James Milner

[burning blue soul]

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/citytv/Match-highlights/2014/March/City-v-Fulham-Barclays-Premier-League-extended-match-highlights

i suggest some of you people on here who think milner is just a plodder should watch the extended highlights of the fulham game.

watch carefully and not only does e have some great play and attempts at goal - he actually has a hand in 4 out of the 5 goals we scored. try counting the amount of time the commentator says "milner"

if this boy had a foreign name he would be up there with Zaba with you lot!!!

the guy is a quality player, no doubt.

In the first half against Fulham he received a load of ball on the right hand side, and he cost us our momentum. He isn't a natural at the one touch, pass and move game, which is the rock we built this season on. He takes a touch or two and invariably comes inside and plays a simple ball. In some ways this is clever play from him, because he's not particularly quick and can't get past people, and he can't thread a ball through the eye of a needle like silva or Nasri can, so he's playing to his strengths. But when he plays to his strengths, city don't.

He has a roll, as well as just a squad player. If the opposition have a significant wide thread, particularly from full backs, then his steel and strength shores us up.

as far as i recall, in the first half Milner
set up the penalty for alf,
should have had a penalty himself,
set up kolo for the shot against the bar,
had a couple of decent effort on goal,
was involved in the approach play when silvas chip was headed off the line and
if you look at 1.33min you will see a very telling move by milner - zaba is ahead of him (after milners through ball) and zabas cross his collected by the keeper, straight away you see jimmy turn around and head back to cover for zab.

in the 2nd half he has more telling contributions - more of he same good play, nice touches (the flick to silva for the pen was outstanding) and assists. whats the boy got to do to get some appreciation for being something other than a dependable clogger?

i just dont

 

[schumey04]

I don't hate him at all, read my posts. I've said many times, he's great as a squad player, or as a defensive minded wide midfielder against the top sides. I've posted both things a few times on this thread.

My point is that he's not going quick enough feet or brain to play centre midfield for the way we play. And he's not creative enough or technically good enough to oust Silva or Nasri. The ones that overrate him are the ones that can't see this.

So let's move the debate on, to all of those who think he should be starting every week, who's place would he take out of Nasri, Yaya, Fernandinho and Silva? If it's none, then I assume you think the same as me, he's back up to the first choice players - a squad player.

He doesn't have to take anyones place if we play one up front. Take the blinkers off ;.)

Well I was talking about in our strongest team. So are you suggesting we drop Aguero or Negredo to accommodate Milner?

Agreed hard to drop anyone for him but our strongest team is sometimes with one up front ..........that's why we need him There's alot to be said about a player who excepts hes a squad player and whos ego doesn't make him complain every second match he is isn't starting

 

[Shaelumstash]

No7
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPniW0X1qFw[/youtube]

I'm pretty sure football is usually played over 90 odd minutes, not 4 and a half. You can't judge a players overall contribution based on 4 minute highlights. The clue is in the word "highlights" they show you the best bits of a players contribution.

There are no "Lowlights" videos, and if there was it would show you Milner dithering on the ball, misplacing passes, making the wrong runs, choosing the wrong passes and so on.

Judging a player on highlights is why so many casual City fans, and general football fans thought Adam Johnson was a world beater. His highlights on MOTD made it look like he was world class, beating defenders, putting good crosses in, creating chances, scoring goals. The fans who went to the game though will tell you a different story about Johnson. He used to hide, do absolutely nothing for 85 minutes of a game, one trick pony.

stick to FIFA you patronising get.

Eh?? How does anything in my post remotely relate to FIFA?

 

[Shaelumstash]

He doesn't have to take anyones place if we play one up front. Take the blinkers off ;.)

Well I was talking about in our strongest team. So are you suggesting we drop Aguero or Negredo to accommodate Milner?

Agreed hard to drop anyone for him but our strongest team is sometimes with one up front ..........that's why we need him There's alot to be said about a player who excepts hes a squad player and whos ego doesn't make him complain every second match he is isn't starting

Completely agree, that's my point, he's a brilliant squad player.

 

[BlueTG]

I'm pretty sure football is usually played over 90 odd minutes, not 4 and a half. You can't judge a players overall contribution based on 4 minute highlights. The clue is in the word "highlights" they show you the best bits of a players contribution.

There are no "Lowlights" videos, and if there was it would show you Milner dithering on the ball, misplacing passes, making the wrong runs, choosing the wrong passes and so on.

Judging a player on highlights is why so many casual City fans, and general football fans thought Adam Johnson was a world beater. His highlights on MOTD made it look like he was world class, beating defenders, putting good crosses in, creating chances, scoring goals. The fans who went to the game though will tell you a different story about Johnson. He used to hide, do absolutely nothing for 85 minutes of a game, one trick pony.

stick to FIFA you patronising get.

Eh?? How does anything in my post remotely relate to FIFA?

Because you're post is way off the mark. He played excellently yesterday.



This squad player shit is bollocks as well, the guy plays in majority of our games a season, including 42 already this season. If you start 30 a season in this team, which I would hazard a guess he's not too far off (willing to be proved wrong), then he's a little more valuable than "just an excellent squad player". He has the ability to be in the first team and has proved that with a number of good performances for us. 42 appearances is a lot of appearances for just a squad player

 

[Shaelumstash]

stick to FIFA you patronising get.

Eh?? How does anything in my post remotely relate to FIFA?

Because you're post is way off the mark. He played excellently yesterday.



This squad player shit is bollocks as well, the guy plays in majority of our games a season, including 42 already this season. If you start 30 a season in this team, which I would hazard a guess he's not too far off (willing to be proved wrong), then he's a little more valuable than "just an excellent squad player". He has the ability to be in the first team and has proved that with a number of good performances for us. 42 appearances is a lot of appearances for just a squad player

So I'll ask again. In our strongest team, who are you going to take out to put Milner in? Nasri, Silva, Fernandinho, Yaya, Aguero or Negredo?

You've told me I'm way off the mark, told me all about his wonderful attributes, disagreed that he's not back up to the first team. So have the balls to say who you'd take out of the first team if you think Milner deserves to start.

 

[skybluepete]

I think you have to take each individual game on merit , there are some games that are made for Milner , the games where we play one up front against top sides are made for Milner but i think that if we just think that way we are doing him a disservice.

He can't beat a man, he's not technically good enough, he can't play one touch football etc...... Just some of the comments iv read on here - tbh i think they are a totally unfair , he's a very very good footballer, he might not have the flair that some of our lads have but for me is ultra reliable and even if he's below par he still gives you a level of performance that wont let you down.

How many times does navas choose not to go past his defender, even with his turn of pace and run sideways across the pitch ?? Enough times I'd say - he can be frustrating to say the least .

Navas also always also wants the ball to feet in front of the defender so he always has to beat his man- he rarely ever wants it into space behind where he can run onto the ball , past his man and create a very dangerous situation, the defender would never get back at him.

Iv watched Milner closely, i think he links up really well in wide areas and most of the time on his unfavoured left foot but as we know this allows him to cut inside onto his stronger foot with possibilities of a shot , playing one twos etc....

Any player that comes up against Milner , either having to mark him or trying to beat him , would tell you after 90 mins they've had one tough 90 minutes of football.

He's tough, brave and you just know all the players trust him 100% , i think we all agree on this but the opinions start to differ on his technical ability.

I think he's much better technically than some give him credit for and i can honestly say i am not disappointed when i see him start.

If he's happy at how much football he's getting , for me he should be a dead cert for a new deal although i must be honest, i think he's been underused this season in my honest opinion.

 

[Davs 19]

I don't hate him at all, read my posts. I've said many times, he's great as a squad player, or as a defensive minded wide midfielder against the top sides. I've posted both things a few times on this thread.

My point is that he's not going quick enough feet or brain to play centre midfield for the way we play. And he's not creative enough or technically good enough to oust Silva or Nasri. The ones that overrate him are the ones that can't see this.

So let's move the debate on, to all of those who think he should be starting every week, who's place would he take out of Nasri, Yaya, Fernandinho and Silva? If it's none, then I assume you think the same as me, he's back up to the first choice players - a squad player.

He doesn't have to take anyones place if we play one up front. Take the blinkers off ;.)

Well I was talking about in our strongest team. So are you suggesting we drop Aguero or Negredo to accommodate Milner?

Our 'strongest team' would be different depending on the opposition. It's 2014, not 1974.

 

[BlueTG]

Eh?? How does anything in my post remotely relate to FIFA?

Because you're post is way off the mark. He played excellently yesterday.



This squad player shit is bollocks as well, the guy plays in majority of our games a season, including 42 already this season. If you start 30 a season in this team, which I would hazard a guess he's not too far off (willing to be proved wrong), then he's a little more valuable than "just an excellent squad player". He has the ability to be in the first team and has proved that with a number of good performances for us. 42 appearances is a lot of appearances for just a squad player

So I'll ask again. In our strongest team, who are you going to take out to put Milner in? Nasri, Silva, Fernandinho, Yaya, Aguero or Negredo?

You've told me I'm way off the mark, told me all about his wonderful attributes, disagreed that he's not back up to the first team. So have the balls to say who you'd take out of the first team if you think Milner deserves to start.

There is no 'one' strongest team. As skybluepete said, you take each game on merit. Different oppositions require different tactics, thats why he starts some ahead of other players, and why other plays start some instead of him.

You were way off the mark, because you're taking away credit from him when he deserves it. He put in a fantastic contribution in a 5-0 home win.

 

[hallstreetblue]

He should be playing the same role as Henderson at Liverpool; central with the freedom to bomb forward, in a midfield 3 with Toure the most advanced and Fernandinho sitting.

It's naïve and moronic to suggest he'd find himself at Stoke should he leave us; Chelsea would love him, especially with Obi and Lampard set to go. A proper manager like Mourinho would love the chance to have him. Spurs, Liverpool and Everton would certainly take and utilise him properly.

His performance against Fulham was superb, as he has been on numerous occasions this season. I think we just have to accept that some people will never give Milner the credit he deserves; when he put in some very competent performances central earlier in the season, doing the exact same things Fernandinho does, passing the ball well, closing down, he was deemed not up to the job.

I'm not sure if many people on here actually watch games that don't involve City, but in the 2009-10 season when he played regularly in central midfield for Villa, he was as good as anyone else in the League. Like Fernandinho, but stronger, a better passing range and a bigger goal threat. Believe it or not, we didn't spend £26m on him because of his ability to put a shift in on the wing.... Fabio Capello even played him there in the 2010 World Cup.

This is the kind of ridiculous hyperbolic nonsense I'm talking about. Chelsea would love him? Are you on drugs?!

Liverpool and Everton?! Have you seen the way they play? Technical, intricate, short sharp passing game. Not exactly suited to the way Milner plays.

You're suggesting he's better than Fernandinho. Now the guy saying he's better than Muller you can put down to not seeing much of Muller, so it might be an honest mistake. But you've probably seen lots of Fernandinho and Milner so to think Milner is as good or better just shows a complete lack of understanding of football at the elite level.

At that level, reading the game, quick decision making and immaculate technique are worth a whole lot more than running around a lot aimlessly and "dying for the shirt".

I like Milner as a squad man, but don't compare him with Muller and Fernandinho. They are two of the best players in Europe. Milner is back up to the first team for a top 6 side, or a starter in a mid table team.

Better comparisons for him are Darren Fletcher, Leon Osman, Chris Brunt, Steven Nzonzi. That's Milner's level. I like him as a character, he always tries his best but the fact people mention him in the same breath as some of the best midfielders in Europe just proves my point that among City fans he's the most overrated player since the takeover.

This is my 22nd year here in the Fatherland. I know enough about Thomas Müller, he's a quality player. However, you're overrating him as much as you're underrating James Milner. Both amazing athletes, both grafters, both very similar. Was talking to a fellow coach and ex pro about Müller; we both agreed, he's a hod carrier amongst a group of skilled craftsmen.