Miller for United?

**Slash/ED** · 08/01/2004, 6:20 PM

Lads you all seem to be forgetting something. One of the first names in the Manchester United mid field is Phil Neville. If Miller can't displace Phil Neville then he wont amount to much anyway. A move to Man United now is the perfect move for him, he's going to get a fair bit of playing time to establish himself and he will devolop alot more at Man U then at Celtic, no matter how much he plays. Also, in about a year or two, Keane will retire, which will really open up a gap for him, and even know Keanes not playing every week.

**Plastic Paddy** · 08/01/2004, 6:28 PM

To be fair to Phil Neville, Slash, he's been a revelation in the ManUre midfield this term and according to some Reds I know, both their best and most improved player of the season. I take your point about K****, but on that basis Miller will be twenty five before cementing a place in the first team. I don't care if the club he plays for is Manchester United, the boy will need regular first team football before then if he's to build on his potential. And we as followers of the Ireland side can't afford for that regular first-team action to be gained whilst out on loan at somewhere like Preston North End.

PP

**tiktok** · 08/01/2004, 8:28 PM

It's potentially a good move for him because of the standard of coaching at United, but only in the long term. He will get games because of Ferguson's squad rotation, but he won't play anywher near as often as he would at Celtic.

At the moment United have
Fletcher and Ronaldo on the right,
Giggs and Fortune for the left,
Keane, Djemba-Djemba, Butt, Scholes, Kleberson and Phil Neville in the centre.

I can't see Miller competing for any position at the moment for a regular first team slot (for the record, Phil Neville has been getting better and better over the last two seasons and has developed into an excellent central midfielder) so in that respect he'd probably be better off at Celtic, he needs to get regular first team football at a high level (chamipions league as opposed to SPL) if he's going to continue to improve.

**Beavis** · 08/01/2004, 9:53 PM

Man U are fairly light in wide positions these days with Giggs playing up front.Yer man Fletcher plays regulary and he for me isn't up to much.I still think it is/was a bad move.
He could do with at least another year with Celtic to become a permenant fixture in the side and if things don't go well to begin with at Man U he could easily dissolve into reserve team obscurity.

Also just like to add Carnstein,you've got some problems.There's no need to resort to swearing and name calling any time somebody tries to make a point that differs from your own.

I'm sorry but you refuse to admit the facts:John O'Shea hasn't performed for country as for club (I didn't think that could even be argued),and the other that Roy Keane,as Conor said,doesn't play for us any more,that's not a matter of bias that's actually the case!

Seeing as you are such a Keanite I wonder could you consider/defend this.
Keane didn't play for Ireland in one of our most important games in recent history away against Iran,yet managed to play the full 90mins against none other than Leceister City two days later.We'll I guess we all know where his priorities lay

**DolansWaistcoat** · 09/01/2004, 7:18 AM

Wasn't it Bolton that manure played two days after the iran match that keane missed,which I think united lost the game anyway?We all know that there was an agreement made between McCarthy and Ferguson,thats old news.

As for Miller joining manure could reallly help him develop his game when he's playing(hopefully)and training with players of a much higher standard than at celtic.It depends though if he gets 35 or 40 games a season.

**PaulB** · 09/01/2004, 8:12 AM

Whay does every post on every forum harp back to keane/mccarthy/saipan. F*** it , its done with, like it or not he's not coming back.

In my opinion a move to United is good for Miller. How much more improvement is he going to make by staying at Celtic, if he wants to move on as a player he should go, end of story. At he end of the day you look after number one. Celtic fluted about with him during the summer when he wanted a contract, so it's their own fault..

**tiktok** · 09/01/2004, 8:15 AM

www.breakingnews.ie

Miller move was for more than money - agent

Liam Miller�s agent has insisted that money was not the only reason the player decided to leave Celtic for Manchester United.

The 22-year-old has signed a pre-contract agreement with the English champions that will seal a lucrative summer free transfer move.

Celtic insisted they had made the Irishman an offer that would have made him one of the highest paid players in Scottish footballing history.

But Miller�s agent Finton Drury insisted the lure of Old Trafford had been simply irresistible.

He told The Scottish Sun: �The player left for a combination of reasons and money was but one aspect.

�It is a career decision and Manchester United were the only other club that Liam would have left Celtic for.

�In the end it was a choice between one of the best clubs in Britain and one of the greatest clubs in the world.�

A Celtic statement insisted the club had done everything to keep the player.

It read: �We made an extremely generous offer to Liam Miller, the biggest salary deal ever put on the table for a young Celtic player who has come up through the ranks.

�This offer was made following detailed consideration of Liam�s contribution to the team to date during his 16 first-team starting appearances as well as eventual potential.

�It is a salary package which would make him one of the very best-paid young players in Scottish football history.�

But Drury hit back: �The statements that Celtic are making about the financial situation are inaccurate and erroneous.

�But it is inevitable that when a club loses a player they don�t want to lose suggestions are made that everything was done financially to keep him.

�It�s the law of the jungle.�

**gspain** · 09/01/2004, 8:17 AM

Miller does look a class prospect and a move to Manyoo will obviously beenfit him as he will be playing with and against a much better standard of player.

However he does need regular first team football and it will be difficult for him to break into the 1st team. He still hasn't nailed down a regular starting berth at Celtic (appreciate he has had injuries) so maybe a season on loan at anothe rpremiership club would help.

However on balance it has to be good news for us. we need players playing at the top clubs and competing at the highest level

**�anna** · 09/01/2004, 9:10 AM

Originally posted by PaulB
Whay does every post on every forum harp back to keane/mccarthy/saipan. F*** it , its done with, like it or not he's not coming back.

well said

**Lionel Ritchie** · 09/01/2004, 9:37 AM

Originally posted by gspain
As long as he doesn't retire from International football aged 24 it would be a great move. Playing for and against better quality players would bring him along no end.

He is not the finished article but he looks a real prospect.

We need a decent midfielder coming through in green.

Agree with you there G. It has to be a real worry though that Ferguson would we advising him to get a gammy leg/itchy hole/bad hair day any time an international week rolls around.

I'd personally rather see him go to any other club within an asses roar of European competition. But that's as much due to the over stocking of talented players at Man U as the likelyhood he'll not get much football.

They're also closing in on a chinese player who's apparently being bought more to raise the profile of the ManU "Brand"

in China than out of any real intention of playing the guy other than for the last 5 minutes of games they're 3-0 up in.

**�anna** · 09/01/2004, 9:43 AM

I think the further any international player stays from ferguson the better- fine he's an excellent manager but he seems obsessed about ending/cutting short his players' international careers.

**Plastic Paddy** · 09/01/2004, 9:53 AM

Originally posted by PaulB
Celtic fluted about with him during the summer when he wanted a contract, so it's their own fault..

What? He'd spent most of the previous two seasons on the treatment table. He'd played all of about half-a-dozen first team matches in three years. Yet the club stood by him and told him a new contract would be available for him to sign DESPITE his run of injuries. So, pray tell, how is any of this Celtic's fault?

His behaviour in this regard must speak volumes for the kind of man he is. Callow, ill-advised and totally lacking in loyalty. I hope he brings all these qualities with him to ManUre.

PP

**�anna** · 09/01/2004, 9:55 AM

Originally posted by Plastic Paddy
Callow, ill-advised and totally lacking in loyalty. I hope he brings all these qualities with him to ManUre.

they're in high demand there, just look at their captain

**tiktok** · 09/01/2004, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by �anna
I think the further any international player stays from ferguson the better- fine he's an excellent manager but he seems obsessed about ending/cutting short his players' international careers.

That's overstating the case Eanna.
He has a problem with friendy games.
Roy Keane and at a stretch Dwight Yorke were the only players where Fergie is alledged to have applied pressure about international football.

United have always had under Fergie a few key players around whom they build a team.

The only important ones I can remember who didn't play internationally were Steve Bruce and Eric Cantona, because the managers of their respective countries didn't consider them good enough.

Robson, Pallister, Schmeicel, Hughes, Irwin, Scholes, Giggs, Kanchelskis, Cole played for United and their International side whenever they were called.

He's not stopping John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher, Ronaldo or any other current international from playing for their country, no reason to assume he'd stop Miller.

**Seanie** · 09/01/2004, 10:14 AM

Just been officially announced -

REDS CONFIRM NEW SIGNING

Manchester United have finalised a pre-contract agreement for midfielder Liam Miller from Celtic FC.

Liam will join Manchester United on 1 July 2004 on a long-term contract.

**�anna** · 09/01/2004, 10:14 AM

yeah, fair enough. I know the guys only doing his job, and doing it bloody well, but I don't like or trust him

**Ozymandias** · 09/01/2004, 10:24 AM

Celtic didn't just stick by miller cause they thought he was a prospect..it was because he was a contracted player who under the insurance they pay for him was entitled to get treatment for his injuries...every club does this.. if miller got injured out of contract his own insurance would have to cover him......also miller was fit for most of last season but didn't get a game that often..he played away for the Irish U21's......

His �1,000 contract a week was comming to an end and sought talks in the summer but Celtic stalled...his agent obviously looked around and Man U came in.....it was only after his Champions league form that celtic came with an offer......now obviously it was not as good as Utd's.......do you not think another factor was that Celtic is an ageing team....and a team about to break up....Larsson going....talk of sutton and Hartson going......Lennon and lambert near retirement.....and most importantly...O'Neill linked with Liverpool,spurs,newcastle etc....maybe he is getting out before Celtic go into downturn.....

I hope all the above is wrong as I support Celtic and would have loved to see miller stay.....but just cause I don't like the move doesn't make it a bad one for Liam Miller......

I think it is bad for celtic and I worry for the great club over the next few seasons.....not in scotland but in europe...the great euro nights might just be over once this campaign finishes...

hopefully not

**Plastic Paddy** · 09/01/2004, 10:27 AM

Ozymandias, you must be the happiest Tim I've ever come across. Ninety per cent of the time you'll be proved right, and the other ten per cent you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I just hope your predictions are the exception to prove the rule...

PP

**gspain** · 09/01/2004, 10:34 AM

Taggart's is well known for players feigning injury. Looks at Ryan Giggs's friendly International record. In fairness he is not alone Liverpool used to do it as well when they were successful.

Keane did play 90 minutes v Leicester 48 hours after the Iran game. Keane also played in the Nike tour this summer when according to "medical advice" too many game scould be harmful.

John O'Shea was poor v Russia and Switzerland but so were a lot of others. His early season from was not good either. He appears to be back to his best.

Taggart obviously sees huge potential in Miller and so do Celtic given the fuss they are making. I respect and trust his judgement.

**tiktok** · 09/01/2004, 10:39 AM

Originally posted by gspain
Keane also played in the Nike tour this summer when according to "medical advice" too many game scould be harmful.

Sick of the keane thing: didn't want to get involved but......
For god's sake gspain, he's not going to sit out preseason training and go into the first game of the season not match fit. What would the point of that be, your argument is ridiculous.