No, not in our best starting XI at least.
Neither Lennon nor Modric (nor Kranjcar) would be dropped to accomodate Milner on either either flank, and I doubt that Huddlestone would dropped to make way for him in CM.
James Milner is top 4 material.
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Neither Lennon nor Modric (nor Kranjcar) would be dropped to accomodate Milner on either either flank, and I doubt that Huddlestone would dropped to make way for him in CM.
Milner next to Palacios instead of Huddlestone? Tommy wouldn't be dropped; he'd be hurled.
or maybe it's just me who thinks so, 'cause I also think Milner would displace Malouda (who, admittedly, isn't first choice). He'd stand a good chance of getting in ahead of Nasri too.
He won't get in ahead of Nasri but he'd improve anything that is at Liverpool right now.
i thik he is better than kranjcar...
Would have laughed at this a year ago. Not so sure now, but don't think he's there yet, for all his recent progression.
Of course he would.
6 goals and 4 assists for Kranjcar in 12 starts for Spurs would suggest otherwise.
That's even forgetting Modric. In terms of pecking order in the LM spot at Spurs, Milner would be 3rd choice. In RM, he would not displace Lennon.
do you mind me asking: are there any Villans who would displace their counterpart at Tottenham?
Milner has his positive attributes: hard-working, quite skillful, aggressive, fairly creative, decent vision, decent passer and has more pace than Huddlestone - and I'll agree that there isn't much between them overall.
But Milner is only a recent convert at Villa to a CM position (since they signed Downing for the left flank) and has it all still to prove in that position. Whereas Huddlestone continues to develop in CM (has now displaced Jenas in that starting spot), is bigger and stronger, has a really good range of passing skills, has good positional discipline, plus excellent vision and creativity.
It's possible that Milner in CM could surpass Huddlestone - time will tell and they are both of almost identical ages. But right now both players continue to improve and Huddlestone has a proven track record of greater effectiveness in CM compared to Milner: both for club and (at U-21 level) country.
Well, based on their defensive record - and although its easier to concede less when you play less attacking football - you'd have to say that Dunne or Cuellar would probably displace any of the Spurs CBs when you take injury-proness considerations into account. If King and Woodgate were regularly fit and available, it would be a different story ... but they ain't.
I don't think that otherwise I'd take any of the Villa equivalents ... except maybe (?) Agbonlahor over Keane ... but Keane is a 2nd choice striker at Spurs now.
However, and as we all know, it's not just about individual players but also about how well the team as whole gels together and is organised: Villa are a very well organised unit in which the whole is greater than the sum of their individual parts - more so than Spurs to date.
and Friedel, I assume
but fair enough
but fair enough
A 38 year-old in preference to the 28 year-old Gomes? Nah, not for me. Friedel is coming to the close of his career and I'd guess will be supplanted at Villa as first choice GK next year by Guzan.
Gomes is much improved this season after his shaky start in the first half of last season and is currently on a run of 5 clean sheets in a row.
Personally i'd have Milner over Kranjcar on the left but i can see why you would say otherwise. Out of interest, what would you first choice team (minus GK and back 4) be at the moment now that Modric is back? Bench Kranjcar who, as you say, has been impressive or would you bench the 2nd striker seeing as neither has nailed down their spot and play either Kranjcar or Modric just behind Defoe? The reason i ask is because i've noticed every time Crouch is playing everything is aimed at him and Defoe (and Spurs for that matter) hasnt looked as dangerous. Crouch should surley be used as an impact sub. Defoe looks far more dangerous with Keane operating behind him but seeing as he's been fairly shite surely someone as intelligent as Modric playing behind him would suit.
I think Milner is a top player. He could definitely play for one of the top three. He is too good for Liverpool.
There's a case for what you say (i.e Modric or Kranjcar playing just behind Defoe in a 5-man midfield) and it could be worth experimenting with in any games that we'd be fairly confident of winning (e.g. home cup games against lower league opposition).
However, our previous results with a lone striker have not been great. We usually look far better in a 4-4-2 formation. I'd say our best front 6 line-up is:
Lennon - Huddlestone - Palacios - Modric
---------- Defoe - Crouch
With Huddlestone generally playing a more advanced role than Palacios.
I think Crouch is more effective than maybe you credit him for: 8 goals and 4 assists so far is not so bad (I actually have him down for 8 assists, but stats websites often seem to miss some assists), plus he works hard and ties up defenders (is a real handful to cope with), plus he's a definite asset when defending against arial balls into the box from opposition set pieces. I definitely would play Crouch ahead of Keane, who has been poor most of the season, and I think that Defoe prefers to play with Crouch also.
Spurs are looking good Glaston. Milner wouldn't get a game.
I still feel you need a top class forward to go to another level. Maybe even two, if you dont think Defoe is that good.
I still feel you need a top class forward to go to another level. Maybe even two, if you dont think Defoe is that good.
Correct.
He is top 4 squad player material.
I never looks much like a 442 to me with the left-sided midfileder always tucked in to give you 3 in CM and Lennon playing very high.
Formation citings are often a bit nominal it seems to me, but are still useful as a 'closest' point of reference.
You're right in that Modric (or Kranjcar) play only nominally in LM, but in practice move around a lot, including popping up just behind the strikers and moving inside to play more centrally.
Lennon does play high, but then again he tracks back well these days and has the pace to get back quickly: helping out defensively is one of the biggest improvements to his game this season.
But we do usually play with two strikers (Crouch and Defoe more often than not), so it's definitely not 4-5-1.
I suppose you could call it 4-3-1-2 sometimes, or even a bastardised 4-3-3 at times, but overall I think 4-4-2 is the closest description.
Defoe's not the type of player that would prosper on his own up top. If Spurs ever did move to this system the player supporting him from midfield would need a lot more physicality than the likes of Modric. Kranjcar could perhaps do better.
Good post from Glaston about Villa.
Good post from Glaston about Villa.
Really impressed with him today, in that midfield free role.. he is a threat.
Problem is he's not good enough to command a "free role" at a big club.
I'd still have him though.
Would be an awesome squad player.
He'd be an improved version of Park Ji-Sung. Not a bad thing at all.
True, but I must say Milner as Winger is very limited, but as a player allowed to roam the full pitch, his lack of extreme speed is not an issue and he finds it easier to get past players. Then there is his energy off the ball and intelligent movement into space and the fact he can shoot with both feet.
Great option to have in your squad.
Hey don't criticise him, at least he's willing to change his opinion, thats surely a step forward.
Well he is a workhorse...
Anti-football is probably too harsh...
Anti-football is probably too harsh...
Raees, don't be silly, you're opinions develop until you are 16. After that they cannot change.
Disagree. Good with both feet and isn't a player that relies on pace to beat a man or create the space to get a ball in. See his performances for England on the left for further evidence of this.
"anti football" to "awesome squad player" is one hell of a transformation in less than 3months.
I'm slowly and slowly changing my mind regarding Milner.Always thought he was poor and overrated now I just think he's a little bit overrated but he's a good player
Fair enough. At least you can admit when you're wrong
I'd say he's more than a work horse though. Park is a work horse and he's much better than Park.
I'd have him over anything else on our left wing at the minute that's for damn sure.
To be honest, I changed my mind about him some time ago. He's becoming an excellent all round player in an improving Aston Villa side. He's technically very good, two footed and effective anywhere in attack. Every team could benefit from a player like him who is always capable of making the difference.
His place is confirmed in England's World Cup squad as far as im concerned.
His place is confirmed in England's World Cup squad as far as im concerned.
The transformation this season has been sensational. It really has. I used to think "meh" but since the under 21s in the Summer and then call ups with England he's really improved his game.
Correct.
Quality player, a dead cert for the world cup squad.
Yeah fair enough, I should have said it limits him.. rather than him being a limited winger.
If he gets to the World Cup, starts, and does well, I'd be surprised if a big club doesn't come in for him.
I've decided that Milner is the answer to all our problems - we should put in a big bid and buy him before the World Cup starts - I reckon it will cost us around £20m
Nani hasnt managed to fill the space that Giggs will be vacating in the near future so we need to let him go - Milner can play there plus he is incredibly versatile and can fill in centre mid, full back or even support striker
Nani hasnt managed to fill the space that Giggs will be vacating in the near future so we need to let him go - Milner can play there plus he is incredibly versatile and can fill in centre mid, full back or even support striker