Villa beat Everton to signature of £10 million Newcastle forward: Money well spent or too expensive?
by stresster on August 29th, 2008
| 285 words |
Things change quickly in the world of football. One minute a player is getting rave reviews for helping his team win a Carling Cup match, the next thing he has handed in a transfer request and then he’s gone - just like that. Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan must be pretty annoyed that he’s lost one of his best players to a Premier League rival.
ESPN reports that Aston Villa have beaten Everton (the Toffees must be sick of finishing second in these transfer races) to the signature of James Milner, an unsung player who was waiting for the improved Newcastle contract that never materialised. It’s cost them a pretty penny to sign the winger, although their midfield looks pretty hot as a result, especially after they managed to keep Gareth Barry.
Aston Villa have won the race to sign Newcastle United winger James Milner after agreeing a four-year deal with England Under 21.
Milner underwent a medical at Bodymoor Heath, and has made the move from the north-east for a fee believed to be in the region of £10million.
Everton made a late attempt to hijack the deal by matching Villa’s offer, after missing out on Albert Riera and Shaun Wright-Phillips, but Villa Park was the 22-year-old’s preferred destination.
Milner has started the season well at Newcastle and, although he’s certain to get booed when he next lines up against the Magpies, it appears that the Tyneside club shot themselves in the foot by not offering him the salary he was after. Perhaps the board didn’t rate him enough, although Kevin Keegan was touting him for England earlier this week! Newcastle fans, are you gutted to lose a player of this quality or is it good business for the club?
Postmodernist - August 29th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Good business for Aston Villa. He’s only 22 and he’s got a wealth of experience. He’s also adds another dimension when Carew isn’t playing.
Anyone heard the rumour that Alonso is having talks with Dennis Wise with a view to joining Newcastle? Apparently Alan Smith might be a makeweight. What do Liverpool fans think of that?
happy days - August 29th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
180 prem games and hes only 22, great signing if a little expensive
Liverpool would do very well to get alan smith, altho smithy might have to tone down his quality to get in the liverpool side. such an exciting talent
villarich - August 29th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Alan Smith is crap, he did nothing at Man U and has done nothing at Newcastle…I for one would be happy for him to join Liverpool, they are well suited…Up the Villa!!!
Kevin Keegan - August 29th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
£12M is about 3 times Milner’s value. Can’t fault the lad’s effort, but his end product is virtually nil. Great business for NUFC. The money will be spent on MUCH better players.
Jack - August 29th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I believe that Milner’s value is about 10 million. If they are able to get a capable replacement at a reasonable price over the next few days, there shouldn’t be a problem.
Anyway , there was an earlier conference where Keegan said that 2 signings were already underway.
happy days - August 29th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
mr keegan the problem for villa was we had 4 days left to sign a winger, so we had to pay silly money. Unfortunately the problem is now yours, and you will have to pay stupid cash to get a replacement
David - August 29th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Who is Milner going to replace at Villa?
ourtetas view - August 29th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
HE didnt choose villa over everton.He chose villa,the player has said he didnt even know of everton’s interest.Good luck to the lad,he sounded sick of whats going on at newcastle,whatever that is.
Alan smith would never join lfc in a million years.When he broke his leg at analfield,lfc fans (only some tho) threw rocks,and sh*t at the ambulance as well as a load of verbal abuse.My guess is he would rather retire,but also lfc fans probably dont want him either.
Tinker - August 29th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Keegan sold him??? 2 days ago, when he was NU best player, keegan said he would never let him go, must be another player in the wings? Villa are looking strong just a few months to settle and they will be challenging for at least a cup, another season for the top 4 though (subject to sundays result….
) UTV
Tinker - August 29th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
“Threw rocks at the ambulance” must make the L Pool fans proud, just like they make em proud with the ding dongs they have had in Europe…..one word scum. UTV
jebote - August 30th, 2008 at 2:42 am
FUCK THE VILLA.
im sick of hearing villa wil make the top 4 .. or vila will win at least a cup this year. yeh the intertoto cup .. hahahaha. or maybe the league cup .. hahahaha. seriously MON is a f***ing dropkick couldn’t even tie up his own shoe laces. wow you bought milner. you just wait till liverpool put in there best performance of the year so far to silence there critics who say they can’t win without gerrard or that this year is just like every year. big expectations but no results.
seriously eversince we tred to sign barry you villa fans have jumped on a bandwagon all thinking that barry is god’s gift to football and that with him in your side arsenal and liverpool are gonna fall over and die and villa will walk into the top 4 like they are the greatest clkub in england. hahaha keep dreaming. you can’t even beat stoke city. i can’t wait till you play hull or west brom and lose to them to.
villa for relegation you pricks.
YNWA
neeraj - August 30th, 2008 at 7:06 am
jebote you fuck your self
Tipsy Mcstagger - August 31st, 2008 at 2:29 pm
jebote
Obviously your frustrated after a fruitless night on the rob.