Topic: James Milner - El Burro Magnifico

[Ratboy3G]

Good news everyone.

http://www.thefa.com/news/england/2016/aug/james-milner-england-international-retirement

Missed this, excellent news.

[Redcap]

I like the idea of playing real footballers (midfielders) at full back.

You must be overjoyed Moreno is playing then

[riismeister]

[Carra-ton]

So the Milner injury is not serious, right?
I read somewhere that it is a muscle torn, but that he should be fit for Burnley, if not for Arsenal.
Has there been any confirmation.

[xbugawugax]

would have cost us 150m if his full name is James Roberto Vicente Milnerio from Botafogo.

[the_red_pill]

would have cost us 150m if his full name is James Roberto Vicente Milnerio from Botafogo.

Yip. Just an honest pro.
He isn't as "flashy" as Pogba(who also have more room for improvement), but the current output/endproduct is what matters.

[ThePeetmix]

I don't understand the reasoning that we should have kept Flanno. He is not the kind of full back for the way we want to play., never mind at left back.

There's also the question of Milner or Smith, which Milner still wins out on for me. So selling Smith when we got a good offer is justified.

We should still be in the market for a left back, which i fancy we are. But Klopp wants to wait for the right man, then as a short term stop gap, Milner is fine.

I think we would buy Hector if he wasn't so pricey, and i think that's why other clubs haven't either. He's a solid full back, but not the kind you lay a hefty wad down on.

[Curtisinho]

I'm kind of surprised that we haven't been legitimately linked with Ricardo Rodriguez. He seems perfect for what Klopp wants and he's one of the best fullbacks going, IMO.

But personally I like Milner as a fullback. Good workrate, his crosses are nice and he's a smart player. Once he gets more used to it and figures out the positioning and his role I think he could be an above average player there.

[heylookitsjacob]

I don't understand the reasoning that we should have kept Flanno. He is not the kind of full back for the way we want to play., never mind at left back.

Obviously, Klopp agrees with you but I just don't see it. I feel like Flanno is a good presser of the ball and would be able to contribute to some turnovers. Like I previously said in a different thread, with Flanno unable to break into the team with the current situation tells me that Flanno probably has no future at all under Klopp, which is slightly disappointing.

Edit: Not questioning Klopp. I'll trust whatever he does; It's just disappointing Flanno didn't make it here.

[clinical]

If he has another good season I'd say he's been one of the best free transfers we've made for a long time.

[exino]

According to Pearce Milner will be our starting left back against Burnley.

http://goo.gl/rZY9KT

[ZeusMetallica]

It's good to give Moreno a bit of a breather. Let Milner play there for a few games at least, as it's looking like we won't be getting a new left back this window. I wonder how Pearce knows he's starting this early in the week.

[Red-Soldier]

Great news that he's back.

I can see him being our first choice LB for this season at least..

The winner against Dortmund last season shows all you need to know about James Milner.

[MNAA]

I really like the idea of Milner at left back. He is a steady influence and can be devastating with his crosses too. Definitely an upgrade over Moreno

[vivabobbygraham]

Best left back in the league

[Redinho]

We got the best left back in the world.

[vivabobbygraham]

We got the best left back in the world.

I'll settle for the league this season. When we;re in CL we can make further pronouncements

[Zoomers]

He reminds me of Zabaleta.

[MNAA]

Best left back in the league

 

Our left flank is now almost as solid as our right
Milner gets to play every week
We are spared of our weekly Moreno-induced anxiety attack 
 

[SwordInYourGut]

Felt like the good ol' Downing-Enrique days when Moreno came on to play midfield and Milner was at fullback 

[ManéManéMané]

I'm very happy at how well he's been playing at left-back. Mahrez was very quiet, and Milner made some memorable "forays forward", as well as a lot of excellent, sensible, quick passes.

Also, when he gets forward, he looks up and tries to pick someone out, instead of mindlessly thwacking the ball "into a good area", which is my biggest bugbear in football (especially when the commentators say "Ooooh, what a shame, it was a great cross, but no-one was there to get on the end of it!"  --- If Andy Townsend closed his eyes and drove his car into the door of his garage, would he blame the door for not being open?).

I believe Milner is actually getting better as a player, which is weird at his age.

.

[Kopite B205]

Thought he was good yesterday. The lad has got the quality and nouce to flourish in the position this season - bigger tests lie ahead though.

Change the thread title - it's highly annoying.

[RogerTheRed]

You could tell he was checking his position regularly and playing by numbers a bit but he really stuck to the task and grafted.
Was first to say something to get Lucas back up after their goal.
Will be great with this application as he gets more natural. Was the regular out ball for left cd.

[Frank Becton]

He had a good game, definitely our best option in that position at the moment.

[bird_lfc]

the average armchair football fan is quick to hate on 'boring' James Milner but there is a recent every club manager he has played under, and every international manager, continues to stick by Him

[Alonso_The_Assassin]

1 goal, 1 assist, keeps last year's best winger in the league seem nonexistent. Not bad, is it? Easily the best left back option we have at the moment and as far as free transfers are concerned, he's the best we've had in years. Hopefully Matip can be as good a free transfer as James Milner.

[thejbs]

the average armchair football fan is quick to hate on 'boring' James Milner but there is a recent every club manager he has played under, and every international manager, continues to stick by Him

Capital H?  He's god now?😜

[B0151?]

Positioning is the one worry, though I'm sure he'll improve and he hasn't been worse than Moreno in that regard anyway, but right now, it looks an ideal position to get the best of him. He's still involved in a lot of them goal things, and that doesn't look like it will change.

[na fir dearg]

Deserves huge credit - cant be easy playing midfield all your career and then getting stuck in at left back (being a right footed player), he may not set the world alight but he is a proper professional

[SerbianScouser]

Deserves huge credit - cant be easy playing midfield all your career and then getting stuck in at left back (being a right footed player), he may not set the world alight but he is a proper professional

He`s been playing wide for City for 5 years so it`s not as difficult as it may seem. Because of Mahrez he couldn`t push forward as much but we`ll see it more in other games.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

He'll have a stern test again against Willian. Will be interesting.

[na fir dearg]

He`s been playing wide for City for 5 years so it`s not as difficult as it may seem. Because of Mahrez he couldn`t push forward as much but we`ll see it more in other games.

not near the same as playing left back

[SerbianScouser]

not near the same as playing left back

What I mean is he wasn`t a central midfielder, he was a wide player which makes it easier for him to adapt.

[King Klopp.]

Still think 100% we should have signed a left back but he's alright. Personally don't like right footed left backs though because they always need to cut inside. Especially slower ones. He'll do a job there for now like he'd do a job in most positions.

[lessthanmatt]

A tremendous professional

[wemmick]

At the rate he is improving in the position, I think Milner might become an above average PL leftback, plus we get all of his experience and leadership qualities. I think it's a good move from Klopp. 

[Dim Glas]

At the rate he is improving in the position, I think Milner might become an above average PL leftback, plus we get all of his experience and leadership qualities. I think it's a good move from Klopp.

he's rightly highly thought of by his manager. And this is one way Kloppo can actually get him into the team on a regular basis. Cos he'd struggle now to get frequent starts further forward.

I'm just happy to have his calmness back there after the nerves of Moreno!

[The Infamous_LFC]

He reminds me of Zabaleta.

Yep. His over laps are a joy to watch. And those reverse passes

We might have finally figured out what Milner's best position is.

[The Infamous_LFC]

Felt like the good ol' Downing-Enrique days when Moreno came on to play midfield and Milner was at fullback 

 

[Purple Red]

the average armchair football fan is quick to hate on 'boring' James Milner but there is a recent every club manager he has played under, and every international manager, continues to stick by Him

This is quite telling I think. I was never a massive fan of Milner before he came to Liverpool and I'll not pretend to have been massively enthusiastic when we signed him but I can see why he is so highly rated by his managers. He is growing into his new position really well and has done so without complaints. When the team has needed him most he has stood up and delivered and we can't have anything other than respect for him for that. Thought he was fantastic yesterday and stuck to his task really well. Klopp really knows what he wants and gets it, doesn't he?