Milner sale would make no sense

Matt wrote...

Graeme Souness got very little right but he was spot on when he said "You will never win anything with a team full of James Milners"

The lad is slow and his crossing is the worst I've ever seen from a wide man at the toon, having a good attitude and giving 100% won't make up for this and if he was a foreigner he'd only be worth around £4 million.

Keegan should accept a bid on the condition that he can find a replacement, then get straight on the phone to Chelsea for SWP.

Posted by: Matt  | August 14, 2008 2:53 PM

Adam Knox wrote...

It would be a very, very stupid mvoe to sell Milner. The figure being banded about is 8-10 million here... now if Gareth Barry is worth 18 million + , Villa can go whistle if they think they could get away with paying under 10 million.

Not that im saying he's worth more than 10 million, Milners crossing still leaves a lot to be desired BUT his work rate, attitude, control and skill are top notch. If milner could improve his crossing and decision making (maybe weigh in with a few more goals) he will be a hell of a player.

The issue here isn't how good or not Milner is, its the fact that the money would not be enough,we would not have enough time to sign someone of equal ability or better... so selling will already weaken a small squad.

Posted by: Adam Knox  | August 14, 2008 3:36 PM

gary f wrote...

im not convinced nufc will welcom a move for milner. theres no issues with his wages like the big money contracts ov smith etc

Posted by: gary f  | August 14, 2008 4:57 PM

Paul wrote...

Too right, Lee. 9 or 10 million is a lot of money for Milner, but at this stage in the transfer window, there's no way we should accept it. We don't want to sell him, fail to sign a replacement, and then end up with more money but fewer players. I also think it would be a real shame to get rid of young English talent - Milner still has a lot of potential!

Posted by: Paul  | August 14, 2008 5:02 PM

Denis_B wrote...

You need to consider why on earth would Milner want to stay at Newcastle?

Going nowhere, manager not the brightest in the box, a chairman who is a buffoon and wants/needs to sell, no transfer kitty?

An a complete joke of a club, as always

Posted by: Denis_B  | August 14, 2008 5:11 PM

CP wrote...

I would definitely sell Milner for £10 million. Yes, he gives 100% every game but his final ball is poor, he is is'nt a great crosser and he rarely scores. He is the type fans love (especially ours) but his end product doesn't live up to the hype.

Posted by: CP  | August 14, 2008 5:20 PM

alex wrote...

I agree lee. The quotes of Keegan having 50 million to spend this summer from the national press back in May time have proven to be absolute rubbish.

As a fan, I've been waiting for good some good news this week, but it instead I've read that Collocini still hasn't signed, Gutierrez is still not a Newcastle player, we still don't have Owen, Martins or Viduka for sunday, and now we are going to sell our strongest (at the moment anyway) attacking midfielder, for a few quid that would sort out some old debt problems.

If this deal goes through, we're looking at a poor start to the season, which will lead to a bad run of form, and we'll be lucky to finish 12th again, no matter what Jose Mourinho says.

Alex

Posted by: alex  | August 14, 2008 5:33 PM

Brian wrote...

A message for Denis B(hasn't your name got a silent P at the front - closet mackem!!) get of the site!! I also think it would be ludicrous to sell Milner at this stage and would only cash in on him in the Jan window for 10m.
However, I can see it unfolding, as Ashley tries to claw back his so called the 27M debt from the Shep days...he will sell Milner in Aug and that will seal the coffin for Ashley, as the fans who obviously have lost patience with him will snap. Keep out of the ground MA, home and away, you will get to know who really runs this fantastic club, the hard working public from a great area do!...You won't be having fun soon!

Posted by: Brian  | August 14, 2008 6:56 PM

Simon wrote...

The article above is spot on but who would blame Milner if he wanted to leave this shambles of a club. We're almost on the eve of a new season and we have two new signings that won't be registered in time to play in the opening game, sick note Owen back to his usual place on the treatment table, Martins, Viduka and Carrol all injured. Still, we can always rely on Smith and Ameobi to get us a couple goals at old Trafford!

Posted by: Simon  | August 14, 2008 7:25 PM

STEVE wrote...

JUST been talking with the lads who are season ticket holders about the mags down the pub......we think milner is an asset to nufc,and just now with the chairman/owner we have we need all the decent players we can keep.....and get more than a few in....but lets look at the realistic situation,..we have guttierez who hasnt got a work permit,coloccini whose situation is known only to ashley and god,and basically nowt else apart from the same old ,same old....owen,viduka injured,martins injured/greiving,faye apparently unhappy(dont blame him).....and a fantastic manager who i think is being sold down the river.

Posted by: STEVE  | August 14, 2008 7:29 PM

free bet wrote...

its sad to say but they will not go back on top form, at least for this season, they just dont have what it takes to get back...

Posted by: free bet  | August 14, 2008 9:13 PM

RAY WILSON wrote...

HI Lee -I agree entirely with your article.Mike Ashley is starting to get on every ones nerves. We are not it seems going to have Collocini or Guiterrez signed in time to play on Sunday-Personally I would be telling our real mallorca brothers to forget it if they are not registered in time to play on Sunday-These two deals are beginning to smell and its time some one at the club told us the real reason for the delays in getting them signed up.Selling Milner would be stupid -but when has Newcastle United of late not acted stupid ? We must be the laughing stock of the football world.The players who should go are Viduka {too slow and never fit -Duff who scores hat tricks against the likes of Hartlepool -but who is useless in the premiership} and one or two others who are here for the money. We have not had a good pre-season in terms of strengthening the team and I still believe KK has his hands tied behind his back. Kevin knows what we need and he is not being allowed to get it- I think Mike Ashley needs to consider if it will make sense for him to stand with the toon army this year-looks like he wont find things very comfortable. Still no sign of Owen staying,a crop full of injuries, signings who cant play for us yet-Kevin must be tearing his hair out-no good Ashley giving interviews saying there is money there for Kevin to make signings-its obvious that there is not-Time you gave Kevin some real money Mr. Ashley-we will not get out of our position selling the likes of Milner and hanging on to Geremi and Duff-do you think we are stupid.

Posted by: RAY WILSON  | August 14, 2008 9:56 PM

peter wrote...

Sell Milner, don't sign colocinni, bassong, let the wrangle over guiterezz carry on so he does'nt get registered in time, let Tiago go to posh scouse land cause we wanna pay peanuts, keep MO on his current contract and let him go for free next year, swap given for senderos.
Why is communication from NUFC so crap this year?
Why does it take so long to sign a player when other clubs find,bid medical and signed, Aston Villa good example.
Why do we give the Denis B's of this area the material to take the p:@@
Why do 50000 fans give £500+ minimum to be given priviliged access to the mushroom club (dark and S@;t on).
Answers on a postcard.....

Posted by: peter  | August 14, 2008 11:00 PM

Adda nuff wrote...

Have we not been here before,a poor pre season,beating a small team,been embarrassed by another,not winning a tournament miles from home,beating a team from spain who have just got of a aeroplane,and a few not so known transfers.
Oh throw in a board calling the shots,a bibles worth of players were going to sign,a public who really need re-paying,is this not like every other season.
No doubt we will have a poor start,pick up some points but wake up mid season and realise theres a fight on our hands and a new manager at the club.
I feel for the fans because there is so much hope,and these people pay out good money in hard times and support always.
I really want to eat my words but i've seen this season after season,its going to be tough because theres a lot more teams building and hoping like us.

Posted by: Adda nuff  | August 14, 2008 11:07 PM

Mal wrote...

Just because we have a received a bid for a player doesn't mean we want to sell him. There's no way we should be selling anyone at this stage of the transfer window as we won't be able to replace them - so we shouldn't be selling faye to stoke either.
And why is there no info coming out from the club on Jose and colloccini - it's a disgrace that we aren't being told what is going on. Everyone else seems to tie transfers up in 24 hours.

Posted by: Mal  | August 14, 2008 11:23 PM

James 09 wrote...

Rare of me to say this Lee, but I completely agree.

Posted by: James 09  | August 15, 2008 12:53 AM

Denis_B wrote...

Thanks Brian but I am nothing t odo with the North East and as you have to resort t opersonal insults clearly have no argument.

Re the Barry comments, he is a regular in the England side, was the last England captain, was Villas captain and the mainstay of their side. Milner is a player being held back playing for the barcodes and will benefit from playing in a forward looking, youthful, predominantly English side.

Posted by: Denis_B  | August 15, 2008 8:27 AM

Dave B wrote...

Alex - my sentiment word for word, well said that man. We don't want a Ferdinand situation mark 2. Even if we had a replacement lined up our current bafflement with paperwork at the minute means we'd have little chance of getting anyone in before the London Olympics opening ceremony.

Why oh why are things taking so long??? Are NUFC's financial department on extended leave, only pausing on the way to the airport to post the season ticket reminders??? Whatever the real situation is it looks second rate, c'mon sort it out!

Re the £50million pot, well it's clearly a £50million RRP with a massive 75% off and free pair of Donnay socks (but no suits obviously).

Posted by: Dave B  | August 15, 2008 9:00 AM

Action Steve wrote...

how would it not make sense? 9 million for milner is too good to miss, he's not worth even half that. he's a grafter, but he's got no class.
i would accept it with only one second's thought..."could we give villa 10 million and milner and get Gareth Barry?"

Posted by: Action Steve  | August 15, 2008 10:44 AM

Richard Johnson wrote...

Milner 10 million, it is a question that begs an answer from KK, can we replace someone with full commitment to the team. Answer NO. Milner has shown improvement in pre-season, and yes we have cover in those positions but its that cover that we need to progress in the premiership, how many wingers to opposition at on sunday, we need the competition that we had in the days of Sir Bobby, he proved a big squad helps especially when you have an injury record like we do.
A message to Denis B dont write on this wall, go back and see if the Stadium of light will hit full capacity. PS Spurs reserves wont win the league.

I expect something special from KK before the close of the deadline but hopefully it wont be at the expense of Milner

Posted by: Richard Johnson  | August 15, 2008 11:33 AM

DAVE ROBSON wrote...

I WOULD ONLY LET HIM GO IF SWP CAME TO IF NOT WE HAVE TO KEEP HIM.
IF ALAN SMITH IS TO GO WE SHOULD DO A SWAP WITH LEIGHTON BAINES, WOULD BE AN EXELLENT AQUISISTION FOR THE DEFENCE AND GOT A MEAN LEFT FOOT ON HIM AS WELL.
I SAID BEFORE BUT LOOKS LIKE RANGERS ARE GONNA GET HIM PEDRO MENDES, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN IDEAL FOR OUR MIDFIELD,PLENTY OF VISION WOT WE ARE DESPERATLY SHORT OF, SO WE SHOULD TRY AND NIP IN AND GET BULLARD, OBVIOUSLY HE NOT 100% HAPPY AT FULHAM.
NEITHER OF THE LAST TWO MENTIONED WOULD BREAK THE BANK.
LETS GET BEHIND SMITHY ON SUNDAY, HE WILL SCORE SUNDAY.
HOW CAN OWEN NOT BE FIT, UNBELIVABLE,
HE WONT PLAY HALF OUR GAMES THIS SEASON, AND WONT SIGN CONTRACT, HE SHOULD BE TAKING A WAGE CUT, AS HE OWES THE TOON BIG TIME

Posted by: DAVE ROBSON  | August 15, 2008 11:38 AM

Adam Knox wrote...

There are so many negative people in here... Yes Ashley is a businessman but he is backing the team, coloccini will cost around 10 million, gutierrez will cost us 7 mill to compensate him for buying out his contract... and we still have more players to come in. I've heard a lot of info coming out of st james recently and all i can say is we're not finished with new signings...

not by a long shot.

Posted by: Adam Knox  | August 15, 2008 11:40 AM

Ben wrote...

I agree with you on this one Lee it would make no sense at all to sell Milner and it HAS TO BE UP TO KK IF HE STAYS OR GOES. I personally think he will say, And finally some positive news in the Market, Spiderman can play on sunday Oba may also start and we have finally signed a quality centre half, I just hope we manage to sign tiago, then looking back at the pre-season I will eat my words of prior weeks and say we have had a good pre-season and with shola going we will have got rid of more dead wood.And bu good I mean that we have signed a proven centre back we have signed a hard working agrie international winger, Guthrie looks like a decent player, duff has shown form finally over pre season, but we definately need another centre midfielder,If you look at the likes of Everton and many others they have harly been productive thus far in the market. Now lets hope we get our skipper 2 sign a contract and get fit, and lets all get behind KK and the team for the forthcoming season, because if we get behind the team and KK the atmosphere created up here is worth a good few points over the season!!

Posted by: Ben  | August 15, 2008 12:08 PM

smb2005 wrote...

if we can get 10 million for milner we should take the money and run.
can't cross, rarely scores and on the pitch looks generally slugish, people talk about his work rate but he just looks like a headless chicken straight from the school playing fields

Posted by: smb2005  | August 15, 2008 12:10 PM

MIKE ASHBURN wrote...

I'm sick to death of this ongoing saga/soap episode.
Please,please,please,someone at SJP,put it to bed,out to pasture or any number of other phrases that are running around behind my very furrowed brow.
Enough is enough!

Posted by: MIKE ASHBURN  | August 15, 2008 12:27 PM

Deaco wrote...

It would be a mistake to sell Milner. He is everything that the new regime is looking at spending money at: - Versatile, not a huge earner and young. If we sold him, his replacement (if we could get one) would probably be European who needs adapting to the Premier League, wants more money than perhaps Milner was on and will probably be older with less desire than James.

Forget Smith for Man United. It should be:
Given
Beye, Collocini, Taylor, Enrique
Guitterez, Butt, Guthrie, Duff
Milner, Martins

Milner playing just behind Martins in a forward role.

Posted by: Deaco  | August 15, 2008 12:52 PM

Thomas Mac Cabe wrote...

I agree with Kevin Keegan when he says that Milner is talented enough to play in most outfield positions.

He is not electrifingly quick but he is certainly not a slow player as some people have suggested in their comments above. He makes good runs and finds space in dangerous areas, particularly on the wing. His crossing has significantly improved over the last two seasons and I believe he is now an integral member of our team.

Selling Milner would make no sense, especially at £10m. We would be another man short and there is little in terms of a replacement available in the transfer market. Realistic targets that possess the kind of quality Milner has are very expensive and in short supply.

If Villa (or whoever) get Milner for £10m they will have pulled off a fantastic bit of business and NUFC will have shot themselves in the foot. I can only take comfort in the fact that KK and the "high brass" (as Alan Oliver puts it) at NUFC seem to value James Milner as highly as I do.

I think this season will be the making of James Milner and the more players we can recruit of his character and ability, the better Newcastle United will be positioned to actually achieve something of note.

Posted by: Thomas Mac Cabe  | August 15, 2008 1:14 PM

Paul D wrote...

Sell Milner and it just proves were a club with zero ambtion, Ashley is talkin about getting back into europe, you cant expect that and sell our best players, I agree milner needs to sort out his crossing and concentration but i think people are forgetting hes still only 21! He has his best years ahead of him, why let him spend them at a rival club? We should be talking about strengthening our small squad NOT selling our potential stars, Milner has been nothing but loyal and not once been in the press for the wrong thing, get rid of the trouble makers (we all know who i mean) and the deadwood NOT players who give 100% for the club like JM!

Posted by: Paul D  | August 15, 2008 1:35 PM

Snapper wrote...

As usual people on this blog (subject to prodding by the blog owner) are getting themselves in a twist over rumour by the red tops about who is for sale and who isn't. Dont people realise that football journo's are scraping around for stuff to write about. Last week the Mail ran the story that Colicini was waiting for Spurs to make a move because he favoured that option, did Spurs make a move? Did they hell.

Posted by: Snapper  | August 15, 2008 1:40 PM

Realist wrote...

Dennis B - you obviously believe everything you read in the papers. There's a constant stream of "fairy tales" coming out about NUFC which you take as gospel - more fool YOU!

Brian - are you actually a Geordie? I hope you aren't, i really do. "Keep out of the ground", who the F are you? I'll bet you booed Smith when he came on didnt you? Fake, fickle "supporters" are the people who should "keep out of the ground!"

Posted by: Realist  | August 15, 2008 2:13 PM

Big Darren (no, not that one) wrote...

Disappointed Faye's gone. There were times last season when he was by far our best central defender - sorry, Taylor fans. True, he wouldn't be getting games regularly, but what chance is there of Taylor and Coloccini staying fit all season and would you really want Cacapa and Edgar as the onlyu back-up?

Posted by: Big Darren (no, not that one)  | August 15, 2008 5:53 PM

John wrote...

Lee, could I just ask the idiots who are calling for Mike Ashley to leave what the alternative is?

Are they from Albania on Wear ?

The guy has invested a substantial amount of money into the club and is trying to get it to run in a professional manner. What the hell is wrong with that ?

Just look at the changes for the good during the closed season. Singing section, larger family enclosure and basically treating fans like customers rather than sheep.

Most of the stories in the southern press are rubbish and turn out to be unfounded. As with this story and others, Bin laden, indian guy takover etc.. I still find it incredible that people take what is written in a tabloid as the truth. Idiots.

It seems the same has happened with the reports that the two Argentinians can't play for us. Funny how they both have squad numbers now!

You must realise that Fat Fred isn't there anymore, spoon feeding the press and his ego with ' insider leaks'. The press are just making up stories as any story involving us makes them a lot of money.

Newcastle has been on a donwards spiral since fat fred appointed Souness. We're now in a position where we have to fight hard for good players to sign for us. We don't even have the uefa cup to offer new arrivals. I will only judge Newcastles transfer policy when the window is closed rather than having a hysterical fit when we still have weeks of it left.

I suppose that giving a very public forum to this minority of idiots is one of the by-products of the internet. However, this isn't a working mens club and these moronic views can be seen by all. Rather than laughed at by the majority of fans as happens across the region when people like this speak. I suppose that the other people online are the only ones who will listen to them. I hope these people are well away from SJp come the Bolton match.

Posted by: John  | August 15, 2008 7:11 PM

Mal wrote...

Why is it that when a story appears in the papers everyone assumes it to be true. Even if it is, the story is that villa are making a bid - so what? It doesn't mean we will sell him. It seems to me that many of the posters on this board simply want us to buy some players for large amounts of cash regardless of the quality - like our previous managers and chairman used to do (boumsong, luque, vianna etc). Judge the chairman and manager when the window is closed.

Posted by: Mal  | August 15, 2008 11:26 PM

David wrote...

Ashley and keegan have both come out and said everyone is together - is that not what you all wanted? what was the point if you just dismiss what they say? GO AND "SUPPORT" someone else. You're a joke - you make me laugh anyway. Let them get onm with it, the club was a shambles when he took over, it will take time and huge signings have got us in this mess. Give them a full season together and then make a judgement, don't second guess everything. Remember it took old Bobby 2 seasons to turn it round. The end of last season should tell you that some things and definitely playing style andsome attitudes have changed. We've lost some players but the likes of Rozenahl, Carr and Diatta either never played or weren't available to Keegan. Faye, by all accounts didn't want to be here. The 4 that have been brought in are at least as good as what we've lost and theres a promise of more. Remember Keegan didn't always sign star names, Mathie, Jefferies and numerous others were given a chance alongside bigger names. If they didn't make it they were usually shipped out at a profit. As they've said they will only buy players that want to be here - isn't that what we all want? Have some faith and we might get what we want. The constant griping and whinging is doing no one any good.

Posted by: David  | August 16, 2008 12:26 AM

ROBERT SMITH wrote...

The Olympics has produced a crop of British heroes. People with talent, determination, good manners and humility. This makes a refreshing change from the endless tedious rubbish that is written and talked about football. British football clubs owe well in excess of £1bn. The full impact of the credit crunch is still yet to hit football. With a few football clubs going to the wall - some sense may return to football. This may allow working class people to return to their sport. Here's hoping!!!

Posted by: ROBERT SMITH  | August 16, 2008 8:19 AM

PAUL FLORENTINE wrote...

I definitely would not sell Milner,hes only 21,he gives his all for NUFC & ENGLAND,ok I agree his crossing at corrners are not great but Keegan and co will work on this on the training pitch.give the lad a break he was one of my top players last season as to 10m
come off it, Garath Barry 18m at age 28 James has youth and more skill so I would not put a price on his head

Posted by: PAUL FLORENTINE  | August 16, 2008 1:15 PM

ronnie lambert wrote...

Sometimes I think I must be on another spiritual plain when I read these comments like Milner's not worth keeping, can't cross, score goals etc. Some of you guys are comparing his crossing to Beckham's, his scoring to Henry's. For crying out loud man, he does more all-round productive work than anyone in the club. He's a 100 percent-er and he loves the club. Under Keegan, this kid will improve 100%, mark my words, and like Lee says, for a poxy 10 million, who is gonna fill his boots eh? This wants put to bed now.

Posted by: ronnie lambert  | August 16, 2008 2:40 PM

Paul Patterson wrote...

Matt, you’re a bloody idiot. Greame Souness was an idiot and that’s the way we should leave it.

‘You will never win anything with a team of James Milners’ is a frightening comment to make, personally I don’t know why he didn’t come out and say ‘Look, I think James Milner is s**t and I hate the sight of him in my team’ for that’s just about what he meant in making the original remark.

Hardly the brightest hour of Souness time at Newcastle United, it’s probably the same sort of gaff that cost the club £9m on Boumsong, £3m on Babayaro and £2.5m on Faye. Not to mention losing the services of Bellamy, Hughes, signing Luque, etc, etc. We really haven’t recovered fully yet from the disaster that was Greame Souness.

And then Matt- just to make matters worse, what was that you say? Call Shaun Wright Phillips? Fine, what would you like me to call him? Vastly overrated? Money grabber? Unfulfilled potential? Don’t even ask what I’d like to call his dad. . .

If you don’t like James Milner that’s fine, but at least back up your argument with a reasonable rely that can’t be shot down in your own comment.

I remember when we sold Ginola and Ferdinand and replaced them with Des Hamilton and Ian Rush.

Replacing Milner with Wright Phillips would be just as stupid a move,- end of.

Paul.

Posted by: Paul Patterson  | August 16, 2008 3:22 PM

sam wrote...

why sell milner hes quality and if we do why would we want to replace him with lennon or wright phillips. as lennon cant get the ball off the ground let alone put in a good cross and wright phillips just dribbles himself into trouble and never crosses when he has the chance to

Posted by: sam  | August 16, 2008 4:14 PM

Brian Reed wrote...

Off to man u 2moro with no strikers unproven defence everyone talking big but its free ticket with with prawn sarnie lot so will give them plenty of grief going to be another long season to see if we can stop up 40yrs of hope running out of years UP the ULTRAS Bring Back the NOISE

Posted by: Brian Reed  | August 16, 2008 4:31 PM