Milner to Man City?

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6160294,00.html

Skysports.com understands Manchester City have tabled a big money offer for Aston Villa winger James Milner.
The England international enjoyed a sparkling 2009/10 campaign, considerably raising his profile.
Reports in January speculated that a number of top clubs were keeping tabs on the talented 24-year-old, with it widely believed that there is still more to come from him in the future.
City have now made the first move, with it believed that Roberto Mancini

is willing to part with around £20million to take the reigning PFA Young Player of the Year to Eastlands.
It is easy to understand why the Blues

are so keen on the former Leeds and Newcastle

man, as he has just finished his most productive season to date.
A respectable return of 12 goals from midfield marks him out as a useful addition to any side, while his versatility can also prove priceless.
Busy summer

Milner

is able to operate on either flank or at full-back, while he blossomed in the centre of midfield for Villa since being shifted inside by Martin O'Neill.

He has been included in Fabio Capello's preliminary squad for this summer's World Cup

and is widely regarded as a shoo-in to make the final cut.
Villa have yet to respond to the offer on the table from City but will be reluctant to part with their key performers.
Unfortunately for O'Neill, there are plenty of other teams rumoured to be ready to make a move and he could be in for a busy summer.
Premier League champions Chelsea

are also said to be keen on Milner and they could be tempted to chance their arm in an effort to prevent one of their rivals from strengthening their squad.

 

[Chinaspur]

I kind of hope this happens, I don't think Milner is that incredible and this will keep them away from better players. Also weakening Villa in the process.

 

[DogsOfWar]

I kind of hope this happens, I don't think Milner is that incredible and this will keep them away from better players. Also weakening Villa in the process.

I disagree, I think he's the most underrated out of the young midfielders in this country as he doesn't do anything flash or eyecatching but is a very good all-rounder with the kind of attitude you just can't teach.

In fact I reckon after this world cup we'll be watching an England midfield of Milner, Hudd and Lennon with 1 out of Johnson and Young on the other flank.
As we already have 2 of these I think Mancini recognises the potential of buying young England players as it's great for commercial, as well as footballing, reasons.

 

[$hoguN]

As long as they stay the fuck away from our squad i'm unconcerned tbh. Milner is a great player but I can't see him doing very well at City

 

[Michey]

I disagree, I think he's the most underrated out of the young midfielders in this country as he doesn't do anything flash or eyecatching but is a very good all-rounder with the kind of attitude you just can't teach.

In fact I reckon after this world cup we'll be watching an England midfield of Milner, Hudd and Lennon with 1 out of Johnson and Young on the other flank.
As we already have 2 of these I think Mancini recognises the potential of buying young England players as it's great for commercial, as well as footballing, reasons.

it's seems like you forget that there are players from outside England that are available to...

 

[Real_madyidd]

In fact I reckon after this world cup we'll be watching an England midfield of Milner, Hudd and Lennon with 1 out of Johnson and Young on the other flank.

Do you really think that? Really?

Can't see it myself.

 

[joey55]

I disagree, I think he's the most underrated out of the young midfielders in this country as he doesn't do anything flash or eyecatching but is a very good all-rounder with the kind of attitude you just can't teach.

In fact I reckon after this world cup we'll be watching an England midfield of Milner, Hudd and Lennon with 1 out of Johnson and Young on the other flank.
As we already have 2 of these I think Mancini recognises the potential of buying young England players as it's great for commercial, as well as footballing, reasons.

He's definitley not under rated in my opinion and I'd say it's the eye catching things that are the reason for this. His stats are far more impressive than they seem. He's actually only scored twice all season from open play in CM. Also only 5 of his assists come from CM. Yet I'm always reading that he's been a revelation in CM this season and scored 7 and has 12 assists. When you look at his overall game in CM is it really that impressive. Obviously I don't watch Villa that much, but I saw him play against the Hudd in CM, at WHL, this season and the Hudd bossed it. Towards the end of the season, I also saw him play against Chelsea and Man City and he looked pretty average then.

I think it's forgotten that he played the first part of the season on the RW and that 3 of his assists from CM came against Burnley. I'm not sure he's any better in CM than Jenas. This time last year Ireland at Man City was as highly rated as Milner is now. Milner is definitely a good player, but he's had just over half a season in CM and is already being linked with £20 million+ moves to Man City and Man Utd. So i can't agree that he's under rated.

 

[stemark44]

I don't rate him very highly and I sincerely hope Man City pay a fortune for him.

 

[DogsOfWar]

Do you really think that? Really?

Can't see it myself.

Based on the lack of talent in the age group between 24 and 28, yes I do.

All our current mid-fielders are 28+ so will be 30-33 by the start of the next tournament. Whilst this is not exactly over the hill I think the current generation will take us as far as they can in this tournament and that will be the quarter/semi finals.

Assuming the current/next manager has the balls to start from scratch I can't see past the midfield 4/5 that I mentioned.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that as Stuart Pearce was in the England background I assumed he was waiting in the wings for when Capello went. As I assumed he would be the manager who started from scratch he coached Milner, Hudd and Young in the U21's so would automatically look to continue that.

 

[Kendall]

Milner was criminally underrated for a good year, but this year he's been getting the praise he deserves. He is a quality player.

 

[SpunkyBackpack]

Im not a big fan of his, another good player who was ubnderrated and now overated, if he goes for big money he'll be Lescott v2.0, or Barry II, hmmmm there seems to be a connection there...

 

[DogsOfWar]

He's definitley not under rated in my opinion and I'd say it's the eye catching things that are the reason for this. His stats are far more impressive than they seem. He's actually only scored twice all season from open play in CM. Also only 5 of his assists come from CM. Yet I'm always reading that he's been a revelation in CM this season and scored 7 and has 12 assists. When you look at his overall game in CM is it really that impressive. Obviously I don't watch Villa that much, but I saw him play against the Hudd in CM, at WHL, this season and the Hudd bossed it. Towards the end of the season, I also saw him play against Chelsea and Man City and he looked pretty average then.

I think it's forgotten that he played the first part of the season on the RW and that 3 of his assists from CM came against Burnley. I'm not sure he's any better in CM than Jenas. This time last year Ireland at Man City was as highly rated as Milner is now. Milner is definitely a good player, but he's had just over half a season in CM and is already being linked with £20 million+ moves to Man City and Man Utd. So i can't agree that he's under rated.

Funny you should mention Jenas, I have made exactly the same comments about him, that because he doesn't excel at one particular thing he doesn't get the credit he deserves. For me if he had the right mentality he could have been our Viera.
Which is why I made the comment regarding Milner's attitude. He wants to get involved and has that 'Man Utd' attitude where he's 100% committed without being overly aggressive or flash and so I believe will ultimately succeed at the highest level.

That said, you and Kendall do raise a fair point in as much as his apparent worth has shot up this season but as you can see from most of the comments on here most still don't rate him.

For me I remember watching him in the U21 Euros 3 or 4 seasons ago with Young, Hudd and Reo-Coker and they really were a stand-out midfield.
I don't believe it was a coincidence that MON bought 3 out of those 4 as he obviously felt that if they all developed together he had a potentially top class midfield.
Reo-Coker may have shot his bolt but I still think the other 3 will make it at the highest level.

 

[DogsOfWar]

it's seems like you forget that there are players from outside England that are available to...

I can only really base my judgement on the Premiership as I don't have enough access to European football to comment.

And outside of the top four, who can provide CL football, and Liverpool (whose players would want CL football), there are very few players good enough to make City any better.

For me Arteta, Milner, Fellaini and Ashley Young are about it.

 

[RuislipSpur]

I'm not too worried about this. Its not the sort of calibre of player that they were hoping to attract, hes not exactly Torres or Gerrard is he?

 

[Pinto]

While I think this could be a good move for City in 2 or 3 years he just doesn't strike me with fear like Lampard or Gerrard does. I would also keep him out wide personally as he was pretty darn good out there but I can understand Villa needing him in the middle and not out wide with Young and Downing.

My only concern would be giving Villa too much money for him, I think they could really improve their depth with a big wad of cash so hopefully Man City will actually haggle over the price and not just give them 25 million pounds.

 

[MilkyBarYid]

I think I'd rather Villa keep Milner than get 25 million, although I believe he is a good midfielder who will improve Man City, I can see Milner being the the surprise package to some in the world cup.

 

[mike_l]

I think I'd rather Villa keep Milner than get 25 million, although I believe he is a good midfielder who will improve Man City, I can see Milner being the the surprise package to some in the world cup.

You could give O'Neill twice that amount and he wouldn't finish any higher than 6th, he's more overrated than Milner.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Personally I think Milner was under rated for the previous few years but £25m is clearly over rating his value. I've always liked the kid, he has two footed technical ability, work ethic and a bit of pace. But I'd be delighted if City (or ManU) were going spunk this kind of dough on a player who - in reality - is not really much more productive than Bentley (or Kranjcar even) as a wide player and marginally more useful in a defensive capacity and as a CM becomes a pretty ho hum player who I wouldn't swap for any of our current bunch.