James Milner

[RandomJ]

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'm sorry but he's not holding a gun to our heads. He isn't some spoilt first team player after a pay rise he is a model professional that has given his all for our club despite the fact that numerous managers have played him one week and then dropped him to the bench even if he played really well. He went from the star man at Villa where everyone was saying what a good player he was to a bench warmer where the idiotic casual England fan moans when he gets subbed on in an England match.

The guy is 28, now entering the peak years of his career and he just wants to play football. I really don't see what your issues are with a player desperate to get on the pitch and play for our club. Would you perhaps prefer he just sign a nice juicy 5 year contract and just sit on the bench giving no effort and leeching wages off us? I don't think he wants to play every minute of every single game I think he just wants a fair run in the first team to show what he is about. He's sick of being used as a late sub to kill off a game or being given one game where he runs himself into the ground only to be shoved back on the bench for the next 3 games while Nasri just jogs round the pitch doing nothing.

Theres no gun holding going on here this is a problem that has been caused by the club overlooking him for so long and he has finally got sick of it. Pellegrini can either show some trust in him and show he values him as a player and give him a run in the team or we sell him in January. It's Milners career at the end of the day he has to do whats best for him.

 

[Pablo ZZZ Peroni]

Of all the players on our books, Jimmy is the one I'd least likely to expect to be simply chasing the £££. My perception is that there is a big element of truth. in what he says about game time.

The bottom line is that his game time has reduced significantly under MP. For example, looking at the Premier League stats alone, in his 1st 3 seasons he was averaging 20 starts a season and average game time per season of 1783 minutes.

Last season this dropped to 12 starts and total game time of 1362 minutes including when he came on as sub. So, IMO, it is easy to understand he is worried about the amount of game time he gets. Garcia got more starts and more game time than he did.

 

[Bluewonder]

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?

Both very intelligent footballers.

 

[nellyonthewing]

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?

Both very intelligent footballers.

The reason Mr Appointment refers to Milners 'shitness' is that he is a Nasri fanboy through and through. When Milner outperforms Nasri as in recent games it threatens his idols place hence the vitriol he spews at any fellow blue that challenges his beliefs. (pause to await Mr Apps venomous reply).

 

[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! :)

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.

Depends on who's talking about him. If you were to listen to some idiotic England supporters then he's the worst kind of mr average. If you were to listen to some idiotic City supporters then he's better than Nasri and is in our best XI regardless of the opposition. Neither position IMO is true.

The Chelsea performance isn't the normal Milner performance, if it were he'd be one of our best players, one of the best players in the premier league, and two managers wouldn't have sidelined him for Nasri on a regular basis.

Don't get me wrong, I thought he was immense against Chelsea and I also said that it'll be very difficult for Nasri to get his place back if Milner continues to perform like that. However, and this is just the way I see it, Milner tends to be good in the big games, but awful in games like Stoke/Hull/Sunderland.

 

[chris85mcfc]

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.

Depends on who's talking about him. If you were to listen to some idiotic England supporters then he's the worst kind of mr average. If you were to listen to some idiotic City supporters then he's better than Nasri and is in our best XI regardless of the opposition. Neither position IMO is true.

The Chelsea performance isn't the normal Milner performance, if it were he'd be one of our best players, one of the best players in the premier league, and two managers wouldn't have sidelined him for Nasri on a regular basis.

Don't get me wrong, I thought he was immense against Chelsea and I also said that it'll be very difficult for Nasri to get his place back if Milner continues to perform like that. However, and this is just the way I see it, Milner tends to be good in the big games, but awful in games like Stoke/Hull/Sunderland.

This is the way I see it as well, and vice versa for Nasri.

 

[BobKowalski]

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

Yes I have. Which is why in my original post I referenced what Milner wants ie as much game time as possible. Along with money and possibly a HT rub down from a buxom Yorkshire lass with rosy cheeks and a winsome smile.

 

[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.

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.

Hope you realise agreeing with me means you will be barred from hanging out with the cool kids on here and I would hate to see that happen...

...but yeah as a fan the only dog I have in this fight is City's interests. Milner though is entitled to protect his own interests as is any player or indeed any employee at the club.

 

[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.

I'm sorry but he's not holding a gun to our heads. He isn't some spoilt first team player after a pay rise he is a model professional that has given his all for our club despite the fact that numerous managers have played him one week and then dropped him to the bench even if he played really well. He went from the star man at Villa where everyone was saying what a good player he was to a bench warmer where the idiotic casual England fan moans when he gets subbed on in an England match.

The guy is 28, now entering the peak years of his career and he just wants to play football. I really don't see what your issues are with a player desperate to get on the pitch and play for our club. Would you perhaps prefer he just sign a nice juicy 5 year contract and just sit on the bench giving no effort and leeching wages off us? I don't think he wants to play every minute of every single game I think he just wants a fair run in the first team to show what he is about. He's sick of being used as a late sub to kill off a game or being given one game where he runs himself into the ground only to be shoved back on the bench for the next 3 games while Nasri just jogs round the pitch doing nothing.

Theres no gun holding going on here this is a problem that has been caused by the club overlooking him for so long and he has finally got sick of it. Pellegrini can either show some trust in him and show he values him as a player and give him a run in the team or we sell him in January. It's Milners career at the end of the day he has to do whats best for him.

Of course he's holding a gun to our head, it's just a polite way of me avoiding the use of the word blackmail.

When someone is imposing conditions, in relation to their continued service, he is holding the cards.

Nowhere did I say that we were better off without him, or that he wasn't a model pro when it comes to effort.

It's exactly because of that, he's getting off lightly to perhaps other players who chose to go down the same route.

What stopped him signing 12 months ago, unless you feel City were so shortsighted they have only just approached him?

He's playing the game to the best of his advantage, and he knew his stance would only exert more pressure.

Jimmy is a top squad player but it's hardly a one way street, he's well paid, has every domestic medal in his locker and gets enough game time.

He wants it both ways, but much as I rate him, he's no different to any other footballer, looking out for No.1.

 

[Tridentblue]

Lot of love for Milly - keep it there James lad CTID!