Source: Team_Talk
City move would be madness for Milner
James Milner looks increasingly likely to make a big-money move to Man City, but TEAMtalk's Rob McCarthy thinks it would be a huge mistake.[LNB] I'm a big fan of James Milner's capabilities - he's versatile, has a terrific engine and an eye for goal. But at this stage of his career he needs to be playing regularly if he wants to star for England - and going to City would not guarantee that.[LNB]Milner blossomed last season when he switched from a wide role at Villa Park to a central one, earning him a World Cup spot and two starts in South Africa. That's clearly the position that best suits his lung-busting displays and could turn him into one of the best box-to-box players we've ever had. [LNB]Under Martin O'Neill he would continue to be guaranteed a start every week alongside the experienced Stiliyan Petrov, but at City he'll be lucky to make the bench at this rate, let alone force his way into their already largely stocked engine-room.[LNB]Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry, Nigel De Jong, Patrick Vieira and Vincent Kompany all play centrally, not to mention Stephen Ireland, forgotten man Michael Johnson and Pablo Zabaleta, who has also filled in there at times.[LNB]Sure City are more likely to be challenging for top honours this season, but it looks as if Milner's head has been turned by a hefty wage hike and he is not fully considering the impact it could have on his playing time.[LNB]The 24-year-old, who has played 11 times for his country, would continue to thrive under O'Neill's canny stewardship if he stayed, but he'll just be another multi, multi-millionaire playing every now and again at Eastlands - probably skippering the side in the Carling Cup to soften the blow.[LNB]Now that might suit a lot of players at the tail end of their careers, but Milner needs to develop his game in all areas before he makes a move that, at this stage, could see him take two steps back rather than giant leaps forward.
