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I like NRC and I would like him to stay with us but I do not buy into him being this incredible 'destroyer'. For 1 I think that speciality position is overhyped and not good for a team like ours who cannot just rely on our attacking players to score goals, we need all 11 players contributing in all areas, obviously some more than others but NRC contribution for us ranges from little to negative and this is counter productive to our side. So if the first name is a designated 'destroyer' I will always disagree. We need a midfield that can play, perhaps he could work in a 5 man midfield but in a 442 we cannot afford 1 less player when we are in possession. Just to reiterate he is a good player who can do a job for us but promoting him to a guaranteed starter would be a huge mistake. All imo of course. well bearing in mind its all opinions and that is the fascination. but let me remind you " Incredible" was your word and your interpretation. We all have our opinions on what line ups should be....and in over 70 years we have won the league title once ( not checked the dates so don't be pedantic)...when we did we played with an out and out Ball Winner, who wasn't blessed with the silky skills, so many crave on here. I'd risk giving that a try again.... even if it was simply to give it a try. If we can go 15 games winning 2 with a player that was saying he wants out..... surely we can give that a try with a player that wants to stay and fight for his place. what messages are we sending out? I am under the impression that you think Bremner was a great player so that is where I got the word incredible from. Football has changed a lot and I think if you are going to play with 2 in midfield then they have to do more than just tackle. As I said maybe in a central 3 but he leaves too big gaps for my liking in a 2. I'm all for giving things a go, I think it is in our best interests to be able to use a few different formations and personnel. This is why I would like NRC to stay. Gabby, honestly i appreciate your comments. One of the reasons I feel passionately about NRC's game is this and beleive me I do understand about folk's opinions of his shortfall in passing ability ..except a) I think it is overplayed and exagerrated & for the value that the player brings it can be negated. back to the issue I used to go in to the Aston Social all them years ago. with a dour view on Des Bremner.... waxing Lyrical about Morley,Shaw Cowans and Bremner....talking in to night about Peter withes goals....Jimmy Rimmer was the best i ever seen and so on. It took me years, sorry to admit this....to realise the value of Des Bremner, I feel humbled at the fact whan i was in my thirties I thought I knew what I was watching....Des Bremner created the platform for the other to play in. I don't want to go overboard on NRC'S value, because I simply know it is unlikely it will be recognised. all I'm saying is that Nigel's value to the team far outweighs his personal skill factor.....Like Des he is far more valuable than his individual performances suggest. ps ...selling him will be a big mistake. My main issue with NRC is his indiscipline(not his passing), I do not believe you can be a top CM without it! People compare him with Palacios but I think they are completely different players as Palacios knows his role and sticks to it. Whereas NRC think he is an all action CM which he clearly isn't. Gerrard looked like the perfect midfielder but he is not as he loses his position and against the best sides Liverpool suffered so he was moved the right and then as a second striker where his indiscipline wouldn't cost the team. I think our wires have been crossed, I rate NRC and do not want to sell him. I understand the importance of breaking up the play(obviously) but in a 2 I do not feel NRC is our man because of my point above. He has a place to play in our squad next season but I would hate for it to be a starting role as I don't think he is up to it(top 4 is our aim). I think Petrov can do it talent wise, but I admit he does fade in the 2nd half so he needs help and NRC is capable of that and we all know NRC can put in an immense shift! I accept I could well be wrong, like you were initially about Bremner but that is something that we will have to wait and see about.

I like NRC and I would like him to stay with us but I do not buy into him being this incredible 'destroyer'. For 1 I think that speciality position is overhyped and not good for a team like ours who cannot just rely on our attacking players to score goals, we need all 11 players contributing in all areas, obviously some more than others but NRC contribution for us ranges from little to negative and this is counter productive to our side. So if the first name is a designated 'destroyer' I will always disagree. We need a midfield that can play, perhaps he could work in a 5 man midfield but in a 442 we cannot afford 1 less player when we are in possession. Just to reiterate he is a good player who can do a job for us but promoting him to a guaranteed starter would be a huge mistake. All imo of course. well bearing in mind its all opinions and that is the fascination. but let me remind you " Incredible" was your word and your interpretation. We all have our opinions on what line ups should be....and in over 70 years we have won the league title once ( not checked the dates so don't be pedantic)...when we did we played with an out and out Ball Winner, who wasn't blessed with the silky skills, so many crave on here. I'd risk giving that a try again.... even if it was simply to give it a try. If we can go 15 games winning 2 with a player that was saying he wants out..... surely we can give that a try with a player that wants to stay and fight for his place. what messages are we sending out? I am under the impression that you think Bremner was a great player so that is where I got the word incredible from. Football has changed a lot and I think if you are going to play with 2 in midfield then they have to do more than just tackle. As I said maybe in a central 3 but he leaves too big gaps for my liking in a 2. I'm all for giving things a go, I think it is in our best interests to be able to use a few different formations and personnel. This is why I would like NRC to stay. Gabby, honestly i appreciate your comments. One of the reasons I feel passionately about NRC's game is this and beleive me I do understand about folk's opinions of his shortfall in passing ability ..except a) I think it is overplayed and exagerrated & for the value that the player brings it can be negated. back to the issue I used to go in to the Aston Social all them years ago. with a dour view on Des Bremner.... waxing Lyrical about Morley,Shaw Cowans and Bremner....talking in to night about Peter withes goals....Jimmy Rimmer was the best i ever seen and so on. It took me years, sorry to admit this....to realise the value of Des Bremner, I feel humbled at the fact whan i was in my thirties I thought I knew what I was watching....Des Bremner created the platform for the other to play in. I don't want to go overboard on NRC'S value, because I simply know it is unlikely it will be recognised. all I'm saying is that Nigel's value to the team far outweighs his personal skill factor.....Like Des he is far more valuable than his individual performances suggest. ps ...selling him will be a big mistake. My main issue with NRC is his indiscipline(not his passing), I do not believe you can be a top CM without it! People compare him with Palacios but I think they are completely different players as Palacios knows his role and sticks to it. Whereas NRC think he is an all action CM which he clearly isn't. Gerrard looked like the perfect midfielder but he is not as he loses his position and against the best sides Liverpool suffered so he was moved the right and then as a second striker where his indiscipline wouldn't cost the team. I think our wires have been crossed, I rate NRC and do not want to sell him. I understand the importance of breaking up the play(obviously) but in a 2 I do not feel NRC is our man. He has a place to play in our squad next season but I would hate for it to be a starting role as I don't think he is up to it(top 4 is our aim). I think Petrov can do it talent wise, but I admit he does fade in the 2nd half so he needs help and NRC is capable of that and we all know NRC can put in an immense shift! I accept I could well be wrong, like you were initially about Bremner but that is something that we will have to wait and see about.

I like NRC and I would like him to stay with us but I do not buy into him being this incredible 'destroyer'. For 1 I think that speciality position is overhyped and not good for a team like ours who cannot just rely on our attacking players to score goals, we need all 11 players contributing in all areas, obviously some more than others but NRC contribution for us ranges from little to negative and this is counter productive to our side. So if the first name is a designated 'destroyer' I will always disagree. We need a midfield that can play, perhaps he could work in a 5 man midfield but in a 442 we cannot afford 1 less player when we are in possession. Just to reiterate he is a good player who can do a job for us but promoting him to a guaranteed starter would be a huge mistake. All imo of course. well bearing in mind its all opinions and that is the fascination. but let me remind you " Incredible" was your word and your interpretation. We all have our opinions on what line ups should be....and in over 70 years we have won the league title once ( not checked the dates so don't be pedantic)...when we did we played with an out and out Ball Winner, who wasn't blessed with the silky skills, so many crave on here. I'd risk giving that a try again.... even if it was simply to give it a try. If we can go 15 games winning 2 with a player that was saying he wants out..... surely we can give that a try with a player that wants to stay and fight for his place. what messages are we sending out? I am under the impression that you think Bremner was a great player so that is where I got the word incredible from. Football has changed a lot and I think if you are going to play with 2 in midfield then they have to do more than just tackle. As I said maybe in a central 3 but he leaves too big gaps for my liking in a 2. I'm all for giving things a go, I think it is in our best interests to be able to use a few different formations and personnel. This is why I would like NRC to stay. Gabby, honestly i appreciate your comments. One of the reasons I feel passionately about NRC's game is this and beleive me I do understand about folk's opinions of his shortfall in passing ability ..except a) I think it is overplayed and exagerrated & for the value that the player brings it can be negated. back to the issue I used to go in to the Aston Social all them years ago. with a dour view on Des Bremner.... waxing Lyrical about Morley,Shaw Cowans and Bremner....talking in to night about Peter withes goals....Jimmy Rimmer was the best i ever seen and so on. It took me years, sorry to admit this....to realise the value of Des Bremner, I feel humbled at the fact whan i was in my thirties I thought I knew what I was watching....Des Bremner created the platform for the other to play in. I don't want to go overboard on NRC'S value, because I simply know it is unlikely it will be recognised. all I'm saying is that Nigel's value to the team far outweighs his personal skill factor.....Like Des he is far more valuable than his individual performances suggest. ps ...selling him will be a big mistake. My main issue with NRC is his indiscipline(not his passing), I do not believe you can be a top CM without it! People compare him with Palacios but I think they are completely different players as Palacios knows his role and sticks to it. Whereas NRC think he is an all action CM which he clearly isn't. Gerrard looked like the perfect midfielder but he is not as he loses his position and against the best sides Liverpool suffered so he was moved the right and then as a second striker where his indiscipline wouldn't cost the team. I think our wires have been crossed, I rate NRC and do not want to sell him. I understand the importance of breaking up the play(obviously) but in a 2 I do not feel NRC is our man. He has a place to play in our squad next season but I would hate for it to be a starting role as I don't think he is up to it(top 4 is our aim). I think Petrov can do it talent wise, but I admit he does fade in the 2nd half so he needs help and NRC is capable of that and we all know NRC can put in an immense shift! I accept I could well be wrong, like you were initially about Bremner but that is something that we will have to wait and see about.

I like NRC and I would like him to stay with us but I do not buy into him being this incredible 'destroyer'. For 1 I think that speciality position is overhyped and not good for a team like ours who cannot just rely on our attacking players to score goals, we need all 11 players contributing in all areas, obviously some more than others but NRC contribution for us ranges from little to negative and this is counter productive to our side. So if the first name is a designated 'destroyer' I will always disagree. We need a midfield that can play, perhaps he could work in a 5 man midfield but in a 442 we cannot afford 1 less player when we are in possession. Just to reiterate he is a good player who can do a job for us but promoting him to a guaranteed starter would be a huge mistake. All imo of course. well bearing in mind its all opinions and that is the fascination. but let me remind you " Incredible" was your word and your interpretation. We all have our opinions on what line ups should be....and in over 70 years we have won the league title once ( not checked the dates so don't be pedantic)...when we did we played with an out and out Ball Winner, who wasn't blessed with the silky skills, so many crave on here. I'd risk giving that a try again.... even if it was simply to give it a try. If we can go 15 games winning 2 with a player that was saying he wants out..... surely we can give that a try with a player that wants to stay and fight for his place. what messages are we sending out? I am under the impression that you think Bremner was a great player so that is where I got the word incredible from. Football has changed a lot and I think if you are going to play with 2 in midfield then they have to do more than just tackle. As I said maybe in a central 3 but he leaves too big gaps for my liking in a 2. I'm all for giving things a go, I think it is in our best interests to be able to use a few different formations and personnel. This is why I would like NRC to stay.

I like NRC and I would like him to stay with us but I do not buy into him being this incredible 'destroyer'. For 1 I think that speciality position is overhyped and not good for a team like ours who cannot just rely on our attacking players to score goals, we need all 11 players contributing in all areas, obviously some more than others but NRC contribution for us ranges from little to negative and this is counter productive to our side. So if the first name is a designated 'destroyer' I will always disagree. We need a midfield that can play, perhaps he could work in a 5 man midfield but in a 442 we cannot afford 1 less player when we are in possession. Just to reiterate he is a good player who can do a job for us but promoting him to a guaranteed starter would be a huge mistake. All imo of course.

its the biggest joke at Villa park, that NRC don't play Ron Saunders would have him as the first name on the team sheet, just like he did with Des Bremner. its people who can't read a game who have him as dogshit.... cause basically they don't know what is going on out there. To say he can't do this and can't do that is a complete farce. the same folk need to look at the things there so called stars are doing..... cause they simply ain't... its a myth. listening to some of the complete jokers, if you beleived what they say , we would have won the league. Did you just compare NRC to Bremner and then attack other people for having inflated views on some of our players?? Wow! of course its about opinions and that has to be accepted. But Des wasn't blessed with passing ability like Nigel isn't too ( theres a shock for a defensive midfielder) but the discerning Villa Fans of that era never expected him to....They valued him for what he did best and appreciated the value to the team effort. Cowans & Mortimer did the passing bit.... Des Just did his destroying job and short passed to them to do the creative bit.when he gets a chance that what NRC does. we kinda understood that in them days. some are now looking for a team full of wingers or pretty players. I say get on with it. I never got to see him play. But I've seen clips and I know how highly he is regarded by Villa fans. This is a player that won the league and EC. Saying NRC should be the first name on the teamsheet like Bremner was is nonsense. NRC is a good midtable player, absolutely nothing more!

its the biggest joke at Villa park, that NRC don't play Ron Saunders would have him as the first name on the team sheet, just like he did with Des Bremner. its people who can't read a game who have him as dogshit.... cause basically they don't know what is going on out there. To say he can't do this and can't do that is a complete farce. the same folk need to look at the things there so called stars are doing..... cause they simply ain't... its a myth. listening to some of the complete jokers, if you beleived what they say , we would have won the league. Did you just compare NRC to Bremner and then attack other people for having inflated views on some of our players?? Wow!

Don't forget NRC leaves his position at every possible chance, good CM's do not do this. That lack of discipline stopped Gerrard from being a CM. Petrov is comfortably better than NRC but NRC is still a good player.

How many I think we need: 5 How many I think we will get: 5 Striker: Rodallega, Keane, Bellamy or Doyle Attacker: Ireland or that Mbark fellow (playing in the Belgian league??) Midfielder: Parker, O'Hara. RB: Richards, Onuaha or the South Korean RB LB cover: Aurelio or keep Young One from each of those lists and I'd be very happy. Plus sell Sidwell, Heskey, Shorey, Beye.

Is Albrighton all he is cracked up to be? I have seen very little of him but remember him coming on a sub a couple times and he looked out of his depth. I'd prefer a player who is in the mould of Modric on the right if we stick with 442. To offer a different sort of threat.

Eh, we are trying to improve the squad. Sidwell improved the squad 2 years ago and now O'hara could do the same.

Dunne is very prone to errors but is still a very good CB. Collins has been brilliant for us, he should have picked up man of the match in a number of matches that Dunne got instead due to Dunne being flavour of the month. Ideally I would like a RB who could be brilliant like Richards but it would not be the end of the world if we started this season with the same back four that finished last season. My stance on our RB is that they are both good with their flaws and I don't think there would of been a huge difference if Young had played more often. Cuellar merited his place though so it was hard to drop him.

They would get their man and I'm sure they consider themselves way ahead of us in terms of getting 4th so I think they would consider it waiting a year to get the player they want for a reasonable price. They might get their man. Unless Milner has the greatest season ever and guides us to 4th place. Then they don't get him. On the other hand they are committed to buying him if he has the worst season ever imagineable and we finish 16th, he gets addicted to drugs and puts on 8 stone. There is literally no way City would agree to that. Two extremes but it is a very valid point! I am sure I have heard of similar deals in the past but I can't remember any examples.

They would get their man and I'm sure they consider themselves way ahead of us in terms of getting 4th so I think they would consider it waiting a year to get the player they want for a reasonable price. But they might not want him then, they want him now. They will either get him this season or they won't get him at all in my opinion. True. But they might be set on him and a guarantee of signing him with no circus around the deal as usual might be appealing to them. Ridiculous Man City are a circus and with their money they can do what they want. They wouldn't have to listen to silly demands like "You give us the money... but you don't get the player yet...." So Milner would play 2 games against City knowing that next year he'd be on their team? If we offered that deal to City they'd say "No thanks, we'll buy Mikel Arteta instead". We don't actually get the money off them until we sell him but in essence we would have 20m extra to spend. I don't think City are too worried about us. That would be a great outcome. I think keeping Milner is so important to us now.

Not true. We dont have to sell Milner to buy players and we certainly dont have to breed and sell mice to get new players in. Are you in a state of advanced refreshment or retarded? But in all honesty if we want Ireland we will have to sell Milner...no way will City let Ireland go to us if they don't get what they want first. Ireland wants to leave City and if Milner says that he is happy at Villa and signs a new contract then Ireland will still want to leave City and hopefully we will sign him.

They would get their man and I'm sure they consider themselves way ahead of us in terms of getting 4th so I think they would consider it waiting a year to get the player they want for a reasonable price. But they might not want him then, they want him now. They will either get him this season or they won't get him at all in my opinion. True. But they might be set on him and a guarantee of signing him with no circus around the deal as usual might be appealing to them.

They would get their man and I'm sure they consider themselves way ahead of us in terms of getting 4th so I think they would consider it waiting a year to get the player they want for a reasonable price.

Unfortuantly I don't think it's that simple. We could just say "he's our best player, we don't need to sell him" but we don't know how James Milner feels about it. Of course it shouldn't be an issue but it is. Also, we could get offered an amount of money that is viewed, by Randy and O'Neill, as too much to refuse (Not just from the business side of Villa, but the fact we could probably buy a replacement and have an extra £15m on top to invest in the squad). I can see a couple of outcomes this summer. Selling Milner isn't the worst of them. 1) Milner signs an extension and stays at villa. :D 2) Milner get's sold to Man City and we get a hefty sum of cash. 3) We reject all offers, Milner stays but doesn't sign an extension. We eventually sell Milner for a cut price and struggle to get a replacement. :| :cry: How about 4) We agree to sell Milner to City at the end of next season for their initial offer of 20m if we do not get Champions league. City will get their man and for a reasonable price with no negotiations and we would get 20m to spend on players to try and get CL.

People need reminding, good post.

That is because he is a good player, but so is Cuellar. The RB issue has rumbled on for so long when it all boils down to we have 2 good right backs but both have flaws, I think the only way it will change is with a signing(or youth) that is significantly better than both of them. It is not a big issue though, a striker and another attacking midfielder are the most important things for me.

Hopefully he stays!

While would not have a problem with signing Parker I think Ireland is a more important signing(given we have NRC). If we sign Keane either Heskey or Carew will have to leave as MON is looking to develop Fonz and making him 5th choice is not the way to do that. For me, OUT: Sidwell, Shorey, Beye, Heskey. IN: Rodallega, Richards, Ireland.

Who wouldn't want him then? United, Chelsea, Bayern, Barca, Madrid, Arsenal, Valencia, Inter, Roma, Milan, Bremen, Juventus. I say Inter because I do not think they need him at all but I think Benitez may bring him there, like I said as a gift! He is good at what he does it not enough, he has won so little in his career and for such a brilliant player that is a must for every team why is that??

No way every team in the world would want him! He has commitment to his game but his game is overvalued, he has been shown up for his misgivings and it looks like Benitez's final gift to Liverpool is to pay 30m for him!

oh yes, Mascherano is a brilliant footballer isnt he. you dont have to be an amazing footballer to play the role Reo-Coker does, he stops the opposition from walking through us, something that happens far too often with Milner and Petrov in the middle Liverpool are not a top 6 club, :winkold: And Mascherano isn't super technically but he is a class apart from NRC. Mascherano's a much better footballer than NRC. His touch is better, his passings better and he reads the game better. We do need more than Petrov in the middle in a 4-4-2, but NRC isnt the answer. Mascherano is better than NRC but that is not the issue with NRC. It is that his position, like Mascherano's, is a waste of a player. You can teach a bit of defensive discipline to an attacking player if he is willing to learn. Milner is willing to learn, Ireland isn't and that is why I think Ireland will not be a direct replacement for Milner. I think we need Ireland for his ability, which imo is not up for debate as he is class, but he is not suited to a cm role. It will be a clear indication of a change of style if we approach a player like Ireland. But the most important thing for me is to get the cm right, we have seen MON's eagerness to use Delph and that must spell clearly that he wants Milner and Delph as the pairing in the near future. I think MON wants Downing-Delph-Milner-Young Gabby-Keane(or a player in his mould) OR Ireland-Delph-Milner Downing/Keane(or similar)-Gabby-Young The second one excites me hugely and it dispels the need for a designated DM which for me is a good thing. It is all part of building the right squad and MON has shown his willingness to do this by signing players when they were needed(Harewood, Beye, Shorey, Sidwell) and then moving them on when we have gone onto better things. It also gives us options which we have not had in the past. 2 proven talents this window and we have reason to be very excited!