've just used the key word - job. It's their job, it's what they've spent their whole lives striving towards. And now Milner is at what he probably considers to be the pinnacle of his profession. He earns as much as he possibly could, he wins as many trophies as he could and if he doesn't play in as many games as he might, that's not much of a drawback considering what else he's got going for his career.

That said, he does come across as the kind of player who wants to play in every game, like most footballers do i suppose. I think eventually he'll want to move on to get more game time.

[Virgil Caine]

I am preparing myself to be disappointed as I don't think there will be any more signings ( but I hope I am wrong). The unbalanced nature of the EPL and the status of Villa probably means that no marque players will come due to the wage cap, lack of potential to play Champions League, the club being up for sale,  restricted budget and the lack of success over the past 4 years.  Plus I just think it is a particularly hard market to operate in and the pool we can fish in is made up of relative unknowns from either lower or foreign leagues, mercenaries looking for a final pay off or out of contract free transfers. Depressing, but to believe otherwise is being in denial of what our position is currently.

[N'ZMAV]

#LetItGoItsNotHappening

I know. Others don't.

[olaftab]

So I take it Cleverley will not be paraded today at the Hull game?

[Ron Manager]

Say we don't get Cleverley who else is possible? I think he will sign because his options are limited but if he doesnt Lambert (or Keane) must have one back up plan at least.

Now I have got in a lot of trouble suggesting James Milner is a tremendous central midfielder better than former Villa greats but as we cannot hope to get him on loan who else can we expect to see step out on the hallowed turf of Villa Park

We are desperate for someone with pace who can cross a ball and are desperate for goals.

Benteke and Kozak are going to take time to reach a top level of performance and with our fixture list we could be in some trouble.

Much as I hate to say it Darren Bent appears to be shot and both Agbonlahor and Weimann are nowhere near what is required.

Assuming Lambert has money who could he get on loan?

[brian green]

I think that the big picture, as viewed from VP is that British players are grossly overpriced.   I strongly suspect that the fee and the wages for Cleverley will be a barrier to us ever signing him.   In a way I shall not be sorry to see that happen because if the pain of 14 wins out of 46 at VP is to have any benefit at all, it is to make us more sensible with our money.   If we are to get anybody else in before the window closes my guess is that it will be from Europe

[N'ZMAV]

Much as I hate to say it Darren Bent appears to be shot and both Agbonlahor and Weimann are nowhere near what is required.

Spot on.

[Percy McCarthy]

Any footballer will take the opportunity to move 'up' and maximise their earnings/chances of winning medals. Good ones are bound to be confident of making an impression in better teams, having succeeded at every level previously.

For every time someone says 'Milner/Young/Barry had all they could want at Villa', the same could be said for Bale at Southampton or Spurs, or Suarez at Ajax and Liverpool. I think they owe it to themselves to at least try and achieve all they can and be as ambitious as possible, even though it can be upsetting for us fans, who have made our choice of club and will never be tempted away.

[john e]

#LetItGoItsNotHappening

I know. Others don't.

Keep the faith
#bringbackjimmymilner