***Transfer Rumours Thread*** [ALL RUMOUR TOPICS MERGED]

[Blue Blood]

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I would've said no to straight swap, nevermind giving them tons of money. Horrible deal if this goes through.

Ireland is also very liked among players so we'll see what sort of influence this will have in dressing room.

[DoomMerchant]

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

[DoomMerchant]

[avoidconfusion]

[Ted Hughes]

Most of Ireland's assists seem to me to come from when Sven played him on the wing or Robinho put him through, also on the right of 3 rather than him finding defense splitting passes from central. In fact I'm struggling to remember a single occasion where he successfully split a defence with a pass. He was usually the bloke who made the run imo, not the pass maker. That pass maker was usually Robinho or occasionally Petrov & required workrate from Ireland, something he doesn't always produce.

The thing that made Ireland special, imo, is that he combined great technique & sometimes intelligence with phenomenal effort, not because he was some Riquelme type figure creating havoc with his brilliant distribution. If he produces that effort again, he'll be a very very good player. Otherwise he'll be nothing.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

[john@staustell]

It's quite amazing how every pundit, nearly every fan of every club, seem to rate Milner, not at £30M, but at, say, 16 + Ireland. Also Ireland had one purple patch, much as Ted describes above, and has since been VERY disappointing, under both Hughes and Mancini, and not good enough to play in our side.

So why are some of our fans so out of step?

Personally as he is not a City player I have only watched him thoroughly in the City-Villa matches when he's played, and the odd Villa game on the box, so I wouldn't form a cast-iron opinion either way - many nailed their colours to the mast saying Bellamy was the worst signing ever - but what I am prepared to do is trust the manager's judgement. If he thinks he'll make a difference - not pull up any trees or score 30 goals, but just make that difference, along with other signings - then why cant we go along with it?

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

[john@staustell]

[Blue Blood]

The Milner hate / Stevie love in on here is going beyond ridiculous!

James Milner is the current PFA Young Player of the year and England starter of the future, not to mention one of the most , creative and versatile midfielder's in the league.

Steven Ireland was top... for one season.. but since he picked up his City player of the year award (or didn't pick it up if i remember right) he has been utter crap, i mean terrible, should not make the bench bad!

Can anyone really argue that he should be in the team on current form or even the form of the past year? No thought not.

The guy on form, on his best day, is a great player but if you can't consistently produce this then you are just a liability, add to this his notoriously odd state of mind and i think we are best served getting rid.

Stevie is finished here, people have to face facts.

People also have to wake up to the fact Milner is the better player of the two. Doubt his ability at your peril, he will succeed here mark my words!

[Ted Hughes]

[Crossie]

If Ireland is worth nothing, then its a fair price.

I just dont see the sense in this deal at all, and its pissed me right off.

[Fidel Castro]

[ENIAM NAM]

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

[dazby]

This really should have its own thread.

Stevie Ireland is a player that can win us a league title. I can't say the same about Milner. It's that simple. am soo looking forward to Silva and Stevie on the same team. I think they could change the world.

[Beeks]

I think a lot of you are vastly overrating Ireland and vastly underrating Milner

[Niall Quinns Discopants]