Milner

[dazby]

Thanks Superjaw, it's been emotional.

[Blue Oli]

The interesting thing for me about this is that never in my wildest dreams did I ever see us getting to the point where a move from city to scouse1 would be seen as a step down for a player - just shows how far we have come over the last few years

[sheblue]

We all knew for a long time he was going, although its an odd move, but now to focus on his replacement.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Dissapointed but thanks James!

Hate the dippers so will be wishing him nothing but failure!

Bodgers has just had a meeting with the ScouseScum owners and they've "agreed a plan" (???!!!???) to ensure that this disappointing season is not repeated next.

On that basis, Milner must be joining them when they are finally on the road to unparalleled successes. He'll also flourish limitlessly under the astute guidance and man-management skills of the self proclaimed tactical genius that is Brenda.

I think we should all be very afraid..........

[PeterParker]

I am really curious to read some interview in a thew months when he will speak about us and say why he left and why english players should avoid us.

[Hazy2]

As my rag brother has just said United, had many Milners, when left on there own they are bang average. No magic around to pull them out of the shit. Fletcher O'Shea, Brown, Butt, All great servants and did great jobs, but lucky bastards to be around such quality.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Milner's last Premier League title

[john@staustell]

I think he's off his head.

And I also agree he wont look so good without top players around him. They'll be a few 'oh my God' moments in his head when he gets to play with that lot!

Really interested to know the reasons though. If we ever do, as both he and 'City' are very silent personalities!

[Wonderwall]

Liverpool? What a dick head!! Basically he's used us to actually win things in what would otherwise have been a trophy-less career. Left a sour taste for me.

I have never seen a quote like that before.

Milner is a top pro and I wish the rest of football had his attitude to his job and life outside of football. Cannot fault him, wherever he goes, I wish him good luck unless in direct competition with us. The move away from us for a lesser team is very puzzling, there can only be 1 reason and thats a promise to play him central. We all know he covets that position and he has played well in that area on a few occasions, but he is far more effective out wide. I do think that with Gerrard and Lampard gone, if he gets a regular Centre mid role elsewhere, he will be a starter there for England as well.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32974539

Shame they left the rest of my comments out on the BBC Website!!!

James Milner: Liverpool sign Man City's Mr Dependable

James Milner is experienced, durable, versatile... and boring.
Once the Premier League's youngest goalscorer, he burst onto the scene but hard work and diligence have provided the somewhat rare cocktail of success and a quiet career since.
A man for all seasons, a man managers want in the trenches with them, why is Milner one of the Premier League's most reliable characters and have Manchester City been foolish to let him join Liverpool?

Reliable is boring, boring is funny

Milner is no-nonsense personified. If he were an invention, he'd be something practical like a toothbrush rather than anything glitzy or glamorous.
Boring James Milner tweet
.
Roberto Mancini (140,000), Danny Ings (51,000) and heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua (239,000) are just three sporting figures with fewer followers than the witty account.

Boring James Milner

And Milner is more than aware of the traction it has gained, so much so he slipped into 'boring' character in a club video over Christmas, analysing presents including a nine-inch shovel for leaves.
There is a chance Milner could play alongside Mario Balotelli next season. Boring James Milner will have plenty to say about that.
Boring James Milner
The real James Milner has tried to work out if the creator of 'Boring James Milner' is someone he knows
Value - tried, tested and with more to come

"If you've never tried it, you can't miss it," Milner has said on alcohol.
If you need a player to drive the bus home while others indulge in celebrations, Milner - a life-long teetotal - is your man.
A hard trainer, aware of his diet, the Leeds-born midfielder is a solid family car in a league packed with Ferraris.
A lot for your money...
Milner has moved for a total of £29.6m during his career and 520 outings for top-flight clubs mean he has cost an average £57,000 per appearance.
Mario Balotelli has made 179 appearances for Manchester City, Liverpool, AC Milan and Inter Milan at a cost of £330,000 a game.
He has amassed experience - 520 games for Leeds, Swindon, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Manchester City - but will leave the Etihad for free.
The offer seems a steal for Liverpool and with a head-down, studious mentality and ability to play across midfield or even at full-back, Milner's availability was somewhat puzzling.
Manuel Pellegrini has said of his ex-charge: "There are players who are better technically yes, quicker players, yes. Players who head the ball better, yes. But show me one who does all the things Milner does well. There isn't one."
But British fans are a strange phenomenon, wired to love the mavericks - George Best, Paul Gascoigne, Eric Cantona. Milner is a man who colours inside the lines and his ability may well always be downplayed in favour of talk of work ethic.
His industrious, flair-free image maybe made the howls of laughter as Lionel Messi nutmegged him at the Nou Camp in March louder than they would have been for anyone else.

Typically professional, Milner got up, blocked out the laughs and ploughed on. Managers line up to talk of his professionalism and it would appear his career has much more distance to cover.
As creative as David Silva

Milner won over the vast majority of City fans as a player whose honesty is admirable, even with the quality signings their owner's Abu Dhabi money has brought.
His average of covering 11.7km a match last season was only bettered by George Boyd of Burnley (12.06km) and matched by Arsenal's Mathieu Flamini (11.7km).
But industry was far from all the England international delivered, with five league goals - his best return in a City shirt - and seven assists - as many as David Silva - also served up.

Milner's contribution to Manchester City's season was unquestionable and Manuel Pellegrini's side won 66% of the 18 games in which he started but only 60% when he did not.
But the sporadic starts perhaps underlines why Milner has left for free. His desire to play more, having started just 89 of a possible 190 league games at City, has proven too much for the lure of any new deal.
'An A-star person'

England manager Fabio Capello once called James Milner "my future" but his former Newcastle boss Graeme Souness was less complimentary, telling media: "Newcastle won't win anything with a team of James Milners".
Much water has passed under the bridge since then but 53 England caps, two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and the 2010 Young Player of the Year award perhaps shows Capello was right to be bullish on Milner's chances.

Some opportunistic Manchester City fans see his exit as the chance to buy bigger, better, more glitz, more sparkle. But the man ex-Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder called "an A-star person" will be missed by some.

"Milner is a top pro and I wish the rest of football had his attitude to his job and life outside of football," wrote a fan on ManCityfans.net.
"It's hard to leave him out," added Pellegrini. "Respect, commitment and performance level. You leave him on the bench and he's absolutely furious but watch him during the game, encouraging, shouting, supporting. And in the next training session he kills himself."
The Chilean claims to be Milner's "number-one fan" but may need to now join Twitter and follow a certain account if he is to be reminded of their time as Manchester City colleagues.

[Ted Hughes]

I still hoped he'd come to his senses & sign the contract.

I don't understand this at all, but I will always be glad to see him because of the job he has done for City. I can't say I wish him well playing for that shower of cunts though. I hope he, & they, fail miserably.

But thanks for everything you did at City & good luck once you retire, James. Inbetween; fuck off.

[mr_nool]

WTF! We're being watched by the Man?!?

[PeterParker]

I was actually amazed by the scouse comments, there were a thew, but this one caught my eye:

Lauren @MrsDraWoo
@LFC Chuffed to bits. Leader, experienced, versatile, 110% guy, set piece taker. Welcome to #LFC James!

Leader. In what world did he was a leader here?

[Ted Hughes]

Interesting.

One of the itk types on Bluemoon, who I find to be well informed & trustworthy, recons Milner has gone because of the players we have coming in; he knows he won't be playing.

[CTID Hants]

Oh well, i'll have to un-follow him now.............





Goodbye Jimmy the Jaw, not overly happy he's gone, but if we replace him with someone better then so be it.

[Hazy2]

Interesting.

One of the itk types on Bluemoon, who I find to be well informed & trustworthy, recons Milner has gone because of the players we have coming in; he knows he won't be playing.

Heard the same Ted, CL Final out of the way !

[razor400]

Could you imagine if it was the other way around, the dippers would be rioting, burning cars and lighting candles And none of it would be their fault.

Would I have liked him too stay, yes. Am I overly bothered he's gone, no. He is a very clever self publicist as he is now moving to his 5th club with no doubt another big signing on fee, but because he "put in a shift" he will never be labelled as a bit of a money chasing mercenary, which he so obviously is.

[blues2win]

The media are writing what a disastrous blow this is to us. Sorry a load of bollocks. He was a decent squad player but no more than that. He's now a dipper. Suggest we shut the thread.

[Dubciteh]

Could you imagine if it was the other way around, the dippers would be rioting, burning cars and lighting candles And none of it would be their fault.

Would I have liked him too stay, yes. Am I overly bothered he's gone, no. He is a very clever self publicist as he is now moving to his 5th club with no doubt another big signing on fee, but because he "put in a shift" he will never be labelled as a bit of a money chasing mercenary, which he so obviously is.

Im sure if it was just money we would of won that battle.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Could you imagine if it was the other way around, the dippers would be rioting, burning cars and lighting candles And none of it would be their fault.

Would I have liked him too stay, yes. Am I overly bothered he's gone, no. He is a very clever self publicist as he is now moving to his 5th club with no doubt another big signing on fee, but because he "put in a shift" he will never be labelled as a bit of a money chasing mercenary, which he so obviously is.

Im sure if it was just money we would of won that battle.

I've heard he's picking up north of £180-a-week. If true, that'd be made up in large part by the fee they didn't pay us. If true.

[aristation]

Respect for the player who did his job well and I will respect him and Mario (if he is still there) at the Dippers but we do want more if we are to challenge for the CL.