Rob182

I don't like seeing Gabby on the wing, he's wasted there. I think to play both of them together we'd need to play 4-4-2 or a 4-4-1-1 with Gabby acting as the "Target Man".

I haven't watched him recently but he showed potential and would he not be young enough to get over any injury problems? He's only 22/23.

I wouldn't mind us going for De Guzman. He's had a few injuries but he'd be a good backup for the "attacking midfielder" role that we could be trying with Ireland or Ash. Or even just as a replacement for one of the outgoing fringe players.

Unfortunatly he's also not denied an interest to go to City or stated a desire to stay at VP. If City's final offer really is £24m then I hope that Milner does sign a one year extension (even if it's as a good-will gesture towards the club) because I don't want to see him go for cheap next summer.

I heard that Gosling is most likely going to Newcastle, but also has West Ham and Sunderland interested. I don't think we really need to replace Salifou or Osbourne. They're both in the reserves which can be replaced by the best players in the Youth setup (I would imagine). Gosling's half decent but nothing special. Like a younger James Milner but without the drive, workrate and as much technical ability.

I don't understand how some of these kids throw it away/ lose their potential. I know it happens and it's just life or unforeseen circumstances.. but surely we can just show them a video of Moore and say.. "He looks good doesn't he?... well he's not now".

We will have to agree to disagree on that one, an uunbeleivably poor midfield IMO. I think "unbelievably poor" is a bit harsh on that midfield tbh. It'd be good but only for a few years until Petrov and Parker's legs both went.

I wouldn't mind NRC in a 5 man midfield, he could do the dirtywork! But I can't see him staying long because of his rift with MON and the fact we have a younger, more skillful version in Fabian Delph. Also, I don't think Gilberto Silva would cut it in the Prem now, he looks a lot better with Brazilians around him.

I like the idea of having two defensively-minded players to hold while others attack. But I wouldn't want Parker and Petrov. They'd both have to be replaced in a few years time and, if we sold them, would be worth no more than £3m/£4m each. If MON wants to have 2 DM's, which I doubt he does, then he should look abroad for a tall, strong ball-winner.

cv, or that when he does attack, half of his passes end up in the stand. Also it's limits the winger in front of him. If Downing/ Ash know that Cuellar is behind them - they might hesitate to try and take a player on because they'll have a niggling feeling that if they need to pass and move, Cuellar won't be there to receive the ball or might not get it back to the winger to complete an attack.

I thought I'd copy the article from the Ireland thread and drop it in here.. From the Daily Star If we do lose Milner then this is one of the best offers I could realistically see us accepting. RB sorted, Milner replaced, £15m on top. Make the call MON!

... so that's why no-one commented on my pic of me as mr bump or a chilli pepper :cry:

If Milner stays then I'll be overjoyed. Not just for the fact that he's staying but for the fact that we'll be able to build a team around him and it will put a bit of faith back into football. However, City are offering stupid money which we could use to our advantage. So if he leaves.. every cloud.

I think we'll see lots of outs but not so many ins. We don't really need many ins tbh. A striker, a midfielder, a rightback. If Milner goes then a top-notch replacement. I can see us relying on Delfouneso, Clark, Albrighton a lot more this season, and rightly so!

If you had your way we'd all be sat around a table tickling each other. There has to be banter in football! I agree that going to a stadium and feeling intimidated is annoying, but when the games started and everyone's in their seat; a bit of shouting/ gesturing/ singing offensive songs is all in good spirit!

The last sentence is nonsense. Is it? You may wish to brush up on your general knowledge of young Stephen Ireland then. Enlighten me. Other than the fact that he got bullied in the Ireland national team, other players pinned him down and pulled his hairplugs out and he lied about a family members death to get out of International duty. Which, to me, seems like he's more the victim. Explain to me what makes him so troubled and why him becoming a Villa player would be footballing suicide. (Man City don't seem to be doing too badly and yet he's in their squad).

Milner was doing that through frustration. He threw the ball at Alex to get a cross in as soon as possible. We were throwing everything we had at getting a goal. That's not the way Milner normally plays.

I've seen Ireland score long range goals. So what if it's "hardly hitting the ball from 30 yards when you're almost facing the other direction"???? I'll say it again incase you didn't read it. I'm not saying Ireland's better than Milner and I'm not bringing up Ireland's goals to show that they're better than Milners. You seem to have totally missed the point. I'm bringing up a scenario that shows flair/ a cocky attribute that Milner doesn't have and is something we could utlilise well. Ireland is more disciplined as a central midfielder and get's into those positions in and around the box more often than Milner. Milner tends to drop onto the wing and will whip in a cross, even though we have 2 perfectly capable wingers. Milner's great but he's not this god of football that some seem to think he is. If we lose him then I'll be gutted but we'll get something different in Ireland that could make us better as a whole.

In other words, you have absolutely no evidence to support your arguement? :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: Or.. I work in a bank and can't get onto Youtube. I remember one specific goal where Ireland was stood a metre and a half away from the opposition keeper. He could have passed to one of the other City players that had ran into the box, but he quickly shifted his body and slotted the ball into the bottom corner (In a gap less than a foot wide; between the keeper and the post). I couldn't image Milner doing something like that. Come on then, if you remember everything and obviously think it's wrong not to be able to back up all of your statements. Give me a list of these things that Milner can do that Ireland can't. With examples, obviously.

How did I know that was coming. I can't remember the specific goals/ who they were against and I don't have the great-scouting-machine that is Youtube available on my work computer. How about you name me all these things that Milner can do that Ireland can't?

and if we sign stephen ireland, youll see all the crap passes he does. There is nothing that ireland can do that milner cant. but there is plenty milner can do that ireland cant I think we'll have to agree to disagree. I've seen Ireland score goals that I can't image Milner scoring. Ireland get's into positions that Milner doesn't because he's too busy helping the wingers or the defenders. And I've seen Milner score goals Ireland can only dream of: away V Sunderland home V Everton 2008/90 (free kick) away v Blackburn (CC Semi final) So what's your point? Ireland is a decent player with a troubled past and an almost certain troubled future, to sign him would be footballing suicide. The last sentence is nonsense. My point wasn't that Ireland is better than Milner and that Milner can't score spectacular goals - it's the type of goals that Ireland scores, and I believe Ireland would score for Villa. As mentioned by a few others. Ireland has an unpredictability and flair that Milner doesn't. What Milner lacks in pace and flair he makes up for by running his socks off every game. I'll rephrase my post so that you get what I'm saying. I've seen Ireland score goals that I don't think Milner would dare to attempt. Ireland is a cocky player which is, at times, what we're missing.

and if we sign stephen ireland, youll see all the crap passes he does. There is nothing that ireland can do that milner cant. but there is plenty milner can do that ireland cant I think we'll have to agree to disagree. I've seen Ireland score goals that I can't image Milner scoring. Ireland get's into positions that Milner doesn't because he's too busy helping the wingers or the defenders.

Yes, I know he does woodytom. I did say he is constantly good, but he also has days where he can't get a shot on target. Just because someone has offered us £20m for a player - it doesn't automatically make him worth that much when it comes to footballing ability. Naming times when he has pulled off a great pass doesn't mean that every pass he has ever done is excellent.

Milner is excellent at doing the basics. He is an extremely hard-working and intelligent player with no real weaknesses. He has great technique but he lacks an unpredictability and an imagination that can unlock a stubborn defence. Ireland has more natural flair to his game and is an equally gifted footballer. He is a little more attack minded too and would link better with the strikers. Remember that before last season's interrupted campaign, Ireland was running the show in a midfield surrounded by 'stars' and he was the best of them all. What Ireland lacks is Milner's commitment and professionalism, but frankly every player in the Premier League probably lacks in that area compared to Milner. There will always be plusses and minuses to bringing in a player over Milner and we're years from replacing him with a Schweinsteiger, if we ever will. Ireland was in and out of last season's team as they changed managers and Mancini tried to find 'his' team. The season before was more representative of what he can do and he did everthing in that midfield that Milner was doing in ours last season plus more. My concerns over Ireland were never about his ability on the pitch. They were always about his head and what's in it. But I'm prepared to hope that I'm proven wrong if we were to get him. And if we did get him then I'd like to think he had a thing or 2 to prove to the team that let him go. I totally agree with you BOF. Venables once said about James Milner, from his Leeds days, that he was good at everything but not great at anything. Ireland is different. Ireland is great at picking a creative pass and at controlling the game from the centre of the field. We'd miss Milner's workrate, graft, constant good play but occasionally lacking the top-quality pass or shot. But we'd gain Ireland's creativity, top drawer passes & a discipline in the centre of midfield. But I think that if Milner goes we have to get Ireland as part of the deal. Where else will we find a midfielder who has prem experience, has shown the quality that he has (2 seasons ago), is rumoured to want to leave and will be a cut price as he's unwanted by his club?

One of my college lecturers was the manager of Dexys Midnight Runners.