Monday gossip

When proper news is thin on the ground, any story, no matter how flimsy, gets an airing. Which is why a Greek court case over an alleged betting scam manages to elbow its way onto today's agenda.

Once a famous name is mentioned in such a case, it's akin to a family of meerkats suddenly jerked out of their slumber in the sun. Mention of Carlos Tevez, however spurious, has immediate effect.
Here's sportinglife.com on the striker's inadvertent - and completely innocent - role ...
"Carlos Tevez has denied any knowledge of a potential betting scam in one of their Europa League games last season.
"A Greek court is examining evidence that City's clash with Aris in February was the target of a betting scam.
"Prosecutors are reported to have presented extracts of a phone conversation in which one of the Greek team's players claims he would approach Tevez to help them pull off the sting.
"Aris midfielder Kostas Mendrinos is heard suggesting he could ask his team-mate - former City player Nery Castillo - to persuade Tevez to let the Greek side kick off.
"But a spokesman for Tevez denied any knowledge of, or involvement in, the alleged scam. 'It is impossible,' said the spokesman. 'Carlos has never heard such a thing and no one ever approached him.'
Those quotes were hardly necessary. As sportinglife.com points out, Castillo and Tevez were not at the club at the same time. The whole thing is nonsensical, in a country with more pressing worries.
As we noted, there's not a great deal else around, and the Sunday stories get a re-hash in most quarters, including bleacherreport.com, which quotes a goal.com story itself lifted from papers.
Still with us? Here goes: "Goal.com has announced that (Alex) McLeish is prepared to offer £14 million to Manchester City to secure James Milner, under a year since the Englishman left Villa Park for the Eastlands.
"The 25-year-old was unable to convey the dynamic form so often exhibited at Aston Villa as Milner managed just 29 appearances and a mere goal for the Sky Blues.
"In a compacted, high-calibre squad at Manchester City, Milner is concerned over the consistent opportunities arising for him under Roberto Mancini.
"Manchester City are rumoured to be willing to accept a £14-17 million offer." Note the "rumoured", the key word in this sentence.
Meanwhile, skysports.com reports that "Sergio Ramos' agent has rubbished reports the Real Madrid defender is willing to leave the Bernabeu". He's being linked with City. Ramos. Not his agent.

"Aris midfielder Kostas Mendrinos is heard suggesting he could ask his team-mate - former City player Nery Castillo - to persuade Tevez to let the Greek side kick off".

What.....Is this really what the betting scam was about? Hardly "fixing the result of the game" is it?


Milner to Villa, i could see that happening for £15m (if he'd go that is).

Not so sure Shaken, he only played 29 games, hang on a second with his Injuries and England recovery time thats well over half the ones he could have played. He's also home grown which will count a lot in the squad if we buy in from the continent.

Milner played more games than Tevez.

I think he will be taking over from Barry in the centre this season and we aren't going to let an English player go, as we need a quota in the squad.

let a young, decent english player go? i don't think so.

we should just tell villa that milner was one of our star players last year and nothing short of £30M would persuade us to let him go.

Totally agree fellas, (especially as he's told SWP and Bridge, they can go) but i just don't know if RM likes him that much. Would Milner also be happy at only being a bit part player for another season again, which is ultimately what he would be?

if he believes in himself, he should stay one more season.

united have had lots of players like him recently such as wes brown and o'shea. they do a decent job when required but aren't first choice.

Depends on who we buy. If we get Sneijder & Sanchez for example Milner will have to compete with them, Barry, Silva, Yaya, DeJong, AJ & Kolarov? for a starting place

but he should still give it one more year even with all those players.

Perhaps if we'd actually played him centre mid instead of out on the right wing then he may well have proved to be a really good buy.Whatever the rights and wrongs of position hes definitely a keep