City move might not suit Milner - Stew

16 July 2010 06:46
Stewart Downing believes James Milner will have a fight on his hands to get into the Manchester City side if he moves there from Aston Villa.[LNB] Milner was the subject of a failed bid in May from City, who are expected to step up their pursuit of the England midfielder.[LNB]City boss Roberto Mancini has bolstered his options across the middle by buying David Silva and Yaya Toure, and Villa winger Downing suggests that if Milner joins them at Eastlands, he may not necessarily become a regular in the first team.[LNB]"It will be interesting to see what XI (Mancini) starts with because he's got that much quality in that squad," Downing said, according to The Guardian.[LNB]"They're all going to be fighting for places. It's going to be hard and it will be hard for James if he goes there.[LNB]"Will he play? I can't think how many midfielders they've got. I think that will be one of the decisions (that he has to consider): 'Do I want to go there and be a bit-part or stay here and play?'[LNB]"That's totally up to him. I am sure he's probably already made his decision."[LNB]Meanwhile Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel has praised United States coach Bob Bradley and claims it would be a "great move" if he came to work in English football.[LNB]Bradley has been linked with the vacant manager's post at Fulham, and although his current employers are determined to keep him, American shot-stopper Friedel says the 52-year-old coach has demonstrated impressive credentials.[LNB]"It would be a great move for Bob to get over here," Friedel said.[LNB]"I think he did a really good job during the World Cup and also in qualifying.[LNB]"We should have qualified - although some of the games can be a little bit tricky - but I think he has done a decent job of finding some younger players."[LNB]England's draw with the USA in their opening game in South Africa will forever be remembered by Three Lions fans for goalkeeper Robert Green's first-half error which allowed Bradley's side to equalise.[LNB]Green was subsequently dropped by England boss Fabio Capello, but Friedel has backed the West Ham number one to bounce back.[LNB]"It doesn't matter if it's an English goalkeeper, an American goalkeeper or one from another country - when something like that happens, it's horrible and I know the feeling," said Friedel, who retired from international football in 2005 after winning 82 caps.[LNB]"It's a sinking feeling; you know the lads were doing their job for the most part in front of you up until then.[LNB]"But he (Green) has been there and done it before and I'm sure he will come through it much stronger and that he is going to have a good season.[LNB]"One error does not make you a bad outfield player and the same goes for a goalkeeper."[LNB]England's World Cup participation was ended in humiliating fashion by a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany in the first knockout stage.[LNB]"I was really surprised," said Friedel, who was speaking at the launch of Villa's new home and away kits in Birmingham.[LNB]"I was back in the States and England were one of my pre-tournament picks to go a long way.[LNB]"I know individually how good all those players are, and they are good - all the talk that they are not is nonsense."

Source: Team_Talk