James Milner has left Aston Villa, but in getting Stephen Ireland in part exchange, you can hardly say they Villa side have been weakened by the departure of the former Newcastle United midfielder.
Stephen Ireland – to make debut for Aston Villa tomorrow?
And if you had asked us who was worth more in the transfer market between Stephen Ireland and James Milner, we would have plumped for the Ireland International, but there again Manchester City are involved, and seem determined to overpay big time for their players this summer.
Ireland is a very skillful midfield player with 177 appearances for City and 23 goals – and he would have been great at Newcastle – and just what we need right now – but we haven’t that kind of money to spend this summer.
And Hughton is wary of the threat posed by Stephen Ireland, as Chris told the Shields Gazette today:
“James Milner has left Villa,” “They’ve lost one quality player, but in Stephen Ireland they’ve got someone who was Manchester City’s player of the season a year ago.”
“That’s the quality they’ve brought in, and he fits very much in with the way they play.” “He’s a very offensive midfield player with a great engine. He covers the ground. and provided he plays, he’ll fit in very well with the way they play.”
It will hardly be an easy game for Newcastle tomorrow, but one in which we must have a much better chance of getting points from, than the always very difficult first match at Old Trafford.
A lot will depend on whether Newcastle can tighten up in defense, since with the few mistakes we made on Monday night, the Red Devils were completely ruthless in exposing those mistakes and turning them into quick goals.
Aston Villa will threaten to do the same thing tomorrow afternoon – so a very good defensive display is what we will look for tomorrow.
Comments welcome.
42 comments so far
Edd Case
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:04 PM
Comment #1Of course he will be….the sort of player we need, and it’ll show tomorrow.
hitman
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Comment #2http://twitter.com/isaacJLJ
xfer
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Comment #3Great player, shame he went to Villa.
foxynufc
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:10 PM
Comment #4edd case – couldnt agree more m8 exactly the player we need a player like petrov and agbonlahour would also be ideal still ganna win the league tho lol
marshy
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:11 PM
Comment #5I agree,we should have bought ireland but you know who wouldn’t have sanctioned it.
foxynufc
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:15 PM
Comment #6marshy -even he did sanction it dout he would have came anycase m8
dave 1961
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:16 PM
Comment #7tomorrows gate looks to be about 44,000 unless we have a late rush for tickets today, & I am assuming villa sold all their tickets & we have sold all the corporate hospitality seating, not too good for the first game.
alan shearer
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:19 PM
Comment #8even if tiote signs today..he wont be able to play tml right?…hows the news on HBA going on?…
scoundreldays
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:27 PM
Comment #9Apparently Tiote is either signed or about to. Ben Arfa is uppose to have been doen and dusted and is now ours…. link to some twitter page here http://twitter.com/cwarris
just waiting to see if it’s all legit
alan shearer
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Comment #10so tiote can get work permit in time for tml’s match?????????
can twitter be trusted?
sweendog
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:32 PM
Comment #11Stephen Ireland .. seems a right t*t ireland .. couldn’t take a joke with the irish squad and thats why he left the rep. of Ireland and won’t play for them. .. now he’s having a pop at Milner and City .. lets see what happens tomorrow when Bartons tash is breathing down your neck .. 🙂
hitman
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:32 PM
Comment #12there could be a twist with ben arfa..
http://twitter.com/isaacJLJ
scoundreldays
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:33 PM
Comment #13I doubt it bud. That twitter link was posted on here somewhere earlier and don’t know how reliable it is. Someone claiming to know the agent. Craigcoozy was on ‘ere earlier and said both players were in Toon! 🙂
sweendog
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:35 PM
Comment #14hitman ..saw that .. don’t know what this isaacJLJ is like ..
GeordieToon89
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:36 PM
Comment #15any updates regarding arfa and tiote av been out av read a few comments, before a left tiote n ben arfa wer supposidly close to signing
alan shearer
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:37 PM
Comment #16so the REAL craigcoozy thinks we have gotten tiote and HBA?if so..i think we are all quite assured.
Toon1978
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:40 PM
Comment #17Arfa and Tiote in our midfield will add flair and strength however we are no better off on the wings as Routledge and Jonas are struggling to put crosses in.
alan shearer
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Comment #18arfa can replace routledge?
is remy officially OM player?..if he is…arfa is defo leaving..
GeordieToon89
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Comment #19thats canny then :] wont be able to play tomorrow though =[
GeordieToon89
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:42 PM
Comment #20yess Remy and Gignac have signed both signed 5 year contracts
scoundreldays
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:42 PM
Comment #21Yeah Alan that’s about it in a nutshell. Fingers crossed.
alan shearer
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Comment #22arfa is impt to us..he can be used on both flanks( when jonas or wayne is ineffective) and central attackin role..
alan shearer
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:44 PM
Comment #23tchoyi better or tiote?
GeordieToon89
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:45 PM
Comment #24nahh..west brom obv realised tha couldnt get tiote so pulled out :] even though it said thav bin after tchoyi for a while
Toon1978
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:45 PM
Comment #25alan Shearer
I think Hughton has promised Arfa a central midfield role that is why he wants to play for us.
alan shearer
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:47 PM
Comment #26geordietoon89- so it seems we got the better deal?
toon1978-i will use him in a central midfield role too..but if he throws his temper when we needed him at the flanks due to injury..he may want out of the team..!lol
Toon1978
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:50 PM
Comment #27alan Shearer
If Arfa signs he must be told that he will be pushed out wide if injuries occur to any of our wide men.
GeordieToon89
Aug 21, 2010 at 1:55 PM
Comment #28yeaah a heard that hughton promised him the no.10 role which is just behind carroll, but i also agree that he would of says yes thats your main position but i will be using your versatility incase our wide men get injured, all i can say is i am really looking forward to seeing arfa in a newcastle shirt and im hoping it will happen if it is true that hes at newcastle then im sure it will happen and he’l b at st james tmorro watching the match
shearermania
Aug 21, 2010 at 2:02 PM
Comment #29Gillard or Abbot – … Hatem or tiote……..
cant they just announce….hey guys we signed a player his name is ….. he plays in midfield on a 4 year/ loan contract…bla bla bla
they must still be discussing terms otherwise some proper journo would leak the story……
shearermania
Aug 21, 2010 at 2:04 PM
Comment #30I reckon the Ben Arfa deal has been abandoned and Tiote is the plan B…………boy I hope im wrong
Toon1978
Aug 21, 2010 at 2:04 PM
Comment #31getting a little tedious waiting for news lol.
Toon1978
Aug 21, 2010 at 2:06 PM
Comment #32shearermania
Tiote is a completely different player mate so he would not be a replacement. Tiote is a defensive minded player and we all know the HBA is a skillfull creative player So that would not make sense at all.
Mags
Aug 21, 2010 at 2:07 PM
Comment #33Alan Shearer (28
Is Remy and official OM player? There is some doubt they will sign him as the medical has thrown up some heart problem.
Canna see this affecting HBA though as he has said he will not play for them.
I just hope the twitter is correct and we have got them both.
I trust CraigCoozy who has said both are in the Toon, and we will have to wait for the rest.
GeordieToon89
Aug 21, 2010 at 2:08 PM
Comment #34ano thaz no way tha could be signed if nothing has been leaked atall, thats not to say they aint close to signing thou
GeordieToon89
Aug 21, 2010 at 2:09 PM
Comment #35remy has already signed his contract and things deal cannot be cancelled now plus he’s been unveiled aswel in a marseille shirt
GeordieToon89
Aug 21, 2010 at 2:10 PM
Comment #36a think it will be late sunday night or monday before we hear anything about them both
shearermania
Aug 21, 2010 at 2:11 PM
Comment #37I just dont buy into the idea that Smith is leaving…being named wice captain and then sell him…I would love to see the back of him though.
why would we then buy a defensive midfielder.
No i think all our offers for players have been rejected and now they are starting to panic buy – I cant see two central midfielders coming in and no one leaving.
It takes a month to buy one player how long you reckon it will take to sell one ….and who the h… would want to buy any of our central mids
Mags
Aug 21, 2010 at 2:48 PM
Comment #38GeordieToon89 // Aug 21, 2010 at 2:09 PM
remy has already signed his contract and things deal cannot be cancelled now plus he’s been unveiled aswel in a marseille shirt
Mags
Aug 21, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Comment #39Whoops – I meant to add, are you sure, ‘cos that is not what I have read. They are saying that his signing has definitely been to quote ‘put on hold’
baro
Aug 21, 2010 at 4:00 PM
Comment #40I think we will easily beat Aston Villa, Yes Stephen Ireland is good player, but not best. For me a 2-0 result to Newcastle.