Mackenzie
Old Brightonian
Surprised me, I thought he'd retire.
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[Albion] James Milner
- Thread starter Reinelt 62
- Start date
I’d argue that ‘blocking youngsters’ is not the primary reason for him not covering full back positions. The primary reason was is that he has lost of his acceleration over the years and looks very, very poor in defence nowadays.
I get that he is a massive role model and looked fairly decent in his one or two appearances at left midfield or left wing but overall, I’d had hoped that we’d have someone else taking his salary and squad position. I’m not impressed.
Uh_huh_him
Well-known member
- Sep 28, 2011
- 12,121
It's concerning that his random thigh injury, became season ending, without much of a comment from the club.
Similarly to many others, I don't really see the point.
Unless......There is a clear plan to really push the boat out for 2 or 3 players, and we don't want to be have to be recruiting anyone other than that.
Similarly to many others, I don't really see the point.
Unless......There is a clear plan to really push the boat out for 2 or 3 players, and we don't want to be have to be recruiting anyone other than that.
Weststander
Well-known member
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Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 31,263
I'm OK with this one year extension. I think people under-estimate the importance of having experience and a proven winner in the squad, and we lose a chunk of that with Lallana leaving.
The football knowledge he brings to this club is immeasurable, I expect him to be motivated after missing so much of this season. And he provides cover for central midfield, a position we are light on quality and Premier League nous.
The football knowledge he brings to this club is immeasurable, I expect him to be motivated after missing so much of this season. And he provides cover for central midfield, a position we are light on quality and Premier League nous.
Ike and Tina Burner
Well-known member
- Mar 22, 2019
- 612
The problem is he's never available to bring off the f***ing bench
Originunknown
BINFEST'ING
My thoughts too. He must be contributing a lot behind the scenes and in the dressing room, setting standards and good examples for the youngsters
Soton Seagull
Well-known member
I forgot he was still here!
Mackenzie
Old Brightonian
He's been a great player, we got him a couple of years too late. He's a tough, grizzled old pro, the youngsters will be learning a lot from him I'm sure.
S'hampton Seagull
Well-known member
I'm struggling to see the downside here. It's a one year renewal, so will be cheap for us. He can cover a number of positions and has bags of experience. THe mistake we made this year was asking too much of him.
This won't prevent making the big signings we also need so people need to chill. I also think it won't block young players not considered ready yet as they will pay u23 football or get loaned out. Players like Hinsh find a way in due to their class.
This won't prevent making the big signings we also need so people need to chill. I also think it won't block young players not considered ready yet as they will pay u23 football or get loaned out. Players like Hinsh find a way in due to their class.
I think some people overestimate it. If they aren‘t fit to play they are just expensive cheerleaders.
And besides, you don’t need to strategise having older players around. It generally happens naturally.
Plus Albion have a large collection of experienced heads, without Milner.
Lallana’s contract extension last year was a case in point.
Even if Milner is now injury-free, he is (sadly) just too slow at this level.
You need fit game changers on the pitch complemented by a decent coaching set up.
Last edited:
Insel affe
HellBilly
You know it.
nwgull
Well-known member
I'm another who's scrathing his head with this one. It does not seem great use of what is probably 2.5m in wages for somene that had one good game last season and missed second half of it due to injury.
In surprised so many of our fans are surprised by this. Our model is based on having older model pros around the first team who can do a job and set an example to the youngsters. With Lallana leaving resigning Milner seemed an absolute certainty. Perplexing how many don’t understand our model yet.
Mustafa II
Well-known member
Can't imagine he costs us much money.
The rationale is clearly dressing room experience, plus a useful & hugely experienced back up utility player.
He didn't have a great first season for us, largely being injured and being played out of position, so I can see why some fans are confused by this.
The rationale is clearly dressing room experience, plus a useful & hugely experienced back up utility player.
He didn't have a great first season for us, largely being injured and being played out of position, so I can see why some fans are confused by this.
- Oct 12, 2022
- 2,690
They do generally have to be able to play football too. No doubting Milner’s pedigree, but there’s a massive question mark over whether he can still play at this level.
If it was just about having someone who’s been a Premier League player and a role model, why make it a current player at all?
As others have pointed out, we already have a lot of experienced heads in the dressing room. If Milner doesn’t add something as a player, we’re basically hiring him as the dressing room equivalent of an after-dinner speaker.
Dancin Ninja BHA
Well-known member
- Jul 6, 2003
- 2,260
He'll be on £50, 000 per week MINIMUM....£2.5 million a year is too much for the dinosaur that is James Millner in my opinion.
Mustafa II
Well-known member
Source?
I reckon he's on a lot less than that, but that's just an assumption.