It's been ridiculously simple to point accusatory fingers at the phenomenally easy target that is Gordon Taylor OBE in recent years as his PFA demands rights for downtrodden footballers, defends thugs like Joey Barton and spends vast sums on paintings by LS Lowry while raking in massive amounts of cash.
But when you read that James Milner - one of the few English Premier League footballers seemingly unmoved by money and fame - is represented by the PFA rather than an agent motivated by cash you realise that perhaps there is a role for a footballers' union, if only more players were more interested in professional football than unprofessional conduct.
There is a stark contrast between Milner and Anton Ferdinand - now on his way to Sunderland after apparently demanding wages of £50,000 a week from West Ham. There was no official transfer request forthcoming from Ferdinand so he will presumably qualify for a laughingly-named loyalty bonus from the Hammers.
Meanwhile, Milner has decided that his future lies elsewhere from Newcastle - with Martin O'Neill a confirmed admirer - and has handed in an official transfer request, presumably advised by the PFA that this was the correct way of making his unrest known. Never mind the loyalty bonus, Milner wants out of Newcastle so he went to his paymasters and said as much. No leaks to newspapers, no outrageous wage demands, just a simple 'I want to leave' note given to the club and not to The Sun.
Milner wants to join Aston Villa now, just as he wanted to join Aston Villa two years ago but was denied when Glenn Roeder had a change of heart. He was reportedly devastated but did not sulk, with Roeder and later Sam Allardyce and Kevin Keegan articulating nothing but praise for his work ethic.
Milner is a likeable, unassuming footballer who now wants to move on, having seen his career stall somewhat at Newcastle. Anyone with a record number of England Under-21 caps has stagnated - signifying early promise without development to the very top echelons of the game. He has watched himself be overtaken by the likes of Aaron Lennon, David Bentley and Theo Walcott and presumably sees a move as the only way to kickstart his career again.
Waiting at Villa is a manager with a history of handling young, English players and making them international class, UEFA Cup football and a renewed push for a top-six place. All this at a well-run club with a stable owner/manager relationship. None of that can be matched at Newcastle, however much fans claim to be a 'bigger' club in terms of support.
Milner does not want to move for the sake of money (he's from Yorkshire, he wouldn't spend it anyway) but for the sake of his career. The manner in which he has conducted himself should be an example for any young footballers who are eyeing a new pair of £50,000 ear-rings and wondering if Sunderland are now paying even bigger wages than West Ham.
In an age when we find it difficult to find young English footballers we actually like, Milner makes a refreshing change. But not half as refreshing as the realisation that the PFA might actually be useful occasionally.
Sarah Winterburn
Your Comments
JanMolby77
"nigel winterburn was a rubbish footballer, now he is writing rubbish articles..."
jm939
"Hahaha sounds like a lot of newcastle fans are crying a bit of "well we never liked him anyway!""
shola_hasebola
"capetownscouser - actually he did ask to leave about three months ago initially, it was newcastle who kept it quiet because they still hoped to keep onto him. facts straight lad"
andymanis
"annoyed at his treatment? treatment being that they wont give him another pay rise for doing, as far as im concerned, nothing much to justify it? Im not really too bothered about him, i just think this article is trying to paint him as too much of a nice guy by leaving out obvious facts most people who have read this article know from what his agent came out and said. And i think that was another mistake his agent coming out saying he wanted to match other players pay. I think a far better explanation would of been to of said he thought his career had stagnated and wanted to simply move on and start a new challenge, had the toon said no then a real man with deceny would of accepted that and quietly got on with it being faithful to the contract he signed not so long ago."
Ezy_Rider
"Rather than being pointless, the point still stands - Milner was annoyed at his treatment so he handed in a transfer request, all done quietly, behind the scenes, no press involved, no stamping feet. It's only in the public domain (a week later) because his club either want to hang him out to dry or get rid of him. As for everyone slagging him off - if your employers were constantly praising you, but refused to up your wage, refused to allow you to move elsewhere, turn down offers from other clubs, all the while paying someone three times your salary to sit in jail, would you be so out of order for trying to do something about it?"
andymanis
"i agree this is the most pointless article ever that is so way off the mark that its embarassing for Miss Winterburn. As someone pointed out he signed an improved contract only last summer, and it has been revelaed he wants to lave because he wants to match other players wages at the club. Maybe im wrong but ive not really heard much from Milner (on the pitch) in the last 12 months to suggest he should warrant ANOTHER contract improvement in such short space of time since he signed the last. And yes it is extremely sad that you are trumpeting a person who has decided his contract means nothing and has no intention to see it out."
batfood
"Don't blame Milner for wanting away, if he doesn't do it soon he knows he's going to be scoobied. See Alan shearer's mostly empty trophy cabinet for details. "
whittboy
"I would like to point out that Milner has been at NUFC for the best part of four years, surely the club is part of the footballer he has become, he joined when he was 18, just a kid so it cant be argued that newcastle have been a purely bad influence on him. Also, I dont think Milner wants to go, he never has, he likes Newcastle. When he nearly went to Villa 2 years ago he wanted it because he was a fringe player at NUFC, thats no longer the case, I think he just wants to be paid the same as other players of his quality and experience, namely Steven Taylor, thats not greed, its just good sense."
samabachan
"Unfortunately, the small point that Miss Winterburn seems to have missed is that he asked for a transfer because he is unhappy with the wages he is currently receiving at Newcastle... Kind of puts a dent in her 'not in it for the money' theory. I have to say that I find Miss Winterburn's footballing knowledge poor in general and this is just yet another case of her getting on her soapbox without being aware of the facts."
bigpapablue
"So Milner hasn't put a transfer request in to try and get NUFC to up his wages? Funny cos the response from the PFA suggests that exactly - the fact they are unhappy the request has been made public. Moving to Villa to progress his career aye? Sorry Sarah but youre so far off the mark it's embarassing. Try again pet."
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