James Milner

[Charly]

What a nice thing to do!

[Exiled_red]

Don't think Milner warrants replacing at left back.

His stats in the left back position are excellent. Pretty much close to what one might expect from a world class left back.

Just from his 16 premier league games this season.

5 goals
2 assists
An average of 2.5 tackles per game
An average of 1.3 interceptions per game
An average of 2.7 clearances per game
A pass completion rate of 84%
An average of 1.1 crosses per game (not including corners taken or free kicks)
An average of 1.6 key passes per game and 1.1 dribbles per game

He is basically beating Clyne's defensive stats for the most part, and still putting up offensive stats that are not all that far of those of Firmino.


Now stats rarely tell the full story, but in the case of Mlner they do back up what we are seeing with our own eyes, and maybe they highlight just how impressive he has been so far this season at left back.


Would be curious to see how many full backs in the three top leagues (Premier League, La Liga, and Bundesliga) can match or better the stats of Milner this season, and, if any do, what sort of price tag would such a player command.

I'm not saying that he should be replaced, I am saying that on paper we lack a left-back and that Milner has been playing the position on a stand-in basis (or that was the case at the start of the season). Based on that you would expect us to go out and buy a left back, at the start of Milner's time playing there everyone would have expected us to bring someone in for that position in the January window as he was surely seen as a short-term fix.

Milner has done better than anyone would have expected but there is still a dilemma, is Milner happy to continue playing there indefinately? does Klopp want him to play there long term? would Milner get games in other positions on the field? These are legitimate questions to ask at this point in the season, personally I would be happy for Milner to stay there given his performances.

[The_weatherman]

I'm not saying that he should be replaced, I am saying that on paper we lack a left-back and that Milner has been playing the position on a stand-in basis (or that was the case at the start of the season). Based on that you would expect us to go out and buy a left back, at the start of Milner's time playing there everyone would have expected us to bring someone in for that position in the January window as he was surely seen as a short-term fix.

Milner has done better than anyone would have expected but there is still a dilemma, is Milner happy to continue playing there indefinately? does Klopp want him to play there long term? would Milner get games in other positions on the field? These are legitimate questions to ask at this point in the season, personally I would be happy for Milner to stay there given his performances.

I think Klopp sees him as a first choice and I think it was his his plan all along. He spoke to Milner about it in the summer and didn't feel the need to purchase another left back with Moreno there as well.

[Roboklopp]

That's a top story Jaco. Hope your dad continues to improve.

Tricky one on Milner, defo don't wanna upset the apple cart there. My LFC history isn't the best here- have we had anyone else from around my/his area so high profile & valuable at LFC?

[Exiled_red]

I think Klopp sees him as a first choice and I think it was his his plan all along. He spoke to Milner about it in the summer and didn't feel the need to purchase another left back with Moreno there as well.

Has he spoken to him about it being a long term solution to the problem though or was it a short term solution because he hadn't been able to bring in who he wanted or because it was something forced on him? (IIRC Moreno started the season as LB and Milner came in after a few games). Did either of them expect him to play every game there? Neither of them can have expected it to go so well, so we must have continued scouting left backs are we now ready to take the active step of stopping looking for a new LB and assume that Milner will spend the next few years as our first choice LB?

[Charly]

Moreno is obviously not good enough defensively... so we do need a decent backup. A hot prospect would do for a couple of years.

The problem is we are overloaded with midfielders. We need a holding midfielder (imho). Not sure where that leaves, Henderson or Wijnaldum if Milner does move back and Coutinho is fit. I guess its a good problem

[SB]

a better wide right player than firmino or Lallana

https://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/sho...&postcount=121

https://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/sho...&postcount=993

brave man owning up to that.

[The_weatherman]

Has he spoken to him about it being a long term solution to the problem though or was it a short term solution because he hadn't been able to bring in who he wanted or because it was something forced on him? (IIRC Moreno started the season as LB and Milner came in after a few games). Did either of them expect him to play every game there? Neither of them can have expected it to go so well, so we must have continued scouting left backs are we now ready to take the active step of stopping looking for a new LB and assume that Milner will spend the next few years as our first choice LB?

IIRC it didnt say, only that Klopp spoke to Milner who was apprehensive at first about not seeing the ball enough but Klopp allayed those fears, I reckon it was the plan all along, Milner seemed to be first choice as well.

[SB]

How many of Millie's 6 goals were penalties though? I'm guessing 5/6 were from 8 yds

Not having a go at him just pointing it out.

[Charly]

Just speaks more to his quality for hitting deadballs, his cool demenour, and his huge pair of hairy mammoth balls to be the chosen one to take them.

Also means our strikers are not fouling up their stats with easy goals.

[BG1973]

Has he spoken to him about it being a long term solution to the problem though or was it a short term solution because he hadn't been able to bring in who he wanted or because it was something forced on him? (IIRC Moreno started the season as LB and Milner came in after a few games). Did either of them expect him to play every game there? Neither of them can have expected it to go so well, so we must have continued scouting left backs are we now ready to take the active step of stopping looking for a new LB and assume that Milner will spend the next few years as our first choice LB?

We still need a first choice left back.

Milner is very good but physically it's one of the toughest roles and as strong as he is something has to start giving.

Fine this year with a game a week but next year will be very different.

[Charly]

Buying a leftback would free up Milner to sort the goalkeeper position out.

[marcus50bucks]

It really is. My dad was struck down with it in late 2004. Paralysed him from the neck down for a period and left him needing a ventilator to breath. Took months and months before he was able to start doing the bare basics again, and things like walking about, buttoning a shirt etc all became big undertakings for him afterwards. 12 years later he is still showing the after effects as certain things never returned but he was luckier than some who got it.



As a Markus Babbel related aside, I got in touch with the club after my dad was struggling badly for motivation and with depression in the first month or so of getting the illness, and Rick Parry was a legend in organising a big get well card signed by the first team. Four players also sent their own get well cards off of their own backs, but the most amazing and touching bit was Parry getting in touch with Babbel in Germany and Babbel taking the time to phone my dad to encourage him to fight the illness and to offer advice on getting through it. He then followed up with a couple of calls in the 12 months that followed just to check on my dad. Made a world of difference to my dad, and we could see that little bit of extra determination in him after that first phone call.

Brilliant story

[Slinky Skills]

Cost city 25 million didn't he ??

Great signing , all without a fuss

klopp makes good players into great players

No disrespect to Klopp but Milner was already a great player.

What I like about him is gets stuck in but when he gets munched himself he just gets on with it.

Never looks to the ref for free kicks or a card, if he fouls someone he looks genuinely remorseful as a player. He just gets on with it.

[Kenneth]

Until he moved to left back he didn't look great for us. In midfield he had some good, some completely anonymous, mostly ok games.