Villa favourites to take Milner.

[Park Life 71]

Villa are the favourites to sign the 22-year-old James Milner from Newcastle, with Liverpool believed to have cooled their interest in the former Leeds winger. With Liverpool now exploring other options, Villa are hopeful a deal can be agreed with Newcastle once Kevin Keegan has added more numbers to his squad.

 

O'Neill yesterday admitted the need for new signings is "more important than ever", with Gareth Barry's departure to Liverpool all but confirmed. Villa have also lost Carson, Thomas Sorensen, Olof Mellberg and Patrik Berger since the end of last season. Steve Sidwell is expected to be one of the new faces and Villa hope to complete a £4.5m deal with Chelsea for the 25-year-old next week."

 

 

 

Not sure if we could have kept him and Spidey.

[Happy Face 29]

I'm sure he wouldn't be happy warming Newcastles bench, but we need to convince average to good, versatile players like him and Zoggy that it's a good place for them because we're wanting in midfield and I can't see us buying 5 or 6 as good or better.

[The Fish 10972]

Rather lose Milner than Charles as I think Keegan can get better out of N'Zogbia, than the best that Milner could produce.

[khay 10]

Read that Spidey has been playing more on the left. I think we should be keeping all three, of course we don't know what Keegan and Co have up there sleeves

[Barney 0]

Doesn't Martin O'Neill keep transfer targets to himself, and if the press gets a hint, he moves onto the next man?

[ewerk 31221]

From The Times

July 16, 2008

 

James Milner keen to negotiate better Newcastle deal

George Caulkin

 

In the middle of a summer during which he has again been linked with a move away from St James' Park, James Milner is angling for an improved contract with Newcastle United. The England Under-21 winger agreed an enhanced four-year deal 12 months ago but is seeking what he regards as his market worth.

 

As has become traditional during transfer windows, Milner has been courted assiduously, by Aston Villa, where he spent a successful season on loan in 2005-06, and has been monitored by Liverpool. Despite the arrival from Mallorca of Jonás Gutiérrez, a rival for Milner's position, Newcastle have made it clear that they do not want to sell the 22-year-old.

 

Milner is keen to continue his footballing education under Kevin Keegan, the manager, but he believes that he deserves a pay rise. Within the past year, players such as Alan Smith, Joey Barton and Claudio Caçapa have arrived at Newcastle on high wages and offered questionable value for money, while Milner, who is not among the biggest earners, is a hardworking, talented and popular member of the squad.

 

At a time when wage restraint is a theme on Tyneside, Milner's timing can be regarded as imperfect. His agent first made contact with club officials several weeks ago, but no meetings have been scheduled. Milner does, however, fit the player profile that the club are keen to nurture: young, hungry and eager to improve.

 

Newcastle could argue that they have more pressing contractual matters to attend to, with Michael Owen, the striker, and Steve Harper, the goalkeeper, about to enter the final season of their respective deals.

 

In the case of Owen, player and club have reiterated their eagerness to reach a successful outcome and the striker's advisers have informed Newcastle of their ballpark requirements. More talks are scheduled to take place before the start of the new campaign.

[Happy Face 29]

Taylor will be seething.

[Park Life 71]

From The Times

July 16, 2008

 

James Milner keen to negotiate better Newcastle deal

George Caulkin

 

In the middle of a summer during which he has again been linked with a move away from St James' Park, James Milner is angling for an improved contract with Newcastle United. The England Under-21 winger agreed an enhanced four-year deal 12 months ago but is seeking what he regards as his market worth.

 

As has become traditional during transfer windows, Milner has been courted assiduously, by Aston Villa, where he spent a successful season on loan in 2005-06, and has been monitored by Liverpool. Despite the arrival from Mallorca of Jonás Gutiérrez, a rival for Milner's position, Newcastle have made it clear that they do not want to sell the 22-year-old.

 

Milner is keen to continue his footballing education under Kevin Keegan, the manager, but he believes that he deserves a pay rise. Within the past year, players such as Alan Smith, Joey Barton and Claudio Caçapa have arrived at Newcastle on high wages and offered questionable value for money, while Milner, who is not among the biggest earners, is a hardworking, talented and popular member of the squad.

 

At a time when wage restraint is a theme on Tyneside, Milner's timing can be regarded as imperfect. His agent first made contact with club officials several weeks ago, but no meetings have been scheduled. Milner does, however, fit the player profile that the club are keen to nurture: young, hungry and eager to improve.

 

Newcastle could argue that they have more pressing contractual matters to attend to, with Michael Owen, the striker, and Steve Harper, the goalkeeper, about to enter the final season of their respective deals.

 

In the case of Owen, player and club have reiterated their eagerness to reach a successful outcome and the striker's advisers have informed Newcastle of their ballpark requirements. More talks are scheduled to take place before the start of the new campaign.

 

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[Ayatollah Hermione 14066]

See, I'm happy that we're holding on to him. For one, the squad is painfully thin as it is and why sell a player who, while obviously limited, managed to chip in with goals last season? With Spidey coming in, it seems likely that he'll be warming the bench but he's a much more useful back-up than, say, Emre.

[Barney 0]

Former mackem is coach

 

New Role For Robbie

 

By Craig Hope

 

FORMER Newcastle United favourite Robbie Elliott has returned to the club as a member of Kevin Keegan's backroom staff.

 

The 34-year-old has taken up the position of strength and conditioning coach and will work alongside senior fitness coach Mark Hulse.

 

The Gosforth-born star made 188 appearances for his hometown club during two spells at St.James' Park, netting 12 goals along the way.

 

Having made his Magpie debut in 1991, Elliott joined Bolton six years later but returned to Tyneside in 2001 under Sir Bobby Robson and spent five seasons at Gallowgate before going on to play for Sunderland, Leeds United and Hartlepool United.

[Guest alex]

He was very underrated in his first spell here imo.

[Tooj 17]

He was very underrated in his first spell here imo.

I'd agree with that.

[The Fish 10972]

hard to disagree with that. It's a shame he was sold when he was. He seemed to be doing well at left back and may have stopped us wasting time and effort on the likes of Domi.

[Alan Shearer Is God 0]

He was very underrated in his first spell here imo.

 

Without the injuries he would have made the England squad, IMO.

[ewerk 31221]

He's done a degree in Sports Science hasn't he?

[Guest alex]

hard to disagree with that. It's a shame he was sold when he was. He seemed to be doing well at left back and may have stopped us wasting time and effort on the likes of Domi.

Even though he'd been playing as part of a midfield 3 at the time?

He did really well though in that position under Dalglish in a side that finished 2nd in the league (I think he played every game after Dalglish took over that season). He also looked the part when he filled in at CB and I think he also played as one of a central midfield 2 in that Ibrox Tournament (iirc) when we beat Man Utd on pens then lost to Sampdoria in the final. Just shows how versatile he was. LB was his best position though and it's a shame from his point of view that, apart from the injuries, Beresford was also playing in that position.

It's funny when I hear some people raving about Enrique at LB because although he looks decent he's not a patch on either Bez in his time here or Robbie Elliott in his 1st spell here. So far, anyway.