OK, my view on the Milner / ireland debate is the following.
Milner has had one good season, as has Ireland.
The difference comes in their overall contribution to the team in the three areas of the pitch.
Defensively Milner is far more sound, both when tracking back and when his midfield is under the cosh.
Creatively Ireland is a touch 'cuter', but I assumed the reason we bought Silva was to provide 'cuteness'.
Goalscoring and crossing wise, Milner is far infront of Ireland.
Milner can be the player that we hoped Barry would be when we signed him, but which he ceased to be at Villa away. If he can contribute to our team like he did to Villas last year, then he will provide assists, goals and a midfield engine.
Ireland cannot be the player that we would all like him to be, not because he doesn thave the skill, but because he quite simply can't find the right balance between application, mental strength, team contribution & skill.
Everytime we lost last year (Utd home & away, Everton home & away, Hull away & both Spurs games) and even on a lot of teh games we drew, we were completely dominated not by skill, but by hard work. Milner solves this problem in a way that Ireland couldnt.
It's not whether Milner is better than Ireland, it's who is more suited to our style of play, and the answer is not Superman.
