Swapsies: James Milner To Man City (Confirmed), Stephen Ireland To Aston Villa

Ollie Irish

17th, August 2010

8 Comments

By Ollie Irish

As predicted, Aston Villa have agreed to sell James Milner to Manchester City. The English midfielder will undergo a medical at Eastlands later today. Shouldn’t be any problem there – Milner is as fit as a butcher’s dog.

The fee is reported to be £18m, plus City reject Stephen Ireland. Which amounts to something like £25m in total.

Almost £20m plus a very talented young playmaker seems to me like one sweet deal for Villa. Ireland was squeezed out by Bob Mancini, but that doesn’t make him a bad player. It’s not so long ago – the 2008-09 season – that he was running the show for City. Okay, he’s a bit of a mentalist, but he’s a proper footballer.

And as good as Milner is, his star qualities – energy, strength, versatility – are hardly irreplaceable. It’s Ashley Young who Villa must hang on to.

Overall, Villa fans should be pretty chuffed with this cash-plus-player swap.

Who do you think got the better deal?


Posted in Aston Villa, Man City, Transfers & Rumours

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8 Comments

  1. Podge says:

    Very happy with the deal. As a villa fan this kind of money plus stephen ireland is fantastic. I hope james does well at city, hes a great player, but i also think ireland is a quality player who can do very well for villa

  2. Patrick says:

    Although I am sad to see Milner go, especially after the way the team played on Saturday, I can’t say that this deal appears that bad.

    Ireland just needs to get a little bit of maturity and he can easily be as good in centre mid. Petrov does a lot of work anyway.

    Although if Ireland decides to be a d1ck, which he is capable of, we still have Delph coming back.

    I just hope Ireland treats this as an opportunity. Take a look at Dicky Dunne. Another reject who showed true professionalism. Do that and he’ll be a holt hero!

  3. Tinez says:

    Ireland will fit in very well at Villa, they’ll get a lot from him. City have essentially saved money by offering a player that cost them nothing and isn’t going to be in the side any time soon, for a player who is guaranteed first team and will do well for them.

  4. Connor says:

    Hate to see superman go, but the truth is he had one good season out of five. he mentally has lost something from the 2008 season.hope he does well, except against city of course… the real question is, who will buy his mansion with sharks under the kitchen floor?

  5. WorldClass says:

    What a deal…. Ireland is the creative player we’ve be crying out for since I don’t know when… Cowans possibly.

    We get ReoCoker in the team to give Ireland license to pull the string up the pitch Villa could put a few noses out of joint and show up these Journo’s who have readily written us off without that much attention.

    Albrighton, Clark and Weimann with the further development of Delfouneso and Delph are like 5 new singings for Villa… I’m pleased our youth hasn’t be made a big fuss off but people who under rate this golden generation of Villans would be ill advised to do so.

    Additions of someone like Witsel and a clinical striker would see Villa push right up the league.

  6. Saalim says:

    Absolutly delighted the deal is finally dne…ireland is way betta then milner and younger…villa team now:Friedel
    l.young collins dunne warnock
    albrigton ireland perov(c) Downing
    a.young
    carew
    with downing and albrigton swapping wings
    top 4 defo this year…

  7. […] training ground, almost certainly for the last time as a City player. As we reported earlier today, Ireland is on his way to Aston Villa, with James Milner taking his place at […]

  8. Bawly says:

    Ireland is a class act. Villa done well. Totally different player to Milner. James is good. Ireland is good. Hopefully they do well at the new clubs

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