Miller's Third Time?

Riviera · Post by **Riviera** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:39 am

TWTD understands that former Blue Tommy Miller is at the top of Joe Royle's summer wish list. The midfielder only left Town for Sunderland on a Bosman free transfer a year ago, but could be set to return for a third spell at Portman Road.

The Blues will hope to sign the 27-year-old on a free transfer with the Wearsiders likely to be keen to cut their wage bill after relegation and with only a year of Miller's contract remaining.

Easington-born Miller was with the Blues as a schoolboy, playing in the same side as Kieron Dyer, but was released as a 15-year-old as he was considered too small.

After starring for Hartlepool between 1997 and 2001, George Burley brought him back to the club on a four-year deal for an initial fee of Ã‚Â£750,000.

Miller, whose father Tommy senior is both his representative and the chief scout at Hartlepool, scored 36 goals in 139 appearances in his second spell with Town before leaving at the end of his contract last June.

In his season with Sunderland the penalty specialist scored three goals in 29 matches as the Black Cats crashed back into the Championship.

Royle, known to be after a goalscoring midfielder, revealed prior to the Blues' final game of 2005/06 at Plymouth that he had a definite target in his sights: "I already have an eye on a midfielder further on in his development [than the departing Jimmy Juan] who will help us really threaten next year."

Elsewhere, Town are almost certain to be linked with another former player Jamie Clapham after he was released by Birmingham at the weekend. Rumours in the Midlands claim the 30-year-old is being targeted by Wolves.

Meanwhile, Blues legend Terry Butcher is considering an offer to manage A-League side Sydney FC. Butcher's former Town team-mate Mich D'Avray is already technical manager at another A-League club, the Perth Glory.

personally i hope not, ive never been that keen on him, way over rated if u ask me, and certainly not in the same league as Juan assuming hes being lined up as a replacement

Dubai Blue · Post by **Dubai Blue** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:58 am

Perhaps. But I would like to think that he has developed after a full season on the Prem facing up to some of the best midfielders in the world. Maybe not such a bad signing after all.

Wouldn't take Clapham though.

Cuffy · Post by **Cuffy** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:35 am

I really can't see them letting Miller go for free, he was one of Sunderland's better performers.

Riviera · Post by **Riviera** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:40 am

Cuffy wrote:I really can't see them letting Miller go for free, he was one of Sunderland's better performers.

a couple of sunderland fans i know said they'd be glad to see the back of him, they think hes completely sh*te

david thompson at wigan is after regular 1st team football, i think he'd give us the bite we very much need in midfield

Ojc · Post by **Ojc** » Mon May 08, 2006 4:16 am

I'd have Clapham back deffo, I thought he was older than 30 though?

crazee · Post by **crazee** » Mon May 08, 2006 4:25 am

Can't see their new manager wanting to let him go, he has been present in their side since he took charge

Himple · Post by **Himple** » Mon May 08, 2006 4:42 am

Id love to have him back!!

1978greats · Post by **1978greats** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:56 am

Himple_ITFC wrote:Id love to have him back!!

Me too !!! I think he would provide that attack in midfield we have been missing since he left..... not sure that I can see it happening tho...big cut in wages....his wife and family..(one of the reasons he went to Sunderland in the first place)....and I cant see him being on a free

ATB · Post by **ATB** » Mon May 08, 2006 6:39 am

I'd take him back in a flash!

A midfielder that scored 10+ goals in a season is definately an asset.. true, a lot were penalties, but having a player that doesn't miss penalties is also pretty handy!

rossi · Post by **rossi** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:18 am

ATB wrote:I'd take him back in a flash!

A midfielder that scored 10+ goals in a season is definately an asset.. true, a lot were penalties, but having a player that doesn't miss penalties is also pretty handy!

I seem to remember that he wanted to leave us. We offered him a deal to stay, but he turned us down. So why the hell anybody would want him back is totally beyond me.

Jonno · Post by **Jonno** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:53 am

Joe did say at the players awards that he was looking to bring him back in the summer, i just thought he was pissed lol, Id love him to come back, but if he did would he stay or go again after 1 season ??

ATB · Post by **ATB** » Mon May 08, 2006 8:15 am

rossi wrote:
ATB wrote:I'd take him back in a flash!

A midfielder that scored 10+ goals in a season is definately an asset.. true, a lot were penalties, but having a player that doesn't miss penalties is also pretty handy!
I seem to remember that he wanted to leave us. We offered him a deal to stay, but he turned us down. So why the hell anybody would want him back is totally beyond me.

So as a business man if you were offered a contract that was probably 2-3 times bigger than your current employer and also gave you more oppurtunities to furthur your career, add to the fact that you followed that company as a kid... would you turn it down?

ippers · Post by **ippers** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:58 am

Whether or not hes the player we need, hes better than Juan

truefan2005 · Post by **truefan2005** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:06 am

i would definately take him back hes a qualitry player who scores goals that what we need

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:50 am

A great goalscorer at this level (just what we've missed this season)....hopefully he'd be able to play AM (his best position) as we'd have Peters/Williams on the right....

Cant see it happening but would be good if it could

twinpeakes · Post by **twinpeakes** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:41 pm

gotta move forward....let him stay at Southampton...would rather see kelvin Davis come back!

Dubai Blue · Post by **Dubai Blue** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:43 pm

Looks like you know something we don't TP.

PUNCH · Post by **PUNCH** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:07 pm

Yes please... but i thought he left to go back to the North East due to home sickness (so i can't see this happening)

Riviera · Post by **Riviera** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:21 pm

looks like most people are pretty much for miller coming back, personally i cant see why, he was an average midfield player, better than juan?? dont make me laugh

take away the penalties he scored about 4 goals last season as an attacking midfielder, hardly prolific

yes i know i havent seen as much of him as u guys, but from what i have seen he really isnt any better than what we already have

clapham is what we've been crying out for all season, an attacking full back who can actually defend!!!

Gaz · Post by **Gaz** » Mon May 08, 2006 4:06 pm

I'd love to see Tommy come back

toby · Post by **toby** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:25 pm

Gaz wrote:I'd love to see Tommy come back

That deaf, dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball!

Riviera · Post by **Riviera** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:27 pm

toby wrote:
Gaz wrote:I'd love to see Tommy come back
That deaf, dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball!

squiz18 · Post by **squiz18** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:30 pm

Cant see why he would come back. I doubt we could better what sunderland are paying him, he supported them as a kid and his wife is from there too. Cant see it happening.

rossi · Post by **rossi** » Tue May 09, 2006 8:06 am

ATB wrote:
rossi wrote:
ATB wrote:I'd take him back in a flash!

A midfielder that scored 10+ goals in a season is definately an asset.. true, a lot were penalties, but having a player that doesn't miss penalties is also pretty handy!
I seem to remember that he wanted to leave us. We offered him a deal to stay, but he turned us down. So why the hell anybody would want him back is totally beyond me.
So as a business man if you were offered a contract that was probably 2-3 times bigger than your current employer and also gave you more oppurtunities to furthur your career, add to the fact that you followed that company as a kid... would you turn it down?

Christ, and I thought Aussies spoke the same language as us - must be the comprehension thats different

Course I'd take the increase - as would anybody - but that's not remotely what I was saying. Maybe I should have typed it more slowly - give you a chance of understanding

ATB · Post by **ATB** » Tue May 09, 2006 8:22 am

rossi wrote:
ATB wrote:
rossi wrote: I seem to remember that he wanted to leave us. We offered him a deal to stay, but he turned us down. So why the hell anybody would want him back is totally beyond me.
So as a business man if you were offered a contract that was probably 2-3 times bigger than your current employer and also gave you more oppurtunities to furthur your career, add to the fact that you followed that company as a kid... would you turn it down?
Christ, and I thought Aussies spoke the same language as us - must be the comprehension thats different

Course I'd take the increase - as would anybody - but that's not remotely what I was saying. Maybe I should have typed it more slowly - give you a chance of understanding

Wow a laughing emoticon in a rossi post!

N1blue · Post by **N1blue** » Tue May 09, 2006 9:48 am

As I heard it at the time, Miller had been hoping for a new contract since the beginning of the 2004/05 season and would have signed straight away if one had been offered. But at that time, the Board dithered around on contracts generally and offered nothing until the season was nearly over. Smart move. At least they seem to have learned from sad experience eventually and now tie our decent players to longer contracts so they won't just walk for free (unless we let them, of course, thinking of Sito).

Anyway, obviously Miller did get an offer in the end but I'd agree with the point made above. Given the choice between earning more money and having a go in the Prem or staying behind to play in a side where several key players were leaving, you didn't know who else was coming in and the Board had allowed your contract to run down to nothing before offering you a new one, what would you do? As it turned out, going to Sunderland was probably the wrong choice but I don't think I'd have done any differently. Incidentally, I don't think the living in the North East angle was as much of a factor as some people think and I may be wrong but I don't think Miller was a Sunderland fan (quite the opposite if I recall correctly).

Should we take him back? Well for what price (in terms of wages) and what are the alternatives? I don't have the stats to hand but I think he scored rather more than four outfield games claimed for him above. He wasn't always very influential, he faded out of games occasionally but much of the time he got stuck in, linked up well with the forwards and played a full part in the best midfield in the league that season. I definitely think we missed him. I definitely think he's a much better all round player than Juan. OK, he can't take such good free kicks (only penalties) but at least he can tackle and isn't five seconds behind the flow of the game all the time. I haven't seen anything so far to suggest Williams is a better player than Miller (and look at the money we spent on him). And as for Matt Richards?!? Surely nobody thinks there's any comparison?

Assuming our midfield squad consisted of Garvan, Currie, Westlake, Peters, Williams and (groan) Richards, adding Miller seems to leave us a bit long of attacking players and short on defensive skills, arguably repeating what was a big problem last season. I'd rather see us bring in somebody that could plug that Defensive Midfield gap and that could be a better quality play-maker. But assuming he doesn't cost too much and assuming he wants to return, I'd take Miller back.

Paul30 · Post by **Paul30** » Thu May 11, 2006 5:52 am

Sunderland's Tommy Miller has revealed he will be staying put for next season, unless told otherwise, ruling out a third return to Ipswich.

The free-scoring midfielder had been linked with a return to Portman Road after relegation from the Premiership but in an exclusive interview with The East Anglian Daily Times, Tommy said he wanted to help the wearsiders bounce straight back up, despite his affection for Ipswich.

Tommy said: "Although we didn't have a good season and none of us were happy I'm keen to stay here.

"We really believe we have a chance of bouncing straight back up and I want to be a part of that. I have a year left on my contract and am not looking to jump ship.

"At the moment things are up in the air with talks of a takeover and we have yet to see who the new manager will be so things might change.

"Certainly I'm delighted to here from you that Joe Royle is keen on signing me again and there is no doubt I love the place. I had some great time at Ipswich but at the moment my place is with Sunderland. Although you never know in football, maybe one day I will be back for a third time."

Another former player, Jamie Clapham, could be more attainable, having been released from Birmingham.

Post by **loudnproud** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:59 am

As mentioned on this thread,Miller was offered a new contract,He turned it down to play for his local club and of course the glitter of the prem.As for being a prolific midfield goal scorer!!! Far from it! Take away his spot kicks and it looks pretty avaerage to me!
He is at a club he adored as a kid,Why on earth would he want to return back to suffolk eh? It aint going to happen and Royle only mentioned that he would welcome Tommy back,not that he was chasing him.Move on people,the expression of "been there,dont that,"springs to mind here!

Susie · Post by **Susie** » Thu May 11, 2006 7:04 am

loudnproud wrote:As mentioned on this thread,Miller was offered a new contract,He turned it down to play for his local club and of course the glitter of the prem.As for being a prolific midfield goal scorer!!! Far from it! Take away his spot kicks and it looks pretty avaerage to me!
He is at a club he adored as a kid,Why on earth would he want to return back to suffolk eh? It aint going to happen and Royle only mentioned that he would welcome Tommy back,not that he was chasing him.Move on people,the expression of "been there,dont that,"springs to mind here!

I have to agree Dave. Although Royle said at the awards evening he was trying to get Tommy back, I didn't ever think it would happen.

AND do we really want someone else doing a "Scowie"?

hallamblue · Post by **hallamblue** » Thu May 11, 2006 8:08 am

Riviera wrote:
TWTD understands that former Blue Tommy Miller is at the top of Joe Royle's summer wish list. The midfielder only left Town for Sunderland on a Bosman free transfer a year ago, but could be set to return for a third spell at Portman Road.

The Blues will hope to sign the 27-year-old on a free transfer with the Wearsiders likely to be keen to cut their wage bill after relegation and with only a year of Miller's contract remaining.

Easington-born Miller was with the Blues as a schoolboy, playing in the same side as Kieron Dyer, but was released as a 15-year-old as he was considered too small.

After starring for Hartlepool between 1997 and 2001, George Burley brought him back to the club on a four-year deal for an initial fee of Ã‚Â£750,000.

Miller, whose father Tommy senior is both his representative and the chief scout at Hartlepool, scored 36 goals in 139 appearances in his second spell with Town before leaving at the end of his contract last June.

In his season with Sunderland the penalty specialist scored three goals in 29 matches as the Black Cats crashed back into the Championship.

Royle, known to be after a goalscoring midfielder, revealed prior to the Blues' final game of 2005/06 at Plymouth that he had a definite target in his sights: "I already have an eye on a midfielder further on in his development [than the departing Jimmy Juan] who will help us really threaten next year."

Elsewhere, Town are almost certain to be linked with another former player Jamie Clapham after he was released by Birmingham at the weekend. Rumours in the Midlands claim the 30-year-old is being targeted by Wolves.

Meanwhile, Blues legend Terry Butcher is considering an offer to manage A-League side Sydney FC. Butcher's former Town team-mate Mich D'Avray is already technical manager at another A-League club, the Perth Glory.
personally i hope not, ive never been that keen on him, way over rated if u ask me, and certainly not in the same league as Juan assuming hes being lined up as a replacement

doesnt make sense to go and pay a fee for a player that left us for a big fat zero only a few months ago...plus U seriously dougt he wpuld come back to ITFC - Sunderland is his home town, and I suspect he may have more chance of promotion (sad though it is to say it ) !!

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Miller's Third Time?

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