James Milner

[Nixon_The_Bike_Thief]

We can't even call his bluff in January, unless he is part of a makeweight and to a club that he considers acceptable.

Such as Barkley and Everton maybe ?

 

[carlos tevez is a blue]

We're better with him, than without, but he is getting a seriously easy ride from our fans.

He should not be able to hold a gun to our heads and he has manufactured this situation for over 12 months, which is cynical. He's got form for it, too. Having jumped from club to club with Villa and Newcastle.

He's done a Micah, except he's actually worth a considerable amount of money to the club on the open market, and could end up costing us £15m.

We can't even call his bluff in January, unless he is part of a makeweight and to a club that he considers acceptable.

If he had any serious loyalty, he would sign that contract and we would both agree to a lower than normal buyout clause next summer. He won't because it will impact his options and he can make even more money as a free transfer.

I would go all in and offer him to Everton plus cash for Barkley this January.

If he was only here for the money he would have signed a deal a long time ago as no ones going to pay him what we will. He's picked game time over money which should be applauded.

 

[MeatHunterrr]

We're better with him, than without, but he is getting a seriously easy ride from our fans.

He should not be able to hold a gun to our heads and he has manufactured this situation for over 12 months, which is cynical. He's got form for it, too. Having jumped from club to club with Villa and Newcastle.

He's done a Micah, except he's actually worth a considerable amount of money to the club on the open market, and could end up costing us £15m.

We can't even call his bluff in January, unless he is part of a makeweight and to a club that he considers acceptable.

If he had any serious loyalty, he would sign that contract and we would both agree to a lower than normal buyout clause next summer. He won't because it will impact his options and he can make even more money as a free transfer.

I would go all in and offer him to Everton plus cash for Barkley this January.

If he was only here for the money he would have signed a deal a long time ago as no ones going to pay him what we will. He's picked game time over money which should be applauded.

Not necessarily, if he signs for free to lets say Liverpool, he will get a very big signing on fee, because every BPL club will be after him. If he moves on transfer, he won't get nowhere near that big signing on fee. Also we have this new Barcelona style structure which would reduce his basic salary if he were to sign a new contract. Some other team can offer the same he is on now + gets a big signing on fee at the same time.

We all know he isn't going to Stoke, Hull, Newcastle etc... at some other top club, he will be in the same role he is here. Just occasional starter.

 

[xirtarg]

I think Milner is a great player and his versatility is such an asset. But at the same time, it's hard to see what he does that can't be replaced other than fill in when a full back is off for treatment or we're down to 10 men like the other day.

I'm not sure if that's a reason to keep a player that's clearly not happy with his game time as there are very few times he's actually utilised like that.

Surely, although I wouldn't like to see him go, it would be better to offload him and get another, younger player in that has something that we don't already have in our side. Barkley would be perfect as he's more direct that Milner is and we don't really have anyone that is like that in our system at present.

 

[Sky Blue]

Spot on, there isn't a guarantee he will play often if he signs new contract, looks like he has decided to leave for a new challenge probably. At Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal or even Tottenham he wouldn't get playing time as much as he wants, so sounding like a excuse to me, unless he really is going to some midtable team, which I can't see.

I doubt this. I also doubt he's looking for guranteeed playing time but won't stay if he's treated as a bit part player. Perfectly understandable imo.

Always had mixed views about his abilities but hope he stays. He's certainly earned a place in the next few big games and whenever we need a battler. Who knows what will happen if he's a regular starter?

We all know he won''t be, because even last season he put in good performance, then the next one was bad to say the least. He is too inconsistent to nail down a regular spot. When Milner is playing badly, he is playing really badly, he can't even cross the ball properly just look back at Sunderland away last season when playing badly.

If Milner would perform all the time like this, then I would agree. But I think that is unlikely.

Sunderland at home last season was his worst ever performance.....

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

We're better with him, than without, but he is getting a seriously easy ride from our fans.

He should not be able to hold a gun to our heads and he has manufactured this situation for over 12 months, which is cynical. He's got form for it, too. Having jumped from club to club with Villa and Newcastle.

He's done a Micah, except he's actually worth a considerable amount of money to the club on the open market, and could end up costing us £15m.

We can't even call his bluff in January, unless he is part of a makeweight and to a club that he considers acceptable.

If he had any serious loyalty, he would sign that contract and we would both agree to a lower than normal buyout clause next summer. He won't because it will impact his options and he can make even more money as a free transfer.

I would go all in and offer him to Everton plus cash for Barkley this January.

If he was only here for the money he would have signed a deal a long time ago as no ones going to pay him what we will. He's picked game time over money which should be applauded.

Things are not so black and white.

The signing-on fee a player can get for moving on a free transfer runs into millions, because there is no fee involved.

Was the same for Micah. These guys are earning fortunes, anyhow.

What's an extra £20,000 a week - which amounts to £960,000 for the year, when he can sit it out for 12 months and get a £5m signing on fee and still pick up sky high wages!!

It's a game of bluff.

 

[Geoffo34]

We're better with him, than without, but he is getting a seriously easy ride from our fans.

He should not be able to hold a gun to our heads and he has manufactured this situation for over 12 months, which is cynical. He's got form for it, too. Having jumped from club to club with Villa and Newcastle.

He's done a Micah, except he's actually worth a considerable amount of money to the club on the open market, and could end up costing us £15m.

We can't even call his bluff in January, unless he is part of a makeweight and to a club that he considers acceptable.

If he had any serious loyalty, he would sign that contract and we would both agree to a lower than normal buyout clause next summer. He won't because it will impact his options and he can make even more money as a free transfer.

I would go all in and offer him to Everton plus cash for Barkley this January.

I think this is a little bit harsh, personally.

I would agree if he'd been a regular starter for the last couple of years. But looking at the amount of game time he's had during the period in which he has been stalling with the contract, I don't think I blame him for it really.

 

[nellyonthewing]

He's never really had an extended run in the side for long enough to assess his real strength. As it is he comes in to fire fight gaps in the side and I can't think of anyone much better at it. He doesn't sulk, or hide (like some) ,always gives 100% . Jimmy all day for me rather than some posing prima donna..

 

[IanBishopsHaircut]

We're better with him, than without, but he is getting a seriously easy ride from our fans.

He should not be able to hold a gun to our heads and he has manufactured this situation for over 12 months, which is cynical. He's got form for it, too. Having jumped from club to club with Villa and Newcastle.

He's done a Micah, except he's actually worth a considerable amount of money to the club on the open market, and could end up costing us £15m.

We can't even call his bluff in January, unless he is part of a makeweight and to a club that he considers acceptable.

If he had any serious loyalty, he would sign that contract and we would both agree to a lower than normal buyout clause next summer. He won't because it will impact his options and he can make even more money as a free transfer.

I would go all in and offer him to Everton plus cash for Barkley this January.

Completely agree Tolm...tired of him going on about 'game time' every interview he gets..There are plenty of players in our team who would kill to get the amount of pitch time he does

He's a good player, but if he thinks he deserves a starting slot every game he's delusional

Nobody is guaranteed that...well maybe Birthday Cake Boy

 

[BillyShears]

Jimmy all day for me rather than some posing prima donna..

It's funny. Basically this is what it boils down to for a lot of people on here. He's English ergo we forgive his shitness. Whereas the opposite is true of the foreign lads. One bad game and they're shit/lazy/mercenary/don't give a fuck etc.

He tracks back you see. And the foreigners don't! :)

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I love the early hour Yank input and perspective on all things City,so refreshing.

I love listening to smarmy ass twunts who have nothing intelligent to say, and who couldn't lace my boots when it comes to football or football knowledge, but then to each his own.

Sorry work found me in Tokyo, where I was up watching the game until 2am, instead of in my SC seat in 202. Now, go Yank yourself!

It's 'arse'.

 

[chris85mcfc]

Doesn't even start regularly for England so not sure how he can expect to start regularly for us

If he wants to play EVERY SINGLE WEEK then I think his level is Everton and below

If he wants to play for a top side in the PL then he needs to accept that he will play about 30 games a season, which isn't too shabby compared to other squad players

Would love him to stay but I think he needs to work out what he wants

He has two choices:

1) compete for trophies every season, but only play a part in about 30 games

2) compete for europa league every season, and play week in week out, which will probably still only equate to about 40+ games

 

[BobKowalski]

Doesn't even start regularly for England so not sure how he can expect to start regularly for us

If he wants to play EVERY SINGLE WEEK then I think his level is Everton and below

If he wants to play for a top side in the PL then he needs to accept that he will play about 30 games a season, which isn't too shabby compared to other squad players

Would love him to stay but I think he needs to work out what he wants

He has two choices:

1) compete for trophies every season, but only play a part in about 30 games

2) compete for europa league every season, and play week in week out, which will probably still only equate to about 40+ games

Not sure being a starter for England has much of a bearing on anything. Mangala doesn't start for France but in either case it's their worth to City not the national team that counts. As for what Milner wants - well he wants what's best for Milner. As much money as possible and as much game time as possible and preferably in a team that can compete at the top level. Football is Milner's business and maximising your business opportunities is simply good business practice. If he thinks he has City at a bit of a disadvantage then he will push it as hard as he can. Anyone with half a brain would.

City do the same when it comes to a player being surplus to requirements so it works both ways. I would like to see both City and Milner come to a mutually acceptable agreement but if they can't they can't. As I said its business not personal. For both sides.

 

[Danamy]

Doesn't even start regularly for England so not sure how he can expect to start regularly for us

If he wants to play EVERY SINGLE WEEK then I think his level is Everton and below

If he wants to play for a top side in the PL then he needs to accept that he will play about 30 games a season, which isn't too shabby compared to other squad players

Would love him to stay but I think he needs to work out what he wants

He has two choices:

1) compete for trophies every season, but only play a part in about 30 games

2) compete for europa league every season, and play week in week out, which will probably still only equate to about 40+ games

City do the same when it comes to a player being surplus to requirements so it works both ways. I would like to see both City and Milner come to a mutually acceptable agreement but if they can't they can't. As I said its business not personal. For both sides.

Quite right and i think people lose sight of this when talking about players, or when it either does or doesn't suit their arguement?

 

[hgblue]

Jimmy all day for me rather than some posing prima donna..

It's funny. Basically this is what it boils down to for a lot of people on here. He's English ergo we forgive his shitness. Whereas the opposite is true of the foreign lads. One bad game and they're shit/lazy/mercenary/don't give a fuck etc.

He tracks back you see. And the foreigners don't! :)

He's a much better player than he gets credit for imo. Watch the Chelsea game again and forget his tracking back. Watch his passing, his movement, and his creativity.

 

[Danamy]

Jimmy all day for me rather than some posing prima donna..

It's funny. Basically this is what it boils down to for a lot of people on here. He's English ergo we forgive his shitness. Whereas the opposite is true of the foreign lads. One bad game and they're shit/lazy/mercenary/don't give a fuck etc.

He tracks back you see. And the foreigners don't! :)

He's a much better player than he gets credit for imo. Watch the Chelsea game again and forget his tracking back. Watch his passing, his movement, and his creativity.

Himself and Silva seem to always have a sixth sense when playing together, they always have for some reason?

 

[malg]

If the manager thinks you can do a job for the team in a given game, then you'll start. If the manager feels a different set of tactics are required against another team, and your skill set doesn't fit that formation, then you'll be on the bench.

Now sign your ridiculously over priced contract and get on with it.

 

[chris85mcfc]

Doesn't even start regularly for England so not sure how he can expect to start regularly for us

If he wants to play EVERY SINGLE WEEK then I think his level is Everton and below

If he wants to play for a top side in the PL then he needs to accept that he will play about 30 games a season, which isn't too shabby compared to other squad players

Would love him to stay but I think he needs to work out what he wants

He has two choices:

1) compete for trophies every season, but only play a part in about 30 games

2) compete for europa league every season, and play week in week out, which will probably still only equate to about 40+ games

City do the same when it comes to a player being surplus to requirements so it works both ways. I would like to see both City and Milner come to a mutually acceptable agreement but if they can't they can't. As I said its business not personal. For both sides.

Quite right and i think people lose sight of this when talking about players, or when it either does or doesn't suit their arguement?

Not sure if either of you have heard his numerous interviews lately, where he states that he wants to play more regularly?

That is what my post was based on

 

[Cellarite]

I love the early hour Yank input and perspective on all things City,so refreshing.

I love listening to smarmy ass twunts who have nothing intelligent to say, and who couldn't lace my boots when it comes to football or football knowledge, but then to each his own.

Sorry work found me in Tokyo, where I was up watching the game until 2am, instead of in my SC seat in 202. Now, go Yank yourself!

You do get very upset on this forum quite often don't you?

It might be tiredness from all the jetsetting from Chicago to Manchester to Tokyo.

You should takes things a little easier.

 

[OB1]

Doesn't even start regularly for England so not sure how he can expect to start regularly for us

If he wants to play EVERY SINGLE WEEK then I think his level is Everton and below

If he wants to play for a top side in the PL then he needs to accept that he will play about 30 games a season, which isn't too shabby compared to other squad players

Would love him to stay but I think he needs to work out what he wants

He has two choices:

1) compete for trophies every season, but only play a part in about 30 games

2) compete for europa league every season, and play week in week out, which will probably still only equate to about 40+ games

Not sure being a starter for England has much of a bearing on anything. Mangala doesn't start for France but in either case it's their worth to City not the national team that counts. As for what Milner wants - well he wants what's best for Milner. As much money as possible and as much game time as possible and preferably in a team that can compete at the top level. Football is Milner's business and maximising your business opportunities is simply good business practice. If he thinks he has City at a bit of a disadvantage then he will push it as hard as he can. Anyone with half a brain would.

City do the same when it comes to a player being surplus to requirements so it works both ways. I would like to see both City and Milner come to a mutually acceptable agreement but if they can't they can't. As I said its business not personal. For both sides.

This has to stop: I am going to agree with you again.

Jimmy is entitled to do what is best for him in this situation but I make no bones that I want what is best for City, which is him signing his contract.