I respect that Milner is a workhorse player, seemingly versatile and does a lot of work in the background. But I simply don't rate him... He is a squad player, an older ****ter version of Henderson. And the fact that we are offering him a high wage contract, which he will probably turn down (as they all seem to) leaving us with a backup option who is even more dross, is beginning to frustrate me. Ayre is the problem. Simple. Brendan may have his flaws, but we finished higher than United last year. We finished 2nd offering champions league football. And we still didn't have the pulling power. United missed out on top 4 and signed two world class players (admittedly they have been dire under Van Harsh, but still). Something needs to be addressed! It's not location, it could be club image but It's defiantly Ayre.
Not a chance we'd get Rodriquez or Anderson. Plus what we need are players about to hit their stride around 24 and a few 26+. Experience. Again people are under-rating Milner. Watch City and you'll see he gets involved in and around the box competently. We can use him for two-three years then let him move on. Realistically we won't or can't sign a world class player to replace Stevie 'right now'. AND I guarantee the first time he makes a big tackle or scores on the break everyone will be praising his commitment and 'just get it done' spirit
Can't say I'm privileged to the discussions they'll have been having over the last year before both parties decided not to continue. And what's City's decision making like? He's making a solid contribution for them. Bottom line is he's a solid addition for a club chasing top 4.
Is that fact or your opinion? Surely it depends on demand? Can't see us being the only club interested in Howedes so I'm pretty sure he'd (or his agent) would be able to negotiate a high level contract. He could easily get £100k IMO. The Plank might not get as much interest but he's still going to want high wages, especially as a free agent! Anyway, point was you claimed all three would join for what Milner would want peer week which is clear BS PS...and I said looking for £100k, not get it.
The only positive I can see about Ings is that we're essentially buying him with Aspas Great lads at Sevilla
You always wonder why they havent offered him what he wants.... I do think he'd be a good signing though How do you think our mid would look with him?
Manchester Evening News... Hard to say what's going on. Not sure how he'd fit in. Probably shouldn't be a guaranteed starter but he's consistent and (I think) rarely injured... ------------Hendo----Milner ------------------Can or -------------------Can ---------Hendo----------------Milner ------------------Coutinho Depends what happens with Sterling, Lucas etc but we should be playing Can box-to-box next season.
I think his decision was more about playing time than money I think he's being massively underrated by some on here, as I think he's a cracking player tbh. I'd love him at Goodison.
Absolutely. He seems the kind of player that is fed up of playing well and then being dropped and at 29 knows this is the last chance to go to a club and be a regular player. A midfield of the below offers good energy and mobility with the creativity of Coutinho (and Milner is actually pretty good link up player). Can Milner Hendo Coutinho Alternatively if we're going back to 433 then Milner Can Hendo in the middle with Coutinho out wide. Oh and he's not bad at free kicks, something we lack in the team.
I'd like to see us sign a DM so Hendo, Can and Milner can fight it out for the two B2B roles with Allen as backup. Leave Coutinho at No.10, he's been superb there this season and this as been without doubt his best season since joining too.
We've needed a dm for ages, can you remember us joking about it last summer and the window before and the one before that Maybe this summer....
You are mistaking me for someone else. I've said on a free its decent business for as long as his legs hold out
Milner wants to play in midfield he cannot get that with city .Also. will not be the first choice with city.
I rate Milner, but a midfield trio of Milner, Henderson and Can is just too limited and lacking in technique and creativity. No top team in the world plays three limited players in the middle. Two, perhaps to provide energy and strength for a third midfielder to flourish, but three isn't good. If you then move Coutinho into number 10 to add that flair, you're left with two up top and then lack width or players cutting inside. If we keep Allen, we'd then have four players in the middle and not a creative bone between them - none of them are brilliant defensively either! Cut Allen and get Milner and that'd be fine, 3 players for two spots - there's also Lucas as well!. Personally, without Gerrard, we should go back to a 2-3-1 system with Henderson and Can swapping between sitting and pushing up. Coutinho as the number 10, Ibe and Sterling wide (if he stays) and Sturridge up top. Sign a quality striker to compete with Sturridge and a quality midfielder who'll actually be something more than another Henderson (but older) so they will impact a game and we'll be fine.
News from Burnley where Sean Dyche has just said he expects striker Danny Ings to leave the Clarets this summer. Anfield bound?