The January 2015 Transfer Rumour Thread

[villadelph]

Milner.. again? Come on guys.

[ciggiesnbeer]

The disconnect between Villa & (most) Man City fans opinion of Milner versus the rest of the leagues fans is pretty stark. Outside of our two clubs he is regarded as a kind of joke player. I suppose based on his England performances? That kiss of death usually drags down even the best players reputations.

[cheltenhamlion]

Like Tom Cleverley....

[ozzjim]

He has nowhere near Lampard's knack of ghosting into the box and scoring. Even if deployed centrally regularly I imagine most of his work would be in the middle third.

I reckon in a good side given a run in that role he would be a 12-15 goal a season man.

[brontebilly]

Like Tom Cleverley....

Poor old Tom seems out of his depth in the EPL not to mind international level

That'll be his lack of pace not his technical ability.  He was better central because pace is less important int he middle and his work rate, passing and drive showed how good he can be.  His technique is actually very good, he's got a great touch, strikes the ball clean and has the ability to make himself space in tight situations, that's all technical skills.  What he's critics focus on is inability to go past a player and then burn them for pace, which is why he's not suited to playing wde at the highest level and is why City and England have wasted him. I think he's got a simmilar skillset to Lampard, now can you imagine Lampard looking top class as a right winger?

Jordan Henderson would be a more apt comparison, think you are seriously under rating Lampard there. Henderson was out of his depth at the World Cup tactically and technically when he was shown up as an athlete rather than a footballer. Do you have any confidence that Milner would have been any better? I dont to be honest, not at that level anyway. Neither have the quick feet to turn quickly on the ball, both lack decision making on when to play it short or long and positionally both struggle. Sure they can both be very effective central midfielders in the EPL but international level and top European club football calls for a lot more.

Beckham, Ray Houghton, Nol Solano, Bernd Schneider - all names from the top of my head all were cracking wide players despite not having much pace. They had guile though which Milner for all his energy never really had.

[ozzjim]

Milner was 10 times the player Henderson is when he played through the middle at Villa. The win over West Ham in his last game for us was one of the most complete central midfield displays I can recall from a Villa midfielder in my time watching. Genuine top class player in the making. He made the right call for money, for medals etc, but I will always wonder just how good he could have been had he gone somewhere better than us and played that same role.


Anyhow, he is not coming back so can we stop the love in now :-(

I see Lambert says we want a striker and there is still interest in a wide man. At least it is the right positions to be looking.

That Salah at Chelsea looked a really good player before never playing much there, a loan big might be worth it?

Can't think of a striker that we could get that would move us forward that much - I would guess a Benteke style (but cheaper) gamble from Europe must be a thought. The link to the lad frozen out at PSV looked interesting but seems to have been no more than twatter guff.

[Toronto Villa]

Who Lavezzi? If he was available he'd be spoilt for choice with CL clubs I'd imagine. Or is it someone else your are referring to?

[Matt C]

Still think Joel Campbell at Arsenal would be a decent striker loan if he's available.

[PeterWithe]

Still think Joel Campbell at Arsenal would be a decent striker loan if he's available.

I think I read that he was going to Socieadad for 8m, not sure if we've got that sort of money

[garyshawsknee]

Who Lavezzi? If he was available he'd be spoilt for choice with CL clubs I'd imagine. Or is it someone else your are referring to?

He's at PSG.

[silhillvilla]

We aren't signing anyone else are we ..

[andrew08]

We aren't signing anyone else are we ..

Not anyone we've heard of if we do.

[RussellC]

We aren't signing anyone else are we ..

To be fair to Lambert, he is usually pretty active towards the end of the window.

[exigo]

Let's hope his signings are as active in the final third.

[silhillvilla]

We aren't signing anyone else are we ..

To be fair to Lambert, he is usually pretty active towards the end of the window.

I am not going to build up my hopes this year. We can't even pretend Defoe is at The Belfry.