Rob182

And yet you're on Villatalk! Shouldn't you be off earning more money so you can afford another boat? We all know how people need so many boats...

well give Man City a call then. I'm sure if you whack up a few fake "newspaper reviews" they'll bring you in.. They're always after a few new faces! I'd personally prefer to try and make something of myself for my kids to see. I'd be happy to show them medals.. but I'd also be ashamed if I had to show them a video of a cup final where I'm making a 6 minute appearance at the end of the game. :winkold: EDIT - This post was in reply to Woodytom.

Woodytom, I know what you mean - at the moment I'm motivated by money because I earn just enough to pay bills etc. But I honestly wouldn't care about money if I had enough to live on comfortably. I can see your point in that a footballers career is pretty short. But even so, Milner has probably been earning at least £30k a week for the last 4 years. I'm sure he has enough for him and his family to live off for 10 lifetimes (Unless he wants to go splashing it about on needless "luxuries"). I just find the money-side of football the biggest problem. It won't change and I'm 80% sure that Milner will leave. But it still infuriates me that people will find it incredible that some people aren't motivated by money. Ogen. If he goes then he'll be going to a club with a greater chance of success. He'll also be going to a club where he'll have a greater chance of being on the bench, playing fewer games, being chucked aside if he doesn't perform, having a different manager within a year if the results aren't good enough, a club where there will be a lot more pressure on him. What if Milner plays okay but not great? He could be on the bench and that would effect his chances with England. The worst point will be that it could effect his career. That is the point, and comparison, I was making.

I don't care if footballers care for the people in the stands. I also understand if players move for their career. But Milner was bought by Villa when he was in a sinking ship at Newcastle. MON put faith in him and paid over the odds. He had an okay first season and has had an oustanding second season. MON put faith in Milner and now as soon as a big club comes for him, it seems like he's going. It'd be nice if Milner repaid the faith that had been shown in him. (BTW, I know it's unrealistic because everyone, it seems, is motivated by money and "what could be next year".. but I just think that it'd prove him to be the person we thought he was if he'd repay the faith shown in him).

I think that's an extremely bold comment from someone who knows they will never be faced with such a situation. Hell, I'd love to say that had I made it as a pro footballer that I would have been loyal, particularly to the Villa but by the time these guys make it to being professional they've already lost pretty much any allegiance they had to any one club at least, from a supporters point of view anyway. I find it embarrassing to question their desire to move for the sake of money, it really is a very simple equation. Whether you're a factory worker, office manager or professional sportsman if you receive a call asking you if you want to do the exact same thing somewhere else (and lets face it, somewhere ultimately nicer with better facilities and more opportunity of earning bonus commission) you would be unambitious and/or stubborn to not accept it. It's amazing how high some people's horses reach during summer transfer windows. How the hell would you know if I would never be faced with a similar situation? This is the exact type of reply I knew I would get from someone so small-minded that they can't consider that there are people in the world who don't value money above everything else. For your information, I play in a band and it'd be my dream if I could live off my band and nothing else. If I got paid £50k for an album deal - that'd do me fine for 3 years of living. I'd be happy to stay with a label that I was comfortable with, and let me play music how I wanted to, for years and years. If a bigger label came and offered me more money to do a more mainstream album. I WOULD NOT ACCEPT IT. I would prefer to be paid money that I knew I could live off - even if it meant I couldn't buy amazing cars etc. Now can you understand how people could reject money??? Or are you going to come out with another "High horse" comment?? The most important thing to me is my friends, my band and my family. If I was offered more money but it effected my band then I wouldn't accept it. I'd like to think that there are a few footballers out there who could feel the same in slightly similar situations. What if Milner is really happy at Villa, his girlfriend likes it in Birmingham? He's happy that he could have a team built around him and that he'll be playing in his favoured position - and playing over 40 games a season. Now if he moves then he'll be moving for more money, possibly fewer games, possibly playing on the right midfield - where he isn't as effective, and an ever changing squad that could be unsettled. Yes, he might have the chance to win a few medals - but that's not a certainty. Man City could easily finish 5th and fail in the cups, again. Is it really that difficult to think that some people are motivated by something other than money?

Summer 2008 - 7 players in, 5 out Summer 2009 - 6 in, 4 out Yes, we're well quiet around transfer windows, god i wish we'd sign a player now and again.... Though we do sign a lot of players in some windows, it's still silent around VP. Nothing comes out for weeks and then all of a sudden we'll sign 3 players in 3 days. Maybe that's what swaib2004 meant

I've met an awful lot of millionaires, and even a couple of billionaires in my working life, and not one of them would turn down an extra £1m-£2m a year just because you might consider that they have enough already. £5m+ extra a five year contract is a huge amount of money, and I'm sorry, but expecting them to turn it down because you think that Milner has some cozy sense of loyalty just isn't going to happen. If I was earning £50K a week at Villa, and Blues offered me £100K a week, I'd be off down the road so quick I'd make Craig Gardner's loyalty seem like Shep in comparison. I believe you and I'm sure there are lots of people who want more money even though they have enough for 10 lifetimes. But I honestly wouldn't care about an extra £30k a week if I was already earning £50k a week. I'm sure I'm in the minority and I'm sure people will think I'm lying or say "if you ever earn XXX amount then you'll still want more".. but I wouldn't want the extra money. Money isn't everything and it doesn't equal happiness. But these footballers (and other people who you've mentioned) seem to think it does.

its a nice theory but if its true then why do so many people seemingly move for more money. Ashley Cole demanded a transfer over 5k a week didnt he? Look at pretty much everyone whos signed for City including a former Villa captain with over ten years service. Face it, a footballer will leave to double his wages, it matter regardless of what they're earning. Greed

So they either got that rumour from VT or Twitter. I reckon 99% of the people on this site could be a "sport reporter". I'll see if I can pre-empt Tomorrow's "news"... I've heard from a friend near the club that we're going to make a bid for Javier Mascherano. He's not confident that Liverpool have ambition and he has fallen out with Rafa Benitez so won't move to Italy. The rumour is that we're putting in a £10m bid as soon as we sell Milner.

This!.. Its not ''this'' anymore, its... Amen to that brother! Amen to that, brother! Too over the top to post a picture of three priests?

True, I may have exagerrated a bit :winkold:.. My main annoyance is people comparing footballers to normal workers because even if the comparison is made fairly, it's still a completely different kettle of fish. If I was offered a years wages then yes, I'd change jobs. But the fact is that I need those wages to pay my rent, car insurance, food and to fuel my car & season ticket. Unless a footballer is planning to buy an island - they really don't need the extra money.

I wish people would stop comparing footballers to people with normal jobs. It's nothing like us having a "2.5m signing on fee" dangled in front of us. For the amount of money these guys are on - it's more like the equivalent of dangling £500 in front of us. Is an extra £30k a week really going to make a difference to someone who already earns £50k a week? No. Yes, Houlston, he hasn't left, people are jumping the gun a bit. But I think the point is that if he did leave then he will be leaving for the money and for the POSSIBILITY, and nothing else, of City challenging for greater honours. They don't have the Champions League and they haven't won the Prem. He will be leaving us for a team who will be playing in the exact same competitions as us. So if it happens then it seems he's moving for the money and not much else that is guaranteed.

Also I don't like the idea of us relying on someone taking Milner from us. If we buy a replacement then we'll NEED to sell Milner. What if Man City then decide to f*ck it right up for us and go for a different target? Then we'll have to sell Milner to a different team, probably for a much smaller sum, and then we'll be weaker in the long run as we won't have much more money from the Milner sale to strengthen the squad. Man City will have won either way. If there's the slightest chance that Milner won't leave or won't agree terms with Man City then we should hope that it's possible and not jump the gun and sign a replacement.

I stated if it's a done deal therefor city will not be pulling out, we have already released 3 from the wage bill anyway. Only time will tell but if Milner goes and we end up paying something silly for the likes of Parker then my point will have been proved. How will it? Surely if it's a "done deal" then the new player would still have an inflated pricetag on his head anyway? Also, you said "practically done" ^^^.. which in football is not a certainty. The deal could still fall apart at 99.9999% Either way nedster, I don't think we're in a financial position to be buying a Milner replacement (who would cost £10m-£15m) before selling Milner. Randy has money but I think he's going to be cautious this summer.

I don't think it's as black and white as that. He might be happy to stay or go but doesn't want to dismiss all the speculation incase Villa tell him that they would like to accept the offer and move forward with the money. How stupid would he look if he said "No, I'm a villa player and happy".. but was then sold a month later?

I agree but maybe he is also hoping a big club will come along while there is interest from City still floating around. Fixed.

nedster, though it's practical for us to prepare for the new season - if we buy a replacement and then Man City might decide they no longer want Milner and go for someone else, we'll be left needing to sell Milner to whoever we can - probably losing out in the long run. Randy has loads of money but he's right to want us to sell before we buy. We've got an inflated wage bill as it is and I don't blame him for wanting us to thin it out before we bring in any more players.

Nice one wiggy! They should fix the word filter so "This" = Amen to that, brother! Like everyone else, I'm just hoping the Milner situation is resolved soon. Milner doesn't come back to training until the 25th of July, but surely he can come in for a meeting with MON to discuss the future now?

Amen to that, brother! (^^ It's the new "This"... I'm trying it out)

He really, really could.

Billy Talent - Beach Balls

I like Downing. I spent a lot of last season defending him when people seemed to think he was the worst player at VP. I hope he proves me right this season.

Lagwagon - Billy Club

That's disgusting! I knew we had no money, MON out!

Who's going to Centenary Square on 15th at 1pm? The kit is being unveiled by Dunne, Friedel, Petrov, Downing and Cuellar