Back in April, when the rumours about James Milner started getting serious, it was suggested that the two key factors in a possible move to CoMS would be City getting Champions' League football and Martin O'Neill leaving Villa Park. A few months along the line, and with neither of the factors fulfilled, these suppositions have proved irrelevant.
As we have already discovered, we all got too carried away in the drive for Champions' League football last season - at the very least, people were disappointed we wouldn't be able to attract players who would improve the squad. Besides the money, I feel the 'project' is still very attractive to players - and the whispers about City challenging right at the top of the league this season don't seem to be restricted to only the most hysterical City fans - so there is no reason why the "Young" (24) Player of the Year of the last campaign won't be able to see beyond the lack of Champions' League football. To quote Mancini from my seasoncard that arrived this morning, "There is a place in history waiting for every one of us," and young players must be attracted to building this future.
There are also reports today of Milner's anger at Martin O'Neill's comments. Thus breaking down their own special relationship that was said to be an important factor in Milner's thinking. O'Neill has encouraged a conclusion to a sale, which would give him enough time to re-strengthen Villa for the new season, and it is thought that Milner will not join his teammates on Monday morning for the beginning of his pre-season training.
The only remaining sticking point then is the price. According to reports City are willing to offer no more than £24m - some £6m short of Villa's valuation. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, as O'Neill has history of keeping hold of players if teams do not respect their valuation - Gareth Barry was kept at Villa after Liverpool didn't stir up the right deal the summer before his City move. I think £30m would be far too much, given that the excess would fund one of our competitors - and City have already intimated that we will not be held to ransom just because of the funds at our disposal.
Just like when we played Villa at the end of the season, the press have looked to sensationalise Richard Dunne's comments about the affair. Following on from the early May headlines of 'It's City's to lose' or 'The Pressure is on them', we get 'Dunne tells Milner not to sign for City.' Which, of course, is far from what he said. I imagine it is no doubt tempting to cast Dunne in the bitter victim role, but since he has left City, he has said nothing that I feel is unmerited.
"James will know that because he's joining a big club, a club that wants to win the league, that he'll be part of a squad.
"At Aston Villa he will play every week and at Manchester City he may not, but it's an opportunity he probably thinks to go and win the league."
These were his quotes as reported on SkySports earlier. Hardly unfair or biased comments, and it introduces the great debate at the moment, which is: where will anyone play?! A Villa supporting friend of mine is adamant Milner should be played in the middle but, the way we play, the Yaya/Barry/deJong/Vieira role is too deep for him and the Tevez role is not for budging (in my opinion). Therefore he will compete for the right sided slot with Johnson and possibly Mario Balotelli. There is certainly room for him, but Dunne is right to suggest the position may not always be his, and I feel this could be the case for a lot of our top players this coming season - de Jong for example. With all the games and with the aspirations that we have, it is important to have this strength in depth, but it will need good management to prevent some losing faith - Nedum and Ireland could be last season's casualties, for example.
According to Capello, Milner is the future of English football and, if he does sign, City could possess both of England's international wingers for the next World Cup (should England qualify of course!), and it is important to have a core of English players. The only concern is whether they will both get enough game time.
As a Villa fan let me tell you this... Milner is a tremendous central midfielder. He has energy, tenacity, a tremendous shot, an eye for a pass and he does the defensive side well too. He has it all and is still improving. A £25m - £30m player for certain in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteBut if you are thinking of signing him for wide right / left, he is a £12m player. He will work all day and deliver the odd cross, but you take away almost all of his major attributes by playing him out there.
He was average on the wing for Villa, and absolutely superb in the middle. He is the next Lampard if played in the middle, but not worth signing as a wide player as you already have better.
Villa fan here. I agree with the above - James plays best in the centre, on the wings he's good but not great. He would definitely add strength in depth; given the strength in midfield you already have, he's one of those who if not making the normal starting line-up, will be a great sub or a player to rotate in when you need to.
ReplyDeleteI think he'd become a preferred starter IF Mancini can get the best from him, and that's a big if in my opinion. I think if James doesn't get regular starts his game will suffer. And I can see that happening.
We'll take the money for him, ta very much. And we'll strengthen with it, after all who wants a player who wants away ? Much like Gareth Barry, we'll see in the long run whether it was a good move for player and both clubs.
For all the umpteen millions more than us you spent last season you only finished one place above us, and we weren't too good second half of the season to be honest.
I'm a City fan, and I think though that stability and a good manager has been key at Villa - they've really improved year on year in the years O'Neill's been there; City had two managers last season, a squad acquired by one, which included players that were overpriced and not the greatest in some cases. If City can build a really good squad and keep the same manager, that's when they should be judged. But just throwing money at a whole lot of players isn't necessarily going to bring success or a team spirit.
ReplyDeleteAnother quality post though, TOBC
I cant wait for the transfer to be done. 25 million IMO we are robbing you blind. Milners got a good engine but 25-30 million is laughable when David Villa went for 34 million and Fabregas is touted at 35. But i suppose its going to be the same for you as it was for Chelski, as soon as you are interested teams are going to stick an extra 10 million on the price tag. I mean 22 million for Lescott is absolute madness hes been awful since you have had him.
ReplyDeleteAs a Villa fan Milner is not worth 30 mil, If you were not the money bags that you are he would be worth 15-18 mil.
ReplyDeleteI like James but feel that endeavor and energy can only go so far, I don't feel he is the clever midfielder that we need but would like City fans comments on Stephen Ireland as a possible make weight in this whole saga. Hope it's all over soon.
Dan (a villa van)....
ReplyDeleteIsn't it all really clear ?
Just as with Gareth Barry an agent lurks in the shadows, nudging a deal ever closer by leaking ever so slightly inflamatory comments to a hungry press. The whole Barry saga revolved around something Barry/ MON did / didn't say/ promise. The exact same has happened here. MON is a loyal and straight guy and the whole of football knows it.
BUT...MON (who famously doesn't have an agent himself) is also smart enough to know that agents do some of his hunting and gathering and he can't stand in the way of ambition/ greed. He will, as usual, play a blinder and get top dollar for a very good but no "immense" player and keep on investing in youth, toped up by experience.
Another Villa fan.
ReplyDeleteHe is worth £25 million if that's what the paying club are prepared to pay. I think if it was nearer £15 million then we would keep him as he is worth that to us.
The quotes say 'intimated he wants to leave' and Martin 'thinks' he refused to negotiate a contract. Milner says no contract even offered and he did not say he wanted out so I'm not sure what's gone on to be honest.
I firmly believe if played regularly he could become a world class central midfielder. He is a grafter and will keep improving. Not great on the wing though.
Nice blog and well written.
ReplyDeleteMilner's valuation is silly but in the context of what city have paid for others already this season, probably not far off the mark.
O'Neill is playing a dangerous game as we need to sell Milner way more than city need to buy him. He will be sold this week because O'Neill has been forced into a sell to buy policy and has no other option. He will buy a striker and one or two midfielders and a full back with the funds. Nothing wrong with that bit of business.
A Villa fan.
As your Villa supporting friend, thanks for the reference, I agree with most of what has been said by my fellow Villains. Milner is definitely not worth £25-30m to City, but he is to us, as we would need that much to rejuvenate our squad in his absence.
ReplyDeleteThis is especially true with the inflated prices that clubs seem to want to charge us in the transfer market (We may not be in your league of wealth but Randy still has a bob or two!) £10m for McGeady is a laughable amount; yes, he looks good for Celtic but playing in the SPL is like running out in League One every week with regard to the calibre of the opposition. West Ham also seem to want an astronomical amount for Parker who would very much fit in at VP this term yet I fear such a deal will be unlikely.
So Mubarak's (I hope that's right, apologies to City fans if not) millions are very much needed if you are to prize our key asset away from the West Midlands, but City I warn you, Milner is not worth £25m+ to you!