[Albion] James Milner [13/06/25 - new one-year deal]

[Balders]

Also he counts as a home grown player if named in the squad.

Ever wondered why the likes of Man City have employed under contract, the now 39yo (but 40 in Sept) goalkeeper, Scott Carson since 2021 for the total sum of 0 appearances, potentially taking the place of a young foreign keeper with bags of potential who may be cheaper - ummm

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Go and have a lie down H. Step away from the Faversham wine lake

Cool edit!
(I'm on the cider presently. Too early for wine.).

Seriously though, why the doomy gloomies over the Milner signing?
It isn't as if we plan to build the team around him.
Or that there are no other squad members of note

 

[Stato]

I have to presume that the club still see value in JM on the pitch and if he is fit he certainly brings something we may be missing. Wouldn't we have benefitted from having someone with his nous on the pitch late in the Wolves game, or in the Leicester one, or in the Forest debacle?

We've heard players talk of the example he sets and we should perhaps bear in mind that one of the big challenges our coaching team is going to have is keeping happy and focused a squad of players, quite a few of who may have to wait for game time. Having a vastly experienced senior player working his plums off to be ready whenever needed and expecting everybody else to do the same regardless of their transfer fee, talent or youth could be seen by the club as an invaluable asset that is very difficult to lay it's hands on. If he doesn't play a minute, but his presence in the squad makes everyone else two or three percent better, maybe that could be one of the tiny margins that Chris Hughton always told us were vital.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Wow. Emotive language or what .
To answer the question - we’ve taken on a player who probably won’t play. At the expense of a talented kid, possibly.
Like I said earlier , probably better to describe him as the player coach fab outlines in his quotes

Not emotive at all. I would say that some people ARE angry or disgusted. Certainly bemused – you only have to look at this thread!

The 'probably' and 'possibly' are doing a lot of heavy lifting there. No-one knows what role he will ideally play next season or what impact he could or will have. Maybe he IS going to be a player/coach – at least then everyone can chill their beans about him being on ASTRONOMICAL footballer wages or taking the place of an up-and-coming superstar week in, week out

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I have to presume that the club still see value in JM on the pitch and if he is fit he certainly brings something we may be missing. Wouldn't we have benefitted from having someone with his nous on the pitch late in the Wolves game, or in the Leicester one, or in the Forest debacle?

We've heard players talk of the example he sets and we should perhaps bear in mind that one of the big challenges our coaching team is going to have is keeping happy and focused a squad of players, quite a few of who may have to wait for game time. Having a vastly experienced senior player working his plums off to be ready whenever needed and expecting everybody else to do the same regardless of their transfer fee, talent or youth could be seen by the club as an invaluable asset that is very difficult to lay it's hands on. If he doesn't play a minute, but his presence in the squad makes everyone else two or three percent better, maybe that could be one of the tiny margins that Chris Hughton always told us were vital.

Yep.

He's a dour tough Yorkshireman with a very straightforward and uncluttered view of life which, in the football context, must be an incredibly grounding influence on young lads seemingly with the world at their mercy, money, awash with skirt (or trouser; modern game), and fragile pimply teenage egos.

I have no idea why we have singed him, but the club must have a position, and it won't be based on a last minute punt just before chucking out time at William Hill's.

 

[Zebedee]

He'll be 40 years old in January. And doubtless crocked by then

Is it possible, perhaps, that the club know a bit more about it than you do?

No....what am I thinking.

Or they could simply be allowing their judgement to be clouded by sentiment?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Or they could simply be allowing their judgement to be clouded by sentiment?

That is a fair point.
Anything is possible in this impossible world.
Let me give it some thought.....















No.

 

[Scappa]

I assume Milner retires once he is past Gareth Barry's PL appearance record.

Barry 653
Milner 638

15 appearances 2023/4
4 appearances 2024/5

Might need at least one further extension to get there

 

[Zebedee]

That is a fair point.
Anything is possible in this impossible world.
Let me give it some thought.....















No.

I'm disappointed in you. All that space to fill and you left it empty. I accept that it's possible the Milner signing will prove to be a shrewd piece of business but somehow I doubt it.

 

[METALMICKY]

The idea that Bloom is happy to sanction a couple of million quid or so on somebody who is basically a cheerleader is, quite frankly, f***ing ludicrous.

If Bloom thinks Milner is worth whatever a year’s contract is, then that is good enough for me. I’m not going to pass judgement with no inside knowledge of the deal whatsoever, or Milner’s fitness level, because I’m not a moron.

This has to be positive news.

You're not going to pass judgment but it's " ludicrous "? You used to be indecisive but now you're not so sure!

 

[Albumen]

Milner wants another year.
Club want Milner for another year.
Coaches want Milner for another year.
NSC just can't handle it.

He's the ultimate athlete when it comes to football, all players look up to him and he's a winner.
I'm unsure why people think paying wages for one more season for this is a big issue.

 

[boik]

Well you also don't seem to be impressed with our 18/19 year old signings or our 27 year old given your earlier comment. What signings would you want? Seems to me a good mix so far.

Scottish signings!!

 

[boik]

Or they could simply be allowing their judgement to be clouded by sentiment?

Yeah. Uncle Tony's famed for his sentimental streak.

 

[Stato]

Barry 653
Milner 638

15 appearances 2023/4
4 appearances 2024/5

Might need at least one further extension to get there

Although he appeared in every EPL game that he was fit to play in. FH started him in the first three league games and brought him on at the end of the Spurs game. If he avoids another freak injury, he may feature more than we might expect.

 

[Zebedee]

Although he appeared in every EPL game that he was fit to play in. FH started him in the first three league games and brought him on at the end of the Spurs game. If he avoids another freak injury, he may feature more than we might expect.

That'll scare the life out of the opposition.

 

[DJ NOBO]

Not emotive at all. I would say that some people ARE angry or disgusted. Certainly bemused – you only have to look at this thread!

The 'probably' and 'possibly' are doing a lot of heavy lifting there. No-one knows what role he will ideally play next season or what impact he could or will have. Maybe he IS going to be a player/coach – at least then everyone can chill their beans about him being on ASTRONOMICAL footballer wages or taking the place of an up-and-coming superstar week in, week out

I would say it’s borne out of confusion.
If he’s in Fab‘s playing plans for next season, why not say in his quotes?
If not, why not say he’s a player/coach? This would formalise his actual role, and imply back up player.
As it is, some people are (understandably imo) perplexed about why a rarely-playing 39yo is getting a playing gig.
Not the finest bit of club comms imo.
But it’s not that important either.

 

[JBizzle]

Milner wants another year.
Club want Milner for another year.
Coaches want Milner for another year.
NSC just can't handle it.

He's the ultimate athlete when it comes to football, all players look up to him and he's a winner.
I'm unsure why people think paying wages for one more season for this is a big issue.

Yes, but the NSC brain trust know better. Although the "I have no idea why the club have done this" narrative would indicate otherwise.

 

[spence]

Complete waste of wages.

 

[AZ Gull]

James Milner opens up on nine-month absence: ‘I didn’t know if I could walk properly again’

James Milner has opened up over the freak knee surgery complication that left him unable to move his foot for months

www.theguardian.com

On the same day as that Guardian article there was one on the club website (penned by our own @Not Andy Naylor). These quotes really stood out for me - from Yankuba Minteh:-

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Yeh. I think this is ridiculous.

Every minute Milner is on the pitch, which ok, won't be many, is a minute that Ayari, or Hinsh or Yalcoulye won't be getting in their development.

Fanciful to suggest that he'll be on a junior coaches wage. What a cock up

Let’s be honest last season showed our naivety in closing games out and it probably cost us a European place.

If he does 5 minutes at the ends and organises the team successfully the wages are worth it