[Albion] James Milner

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Hugo Rune

Well-known member
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Feb 23, 2012
21,927
Brighton
ok for midfield cover, if playing full back it's blocking potential youngsters.

though how useful is cover that's not available?
I’d argue that ‘blocking youngsters’ is not the primary reason for him not covering full back positions. The primary reason was is that he has lost of his acceleration over the years and looks very, very poor in defence nowadays.

I get that he is a massive role model and looked fairly decent in his one or two appearances at left midfield or left wing but overall, I’d had hoped that we’d have someone else taking his salary and squad position. I’m not impressed.
 


Uh_huh_him

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2011
10,993
It's concerning that his random thigh injury, became season ending, without much of a comment from the club.

Similarly to many others, I don't really see the point.

Unless......There is a clear plan to really push the boat out for 2 or 3 players, and we don't want to be have to be recruiting anyone other than that.
 


Weststander

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NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
64,867
Withdean area
A current German international and a current England international there....

But we also have a lot of kids.

And also quite a few mid career players.

That's the trouble with the Albion. Too many young, mid career and experienced players. It's all wrong and has DOOMED written all over it.

That was a genuine laugh out loud moment here :bowdown: .

 


Pavilionaire

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
30,741
I'm OK with this one year extension. I think people under-estimate the importance of having experience and a proven winner in the squad, and we lose a chunk of that with Lallana leaving.

The football knowledge he brings to this club is immeasurable, I expect him to be motivated after missing so much of this season. And he provides cover for central midfield, a position we are light on quality and Premier League nous.
 




Ike and Tina Burner

Well-known member
Mar 22, 2019
483
With Adam going I’m happy he is staying. We don’t want too many oldies but having some experience is vital when we have so many young players. He’s not the only one to have a bad injury this season.
The Spurs game was obviously his best game but he was also important coming off the bench v Marseille at home. I see him as useful to bring off the bench in the last 15 minutes and both Klopp and De Zerbi seem to agree.
The problem is he's never available to bring off the f***ing bench
 








Mackenzie

Old Brightonian
Nov 7, 2003
33,625
East Wales
My thoughts too. He must be contributing a lot behind the scenes and in the dressing room, setting standards and good examples for the youngsters
He's been a great player, we got him a couple of years too late. He's a tough, grizzled old pro, the youngsters will be learning a lot from him I'm sure.
 


S'hampton Seagull

Well-known member
Oct 12, 2003
6,825
Southampton
I'm struggling to see the downside here. It's a one year renewal, so will be cheap for us. He can cover a number of positions and has bags of experience. THe mistake we made this year was asking too much of him.

This won't prevent making the big signings we also need so people need to chill. I also think it won't block young players not considered ready yet as they will pay u23 football or get loaned out. Players like Hinsh find a way in due to their class.
 






DJ NOBO

Well-known member
Jul 18, 2004
6,433
Wiltshire
I'm OK with this one year extension. I think people under-estimate the importance of having experience and a proven winner in the squad, and we lose a chunk of that with Lallana leaving.

The football knowledge he brings to this club is immeasurable, I expect him to be motivated after missing so much of this season. And he provides cover for central midfield, a position we are light on quality and Premier League nous.
I think some people overestimate it. If they aren‘t fit to play they are just expensive cheerleaders.
And besides, you don’t need to strategise having older players around. It generally happens naturally.
Plus Albion have a large collection of experienced heads, without Milner.
Lallana’s contract extension last year was a case in point.
Even if Milner is now injury-free, he is (sadly) just too slow at this level.
You need fit game changers on the pitch complemented by a decent coaching set up.
 
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Hiheidi

Well-known member
Dec 27, 2022
1,043
Hope it doesn't mean Henderson is coming.
Screenshot_20240514-185659~2.png
 










Mustafa II

Well-known member
Oct 14, 2022
1,301
Hove
Can't imagine he costs us much money.

The rationale is clearly dressing room experience, plus a useful & hugely experienced back up utility player.

He didn't have a great first season for us, largely being injured and being played out of position, so I can see why some fans are confused by this.
 


chickens

Intending to survive this time of asset strippers
NSC Patron
Oct 12, 2022
1,989
In surprised so many of our fans are surprised by this. Our model is based on having older model pros around the first team who can do a job and set an example to the youngsters. With Lallana leaving resigning Milner seemed an absolute certainty. Perplexing how many don’t understand our model yet.

They do generally have to be able to play football too. No doubting Milner’s pedigree, but there’s a massive question mark over whether he can still play at this level.

If it was just about having someone who’s been a Premier League player and a role model, why make it a current player at all?

As others have pointed out, we already have a lot of experienced heads in the dressing room. If Milner doesn’t add something as a player, we’re basically hiring him as the dressing room equivalent of an after-dinner speaker.
 




Dancin Ninja BHA

Well-known member
Jul 6, 2003
2,212
Can't imagine he costs us much money.

The rationale is clearly dressing room experience, plus a useful & hugely experienced back up utility player.

He didn't have a great first season for us, largely being injured and being played out of position, so I can see why some fans are confused by this.
He'll be on £50, 000 per week MINIMUM....£2.5 million a year is too much for the dinosaur that is James Millner in my opinion.
 




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