James Milner

[RedReet]

There was quite a buzz when Kuyt signed as we thought we were getting the prolific goal scorer that we so desperately needed. Got a great reception on his debut too.

He was also brilliant in 08/09 and in Kenny's first half of season.

Dirk.

[DannyMan2006]

Re Milner: when did anyone get excited about Dirk Kuyt as a player? And why is it so many are assuming this is the "Gerrard replacement"?

Fact is, you don't replace one of the greatest players in the history of a club with a free signing. Milner would be a squad addition, a workman, a dependable and adaptable squad option. You need those y'know.

He's a squad player at a team fighting for titles. They have offered him a big contract extension.

He is without doubt moving to get regular first team football. He would not be arriving to be a squad option like he is at City.

[Daniel 7]

If he's joining a team with Champions League ambitions, he's joining a squad. He'll be rotated because no player can play every game - how often that happens is debatable.

My point is that he offers versatility to a squad because he can play effectively in a lot f different positions. he's the very definition of a squad player.

[Assassin]

If he's joining a team with Champions League ambitions, he's joining a squad. He'll be rotated because no player can play every game - how often that happens is debatable.

My point is that he offers versatility to a squad because he can play effectively in a lot f different positions. he's the very definition of a squad player.

Why cant players play the majority of games? The likes of Sammy Lee played 125 games in 2 seasons. 82/83 season 58 games and 83/84 season 67 games

[fah-q]

Re Milner: when did anyone get excited about Dirk Kuyt as a player? And why is it so many are assuming this is the "Gerrard replacement"?

Fact is, you don't replace one of the greatest players in the history of a club with a free signing. Milner would be a squad addition, a workman, a dependable and adaptable squad option. You need those y'know.

Dirkules!!!!

[captainfog]

He's turd.

[fah-q]

Der Kolonel?

[chadrtc]

Why cant players play the majority of games? The likes of Sammy Lee played 125 games in 2 seasons. 82/83 season 58 games and 83/84 season 67 games

Because it's not the early 80s any more. The game is much faster, players run further at higher impact.

[Assassin]

Because it's not the early 80s any more. The game is much faster, players run further at higher impact.

I dont buy into that theory. Liverpool were in their pomp. They were playing successfully at the highest level. Yes, the game has evolved and so have the players. Its all relative. Players today should be able to play the same amount of games......

To add to this. Football was more a contact sport in those days....and there was a higher chance of getting injured

[Bender]

Why cant players play the majority of games? The likes of Sammy Lee played 125 games in 2 seasons. 82/83 season 58 games and 83/84 season 67 games

Because it's not the early 80s any more. The game is much faster, players run further at higher impact.

But players are more fitter these days and have more help from Science and Doctors....bunch of pussies imo,oh i can't play two games in a week but i can still collect my £100k a week wages

[Daniel 7]

Why cant players play the majority of games? The likes of Sammy Lee played 125 games in 2 seasons. 82/83 season 58 games and 83/84 season 67 games

There are all manner of reasons

For a start, its as much convention now that a squad is the ambitious club’s way to compete across every competition they enter, and winning and competing at the top level is where the money is made, and how the better players are attracted to the club in the first place.

Having a squad offers the manager different tactical options

Squads also afford the opportunity to optimise player performance by taking them out of first team action at the precautionary stage rather than the damage stage.

A manager isn’t going to hamper his own ambitions by not putting a squad together and jeopardising success if a member of his first 11 gets injured. Some players are injury prone and some aren’t – Suarez was like a robot, but Torres broke down all the time. The chances you’re going to get a player like Matty Holland who never missed a first team game for years is very unlikely.

Its not just the fitness aspect though - an ambitious manager and club are going to want to populate their club with as many talented players as possible. Those players will want to play, so squad rotation becomes an inevitability, which cuts down on the chances of the ever present player.

You know all this anyway. Like chad said, its not the 80's

[Assassin]

Thanks for the postcard. However, the players should be able to play the vast majority of the games.....

[Daniel 7]

Should and could are radically different concepts.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Which I guess makes it all the more impressive when a Championship team reaches the final or semi final of a cup given that Championship teams have 46 league games a season plus whatever extra the cups add on.


Less resources than the PL teams and more games than the majority of PL teams.

[Exiled_red]

Re Milner: when did anyone get excited about Dirk Kuyt as a player? And why is it so many are assuming this is the "Gerrard replacement"?

Fact is, you don't replace one of the greatest players in the history of a club with a free signing. Milner would be a squad addition, a workman, a dependable and adaptable squad option. You need those y'know.

Kuyt wasn't an edge of the seat player like a Suarez for example, but you don't have a team of 11 exciting players. You need reliable players like a Kuyt or Hamann etc. Kuyt scored some very important goals for us and a lot of the work he did wasn't spectacular but allowed others to perform you need players like that to build an effective team.