barry'sboots

What a performance from Milner, another game like that and he'll be worth £35 plus easy. I think he's worth that already (to Aston Villa anyway) I do hope we get more than £35 for him!!

Couldn't agree more. I would buy Doyle for the £10m you say (I believe) and probably Tuncay in front of Eduardo. I thought we should have bought both when they moved to Wolves and Spurs. Tuncay hasn't worked out at Stoke but I think that's more to do with how Pullis likes to play. I think he could be just the player for us? Isn't this the same player? Who is our "link man"? I must have missed this signing.

We did sort of save his career as he was going nowhere at Newcastle and we made him the star of our team and an England international He has also said that the stability at Villa has been great for him, as he had never had a full season under one manager. Not sure Citeh could guarantee this!! I think, more than anything, it has been MON's willingness to trust Milner with a CM position that has allowed him to become the player he has. Not sure he would have been give this opportunity elsewhere and, if not, he would have stayed as an average but hard working right winger.

The thought of a Petrov/ Ireland central pair scares the shit out of me... that is one half paced midfield right there! I don't think Ireland is particularly slow. I bet he's a lot faster than Barry, anyway, and Barry did OK next to Petrov. We've got plenty of pace in the team anyway, we need someone who can pass the ball to create chances. Not every single player we buy has to run with the ball at every given opportunity. At home especially, teams have figured that tactic out. Barry and Petrov - the midfield duo that was at the heart of our great run at the end of 08/09? We only gained 6th spot because of the points we picked up through the 4-5-1. Petrov + 1 is wrong IMO, unless you are prepared to sub Petrov after 45mins. Petrov + a low energy (it is not necessarily speed but energy as far as I am concerned) is a disaster.

Would prefer Luke Young... Oh wait Always does a good job when Chelski use him - at full back or in midfield. Would be a good addition to the squad and sensible wages I would imagine. What about Ballack??

Agree, but would prefer Rodallega to Jones. Also, don't necessarily see Gabby and Nathan as the same player i.e. I think that they could play together.

Agree that Doyle would be a massive step up on Heskey. I see him as a player that would be rotated with Gabby as they both play the lone striker/most advanced in a pair role from what I have seen. We will then need a link/second striker and an attacking CM'er - I would love to see us with Bellamy and Ireland - to be rotated as we switch from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 with Bellamy also able to take on a wide position in the 4-3-3, although these two would probably mean that Jimmy has gone the other way. Bring in O'Hara (for Sidwell), Dorrans, N'Zogbia and a RB on top and I would be very happy. I think you are a bit harsh on Gabby. It is the whole team that seems to go off a bit in the latter stages, probably due to fatigue (mental and physical) caused by the lack of resting/subs, and if the supply is reduced Gabby can't work miracles!

Spot on with the last sentence. He is a quality player but would he have been such a big thing if he had still been in and out of the Newcastle side?? He owes Villa and MON IMO and £70k pw and a crack at Europa and CL qualification is not the worst next 12 months to bear!! As long as MON uses him properly - 4-3-3 for me!

I would agree with that from what I have seen. He has a real phyical presence but looks like he is a footballer as well. I think he could go on to become the genuine article BUT so could Nathan. I am not sure we need two striking prospects at this point and, if given the choice, would take Doyle over Kalanic.

Are Heitinga and Bily ... , both of which were decent money, any better than MON's signings for similar money but less risk? Pienaar is a good little player but not sure he'd fit into our 4-4-2?

I wouldn't mind Ireland but I am not sure about Micah Richards. I would prefer the money i.e. £25m + Ireland.

This would be a real howler IMO. Young has a couple of good seasons left in him and should be our first choice RB with a young RB such as Clyne bought in as his understudy. Can't understand the comparisons above - Young should start every time when fit whereas Heskey shouldn't be near the bench, IMO, if MON is going to use him as a third CM'er. If he wants to use him as a point striker then fair enough but I have rarely seen him played in this way during his stay at VP.

I think MON has a great eye for a player on the whole - Dunney and Milner are the best two examples for me - and has built a really good squad on a (relatively) limited budget. I just don't think he knows how to use that squad properly!

Pretty much sums up my feelings. He ISNT going to be the next Stevie G. Take the £25-30m, buy someone better and still have change left over to put towards a top class striker. I think he is top notch and if MON used him correctly, as an ACM playing off Gabby and in front of NRC/Stan and Delph, then I believe he could be as good as Gerard or Lampard in the near future.

Completely agree with Jon. As for your points, Blandy, I would make the following observations: - I am amazed that you cite Downing and Warnock as tiring but not Stan, who at times this season has looked out on his legs for second halves. - As for anger, I think what most people feel is not anger but frustration as we appear to keep making the same errors.

Sorry, I mean IF we sell him, we need to keep him and add quality players without selling our best There is a big difference between, having to sell, and accepting a offer to good to refuse. for £30m id sell. There are two aspects to this. For £30m you could go out and buy three very good players to come into the squad (if MON could use more than 12 players this could prove useful!) BUT we would also be signalling that we are selling club and the pyschological damage that this does to the supporters, other players and everyone involved in the club could be significant. I think we often ignore the latter.

I think Richard is almost right. If a player decides he wants to go then invariably he will go, especially if clubs are prepared to pay the sort of price that we will get offered for Jimmy. Fortunately, I think Jimmy will stay as he is still making pretty good money (just a bit) and is playing football week in week out in a position he wants to be in and is loved.

SGC, I know you are a keen follower of the youth, but what is it about Nathan that makes you think he is going to be that good? To me, and I have only seen a couple of reserve games and his first team appearances, he looks a decent prospect who may make it but nothing more and I am struggling to see what his real assets are i.e. he is not Gabby quick, he is not that strong, his passing is not exceptional, I haven't noticed anything special about his movement although he does seem to end up on the score sheet - a useful attribute!

Carrick? Won the premiership 3 times, champions league and the world club cup. Lets hope Milner is using him as one of the examples. He has the medals and he has earned good money but he hasn't really established himself as a first pick and his England career has gone backwards since he left Spurs. There seems to be a lot of talk about him moving on. Maybe he is not as good an example as our Sidders but he is a better player, as Milner is, that hasn't really had as good a career as he might have IMO.

I'm very hopeful he'll stay. He is a smart lad and I hope he sees what moving to a "Big Club" has done for the likes of Carrick, Sidwell etc.. I think he will know that developing for at least another year at VP will not do him any harm in the long run.

Onahua would be a perfect replacement for Luke Young in MON's eyes - a centre back converted to Right Back if I am not mistaken?

Agree with Bullard - great player - but don't see him as a replacement for Stan as I don't think he is a holding CM'er. He could be a great option on the bench/in the squad BUT would he ever be fit?? Wouldn't mind Fletcher. I think he looks a useful striker. Would expect him to be third or fourth choice for us though but would personally prefer Doyle, budget permitting. KPB and O'Hara would both be decent recruits as back up and much better than Sidwell IMO, although I was hoping for someone like Dorrans - younger and more ability. I suppose it all depends upon budget and what formation we are looking to play next year - I would personally model our side on 4-3-3/4-5-1 with 4-4-2 as our plan B, i.e. a big striker such as Carew to come of the bench for the last 20 as he did against Blues A, on the bench alongside Gabby and say Kevin Doyle who could be rotated. I would expect Milner to play much further forward and be our 20 goal a season ACM.

Yup, truth. He'll still be starting next year. I can see a line up of something like; ---Milner-----Petrov-----Parker--- Young----------------------Downing ---------------Gabby---------------- I wouldn't mind Stan playing in a 3 man CM but he hasn't got the engine to do more than a half in a 4-4-2 and give us the tempo we need. I really like Scot Parker but wouldn't want to sign him as he will cost a lot of money for a 30 yo who does have a track record of injuries?

Rather sell Carlos, because of his age etc., especially if RM are still interested. Hoping that NRC stays and plays, but can't see it if blinkered MON stays. NRC's battling is just what we have needed this season, especially when Stan tires! I would like Luke to stay. Best right back we have had for ages.

In: Strikers - Doyle (8), Keane swap for JC?? Midfielders - two out of NZogbia, Dorrans or Ireland (all about £8m each) Defenders - Clyne (3), LB (3) Keeper - Hart (8) Spend £38m Out: JC (swap for Keane or 3 to 4) Heskey (3) Harewood Sidders (4) Salifou Beye (2) Shorey (3) Cuellar (8) - only because he is the most saleable of our CBs and we have to many and only if RM are still interested? Raise £20m Net spend £18m.