James Milner will be in the Manchester City side tomorrow, and is now at Eastlands, after first leaving the Newcastle club for Aston Villa in August of 2008.
James Milner – while at Newcastle
James was signed from his home town club Leeds United by the great Bobby Robson, in the summer of 2004, and was at the club for four years and played 139 times for Newcastle with 12 goals.
When he left Newcastle he had already played over 30 times for the England U21 side, and ended up playing a record 46 times for them, but when he moved to Aston Villa he received his first full England cap, in August of 2009 and has since played 14 times for the full England side.
The Yorkshireman joined Manchester City this summer in a deal worth about £26M, but he’s probably only worth about half of that – because of the inflated prices moneybags Manchester City seem to be willing to pay for their players.
Aston Villa paid Newcastle United £12M for James just a couple of years ago.
But it appears that Newcastle manager Chris Hughton doesn’t want to spend any time on players who are no longer at the club (seems good to us), as he told the Evening Chronicle today:
“It’s certainly about us and what we can get out of the game.” “It’s not about former players or people who once played for us.”“They choose to play elsewhere and that was their decision.”
“For us it is very much about the ones who are wearing the black-and-white shirts on the day.” “That’s the only thing we’re focusing on and not past players.”
Hughton has to be hoping the lads can show a good reaction tomorrow, after throwing away all 3 points against Stoke City last Sunday in the second half of that game, which was so painful to watch for Newcastle fans.
Chris is trying to drum into the players that the next game is always the most important, and you can do little about what’s gone before that, other than learn from it – and that’s whether we win, draw or lose.
Chris continued:
“All you can ask from the players is to move on to the next game. It was a big disappointment, but the next big game is just around the corner.”
“That’s why we’re happy to focus on the next game.” “Don’t forget that we’re a team that has just been promoted.”
“Therefore we know there will be highs and lows.” “We’ve just had two big highs at Everton and then Chelsea in the Carling Cup.”
“Then against Stoke we had a big low.” “But those are the sort of games this division will throw at you.”
And Chris will be hoping the lads will learn from all these games, whether they are the highs or the lows, because over time the Newcastle side just have to become more professional and consistent, in England’s Premier League.
That seems to be the next step Chris is trying to get the team to, in the elevated heights of England’s top league.
Comments welcome.
2 comments so far
wynsleap
Oct 2, 2010 at 2:13 PM
Comment #1EVERYONE at the club needs to learn from these games – and that goes for Chris too!
CT
Oct 2, 2010 at 6:09 PM
Comment #2Burnsie its not so bad, Before season started we would have expected Manure 0 points, Villa 1 p, Wolves 1 p, B`pool 3p, Everton 0 p, Stoke 1 p . Total= 6p. We got 7p. This is just typically us, Hammer Villa, beat Everton Away, lose 2 games at home we deserved to win! Wouldn`t be surprised if we win t`morrow. Apart from 2nd half against Manure we`ve looked better than I expected, not worried at the moment, just need to defend for 90 mins, this will happen when Saylor or Simps play RB and Guthrie adds more creativity to midfieild.