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Interesting story re Matt Mills


Wildgoose
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I thought both him and Craine were terribly delt with by the club, we've had a centre back shortage since we were relegated and how neither of them ever got a run is beyond me? Both would have walked into our side at the start of this season and probablt still would.

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He was at least on the bench on most occasions the season before he left.

He's trying to say he left because he wanted first team football - and he thought he'd get it at Man City? Just admit it you tit, you left for money.

 

Exactly. He was on the fringes of the first team (getting chances) in his first full season - and he left. Berk.

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I thought both him and Crainie were terribly delt with by the club, we've had a centre back shortage since we were relegated and how neither of them ever got a run is beyond me? Both would have walked into our side at the start of this season and probably still would.

 

It's easy to say that with hindsight though and I agree that they would both have had a lot more chances in our first team over the last season and a half than anyone probably anticipated at the time they actually left. At the time they left they both thought leaving would further their careers and in terms of bank balance it probably has even though they are both now playing at the same level as Saints.

 

I would definitely have kept Crainie based on his composure on the ball and versatility. Shame he decided that the big money on offer from Portsmouth was a better option than fighting for his place here.

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He was at least on the bench on most occasions the season before he left.

He's trying to say he left because he wanted first team football - and he thought he'd get it at Man City? Just admit it you tit, you left for money.

 

 

Yes, he and Crainie were good as central defenders ...at RESERVE level, but the question always remains -Could they have made it as first team regulars ? It underlines the fact that there is a H_U_G_E gulf between reserve and CCC football. I did feel sorry for M.Mills, as he was stuck on the bench while bigger names were out on the field.

He got a lot of encouragement from Steve Wigley (apparantly) and was lured to Man.City when SW moved there.

 

IF he were to be released...or available on loan, maybe Doncaster would loan him out (after Saturday), he's got a bit more experience than Lancashire who, although he may look the part, hasn't made the quantum leap to CCC yet.

 

....or ???

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Yes, he and Crainie were good as central defenders ...at RESERVE level, but the question always remains -Could they have made it as first team regulars ? It underlines the fact that there is a H_U_G_E gulf between reserve and CCC football. I did feel sorry for M.Mills, as he was stuck on the bench while bigger names were out on the field.

He got a lot of encouragement from Steve Wigley (apparantly) and was lured to Man.City when SW moved there.

 

IF he were to be released...or available on loan, maybe Doncaster would loan him out (after Saturday), he's got a bit more experience than Lancashire who, although he may look the part, hasn't made the quantum leap to CCC yet.

 

....or ???

 

Well, we will see on Saturday how the Mills of today compares with the Mills who played in our reserves. And how he compares with Lancashire. I doubt if he will score another own-goal though.

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Matt Mills has been excellent for us since he came and seems to be getting better every game,his range of passing is excellent (if not a bit predictable),he's good in the air and at 22 looks a great prospect.

Birmingham have been sniffing around him and I'm sure others will be interested,its a toss up between Mills & Brian Stock (another local lad to you,who is the most complete footballer I've seen in 30 years watching Rovers) who becomes our 1st million pound sale first.

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Matt Mills has been excellent for us since he came and seems to be getting better every game,his range of passing is excellent (if not a bit predictable),he's good in the air and at 22 looks a great prospect.

Birmingham have been sniffing around him and I'm sure others will be interested,its a toss up between Mills & Brian Stock (another local lad to you,who is the most complete footballer I've seen in 30 years watching Rovers) who becomes our 1st million pound sale first.

 

Thanks Lee, interesting perspective. Brian Stock had a big reputation in the lower leagues at Bournemouth so not surprised he's gone on to do well. I think Matt Mills was attracted to Man City by Wigley being there but the ultimate winners of his moving there have been Doncaster from the sounds of it.

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Thanks Lee, interesting perspective. Brian Stock had a big reputation in the lower leagues at Bournemouth so not surprised he's gone on to do well. I think Matt Mills was attracted to Man City by Wigley being there but the ultimate winners of his moving there have been Doncaster from the sounds of it.

 

 

We certainly are the winners at the moment,however if he does leave for around the million mark then the club that gets him could potentially have a top quality player and themselves be sat on a gold mine.

Regarding Stock he could comfortably play in the prem now imo, he rarely breaks sweat because he doesn't have to,I'm sure his shirt never needs washing! him & Wellens compliment each other so well as they are so different and both quality in there own way. If we could defend set pieces better and had a decent striker (or 2) we would more than hold our own in this league :mad:

Still,I suppose most of the teams in the bottom half could probably say the same.

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I think what made Mills' mind up was the fact that Mr amazing arry redcrapp brought in Davenport on loan who was no better then Mills really.

 

Thats wasn't the season that made up his mind, it was after we were relegated and we were playing with dozens of different CB's and he still didn't get a look in until Burley arived by which time it was too late.

 

The way Craine was treated by Burley was a joke, we had Pele, Powell, Chris Baird and Viafara all picked at centre back ahead of him and then when he finally got a look in he looked absolute quality in the play off second leg by which time it was to late to keep his attention away from the big money.

 

This left us in the ridiculous situation last year of playing anyone who could kick a ball at CB because we had let all our decent procpects go.

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faced with a similar choice - being a reserve at a premiership club on a premierhip wage, or POSSIBLE first teamer at a CCC on a CCC wage, I'm not sure what I'd do.

 

the fact is we should have got him and Cranie signed to long term deals and then loaned them out for full seasons at a time with the assurance that they were wanted here in the long term. If they were given the right length contract, assurances and appropriate wage for their ability and potential they would have been here now.

 

Sadly we ****ed uop and left it too late to tie them down to a deal allowing them to get a better deal elsewhere. Shame.

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A major cause of our relegation, IMHO.

 

 

Wasn't Davenport on loan from ...Tottenham,(?).. and wasn't his lad Jamie at Spurs, too ?... (dodgy knee and all).

Don't tell me.. 'arry didn't know about THAT injury in advance...

 

I think a lot more can be written about " Mr. ' Arry's transfer deals " but the whole issue maybe "sub judici " at present,

as he was one of the managers who " helped " police with their enquiries when the issue came up last season.

 

MAYBE ..his new employers have helped move that file to the bottom of the pile now as I haven't heard 'owt on it lately.

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Wasn't Davenport on loan from ...Tottenham,(?).. and wasn't his lad Jamie at Spurs, too ?... (dodgy knee and all).

Don't tell me.. 'arry didn't know about THAT injury in advance...

 

I think a lot more can be written about " Mr. ' Arry's transfer deals " but the whole issue maybe "sub judici " at present,

as he was one of the managers who " helped " police with their enquiries when the issue came up last season.

 

MAYBE ..his new employers have helped move that file to the bottom of the pile now as I haven't heard 'owt on it lately.

Jamie gave up the possibility of a coaching career at Spurs to come here, but because of his dodgy knee he couldn't play more than one game a week which meant that the team was changing more than was good for it.

 

As for the other business ;) I saw some recent comment in the papers so I don't think it's been settled yet.

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Wasn't Davenport on loan from ...Tottenham,(?).. and wasn't his lad Jamie at Spurs, too ?... (dodgy knee and all).

Don't tell me.. 'arry didn't know about THAT injury in advance...

 

I think a lot more can be written about " Mr. ' Arry's transfer deals " but the whole issue maybe "sub judici " at present,

as he was one of the managers who " helped " police with their enquiries when the issue came up last season.

 

MAYBE ..his new employers have helped move that file to the bottom of the pile now as I haven't heard 'owt on it lately.

 

Never had a problem with Jamie, he chose to come here played well while he was here and never looked anything but committed which is more than can be said for some of the other dross that was at the club.

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Jamie gave up the possibility of a coaching career at Spurs to come here, but because of his dodgy knee he couldn't play more than one game a week which meant that the team was changing more than was good for it.

 

As for the other business ;) I saw some recent comment in the papers so I don't think it's been settled yet.

 

 

response;

 

..until it is " resolved " which may be when /if Tottenham are relegated,

now there's a thought, ' arry - then we may never hear of it again.

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Always thought that Cranie looked a better prospect than Mills. Saw Mills make some real howlers out on loan at Coventry. Could never understand why Cranie was not given more of a chance by Redknapp, then he goes and takes him to the Skates - doesn't seem the high of logic.

 

Well that's what makes football interesting to discuss. I always thought Mills looked better than Crainie .. or at least looked a better prospect. Crainie had (and presumably still has) class on the ball but, like Kenton and Baird, is too short to be a top CB and too slow to be a top RB, and I reckon he'll spend his whole career as a nearly man specialsing in neither one nor the other. Mills, I thought, had the height to develop into a good CB and showed real promise.

 

 

I was very sorry he left. But at the time, I also thought he left for the money, not for first team football.

 

I also thought Mandaric, rather than Redknapp, bought Craine just to upset us!

 

K.

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We didn't handle Mills or Craine well at all. Both should have been playing a lot more than they did, Burley insistance on playing the likes of Powell, Pele, Wright and Ostlund in defence while Craine wasn't even in the squad was a joke. Craine showed he had the ability to play for us up at Pride park although he was probably already gone by then.

 

It's hardly suprising they left us imo, we would be in a really strong position if we kept hold of them both. A back four of Skacel, Perry, Mills and Craine would be a whole lot better than some of the crap we've seen this season.

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We didn't handle Mills or Craine well at all. Both should have been playing a lot more than they did, Burley insistance on playing the likes of Powell, Pele, Wright and Ostlund in defence while Craine wasn't even in the squad was a joke. Craine showed he had the ability to play for us up at Pride park although he was probably already gone by then.

 

It's hardly suprising they left us imo, we would be in a really strong position if we kept hold of them both. A back four of Skacel, Perry, Mills and Craine would be a whole lot better than some of the crap we've seen this season.

 

And Blackstock up front

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He was at least on the bench on most occasions the season before he left.

He's trying to say he left because he wanted first team football - and he thought he'd get it at Man City? Just admit it you tit, you left for money.

 

Agreed. Another big shot like Cranie who thought he was a lot better than he is. Can't understand why loads of people on hear still drool about those two. Cranie didn't only play one game for us in our last season for nothing, he is garbage.

Edited by Papa Shango
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Agreed. Another big shot like Cranie who thought he was a lot better than he is. Can't understand why loads of people on hear still drool about those two. Cranie didn't play one game for us in our last season for nothing, he is garbage.

 

I thought he was with Pompey last season so it is not surprising he did not play

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A major cause of our relegation, IMHO.

 

I agree. I thought at the time that we would be better off trying Mills, because Davenport, whilst not a bad player, was just too similar to Claus, and Claus needed to play with a stronger centre half.

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I thought both him and Craine were terribly delt with by the club, we've had a centre back shortage since we were relegated and how neither of them ever got a run is beyond me? Both would have walked into our side at the start of this season and probablt still would.

It's hardly suprising they left us imo, we would be in a really strong position if we kept hold of them both. A back four of Skacel, Perry, Mills and Craine would be a whole lot better than some of the crap we've seen this season.

Cranie played eighteen games on loan at Charlton this season and Mills plays for Doncaster, the two teams in a worse position than us. I realise they're part of a team but I'd love to know why we seem to think we've missed out on a couple of absolute gems when they have hardly gone on to great heights just yet.

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Cranie played eighteen games on loan at Charlton this season and Mills plays for Doncaster, the two teams in a worse position than us. I realise they're part of a team but I'd love to know why we seem to think we've missed out on a couple of absolute gems when they have hardly gone on to great heights just yet.

 

Because we would not had to pay wages for Makin Powell and Powell and could have used that money better

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Cranie played eighteen games on loan at Charlton this season and Mills plays for Doncaster, the two teams in a worse position than us. I realise they're part of a team but I'd love to know why we seem to think we've missed out on a couple of absolute gems when they have hardly gone on to great heights just yet.

 

Because we're playing Lancashire and James, Craine and Mills would be preferable to those two.

 

I don't mean to make out like they are the best thing since sliced bread but we should have used them both better.

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He left when he was 19 for the big money and bright lights of the Premiership, so find it slightly rich that he thinks he missed out on the "Revolutionary Coaching Set Up". He chose to leave.

 

At the time he complained that he wasn't getting any first team experience here, so did he move to Man City for the first team experience, yeah right he did.

 

He moved for the money, end of.

 

He was 18 when we were in the top flight, so was he expecting to be playing then????

 

Then as a 19 year old (in the first half of that first season down), he was kept out of the first team by Higgy, Claus, Powell, Svennson and I think Hajto, and although a couple of these weren't that hot, I think they were better placed than a 19 year old Matt Mills.

 

He could have signed a new contract and stayed around to fight for a place, but he left as soon as City waved some dosh at him. Nothing wrong with that, that's the way football is, but his exit has to be put in context.

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