Milner is probably the best English and potentially available solution to our midfield problem. Longterm maybe that would be Rodwell, but most likely we could rely on Milner in central midfield more than we could rely on Rodwell in big champions league matches. If he had a better passing range, he'd be a heck of a solution to Scholes getting older. He doesn't have that passing range... Not yet. And how much it'll improve over time who knows. Thats the only drawback if we do go for him with the intention of playing him centrally - where he's been much better than on the wing this season. £24 million is full United Tax though. A sensible fee would be about £19-20 million. So while over the top, its not as over the top as some of the fees we've paid, and he's young enough to improve and become a player worthy of such a fee. At least he's not 27 and running out of time if he doesnt prove himself straight away.
James Milner
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This weekend just gets worse and worse...
I've only seen Gorucuff a few times but he doesn't strike me as a Kaka' or Zidane, he tracks back enough, I mean if we are shifting to 4-3-3 on a regular basis then surely one of the 3 should be more attack minded, especially with Fletcher and Hargo as the destroyers behind him he would have some freedom.
Yeah we over pay for everything here....including my Carrera, valet parting, and my girlfriend's boob job.....which is why Milner at 24m would be like paying $25 for a two person lunch at In and Out Burger.
He's not a glamour player, which is why the reaction towards him has been so lukewarm in this thread. But lets get something straight - he is a young player who has improved immensely. Under the tutelage of the United staff, you can see him improving even further. He's adaptable - though his best form has come in a central area and I think that's an area that we're light. He is capable of goal getting from midfield - with good shooting ability. He's got a fantastic engine and passes the ball well. I'd be delighted if we bought the lad in and watch him improve here.
Rodwell looks like a phenomenal prospect, but much like Ferdinand, his long term future lies at centre back.
We definitely need a more attack minded central midfield player. Milner ticks a lot of the salient boxes: young, scope for improvement, excellent attitude, eye for a goal, good passer, great stamina and really adaptable.
He would be a decent squad player but we should be looking at improving our first 11 with real quality.
Why do you think that?
Can Gourcuff play as a midfielder? I haven't seen him much but anytime I have, he seems to be the type that would be suited to playing between the midfielders and attackers. Would he fit in a 433...?
I'm not so sure that Rodwell's main future position is at centre back, there must be a reason why still he hasn't played as a centre back for Everton senior team.
He has really flourished in the past few weeks mainly for the fact that he has been playing a advanced role in Everton's midfield.
No. He'd be a promising young player, who has improved beyond recognition this season. He is already PL proven and he has a fantastic attitude. He's a very talented player who would only improve here.
Moyes has said that that is his long term position. Looking at his playing style, I am inclined to agree.
His improvement is likely more down to a growing maturity as opposed to where he has been playing. That and the fact that Everton have also picked up. Interestingly, Rodwell has also had some stinkers for Everton this season - for instance, he made a critical error in the Uefa Cup the game before he scored against us.
Milner will not be competing with the likes of Theo and Lennon on the wings... he'll be challenging for the central positions.
Milner is a Rafa/Liverpool type signing.
No thanks.
No thanks.
I'm not sure whether you're being sarcastic or not. Mainly because the bolded part is potentially worth every cent, depending how long it's been since one's last fix.
Is this Valencia all over again? "He ain't Utd quality" 3 months later "He is da best!"
Yup.
I think so. He's in the Fletcher category as a central midfielder really. A lot of good tools and plays well, without the classy silky bits that mean he's universally considered a world class central midfielder.
If we bought him and he played as well as he has at times for Villa this season in central midfield, a lot of posters here would be very, very, very happy with him ala Valencia.
Really he's in that same boat. Premier league proven, good player and has performed pretty well in his role. But not the best we could be looking at. Which was the same with Valencia. He proved himself still, and so would Milner.
Most of the people objecting to the signing are objecting to the money. He'd be a fine addition to the squad for about 15 million max. 24 million is ridiculous.
He wouldn't be a bad buy at all. Fergei could turn him into a special player.
Nah. We have room for both. People forget they'd be filling up the roles Scholes nd Giggs currently occupy in our team.
24m would just be United tax.
If Rafa made more signings like that they'd do a lot better than they're doing now, that's for sure!
Our squad is fine, it's our best XI that could do with a boost.
£15m will barely get you a proven PL footballer nowadays, let alone one that is actually very good for his team.
£15m? There is no chance of getting him for that - Villa paid £12m for him 2 years ago and he is vastly improved since then.
You dont get a 24 year old England international midfielder for £15m nowadays - we paid £18m for Valencia last year, Milner will be more than that for sure.
We would do very well to get him for £20m.
A hefty price tag but a decent player and lets not forget we may be able to recoup 1M or 2M for Carrick.
Carrick won't be sold...
shame
15m plus Carrick would be a deal both parties would benefit from.
Or maybe even Berba plus cash? He'd shine at Villa.
Or maybe even Berba plus cash? He'd shine at Villa.
Heskey - Berbatov - Carew
Possibly the shittest and slowest front line ever assembled.
Agbonlahor -- Berbatov -- Young
Berba would be the main man at Villa, and he'd finally escape the pressure that cripples him when the red shirt is on his back. He'd have a ball there playing week in week out.
If Milner is signed, will he be molded as a defensive midfielder or a deeper role?
Offensive in a more attacking role. He'd probably be turned into a Lampard.
Carrick v.2 ... shit transfer we thought, played well for a few years, a shit player at the back end or a blip during his peak years?
Oh I see. More goals from the midfield, a goal scoring midfielder.
There's a lot of talk on here about Man. Utd trying to sign Milner or Modric or several other similarly expensive players this summer.
However, you've already paid a tidy sum for Smalling, plus who knows how much for the Mexican striker, so I'm wondering what you lot reckon will be your remaining transfer budget this summer given your continuing large debt?
However, you've already paid a tidy sum for Smalling, plus who knows how much for the Mexican striker, so I'm wondering what you lot reckon will be your remaining transfer budget this summer given your continuing large debt?
Depends how many shite Spurs players we fancy having this summer.
Speaking of which, you want Berbatov and Carrick back? They're not United quality so you can av 'em...
He hasn't been great this season but he was clearly United quality the previous 3 seasons.
This doesn't answer my question ... but hey ho.
Our regular transfer budget is £30M I believe, last summer we only spent £20M so that left the £10M to sign Smalling in January.
This means so far out of this summers £30M we have spent £6M on Javier Hernandez.
Now I have no idea if Milner or Modric are even legit targets but I think £24M should be enough to get one of them.
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