James Milner

[Shaelumstash]

Or knowledgable??? Which ever cap fits

Personally I know which bracket I'm in, what's funny is you automatically shoot his opinion down without backing up your own, so let's do something to establish genuine debate...

Would Milner get into the top 4s starting teams in his preferred position? Has he got the attributes to play that role? for example, short passing game? Calm enough persona under pressure? Positionally savvy?

Or

Is jimmy a utility player who can fill a number of roles yet excel in none of them consistently?

As said earlier, every one of his managers, barring a 6 months stint for villa, could see he was the above, it started with bobby Robson at Newcastle and finds itself in the same position today, a throw back to the old fashioned, socks down, never say die attitude footballer, unfortunately, in the modern game shortcomings are exposed

Oh and he hasn't shagged my mrs, he's an ugly **** and I've got more money!!!!

It's a strange one with Milner, because you don't want to slag him off because he's such a likeable character. For the record, I do want us to keep him as a utility squad player, he's absolutely ideal for that.

But as Zin says, the intricacies of the modern game seem to by pass a lot of fans. They see the work rate and the bluster, and they assume that means someone is having a top game. The same fans who adore Milner are the same fans who hated Robinho because he didn't "track back."

I have yet to hear any Milner fan talk of the qualities he has that make him a top player. They just refer to workrate, and seem to think technique and football intelligence are insignificant things that "those foreign players with fancy dan names" have.

The reason Milner is so popular is because people see themselves in him. He could play for your Sunday league side, always be there on time, help put the nets up, play wherever you ask, put in a decent shift, he'd even jump in if it kicked off. Ask him to dictate the game from the middle against Arsenal though, it would be a different story.

I suppose the question is does he look out of place against the top teams? Does he go missing?

For me both answers are no.

Don't think anyone is saying he is the best at what he does but he has plenty of other attributes that a lot of players with similar ability couldn't bring us, just a shame to say one of them is that he's English and is probably only in the squad to fill a quota.

Funnily enough, I think he's better against good sides. He always plays well against the rags, was very good against Chelsea, and I picked him in my team for the Barca away game.

The running theme in those games though is that he is being used as a wide midfielder, primarily to do a defensive job. He's excellent at doing that, probably the best player in the league in fact at that job.

But unfortunately, in the vast majority of games we don't need a defensive wide midfielder. He's not creative or quick witted enough to play as an attacking player against a stubborn side who park the bus. And he's not got the qualities to play central midfield against any half decent team.

 

[schfc6]

First let me say I like Jimmy Milner, probably the best no.12 you could expect.

He gives you 10 out of 10 every week for effort. Unfortunately effort is a pre requisite for a top level footballer. Fernandinho, Nasri, Silva will all match Jimmy for effort, not always the effort the fans can clearly see, but grass covered, courage on the ball and wanting the ball all required effort.

Fernandinho will cover every blade of grass, work as hard as Milner but will always add something Milner can't. Sublime skill. Milner on his best day can be brilliant. Fernandinho's norm is brilliant.

Milner is priceless for us, good wide midfielder, decent central midfielder, works hard both defensively and offensively.
He is a great fill in and a great squad player and certain games his industry is a must. I think Pellegrini and Mancini before him are using him just right.

Milner is nearly there, he has a great engine, adequate passing range, strong, quick enough, disciplined and a great attitude. As some have said he just lacks that innate ability to see the killer pass, or play the telling ball. I'm not saying he can't do it, I'm saying it isn't natural to him, he wont see the killer ball, or the dangerous run quick enough or often enough. Sometimes he will but the likes of Fernandinho normally will.

Would I be bringing Milner on each and every time we were 2 up, you bet I would.

Is he a great squad player? Yes. Starter for the side we want to be? No. Garcia is not the athlete nor is he the work horse Milner is, if they played one on one in training Milner would best him neatly all the time, but Garcia is a better player for team shape and ball retention and the break up of play.

In short, Milner is very good, he just isn't great. His abilities are physical, and to play at the very top mental ability is as important if not more.

What would sum Milner up for me is, I can imagine more often than not the likes of Milner running onto a ball thirty yards from goal, the crowd all shouting shoooot, Milner would 9/10 would shoot. Result, ball in the stands. The likes of Fernandinho, would 9/10 keep to the teams plan and look for the run of the full back or for Nasri/Silva to be in space. Rarely would hey just aimlessly shoot from 30 yards, give them time, space and the perfect opportunity they will look to take it.

If you compare Milner to say a Garcia, it's easy to think Milner is much better, but if you break it down to purely decision making, decision making for the good of the team, Garcia will make the right decision 95% of the time. Milner may score 1, run 12kms but make the wrong decision 20% of the time. The can effect the team.

Millers involvement will make him look great, but not always the team, other players may not look great but the team do.

It's hard as Milner as a sub, or playing wide can do both, but central midfield in our side, not for me. He doesn't have the brain required.

 

[bobmcfc]

He needs to play more to get into his stride, always impresses me when he plays.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

He's better than carrick or any of the Arsenal midfield.

He's better than all of the arsenal midfield???

Now think about that and try again!

Have done and still think so. If The Arse had someone with a bit of metal such as Milner of DeJong they would be a FAR better team.

Seriously man, if you believe Milner to be a better player than Ramsey or Wiltshire then we are at a crossroads, the debate wasn't 'a type of midfielder' but better player, Milner would, like at city, perform an admirable service wide defensively, however, he wouldn't get near a wenger side as his short space game, touch and awareness are poor!

 

[chris85mcfc]

It's a strange one with Milner, because you don't want to slag him off because he's such a likeable character. For the record, I do want us to keep him as a utility squad player, he's absolutely ideal for that.

But as Zin says, the intricacies of the modern game seem to by pass a lot of fans. They see the work rate and the bluster, and they assume that means someone is having a top game. The same fans who adore Milner are the same fans who hated Robinho because he didn't "track back."

I have yet to hear any Milner fan talk of the qualities he has that make him a top player. They just refer to workrate, and seem to think technique and football intelligence are insignificant things that "those foreign players with fancy dan names" have.

The reason Milner is so popular is because people see themselves in him. He could play for your Sunday league side, always be there on time, help put the nets up, play wherever you ask, put in a decent shift, he'd even jump in if it kicked off. Ask him to dictate the game from the middle against Arsenal though, it would be a different story.

I suppose the question is does he look out of place against the top teams? Does he go missing?

For me both answers are no.

Don't think anyone is saying he is the best at what he does but he has plenty of other attributes that a lot of players with similar ability couldn't bring us, just a shame to say one of them is that he's English and is probably only in the squad to fill a quota.

Funnily enough, I think he's better against good sides. He always plays well against the rags, was very good against Chelsea, and I picked him in my team for the Barca away game.

The running theme in those games though is that he is being used as a wide midfielder, primarily to do a defensive job. He's excellent at doing that, probably the best player in the league in fact at that job.

But unfortunately, in the vast majority of games we don't need a defensive wide midfielder. He's not creative or quick witted enough to play as an attacking player against a stubborn side who park the bus. And he's not got the qualities to play central midfield against any half decent team.

That's a better definition of him mate and i think your spot on there.

I think you'll probably find that he plays in more of the bigger games. I don't know the stats etc but I'd guess he has played more away from home than at home this season, and that tells a story really.

The thing is if we didn't have him in our squad who else can do the job he does in those games you mentioned? I think that's why some people think he is under-rated.

Personally, in the games where he has been on the bench in the big games, ive been screaming for Mancini and Pellegrini to bring him on to 'shore us up' a bit. I remember so many people had them in there team to play Barcelona at home before they actually realised he was suspended.

 

[Shaelumstash]

I suppose the question is does he look out of place against the top teams? Does he go missing?

For me both answers are no.

Don't think anyone is saying he is the best at what he does but he has plenty of other attributes that a lot of players with similar ability couldn't bring us, just a shame to say one of them is that he's English and is probably only in the squad to fill a quota.

Funnily enough, I think he's better against good sides. He always plays well against the rags, was very good against Chelsea, and I picked him in my team for the Barca away game.

The running theme in those games though is that he is being used as a wide midfielder, primarily to do a defensive job. He's excellent at doing that, probably the best player in the league in fact at that job.

But unfortunately, in the vast majority of games we don't need a defensive wide midfielder. He's not creative or quick witted enough to play as an attacking player against a stubborn side who park the bus. And he's not got the qualities to play central midfield against any half decent team.

That's a better definition of him mate and i think your spot on there.

I think you'll probably find that he plays in more of the bigger games. I don't know the stats etc but I'd guess he has played more away from home than at home this season, and that tells a story really.

The thing is if we didn't have him in our squad who else can do the job he does in those games you mentioned? I think that's why some people think he is under-rated.

Personally, in the games where he has been on the bench in the big games, ive been screaming for Mancini and Pellegrini to bring him on to 'shore us up' a bit. I remember so many people had them in there team to play Barcelona at home before they actually realised he was suspended.

If you read over my posts though mate, I've said a few times that I want us to keep him. I have said he's the best at doing that defensive wide midfield job. I've said he's an ideal squad man for us.

The people who I am saying overrate him are the ones saying he should start for us every week, that he's better than Thomas Muller, better than Fernandinho, would walk in to Arsenal's central midfield, would get in any top 6 team, and Chelsea would love to have him. I don't believe any of those things are true.

As the other fella said, he's probably the best number 12 in the league, a brilliant sub and back up to the first team. But better than Fernandinho, Muller etc? Lol

 

[kaz7]

He should play tomorrow
He has the measure of the rags and knows how to beat them
He will match their hard graft and he doesn't need to be the most skillful on the pitch to beat them
Navas can run them ragged 2nd half

 

[BlueTG]

I think the technical side to his game has improved quite a lot over the last couple of years.

He can pick a pass, his touch seems better. He seems a litter more skillful and agile with the ball at his feet and I think his link up play and short passing with players has improved. That to add to his industrial, workman like approach makes him a very good player.
Not in the same bracket as Yaya or Fernan, but not a million miles away either. Can do a job against nearly any team and would do a job at nearly every other club in this league.

 

[grahamgor]

It's strange that Milner has been accused of lacking spatial awareness- even of lacking football intelligence! Surely these were the qualities he showed when he played a key role in the 6-1 and exposed the slow thinking of several rags in so doing.
First, he noticed they'd collectively switched off at a throw-in and that Nani, in particular, was dawdling aimlessly. Milner went right into the space nani left and played a 1/2 with David Silva which was the immediate leadup to Balotelli's opener.
Next, Milner caught Young napping and exploited another gap. He called for the ball,sussing Young was too slack to go with him. When Silva passed to him, Milner spotted that Smalling had let Balotelli get away from him and he steered a pass carefully beyond de Gea right to Mario's feet for him to slot it.
Finally, he picked up Balotelli's one-touch angled backheel and, seeing Young had once again left his post to confront him, he played an incisive pass into the gap to send Micah Richards flying through-leading to Kun's strike.
I would have thought this showed that Milner is more than just someone who'll run his guts out and more even than, as Manuel Pellegrini put it '' Milner is a player of great character''.His football brain complemented -as it often does-Silva's superb technique and the end product was goals !

 

[fishandchips]

My biggest worry is that we let him go and replace him with a winger who has the eye catching skills but offers nothing defensively.

If we do let him go which is what I suspect, we'd have to buy Alexis Sanchez or Gareth Bale.