A busy day it turns out and a match coming up against PFC Litex Lovech in the UEFA Cup

Great Signing!
Just found out the Bulgarian ground only holds 7000

Of course he’s an intelligent lad…he’s from Yorkshire!

hey, any idea when we'll be told who has the home leg first? i arrive in birmingham on the 24th of september and would love for us to have the second leg! i cant find it anywhere! cheers

We play away first.

I for one am well chuffed, reckon he's quality. Though he didn't exactly set the toon alight when he returned after his loan spell with us but the best is yet to come.

At last, another dimension going forward; I think this will work out brilliantly - frees up Ashley a bit and I think we'll see Luke Young come in to play a bit more now he's got a proper right winger to work with.

Oi Damian what do you mean by "as someone said earlier" I have a name you know

Im dead chuffed we got Milner. In my opinion he was more important to get than a striker. Although we really do need a decent striker.

We're playing against Lene Lovich?

Say when. My lucky number's one.

I'm told fee is £10m increasing to £12m depending on champions league qualification, england caps etc. So lets hope we do pay £12m. Also Villa relentlessly chasing another player. Don't know who but hopefully another signing before close of transfer window.

Cracking signing, and trust me this lad will get better and better once Roberston gets hold of him. A lot of people credit O'Neill with all that has happened at VP, and don't get me wrong, he's done marvels and I can't speak highly enough about him, but his coaches like John robertson also play their part. I think JR is largely behind Ash's success over recent years. He was a class winger himself and I think he can work his magic to make Milner another top quality player.

The 1st leg, away is the 18th Sep, we are scheduled to plat Spurs on Monday the 15th only 3 days before.. Will this now beput back to the Sat (13th)? Hope it is as i couldn't goon the Monday due to work. Anyone know????

So are there any rumours of a striker coming? Only heard about Doyle...

Also good to see the comments from Barry on the website.

PUT MILNER ON THE TRASNFER BOX!!
PUT HIM PUT HIM!!
COME ON COME ON!!
Nah in all honesty, great signing, top class and i think under MON we can see big things.
and as one of yur earlier posts mentioned (if yu not yu damian, then the doc) by gettin a right sided midfielder young will get more space .

and for the record, i dnt see what the panic is in buying a striker?? weve scored more goals so far this season (and last season scored the 3rd highest amount of goals) then any other team?? my concern is maybe adding competition to the midfield and defence.

Must be another striker to compete with Gabby & Carew. Harewood has his role, but is evidently not a starter, and Delfouneso isn't ready.

I am not over excited about the prospect of Doyle, although MON seems to have followed him for a while and (as with Milner) tends to follow through on that interest.

Exciting times.

Have you seen who we'll probably get in the group stage if we qualify?

Deportivo
Schalke
Heerenveen
Austria Vienna

I must say i'm warming to Milner, but i hope we dont sign Doyle..! Whats the point, Harewood is a better player we need to sign a striker that will put pressure on Gabby and Carew. Owen has a 1 year left on his contract, and Newcastle want him to take a pay cut on a new contract.. We could get him at a cut price, pay him 80k a week with a big signing on fee. Villa Park would be full every week...!!

I love our manager. He's class. No huff, no fuss, just sign them up and get on with it. Milner will be a great signing, and may add pressure to Routledge to get on with his form.

As for Doyle: if MON thinks he's the bee's knees, then he must have something. He had a bad run last year, but Reading were awful. I remember much acclaim for him the season before.

Bring on the scouse!

any ideas whose gonna be next if there is gonna be someone we still need one or two players i feel

We do need one QUALITY striker (NOT Doyle), i'd put a cheeky 11th hour bit in to steal Louis Saha from Everton's grasp! Carew will get 20 goals this season if free from injury but someone to ease pressure on Gabby would be fab!! as for midfield we've got loads of players and defence will be good when gel. Back up right back still needed, any ideas or inside tips Damien?? UTV

Milner was excellent for us on loan and I am thrilled to have him back. Roll on Sunday beating Liverpool and lets roll over Lovech and into the group stage.

ooh

aah

Paul mcgrath

bring on the scousers.

Joevillan

It's because our expectations were so high at the start of the transfer window and we're now actually at a point when anyone, as long as they can play and attack on the right side of midfield will do. It's not that people don;t think that, it's because people are just happy to have someone.

ssn says keegan admits even owen has a price. they have failed to negotiate a new contract, offering him 18k less than what he is on.

MON with a late bid to steal another toon fave??

has any one else noticed but no one is moaning about him not being good enough anymore

Reply to Joevillan:

has any one else noticed but no one is moaning about him not being good enough anymore

For some reason my reply to your post got posted 2 minutes before yours did. Very strange and something else added to the bug list, but you can see it above.

Just read that he went to school in Horsforth Leeds, thats only 10 mins from me!

excellent news, softens the blow of losin maloney. im hopin this mystery player we are tryin to sign will be that extra bit of flair that we need up front. up the villa!!!
oh an where are the newcie fans now?

I for one am extatic with this move, Milner was our best player few years ago, he's only gonna get better too!!! We do need a top striker and cover at right back though. Harewood isn't good enough as 3rd choice for a Top team, Damian is there any news on a striker? we need someone to ease Gabby's workload. Anyone else agree with me that Carew will get 20 goals if free from injury all season??

oh and Shaun Maloney needs to be added to the players out box, my OCD kicking in!!

Reply to AVFCBlog:

Joevillan

It's because our expectations were so high at the start of the transfer window and we're now actually at a point when anyone, as long as they can play and attack on the right side of midfield will do. It's not that people don;t think that, it's because people are just happy to...

Damien I can't agree that we are happy to have "anyone as long as they can play and attack on the right side of midfield". Milner is an exciting, young and talented player who a lot of people on this site were hoping we would sign. What you mean is that you would've preferred SWP. Well at 26 he should be at his peak and his peak isn't good enough. Milner will mature over the next 2 years to be just as good as Young. Trust in MON!

It is definitely a forward MON is looking to sign.

Damian....I'll not bottle it because it's near the end of the tranfer window. My expectations have not diminished. I like Milner, don't me wrong..but quite simply 'not good enough'.

Can't wait for the next panic buy before the end of the tranfer window..I'm underwhelmed..!

Yea i think Carew is quite capable of getting 20 goals this season. He is a very good finisher, his shot to goal ratio i suspect is pretty high.
Adding Milner's contribution to the attacking/playmaking midfield (along with Barry and Young), Carew will have a field day each and every match.

Bring on Liverpool!! I cant wait!

Andy,

Not good enough?!? So he's not as good as Reo-coker, Petrov, Knight, Shorey, L.Young.....

2 seasons ago he was easily one of our best players.... 2years maturity and progression, not to mention Newcastle's best player last season and he's not good enough?!

Milner for £10m is far better value than SWP at the same price. Think about it, Milner is 5 years younger. The only major plus to SWP's game is his pace. In 3 years-ish that will begin to disappear and he'll be nothing. £10m for a promising 22year old is a cracking deal if you ask me.

Hi Damiam, did Doc have a free transfer to the new site?
Milner is a great signing, do you think Milner will replace Reo-Coker on Sunday? If so we should have two new signings to see. I see many more goals!!

Villa_Chris...Where did I say he was not as good as Coker, Petrov, Knight etc etc...? Go on then, where did I say that. It's good to see that you set 'the bar' so low, using the likes of Petrov and Knight as examples! Jeees, I wonder why we have been in the doldrums for so many years with our fans expectations!

Can't wait for the Doyle signing!

I think Milner could be good, but hardly exciting. I hate the feeling of having to come to like our signings. I mean all of these players i dont care for one bit until they put on the claret and blue. I think there is a big chance of us getting Larsson. I think it would be a decent addition as he could teach Gab and Nathan a few tricks, although about ten years too late. I actually like the thought of MON on deadline day, he must spin a globe,close his eyes and place his finger on the map.........thats how we ended up with Salifou isnt it? I think he uses the map of the UK on every day in the window bar deadline day, thats the only explanation i can come up with

great signin milner will take the pressure off of young while doing a great job

Good signing methinks - was my 1st choice at the start of the season for RW - over Bentley, SWP, Lennon etc...

Why is it that those who like to moan can't accept that maybe (just maybe!) the manager has different idea's on players to them? Why does it always have to be a panic buys/lack of ambition etc?

Honestly start supporting you TEAM more - if MON bought Heskey I'd raise an eyebrow or TWO.. BUT if MON then got us to 4th/5th in the league that would be good enough for me!

It also really annoys me that those who post 'not good enough' - 'average' - 'panic buy' etc never say who THEY would have bought and why?

hey lads, not at all excited about milner's signing. i've watched him play for newcastle and he doesn't really do much, yet at the same time trying to run all over the park. evidently, he doesn't lack much in effort. but skill-wise, he is found to be sorely lacking. he hasn't improved much since we last had him 3 years ago and he's really slow, can't cross and can't shoot. afraid we overpaid for a squad player at best in milner, i think kevin keegan is going to be laughing his way to the bank.

Haha the Geordies..licking their wounds and now pretending Milner never really mattered..cheers lads, we'll have him then

P.S. No Doyle or Heskey please!

hey lads, not at all excited about milner's signing. i've watched him play for newcastle and he doesn't really do much, yet at the same time trying to run all over the park. evidently, he doesn't lack much in effort. but skill-wise, he is found to be sorely lacking. he hasn't improved much since we last had him 3 years ago and he's really slow, can't cross and can't shoot. afraid we overpaid for a squad player at best in milner, i think kevin keegan is going to be laughing his way to the bank.

Andy, what I was sayin is if you dont think Milner is good enough, you obviously dont think that Petrov, reo-coker etc arent either, because hes as good, if not better than some of our first team.

Just dont like how sometimes, fans can be so harsh about new signings saying they're not good enough without even giving them a chance. Really negative. MON knows what he's doing and he definately wouldnt push the boat out to sign players for such an amount unless he thought a lot of their ability and potential.

No hard feelings dude

Andy, what I was sayin is if you dont think Milner is good enough, you obviously dont think that Petrov, reo-coker etc arent either, because hes as good, if not better than some of our first team.

Just dont like how sometimes, fans can be so harsh about new signings saying they're not good enough without even giving them a chance. Really negative. MON knows what he's doing and he definately wouldnt push the boat out to sign players for such an amount unless he thought a lot of their ability and potential.

No hard feelings dude

This submit button is usless on here. doesnt work properly and you never know when it has or not....hense the above.

No doubt Damian is already onto it

so anyone got a list of strikers that are available then?
who do you guys rate and think could do a job for us? and what would you realistically pay if you were in charge of villa?

personally ive been saying all summer we should sign milner fletcher and saha but thats just me (i also said cisse and hoped for swp at times too)

Reply to notsosilentbob:

so anyone got a list of strikers that are available then?
who do you guys rate and think could do a job for us? and what would you realistically pay if you were in charge of villa?

Answer1:doyle
doyle
doyle
doyle
any crap or unknown player.
Answer 2: maybe david villa no not good enough , fernando torres would be alright i spose .
Answer 3: dpends which qustion ur on about first 1 about 500k, 2nd 1mil maybe 2

I would like Dean Ashton. We need a forward who is cover for Carew in terms of height and strength. Gabby and Marlon Harewood couldn't get us into a champions league spot. Even a good loan signing and maybe buy a forward in january. Setanta say we are interested in Sidney Govou. I'd take him for a good price.

Damian no amount of retyping passwords got me in so this is my new account hence the name. And 10 mill for Milner rip off!

Hang on i just saw a comment was left by me earlier I need to look at this properly

I know what I'm doing now lol

Ok we all need to be honest here and stop talking absolute rubbish. James Milner for 12m is not a good piece of business,
James Milner for 6m wouldn't be good business. This is a player that couldn't hold down a starting spot in the Newcastle side. Clearly anybody that thinks this is a good purchase is either:

a)Delusional
B)Has no idea about football

My opinion is that we have both no better than a squad player here and we have been absolutely ripped off. I know it sounds like I really dislike this guy but actually this is not the case and I can see what O'Neill sees in him. Hard working, honesty of effort and ambitious, clearly. But the issue here is that we spent way over the odds for a player of very average ability and it will show sooner rather than later. For the record SWP was the type of player we should be looking at for 12m. I think the key issue here that people are not accounting for is wages. We are not willing to go over budget in this area and this is the real reason we are not bringing in the top quality players we should. I have to say, although we have spent big this summer I think the only player of real quality we've brought in is Cuellar. The others either two old or just average at best. The last point I'll make is this, Young for 9.5m, Milner for 12m spot the difference.

Reply to Green Villain:

Ok we all need to be honest here and stop talking absolute rubbish. James Milner for 12m is not a good piece of business,
James Milner for 6m wouldn't be good business. This is a player that couldn't hold down a starting spot in the Newcastle side. Clearly anybody that thinks this is a...

yes but we all know what he can do plus why do the geordies love him. we have a right mid is that not enough? We havnt endured much finacial damage from this deal either. same price whos better swp whos 26 or 27 cant cross but has pace or jm who is young and can get numerous MOTMS ahead of martins and owen.

I like Milner and I think he's wanted to come to us for a while. Keegan mentioned the last minute deal collapse from 2 years ago a couple of times in an interview today, and it's obviously been talked about. He played well for us and he'll be better than he has been for Newcastle. More important though is balance - Milner gives us a balanced team and the team will be better for having him on the pitch. For those whose football thrills stretch to the team sheet on Match of the Day and not much beyond, I can see that this isn't exciting. The thing is it will be HOW we play that will make the difference in the end and not WHO we play. I'm excited and it's going to be an entertaining season.

hold on, ive bit my tounge 4 a bit here...
doyle IS better than harewood. listen, he had a bad season when sidwell left and reading turned to pants. so did every1.
the year b4 he was excellent and was 1 of the main reasons reading did so well.
so no ok he aint worth 8 mil YET
milner aint worth 12 YET
young wasnt worth 11 at the time
trust in MON
UTV

Well like I said:

a)Delusional
b)Has no idea about football

Good player Milner but 12 mill? think SWPwould have been better value.Now we need a CF to keep Gabby and Big J on their toes.Lets go for the columbian lad from River Plate,the new and improved Angel imo

Green Villain: SWP for £12m!!! ur fxxxx delusional!!

This is a player that couldn't hold down a starting spot in the Chelsea side - ie he hasn't been rated as any good by ANY of the THREE managers over THREE years. Runs fast, head down blindly, can't cross, can't pass, can't tackle, can't head - but runs full pelt into defenders all day long 'exciting' SWP.

He has no backbone, drive or ambition and was more happy to sit on the bench, party in London and and pick up the Russian $$ than actually get stuck in and play some football.

Clearly anybody that thinks this he is a good purchase is either:

a)Delusional
B)Has no idea about football



Aren't opinions wonderful.

i think its a great signing i feel we are so much better than last season now (48 million should do that realy) so in midfield its gonna be young, barry, milner and who?
feels good that most our signings have come from clubs who didnt want the players to leave apart from sidwell
for anyone else having probs signing in like i did, i just hit lost password and it let me reset it, hope that helps. utv

i think its a great signing i feel we are so much better than last season now (48 million should do that realy) so in midfield its gonna be young, barry, milner and who?
feels good that most our signings have come from clubs who didnt want the players to leave apart from sidwell
for anyone else having probs signing in like i did, i just hit lost password and it let me reset it, hope that helps. utv

I actually don't know where to begin. First off imitation is the greatest form of flattery so I appreciate you using my quotes to make your point. I also cannot see the validity of your point, SWP not rated any good... fighting for your place in a Chelsea side which is one of the top sides in the world is nothing to be faulted for.... Shevchenko, Crespo, Ballack all come to mind amongst many others including Sidwell, who for the record I do rate. I put it to you, would you rather a player struggling to get into an extremely average Newcastle side or someone that is doing the same at Chelsea.

Unfortunately some opinions are worth more than others.

I'm going to have to intervene here because I'm actually quite offended by Green Villain's rather ham-handed comments. To have an opinion is one thing but to tell another that their opinion is wrong is frustrating and rather idiotic to be fair, given that by the very definition an opinion can't be wrong.

£10m for Milner (I'm saying £10m because it is £10m - plus addons) is not a bad deal and I'm really struggling to see why anyone would compare it to £10m for Shaun Wright-Phillips and say that's a better deal.

Shaun Wright-Phillips turns 27 in a couple of months. As pointed out already by madladdy, he is missing many crucial abilities to be a top winger. Essentially, he is a one-trick pony; he runs fast and he'll take on any fullback in the league, but past that, he offers very little. In 3/4 years time when he's in his 30's and his pace begins to dry up, he'll be massively ineffectual.

£10m for a 3/4 year investment.

James Milner is 22 years old. Remember that, because according to Green Villain he's struggled to hold down a regular place in the Newcastle team. It's very surprising then, that despite being only 22 years old, he has in fact made 140 appearances for the bar codes. That's right - one hundred and forty. He also holds the record for most ever England U21 caps with 37. Now of course this is down to opinion, but to me that is an awful lot of top class experience for a lad the age of 22. It's no excuse he's played so much in such a short space of time, he has a lot to his game. Very hard worker, decent pace, good crosser of the ball - essentially all the qualities Shaun Wright-Phillips is lacking.

£10m for a 10+ year investment. Bad deal? I certainly don't think so.

So put some proper thought into these things before you go accusing other football fans of being clueless.

Yehay. Taglor's in the house.

Unsure where this Milner is a decent crosser of the ball is coming from as his stats from last season show he was rather good at hitting the first man.....

But, In Martin you must trust.

Would you rather have Reo-Coker playing right wing?

Well if its entertainment we wanted we certainly have it here. I can see this is going down the wrong road here so I'll apply the breaks and stick to the football. I can understand all the points made here in terms of resale value and age blah blah blah and I also know the guy has made 140 appearances. However appearances don't necessarily account for everything and I think it has to be remembered that this is guy that started at a young age so they do add up. But make no excuses he was still fighting to get into the Newcastle side and although they may have not all been happy to see him go they nonetheless still know a great deal when they get it. I'm as passionate as the next guy about my club and trust me when I say I hope I eat my words and he turns out to be a snap but I cannot see how anyone can honestly think this is the kinda quality we need fot that price, 4m yes ok but 10m(plus add ons )no way. I am not a believer in rash purchases or impulse buys and I do think O'Neill's policy in the past has been sound enough, even when everybody else was losing their heads, however this smacks of desperation. SWP is a quality player, no he may not develop much more in terms of his style but given a regular game he is a top player and although he did spend a lot of time on the bench at Chelsea I do think the guy is hungry. All in all I suppose the only man that will really be questioned in the long term will be O'Neill and I still like to believe he at least knows more about the game than I.

madladdy..I'm going to start with a bit of fun...and please take it as 'fun'...Since when did Russia start using 'Dollars' as currency? .

Chris_Villan...You answered the question yourself...You said he is as good or better than Petrov and Coker. Mmmm? he's about as good as them technically. I actually rate Milner. Not because he's a top class player that's going to be a top 4 team, but for his workrate and good oldfashioned attitude.

You also say give them a chance. Well hang on a minute there....! He's been playing in the Prem for years and he's not been the big player he was expected to become when he was 16. He's a decent player.. but how much has he been hyped and overrated when it comes to him moving clubs and therefore inflated fees having to be paid! At £10-£12 million that is very bad business for a player that's probably going to be a sub for half the time. I note in the forum that people are putting forward their villa team and Milner does not get featured in many 1st teams. At £12 million he needs playing in every game! If he's that good he will be!

My point (when I finish my rambling) is that you sheep are just happy with your lot. Where's the gusto and ambition to sign some flair.

The acid test is who on here actually can stand up and if it was said at the start of the transfer window Milner was going to be our biggest and probably star signing would be 100% happy? The first one of you to stand up and actually admit you would have been happy, then I should hang your head in shame for having such low ambition for Villa.

Oh and don't worry anyone...I'll have my say..I'm not always right (possibly always wrong?) but please don't anyone say to me 'no hard feelings'. I don't mind what you say to me...I don't care, it's your opinion!

UTV

Green Villain - fair enough, best we agree to disagree on the value of the transfer but at least we both agree to trust MON's decision.

I love MON.

I take back above that those in the forum don't have Milner in their preferred first team! Sorry guys!

Still stand by the other stuff...Those idiots
in the forum don't know what they're talking about. They're smacked up off their tits on 'Karma'!

nan....your just blinded by love, so you are biased!

andyanarchist - At last somebody sees sense. At least we're trying to strengthen in the right places though I just really wonder about the caliber. I have a feeling Doyle is next and again I cringe. Not good enough to be a first team striker and I say this because thats what we need, Agy is just not there yet and I'm not sure if he ever will be. On the plus side however Barry staying is a massive plus for me. I think we have a top class player there although he may have been a little quiet in the last two games. Unfortunately this whole process of signing players leaves me feeling a little tired and disappointed. I suppose O'Neill did say increase the squad size which is what he's done. Thank f@^k we have a right back though I don't think I could take the entire league laughing at us any longer.

andy....

you love your ambition dont you!!!for gods sake, everybody involved with aston villa such as players , MON, fans are just as ambitious as you!

i would love to see the likes of henry, gattuso, kaka, sergio ramos here but it just wont happen mate!!!

lets all just think ambitious thoughts and try to mentally attract these types of players here!!!..

milner, is a great example of MON building for the future...a young, talented lad who has alot of time to grow into a BIG player...

spot on andyanarchist. at the start of the transfer window i certainly expected better. most people on here even though they probably wont admit it now would not have been happy if at the start of the window they would have been told milner would be our major signing.
MON has been useless in the transfer window again in my book. failed to get his main targets as always. milner was not his main target as he tried for bentley first and previously when he tried for milner had already tried for swp 2 years back.
luke young clearly not 1st choice as why wasnt he brought in last year, shorey was a desperation buy cause oneil didnt even plan on buying any cover at left back until bouma got injured. in the past he has signed harewood, routledge, salifou, maloney terrible buys, petrov and reo coker below average buys. carew he didnt even plan on buying - he was offered him in the sale of baros so cant take any credit there. sidwell the jury is out i will give him time. so thta leaves the goalies and ashley young. well done mart great successs rate!!

What's up with all the negative comments, Milner is quality and will improve our side no doubt, yeah £12million is alot of money but he's the player MO'N wanted and we have the money that's for sure. Does it matter how much we spent?? if we're after a player we want and can get Mr Learner will back MO'N, I for one am very happy with that, get behind the players boys and girls!!!

That must be past the £50 mil we have spent this summer, give some love to MON and RL.

tonebone im sorry but ur comments are a disgrace.honestly what more do u want have u not seen the progression we have made from 16th to 11th to 6th and now were playing in europe with a fantastic manager and a fabalous owner...

not only are ur comments completely fickle but in my opinion u couldnt be more wrong mon has brought in some fantastic players

i really would hate to see what u were like when doug ellis and o leary were in charge seriously im ashamed of ur comments and im ashamed to be associated on the same blog as u

I think that Martin O'Neill is a GOD he's worked wonders at Villa and I think we have a much better squad than last season when we finished 6th remember that all you doubters!!! expect a striker in next 2 days, agree hopefully not Doyle but if it is I will get behind him!! I bow to you Martin O'Neill, UTV!!

It's been well over an hour now and not one of you have come back and said you would have been happy, at the start of the transfer window, with James Milner as our most expensive number one star signing....The silence is deafening...!

I'm happy with Milner as our No 1 signing.

If we finish in Top 4 this season as I expect us to, then I will expect one or two big names next summer.

Aahhh, and then all 'us' moaners get 'what's with your negative comments'. What's nagative with wanting success. Don't anyone give me DOug Ellis and O'Loeary and we have gone from 16 to whatever, from wherever to 6th etc etc...boring...change the rrecord

So come on then....someone dig deep into your hearts and tell me that you wanted Milner to be our star signing to take us into the Champions League..... Thought not..!

James...As a Yorkshireman and secondly as Villa player I think your tickety boo and a top lad and I hope you are the dogs danglies when playing for the Villa, but with all this money spent this transfer window I expected a 'special' proven player to come in this transfer window.

nan...come on I can look back at your previous comments to show he was not your No1 hope at the start of the transfer window. Your just trying to be argumentative you cheeky scamp you..!

I have been crying out for a winger for a while now and i'm happy we have one, if only to give ash more freedom, but i have to say i find it a bit shocking that Milner is our record breaking signing.I dont think he's three times the player he was when we agreed a fee of 4 million pounds for his services 2 years ago.He is a decent player and i'm sure he'll get better with us but a fee between 6 and 8 million would have been more suitable i feel.

Hopefully this record will be broken once again before the window shuts!!

andyanarchist: $ are actually used a lot in Russian, as they are WORLD over as a neutral trading currency. Especially if the Countries own has spiralling inflation. The $ is basically the "Worlds" currency. Isn't Education great! Also my Keyboard doesn't have the Ruble symbol.

Tonebone: How can you moan at MON for not getting his 1st choice? I'm sure you've been on here saying he should just *try* and get X, Y and Z - and if we get turned down fair enough but at least *try*. And your now slating him for doing that? Also in *this* case Bentley from his comments is quite clearly a Spurs fan so would never come. And maybe after seeing SWP's lack of interest in actually playing 1st team football for 3 years + the fact he's not got any better with his final product maybe MON has decided he wants someone a little younger with a bit more fight in them who can improve in the future.

The ONLY thing SWP is better than Milner at is running very fast, he's a one trick pony with no end product - and as far as I'm concerned a complete waste of space. But I've no doubt he'll look exciting in the 4.5mins of MOTD highlights when we see him running very fast into defenders. Gabby would do a better job on the RW than SWP - he can't cross either.

TBH your right though - I wanted REALLY Ronaldo, Torres, Kaka and some unknown big name, big fee, foreign *stars* for £25m that I've seen on YouTube and have good FM2008 stats all along - but then I realised I wasn't 12 or an idiot.

ps. I wanted Milner as our RW from the start.

pps. I wanted to sign Kompany though.. sack MON what a fxxxxx idiot!!! sigh.... ;p

go on then andy tell me i didnt want milner as our number one signing cus i did and im delighted that hes now a villa player i ve wanted him back at villa since 2 weeks into his loan with us!

go on tell me im wrong mate.....

I'm sorry but in this day and age you just can't sign important players from other clubs "on the cheap". Milner was an important part of Newcastle's team - anyone thinking we could have snatched him for £6m is having a larf. £6m is peanuts these days, who are Newcastle going to buy with that? You have to pay big prices for home grown players even if they are just squad players. Look at Reo-Coker, with any luck he'll be sat on the bench most of this season.

madladdy....I did make it plainly obvious in my above post that I was 'having a bit of a laugh' about the $ thing. But now I've been educated I'll nip down Sainsbury's in the morning and buy my shopping with my leftover $'s

I have no doubt you may have wanted 'Baby James' as your RW choice from the start (I can't prove otherwise can I) but you didn't answer the question did you. Read the question again! In't education great! We can go at this all night! Or I may just go to bed

vivavilla exactly my point we did the same with baz by bumbing up our price because he was a key player for us the same as milner was fot the toon they got what they wanted because we stumped up the cash and liverpool didnt for barry why argue people we got what we wanted if a little more than planned but at end of day we'll get that back the toon got what they wanted cause keegan has got players of his own in mind etc....it was a win win for all concerned

Bob...If MON had only enough money for one more signing and it was between De La Red or Milner, which one would you go for as your bigger dream signing?

wow. some real clever dicks on the site today. can't help but agree. why didn't we go and buy robinho, torres and kaka, then go back in time and get baresi, maldini and pele. idiots. yeah, come on guys, up the blues. ooh, sorry, only my opinion!! ever been down the villa!?

Jesus, I can't believe that some of you have continued to find things to moan about.

LERNER JUST FORKED OUT 50 MILLION FOR US.

You may question the signings, but I don't. We've added a real RB, a better RW, a better GK, and quality players in Sidwell, Cuellar, and Shorey. With the exception of Cuellar, every one of these players have proved themselves to be good players in the Premiership. Are they all world class? No, but they still make us better. We were never going to spend 16 million on any one player, and we shouldn't have expect MON to do so. We had too many needs.

Anyone who thinks we're not a better team than we were last year is being silly.

milner all the time hes younger got more potential and more prem experience.........next

Reading some of the comments on here today about MON's transfer targets, missed deals and unplanned signings it seems to me that some of our bloggers have a source of information the envy of any jurno. How the hell do you know what targets have been identified or approached? Because it was printed in the daily Pap? Get real... these stories are made up to fill space and sell worthless rags. To date we've been linked with over 134 different players during this window. AV and MON are quite obviously planning a future for the club and one based upon an all round team game and not around one or two sulking money grabbing prima donnas who'll promise much and deliver little. Think back to the European glory days... it was a team that played for each other without the need for big hitters. Whos to say that even if we did secure a so called big name they would be successful within this set up. If it was as easy as that we wouldnt hear about players returning to their former clubs hoping to regain their previous form.

What makes you think De La Red would be guaranteed to be better? For all we know we could have been signing the next Albert Luque. At least with Milner we have already proven quality.

andyanarchist: I'm not sure Sainsburys will take them mate but you can try. ! Since that was the only 'question' that was aimed at me I will hazard a 'guess' at the one you want me to answer!

Flair? Star player? etc?

Well I'm not really bothered about singing a flair or star player to be honest. Having a winning team is more important.. I'm not making up a Panini collection. If we can get a star, flair player who improves us as a team (ala Young?) then yep go for it - if not - well don't!

Who did you have in mind exactly?

I'm guessing you think SWP is a flair & star player?! ie you wanted him?

Well as I said and many others have I think Milner is a much better all round player than SWP. And I think he'll certainly be a MUCH better player in 5 years time at 26/27 as SWP is now.

The Georgies used to sing Milner was Brazillian - how much flair do you want!


To coin a recent Wenger interview..

What you want is a big *name* and a big *fee*.

I'd rather have players big on quality.


Spurs and Newscastle have bought big fee, big name players (inc foreign) for years - fat lot of good its done either of them.m

madlady agreed could not have said it better myself

Exactly right madladdy. I think us Villa fans should be extremely proud of the fact that we're going forward with a primarily English side. It's a great thing to see in this day and age. I personally think it must be pretty crap being a Spurs fan - their manager can't even speak the same language as them and he's bringing in foreigners left right and center. It's almost like they're just some kind of faceless corporation.

yeah the ironic thing with that comment thou is our squad is 90% english and our manager isnt !!!

Look I'll stop it here...I'm just being a protagonist in the absence of taglor. My shitty attitude bits were a bit of fun! Bob, you should know that by now!

I think you have all missed the point. My question was ‘did you really want Jimmy Milner to be our main star signing?’ I don’t disagree we should have signed him, rate him, but just not our main/most expensive signing, given the total budget spent.

Anyway Bob, to give you a rebuttle, earlier in August you put down De La Red in your list of preferable transfers and put down ‘add milner to boot’. I agree you put down Milner, I think a lot of us did, but not as our main player to light up Villa Park.

I may just be wrong!

UTV

Last seasons team had spirit, 1-0 or 2-0 down, the lads would fight on. Who would want some foreign tart, who's head would drop? This boy is the epitemy of what we want at Villa.

Andy... there are still 2 days left, you never know - Milner might not be our main star signing!

i know andy i was just going along with what you were doing lol
and follow back further than that if you can and milner was top of my list i was only putting him last in that comment as hed agreed a new contract and i didnt think he would hand in transfer request and then move so quickly to us but yeah im 100% happy that he is our top signing (so far) and would be happy even if someone else came in for more money id still think he would be our top transfer this season purly down to his age experience attitude and adaptability to different positions etc...

my next top target for next summer would be louis young......

I'll mark that one down Bob and remind you of it this time next year..!

anyone else would be a bonus!!!

sorry to add to that my actual top transfer next season or this would be to get rid of harewood........

Can I add Knight and Petrov please...

Just noticed the avatar Bob..I can't keep up with your changes today...Your like Mr Benn with the quick changes!

gazza01: Exactly right, did you see Spurs in their 1st game against Boro - one goal down it was heads down and they didn't look interested. In the FIRST GAME!

andyanarchist: I know what your saying, but a team is more than the sum of its parts.

Even with the Milner vs DeLaRed part of me is going "oooh DeLaRed" but you know what I've NEVER seen him play, not once, not even on YouTube etc.. that makes NO sense!! It's due to the media, grass is greener etc that fans think like this!

So if I was choosing for fun/risk/intrigue I would probably go with DeLaRed but if I was choosing to **definitely** improve us as a team or if it was MY head on the line or my job to make Villa a better team than last year I would go with Milner every time.

Everone wants that exotic girlfriend with the sexy accent etc..

knight yes petrov no! i think he might just do something this season.....

madladdy..I've got one of them and they are better than the dodgy fat lasses. It's not true what they say about fat lasses!

That's what we said last season...Don't give me that!

although i was pleasantly supprised last night with knigh he had a decent game played it simple old fashioned like game hoofed it clear into stand to regroup etc... however davis continually put friedel under pressure by truing to play the ball back accross goal to friedel leading the op striker to pressure friedel etc.... centre halfs dont need to do that it add to a dodgey defence etc...(might be the reason we've leaked 6 goals in 3 games.....)

Agreed on that. The season ain't started proper yet though and when it settles (we've had cup tied players, injuries and not enough players) I think it should be a solid squad. I was really impressed with Davies last season and think he will do it again. Yep Knight look OK last night, but bring yourself back down to earth Bob and remind yourself what he did last season. Enough said!

Anyway does Petrov have some nasty illness cos when I watch it later on Sky+ he looked really pasty and gaunt! May have caught him in a bad light?

friedel
shorey laurson davis young

young barry petrov milner

carew agbonlahor

most likely be reo coker in midfield
subs, guzan, cueller, knight, gardner, routledge, harewood

the only thing that may look bad about this team on paper is not enough foreigners for the premiership nowadays, but un like most teams we have MON not scared to play the brits with a little but quality tint of overseas talent to take on the big 4, we had dawdle in the park to get through to uefa cup first round might not of been pretty but a few lads had a good run out (dunno why ya cant win anything with kids)
there will be 1 or 2 signings before monday could be papa henrik and unless its doyle i cant see him being english but i think a few of you want a big foreign name, and im rattling away here but i think that team will be a match for most teams this season, ps arshavin wants to leave that team for spurs shame for man u o dear

Neil W
Lene Lovich...(is that how ya spell it).
I like it mate. You were a tad too quick for me there.
If our lucky number is indeed "1", big Brad may score or something.
I have that song stuck in me head now. Not good!
Has anyone ever done the Beadle's About thing with Friedel?
May be it's not apt???
Aah!... Let's just get on and stuff the 'pool, eh?

Need to get rid of Nicky Shorey. The lad is wank!

Bugger flumps... Milner will do us pround on Sunday. Milner, Barry and Young to run the show on Sunday; 3-1...

Alonso to score theirs from the trinity road car park as he's fetching Gerrard's tear stained love letters of apology. Slightly smeared with Rafa's afterbirth. Yum.

Don't forget Milner is younger than Ash and already more complete before a year under MON. These two could become the Giggs and Beckham of the late 00's.

All we need now is a Huntelaar or a Rafael Sobis.

I'm not happy at all....i've just woke up and found wool on my bed!!! holf fcuk..am i turning into a sheep..well, thats for another day, WE NEED ANOTHER STRIKER!!!!!!! ....MON SHEEP, you know its true, if we get gabby and carew injured we are screwed!!.... Why the hell didnt we go for Saha??? yes,he may get injuries like the next man, but he puts the ball away...Everton are flukey mother fcukers, I said when Yakubu left MiddlesboRing we should have gone in for him..... BAAAAHHH BAAAAAH MON SHEEP HAVE YOU ANY WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL...YES SIR,YES SIR 30MILL FULLL

Newcastle have mugged us off for James "Look at me, i've just over taken Barry having more England U-21 Caps than you" Milner, i would have had rather have SWP or Lennon...but after the other day seeing the waste of space squad players we had he may be a good signing...please,it may be me....but i thought Isiah Osbourne couldnt half pass a ball...30-40 yrds on a plate all the time, pity the rest of his games pretty woefull...oie Damo, what the hell is this type in HYPWW or HYWKK to show ur message

The Daily Mirror Says We've Bid For Dean Ashton Again, And It Says If That Fails He's Considering Paris Saint Germains 29 Year Old French Striker Peguy Luyindula.. Also Says Possibly Another Defended In Marouane Felliani From Standard Liege..

I cant wait till tomorrow, with Milner & Young flying diwn the wings we'll beat them scousers.. Come on you lions!!

Think Milner for twelve mil is very bad business.
To be honest I believe we have spent a lot of money this summer on very average players, certainly not on players that will take us to next level.
Were these the quality are players we were really hoping for at the start of the window

well the Magpies have turned! On the 'Newcastle Utd mad 'site they are now calling him judas

Can't wait for tomorrow to see the difference Milner will make to our left.