James Milner

[MaBigTip]

According to the man himself, he approached the club for a new contract last year and they said they weren't ready to discuss one yet. He's now 12 month out, willing to sign but not being engaged.

What's going on? I think it would be a mistake to let him go before he is ready to retire. He sets a ridiculous standard for the squad. I wish we had signed him off Newcastle and kept him his whole career. I adore him as a player.

 

[Brizzle]

He's a great influence on the squad and often delivers when it matters (and almost more importantly, when others don't). Love him. Maybe we are waiting because the older he gets the tougher it'll be for him to push for big terms.

 

[juniormember]

We should be offering him a deal that fast tracks him into the coaching team. If he’s interested.

 

[hmmmmm1]

We need his experience. A 12 month extension would be the minimum.

 

[mom]

Yeh he’s boss. Having said that, we have no idea as to what physical condition he’s actually in.

 

[Insignificance]

Yeh he’s boss. Having said that, we have no idea as to what physical condition he’s actually in.

Physical he is mental

 

[SummerOnions]

I think he's been boss for Hendo also

 

[SummerOnions]

I think he's been boss for Hendo also

 

[Hansern]

Indeed, he’s boss:

Hendo asked Milner and Klopp to lift the Champions League with him. This was Milner’s response.

“If anyone other than you lifts up that trophy they are getting f*cking wrestled to the ground."

 

[moron]

According to the man himself, he approached the club for a new contract last year and they said they weren't ready to discuss one yet. He's now 12 month out, willing to sign but not being engaged.

What's going on? I think it would be a mistake to let him go before he is ready to retire. He sets a ridiculous standard for the squad. I wish we had signed him off Newcastle and kept him his whole career. I adore him as a player.

I love Milner, the player for all positions (nearly). To me he has been the character that SG was in a strange kinda way. But the club are right, at his age no matter how fit you maybe now, it can change very quickly and almost instantly. I onow emotionally it seems wrong but using brain - its the right stance for the club.

 

[Judge Jules]

I've been in Milner's corner from day 1 and IMO he's been a superb signing, but I'm quite sure the club is at least as well aware of his qualities as we are. My inference from that is that there's some reason for any apparent go-slow on the club's part that we're not aware of, and I'm not going to second-guess them on it.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I've been in Milner's corner from day 1 and IMO he's been a superb signing, but I'm quite sure the club is at least as well aware of his qualities as we are. My inference from that is that there's some reason for any apparent go-slow on the club's part that we're not aware of, and I'm not going to second-guess them on it.

I would guess that it's purely cynicism, given his age, in spite of his fantastic physical performance now, its not beyond the realms of possibility that his fitness could drop off a cliff, it does happen with older players, esp if they get an injury.

As such if the club were simply biding their time before offering the contract it would simply be good financial management.

If they don't offer him a new contract, assuming he's still in the same shape, then it's the exact opposite, considering how much he'd cost to replace (if indeed such a thing were possible).

 

[Judge Jules]

Fair comment. I hope at least the decision's being taken by reference to what they've actually seen evidence for, rather than some automatic policy being applied regardless of the circumstances.

 

[FreshRed]

I would guess that it's purely cynicism, given his age, in spite of his fantastic physical performance now, its not beyond the realms of possibility that his fitness could drop off a cliff, it does happen with older players, esp if they get an injury.

As such if the club were simply biding their time before offering the contract it would simply be good financial management.

If they don't offer him a new contract, assuming he's still in the same shape, then it's the exact opposite, considering how much he'd cost to replace (if indeed such a thing were possible).

If those are the concerns, it can be addressed in a contract offer to mitigate the club’s risk. And, Milner can always reject those clauses.

But, it really has little to do with creating some sort of an offer or initiating discussions.

My guess is that despite Milner’s awesomeness they just feel they need to move on and bring in the next young James Milner or promote our own (TAA? Could be...)

 

[RedStar]

Yeh he’s boss. Having said that, we have no idea as to what physical condition he’s actually in.

Except that we know from the recent lactate tests in preseason training that hes one of, if not the fittest player in the squad. I dont imagine hes declined dramatically in the last 3 weeks. Honestly Id be more concerned about the fitness of Keita, Ox and Gomez than Milner.

At 34 his minutes on the pitch would need to be managed more carefully than a fee years ago but in pretty much all sports we are seeing top athletes extend their careers way beyond the previous timelines due to better conditioning, nutrition and physical recovery. Ive no doubt Milner will play into his late 30s, most likely not with us though.

 

[Dreambeliever]

He looked leggy last season at times and will look even more so this season as age catches up.

Been a great sighing but not convinced another 12 months is in our best interest at his age.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Milner has been consistently written off for a few years and has consistently proven people wrong. I reckon we could get at least two more years out of him.

 

[Ukrainian by marriage]

Keep him as long as poss - if only to clatter the likes of Neymar and Messi. 🙂

 

[RedStar]

He looked leggy last season at times and will look even more so this season as age catches up.

Been a great sighing but not convinced another 12 months is in our best interest at his age.

He started more games than Henderson, Fabinho or Keita last year.