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 replacementTWTD 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 £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.
Miller's Third Time?
Moderators: marko69, Bluemike, Charnwood
- Riviera
- Posts: 22224
- Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2003 10:07 am
- Location: Chudleigh Knighton - On the edge of Dartmoor
Miller's Third Time?
- Dubai Blue
- Posts: 4963
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 2:18 pm
- Location: Dubai, UAE
- Riviera
- Posts: 22224
- Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2003 10:07 am
- Location: Chudleigh Knighton - On the edge of Dartmoor
a couple of sunderland fans i know said they'd be glad to see the back of him, they think hes completely sh*teCuffy wrote:I really can't see them letting Miller go for free, he was one of Sunderland's better performers.
david thompson at wigan is after regular 1st team football, i think he'd give us the bite we very much need in midfield
- crazee
- Posts: 5233
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2003 7:36 pm
- Location: Suffolk
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 2128
- Joined: Tue May 10, 2005 11:11 am
- Location: Gorleston
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 6033
- Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2003 5:03 pm
- Location: Lovely Ipswich
- Contact:
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 freeHimple_ITFC wrote:Id love to have him back!!
- rossi
- Posts: 2949
- Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2003 3:18 pm
- Location: Broomfield
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.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!
- ATB
- Posts: 4701
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 11:43 pm
- Location: Sydney
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?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.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!
-
- Posts: 1327
- Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 11:06 pm
- Location: Clacton-on-sea
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 573
- Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2005 6:39 pm
- Location: near southwold
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 1843
- Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2004 10:34 pm
- Location: London, Ontario
- Dubai Blue
- Posts: 4963
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 2:18 pm
- Location: Dubai, UAE
- Riviera
- Posts: 22224
- Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2003 10:07 am
- Location: Chudleigh Knighton - On the edge of Dartmoor
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!!!
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!!!
- toby
- Posts: 11682
- Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2003 2:09 pm
- Location: Wiltshire
- Contact:
- rossi
- Posts: 2949
- Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2003 3:18 pm
- Location: Broomfield
Christ, and I thought Aussies spoke the same language as us - must be the comprehension thats differentATB wrote: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?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.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!
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
- Posts: 4701
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 11:43 pm
- Location: Sydney
Wow a laughing emoticon in a rossi post!rossi wrote:Christ, and I thought Aussies spoke the same language as us - must be the comprehension thats differentATB wrote: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?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.
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
-
- Posts: 1402
- Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:25 am
- Location: Islington
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.
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.
-
- Posts: 1331
- Joined: Sun May 29, 2005 7:30 pm
- Location: Newmarket, Suffolk
- Contact:
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.
- loudnproud
- Forum Hall of Famer
- Posts: 3751
- Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:10 pm
- Location: PETERBOROUGH
- Contact:
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!
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!
-
- Posts: 13521
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2003 2:59 pm
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.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!
AND do we really want someone else doing a "Scowie"?
-
- Posts: 31267
- Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:30 pm
- Location: Ipswich Town F.C.
Re: Miller's Third Time?
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 ) !!Riviera wrote: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 replacementTWTD 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 £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.