Is Ireland to stay in Manchester and further Milner updates
Hat tip : H&V
If this is really Stephen Ireland’s twitter feed looks like he is going nowhere south of Manchester
staying in manchester!
about 2 hours ago via web
If he is really staying at City and not moving to Bolton, Blackburn, Man U etc, we can only presume the stories of Milner deal being definitely off is correct
On the OS they have pictures of the training session and Milner features heavily, smiling. Also on the front page they have a link to the pictures and once again Milner features.
Are these signs he is going to stay ?
If I was Milner I would think very carefully about his next steps, If they want him that much they would pay the cash so how much do they really want him, is he just a stop gap on their way to universal domination.
Look at these quotes from City fans on BBC 606
Richardtheref
As a City fan i hope this is true. Just because you were ripped off by Newcastle you now feel that you can rip us off. No one on this earth can persuade me that he is worth more than 8 million. Another average English player whose club value him far higher than his talent deserves just coz its City.
aleras
We wont pay more than £24 million – £10 million more than he is actually worth.
Stay where the fans love you, the manager loves you.
Stay where you play in your true position and not as a utility player.
Stay where you made your name, forget the big bucks, some things are worth more than money.
Stay where you can be a Villa legend and England star
SPECULATION : Milner compromise on £28m, Spurs swaps for Young
The Mirror once again comes up with some corkers.
First up is that they reckon Villa and Man city will compromise at £28m cash after a precise £24,6m was rejected. We have dismissed swaps for Ireland and Bellamy as we want all cash.
Secondly and rather boring a story that Spurs will offer Keane, Bentley and Jenas and no cash for young who we want £30m for. Apparently the lure of Young is a pay rise from £60 to £65m, JOKERS.
Oh and both articles repeat the mantra of ‘sell to buy’ the Mirror has peddled the past month.
the sun just has one story on Luke Young rejecting move because
did not want to take 10k pay drop
did not want to move family there
did not want to be on the bench
We all could have made that up
ITK – Milner deal collapsed and MON turning into Cloughie
On H&V a regular poster called Juan Pablo has said the Milner deal has collapsed
Milner deal looks off –
Milner thinks it will collapse
( until next year ))
Its what he feels… not saying a lot.. The clubs aint saying a lot neither
Well thats what James feels..I can only tell you what James is saying….
I understand this guy may have proper information but as usual it is all a ITK story and should NOT be taken as the gospel truth 
For my pennies worth whatever our valuation is Man City will not pay it (£30m reckoned to be it) ad we knw over the Barry deal just how stubborn we are once we have our minds set.
I have no doubt that Milner will give us all for Villa but this will certainly restrict the budget though !
IF true I want Villa to come out with a firm statement that no bids whatever the money will be entertained until the end of the season, put it to bed
As usual following Villa is NOT boring
Thanks to GH on the comments he made me aware of this MON comment
The manager said: “We met on Monday, and the word amicable was quite right. I suppose I could use the old Cloughie line that we chatted for 20 minutes and decided I was right all along!”
Love that quote as it shows MON is in total control of the situation and does indicate that whoever spoke for Milner on the weekend is no longer involved.
Milner looks relaxed in all the photo’s so positive all roung
SSN – Young turns down transfer and linked with Fulham
Hat tip – ‘MonsXI’ Villatalk
Sky Sports News are reporting that Luke Young has turned down a move to Liverpool for ‘family reasons’
I hope he gets a decent move but he may need to reduce his wage demands if he wants a move to say Fulham or West Ham who have been linked before.
Now now Sky ‘understand’ that Fulham are interested which has been linked before and understandable on all sides if the wages can be sorted and Young accepts a reduction.
SPECULATION : Petrov for Liverpool, Young wants payoff and Carew to Besiktas
Well I never expected this from the Mirror but they are saying that Liverpool want Stillyan Petrov as replacement for Mascherano.
The cost is rumoured to be £7m and story is by Alan Nixon (Nicko) who some say has decent contacts. Of all the links I have seen this has got to the wildest of them all.
Mirror also reports that Luke Young’s move is being held up as he wants a pay off from Villa for accepting reduced wages at Liverpool
The Mail have linked Carew back to one of his former clubs Besiktas where he spent a decent season, anyone left to be linked to go ?
Milner at the airport, Confirmed Liverpool bid for Luke Young accepted – £2.5m
The Trees on Villatalk has took a photo of Milner at Birmingham Airport, looking fairly relaxed and obviously bound for Portugal, could it be he stays as no sign Man City will up bid.
Radio 5 have said that Liverpool have confirmed a £2.5m bid for Luke Young has been accepted and awaiting confirmation he agrees to personal terms.
Not sure when it was obvious last night we had accepted a bid from Liverpool we did not announce it.
Some more ITK – Dickson Etutu
Some more In the Know stuff today will update as we go on today, these remember should just be taken for what they are. Most will prove to be BS.
From Dante_Lockhart on Villatalk
My mate of a mate of a mucker says we’re currently in talks with Fulham for Dickson Etuhu with the possibility of cash + Sidders. Just waiting on the managerial position to be sorted first.
ITK information – Heskey to Sunderland
On H&V ‘haway the lads’ just posted this
Alright lads? Not quite sure if this is the correct place to ask or not because i’m not a regular over here but strong rumours are coming out of portugal (where sunderland are based for pre-season) suggesting that Heskey is en-route to the stadium of light. I’m not sure how many of you are familiar with the sunderland messageboards but the SMB are now carrying the rumours. Getting slightly nervous now. Especially as it appears that a loan move for Danny Welbeck has fallen through and Jones looking very unsettled yet again. Any news or anything fellas?
On the Sunderland Message board ‘Ready to Go’ there is this thread where they have said Heskey has said his goodbyes to the Villa squad
I did post rumours recently that Heskey was heading to Blackburn but Sunderland does make sense on many levels given Bruce worked with him at Blues and Wigan.
Now of course this places doubt over the future of Kenwyne Jones but can see a Liverpool Link for him not Villa.
ITK information on Milner, Ireland, Luke Young and Carlton Cole
Always the same provsio, caution, this is only information being posted and not to be taken as the literal truth !
Some sites have dropped their ITK thread, not sure why, always great fun !
From ‘MYSTERYMAN’ on VT
On Ireland -
We are in pole position
When asked if part of the Milner deal -
Seperate deal and it’s not likely to happen anytime soon unless someone else nips in and forces our hand . Don’t believe all this we got to sell Milner either for it to happen they were looking at him before Milner became an issue .
If Ireland is happy to come –
From the City end not Villa’s apparently yes but then again they told me that the deal for Milner was done at 28 mill and clearly isn’t . Also Onura ( Spelling shocking ) is interested in coming again from the City end .
From ‘Michael Porter’ on this blog regarding information a deal would be done today
I can confirm the only thing holding the deal up now is Irelands reluctance to join Villa. Mancini has re contacted O’Neill to re adjust the bid to include Shaun Wright Phillips – but O’Neill is playing hard ball & wants Ireland ! Contrary to reports yesterday, the meeting with Milner and his lagal team did not go well & he’s insistent on leaving Villa. There are 4 to 5 deals being held up due to the Milner saga. one is a huge deal for a striker.
I will post more as and when I receive the information – if requested !
On H&V – Dave Woodhall
Heard Liverpool have bid for Luke Young
From ‘Dexterblue’ on bluemoon
I was at a golf pro am a couple of weeks ago in Limerick and Martin O’Neill was there…I asked him if Villa were going to buy Ireland…We had a bit of a laugh about the number of grandmother he has and asked me if I was related to him!!! But before he left he got serious and said he thought he was an excellent player. I took it that thinks a lot of him as a player but would not be bidding.
Finally ‘Smetrov’ on VT has said
A friend of mine who knows a physio at villa – reckons we are prepared to pay £16m for Carlton Cole
Make of that what you will, but remeber this is real life and not FM, things are never that simple, with MON certainly not !
SPECULATION : A NEW link WOW, this time SWP, Milner £30m or no deal and also Ireland told he can leave
Yes I am so very excited that the Mirror (woah, hold on there) have linked us to a relatively new name, yes this time Shaun Wright-Phillips, the inconsistent out of favour Man City winger.
They claim a deal could be done as he looks favourably on a move to Villa as a makeweight for Milner.
Lets hope not, he is the least impressive of any winger option we have
And still 5 more weeks to go of this nonsense !
The Sun reports that Villa will hold firm to not accepting anything less than £30m for Milner
Thanks to a poster (‘reality’) on Villatalk he has linked a story from the Times (behind paywall)
Stephen Ireland told he’s unlikely to be included in #MCFC 25-man squad next season and can leave the club
In other words there are offers for him, PLEASE let it be us
SPECULATION : McGeady in talks with Spartak Moscow
I missed this one from earlier and others it seems as well.
Hattip : villatalk
The Mirror reporting that Celtic have allowed Spartak Moscow to speak to Aiden McGeady for a £9m transfer after being told no other club has firmed up their interest. According to them we have not firmed up our interest.
This I think will please many Villa fans and whist I think McGeady has potential I would hate for Albrighton to be blocked now. go as far to say we do not need a right winger in Albrighton we have one ready to go !
What Man City fans think of Milner
I do like the Man city Bluemoon forum and on their Milner thread we see the following comments and I have tried to pick out a fair selection. To be honest the response is mixed about him which for me shows just how under appreciated as a player he is.
RICHARDS30
think milner is gonna be a brilliant signing to be honest!!!! is more talented than people give him credit for.
MONKFISH
Are any of you saying what a pointless signing Milner would be aware of a complete lack of energy in our midfield last season – and also aware of the energy Milner provided for Villa? If Milner was a City player last season I think we would have strolled 4th and possibly pushed Arsenal for 3rd.
LEE-MCFC
fingers crossed he stays at villa
AUSSIE!
This statement, makes me (as a City fan) nervous because it implies Milner will be going to City. (Similiar situation)Much like the Lescott scenario where he was excluded from training before we signed him.
The last thing i want is for that overrated – overppriced prick to come.
In reply – FANTASYIRELAND
Regardless of whether you rate him as a player,and,for the record,he is a very good one who will improve our team immensely,what right have you to call him a prick.
As ever Milner has acted in a dignified manner throughout this saga,he is a superb example of how a footballer should live their life.
Your well out of order here mate.
LARDERLAND
if we go over 24 mil il be extremely embarressed,and thats coming from someone who really wanst him here
CELEBRITY KILLER
That’s precisely the point, there must be a plan B or C instead of this guy. I understand the need for this type of player… but let’s not turn it in a obsessed Hughes-type transfer. If they won’t take 24m walk away… look at other options… let the player force the transfer through if need be – 24m should be enough to make it happen.
SPECULATION : Bid of £24m for Milner (rejected – SSN)
I heard on Radio 5 today in two different news bulletins that they ‘understand’ a bid of £24m has been officially placed by Man City for Milner. This at the moment is not being reported elsewhere but I am NOT deaf
So whilst the talks today were amicable we have no statement from either side indicating any possibility of contract talks and that can only lead to a conclusion that Milner does not want to commit himself.
Of course that means we have a choice to make, do we hang on for £28-30m we are reported to want, knowing he could go for £12-15m next summer especially if he repeats last season a lot more clubs will want him and he becomes more affordable for say a Liverpool or Spurs.
And no chance of him staying, I would imagine right now only Randy, Paul Faulkner and MON know the answer to that.
EDIT : reports on Man City’s Bluemoon forum said a reporter outside Bodymoor claimed we have rejected the £24m bid
Also on same forum they have said
Interestingly SSN has just said the reason for the delay in signing Balotelli is because CITY have stalled the deal and the reason is that all of our negotiation team are deep in talks for Milner so Balotelli has to wait.
End game ? and remember a guy commenting on here said deal would completed by tomorrow
Young and Milner no go for Spurs
If anyone really believed the reports over the past few days then Redknapp was looking at buying Young and Milner.
Well this article from Sky with actual quotes puts paid to that.
Asked about Milner, Redknapp told Sky Sports News: “No, we wouldn’t be able to.
“Anybody would like James Milner, he’s an outstanding young player, but he’d be way out of our depth.”
On Young, Redknapp added: “Again, I wouldn’t think they’d want to sell Ashley Young.
“He is a good player but he belongs to Villa. We’ve not made any enquiries for him at all.
I think for once we can take ‘Arry’s word on this and in the case of Young then everyone should breathe easier (including MON) he is going nowhere.
Just does not help at this time that the fans are being told by the press and in many ways by MON that we have to ‘sell to buy’ a new player at this stage is what we need.
Keane is the answer, have no doubt about that
OK so what do we make of friendlies, after yesterday’s one it is easy to dismiss them as an irrelevance. So I preface this post with that because I believe friendlies count for little.
However in the current tournament in New York and I have been sad enough to watch both Spurs games, Robbie Keane has been the outstanding Spurs player in very high temperatures of 100 F. He has scored what I call two poachers goals as well as set up another one with a typical through ball. So given the proviso above and based on previous comments on this blog I have no doubt in saying this
MON, get KEANE he is totally 100% PERFECT for Villa.
Why do I say this, well I give these reasons
- He scores PL goals the type of poachers goals we lack
- He has the football intelligence that Carew and Gabby both lack to drop back into midfield to link the play
- At his age pace was never his game anyway and for the same age we got Merson with far more personal problems and look what he did
- He is destined to play for us and knows the area and can settle easily
- Believe he would be a popular signing for both the players and fans alike
At the tournament he refused to answer any questions about his future and in fact walked out of an interview when asked. Added to this today ‘Arry effectively put up him for sale so as long as Spurs do not play silly buggers a deal can and should be done.
There are a number of fans on the forum who will disagree with the statements above but if he came to Villa I think he would be a very popular and successful signing and showed in the heat he still has the desire, maybe the spell at Celtic did him well.
Wonder how many McGeady set up for him ?
SPECULATION : Milner ‘DONE DEAL’ for cash plus Ireland, has improved bid been made
Not see this mentioned elsewhere but the Independent on Sunday is reporting Milner is a ‘done deal’
James Milner’s move from Aston Villa to Manchester City is a “done deal”, but Martin O’Neill is holding out for at least £25m, The Independent on Sunday understands.
An impeccable source said that the Villa manager would hold out for every penny he could get for the England midfielder but that O’Neill would be interested in a player-plus-cash deal, with City’s Stephen Ireland of particular interest.
I think I speak on behalf of every Villa fan that we just want this situation finished ASAP now, it seems to be holding everything else up and all of us are totally bored of it.
I reported a couple of weeks ago that ‘Mysteryman’ on VT said it was a done deal then so you do wonder why it has took so long to get it completed.
EDIT : Someone it seems with a good rep on City’s Bluemoon forum has claimed an improved bid has been made – LINK
SPECULATION : Milner (yet again), this time to Spurs, hmmm
Maybe MON’s plan to smoke out other bidders has worked as the NOTW runing a story that dear old ‘Arry is ready to hijack City’s bid for Milner
Now this sounds feasible to me (though they call Milner a winger !) as they have some cash but City could eaily blow them out of the water if they wanted to. Of course if MON’s plan is right he will see this story and chuckle to himself !
SPECULATION : Heskey to Blackburn for £2m, Ash Young to Spurs, Davies and yes Keane
A couple of rumours on the internet at the moment, which backs up something I was told yesterday.
On H&V ‘Risso’ posted what looks a strange ITK about his wife second cousin removed or something like that being told that Heskey will go to Blackburn for £2m.
backed up by
I’ve just heard the Heskey to Blackburn story from my niece’s boyfriend as well, who has a friend who knows Big Sam. I’m not making this up.
On Villatalk, Denis has posted that the Daily Mirror will soon post the exact same story.
EDIT: Mirror LINK
Would think the legions of Villa fans out there will be cheering loudly at this news, It is not a surprise this will happen as Fat Sam was linked with Heskey ever since he was at Blackburn and before we ‘poached’ Heskey.
and now we have a bumper post from the Mirror
My ‘friend’ James Nursey has a fair few links, First Ash Young to Spurs, well after what Ash said this week total joke of a link. then he says Curtis Davies to Spurs as makeweight for Keane after Celtic withdrew their offer as they could not afford £5m. Seems a logical deal as Spurs need a central defender to cover for their crocks.
Finally the Mirror also report on their pre season tour Robbie Keane stormed out on press conferences when asked about his future.
SPECULATION : Luke Young to Liverpool and also Milner (YAWN)
The Mirror report that one of Roy Hodgson’s targets for Liverpool could be Luke Young
Also in a number of articles on there and also the Guardian reports that Milner is angry at MON’s comments today and may go to ‘war’ with MON over this. Cleary Milner’s agent has spoken to various press men and that is one thing you do not do under MON. They both also report Man City will make one final bid of £24m in the next few days.
Maybe that was MON’s plan after all, to come out and say this in order to smoke out Milner and Man City and get this over now and quickly before Milner goes to training on Monday.
Think he could have it spot on, there could be an accepted bid by the weekend I feel, no ITK.
Finally in the two Mirror articles they claim like they have done that we have to sell to buy, can not deny it after what MON said today.
SPECULATION : Young to go next (don’t worry not THAT one)
The Mirror who of course said last night that Milner would stay are now saying that Luke Young did not travel to Ireland in order to set himself up a transfer, with Fulham favourites, are they becoming the next Bolton or Middlesbrough ?
Something happened between Young and MO, we do not know the details but this is inevitable and for some people will add fuel to the fire after the Milner news today.
Sell to buy or a clever plan and MON praises McGeady
In all the fuss about Milner these comments have been missed a little
“As the chairman mentioned, maybe it is a case of probably having to sell to buy. That is something I’m delving into at the moment,” he said.
Before people go off on one it is not a case of we HAVE to sell to buy but more a case of keeping things in balance. That may sound contradictary to many of you and indeed on the surface they look clear.
However the facts are that with the wage bill we have to clear space to bring people in and if we want to bring 4/5 players in the unlimitless pot that Randy had is not there any more.
So yes if we hung onto Milner we could still buy but the options would be reduced both in fees and wages and therefore like Tottenham did with Berbatov, Carrick and Keane when the bids are so big that sometimes you have to accept them and use the money.
Besides that it can be used as a way of keeping prices down, if other teams thought we had Milner’s money plus loads more what do you think would happen ?
Also MON commented on McGeady
“Aiden McGeady, I think he has got the ability to be able to play in the Premiership – without question. I had him when he was a kid at Celtic. I played him without worrying too much about his youth at the time. He played against AC Milan one night at Celtic Park in the Champions League and he was absolutely fantastic.”
Well without saying he is Villa bound this is as good as that. Please look at my post a few days ago for reasons why this may not be as bad a move as some of you would think.
Finally in a joking way Richard Dunne has said that the whole of the Ireland team will be at Villa.
However would anyone be really unhappy to see us use the Milner money for Ireland, Keane and McGeady ?
OFFICIAL – MILNER wants to GO, bye, Villa always moves on
All the stories have spread from a Radio 5 interview by Juliette Ferrington and on her twitter
# martin o’neill: “james intimated he wanted to leave before he left for the world cup. I haven’t spoken to him since.”
This is after Mancini has said today that he would not pay over the odds for Milner and for me is a clear MON plan to force Milner’s hand by handing in a transfer request.
This will mean Villa can lower their asking price (as they do not have to pay Milner) and the deal can be done.
Get this done quickly Villa, end game is now here. A deal can be struck at the right price for us but we do not want the situation like with Barry when an unhappy player is stuck around the club.
£25m should do it
Milner has lost a lot of my respect and I hope he likes being rotated something he has never seen at previous clubs and obviously never learnt the lesson from Gareth Barry.
Whilst being disappointed at this, we move on, Villa are bigger than any player or individual and MON will have to find the next James Milner. Besides we still have Ash who after his comments this week is fully committed ot the club and should become the focal point of the team
Also I would say this is MON’s way of alerting any other possible clubs as no direct comment about Man City and rumours were around Chelsea would like to speak to him.
An auction ?
SPECULATION : Milner stays but refuses to sign new contract – UPDATED – Will go if price is right
Contrary to my last blog post where I expect Milner to go the Mirror for the second day running are speculation that Milner will stay as Man city refuse to match our price. This will mean Milner will still be at VP but refuses to sign a new contract straight away. The lack of Man City’s money James Nursery (Blues fan) says we have no cash to buy anyone.
UPDATED – 12:30 22/07
Sky Sports and others reporting that MON has said Milner wants to go.
Of course Milner has not handed in a transfer request that will cost him loads of cash and that says it all about a player I thought had integrity and class, he has NONE.
Transfer request please Milner, forgo some money so we can lower the price and get rid of you, I am totally disappointed in your actions.
In another story the Mirror claim we have missed out on possible target Hugo Rodallega to Stoke.
Transfer deals, your call, who would you like to come and go
Bare in mind the wage bill can not go further than it is now, it is arguable that it needs to go lowers, leave your comments on who you think should be sold and who should be brought. Presume only £10m spend from Randy the rest to be self generated.
This may not be one in and one out as the youngsters like Albrighton and Clark will be promoted further into the squad
My plans
OUT
Shorey
Davies
Young (L)
Milner (not that I want him to be sold but inevitable)
Heskey
Sidwell
IN
Micah Richards
Witsel
Ireland
Bellamy
possible team
Freidel
Richards Dunne Collins Warnock
Petrov Witsel
Young Ireland Downing
Gabby
your thoughts ?
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