If you were great, or nearly great, would you come to us?
Which is why we should be signing Milner right now. It's not lack of ambition, it's pragmatism.
James Milner
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If you were great, or nearly great, would you come to us?
Which is why we should be signing Milner right now. It's not lack of ambition, it's pragmatism.
It's depressing that we are now reduced to feeding off City's scraps.
However, he's a solid player and we are so lightweight as a team it's untrue. Yesterday was a perfect example. Whenever we come up against a team who set out to bully us, we can't deal with it. Sadly we don't have the quality, like Barca, to outplay them and so we have no answer.
However, he's a solid player and we are so lightweight as a team it's untrue. Yesterday was a perfect example. Whenever we come up against a team who set out to bully us, we can't deal with it. Sadly we don't have the quality, like Barca, to outplay them and so we have no answer.
Wouldn't disagree with much of that, but I'd see the signing itself somewhat more optimistically. Milner wouldn't be the first good player to be prematurely released by a club which thinks, rightly or wrongly (and that remains to be seen), that it can do better. The possibility that Citeh may let him go doesn't mean he wouldn't be worth signing in his own right.
His goal today:
https://mediacdn.fanatix.com/view.php?newsitem_id=109138533
https://mediacdn.fanatix.com/view.php?newsitem_id=109138533
Milner has been absolutely fantastic so far for City this game.
If he is hungry to use his talent to make Liverpool a better team I am fine with signing him... Joe Cole seemed just hungry when he arrived....
When we were first linked with him a few months ago I suggested he might make a very good CM'er; he reads the game particularly well, is comfortable in possession, never shirks a challenge and can spot a pass.
I think if we started the season with Henderson, Milner, Can and Illeramendi* as our CM options we'll be a lot stronger next season and our defence will look a lot tighter as a consequence.
*I haven't seen enough of Illeramendi to judge him but he seems like the type we need. Also, I would not have an issue with us keeping Joe Allen as a squad player, he hasn't been as good for us as I had hoped but he's a good player. Having said that IMO the 4 players I mentioned (hoping Illeramendi is an upgrade on Lucas) should hopefully be a significant upgrade on Lucas, Henderson, Allen and SG.
Perhaps there would be a case for keeping Lucas and selling Allen. We are losing most of the senior players at the end of the season so keeping someone like Lucas to assist in a transition period might be beneficial? Lucas seems like a popular member of the squad, useful when fit and could provide cover for Illeramendi, leaving Can, Henderson and Miner for the other midfield spot. I assume we would raise more money selling Allen than Lucas also.
I like Joe Allen, although as I said he hasn't been as good for us as I'd hoped, but I quite like the thought of our CM getting a complete overhaul............losing Gerrard, Allen and Lucas whilst bringing in Illeramendi and Milner and giving Can another chance in midfield would really freshen things up.
A lot of questions as to how Henderson and Milner play together. One option that really works is the diamond, or 4-3-3. Two running, hard working carileros between a ball playing DM, if we can get one, and Coutinho
DM
Henderson Milner
Coutinho
Stiker Striker
DM
Henderson Milner
Coutinho
Stiker Striker
Sterling will likely be sold.. However if he stays.. he could be the other striker or play two behind the striker pushed out wide..
Which will then have positions for IBE and Markovic to be rotated into.. Option to change it from the bench I guess..
If Milner does come - and I think this might already be further along than we expect - then I think that we'll go with 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with Henderson and Milner paired in the middle, along with - and this won't sit well with people - Can at RB until Flanagan is available. It could explain why Rodgers has been trying out Can at RB in a back four.
Perhaps the last few games will convince Rodgers that it isn't a good idea (neither is Wisdom at RB by the way in my opinion) but I can see him toying with that idea in pre-season again if he believes it's a matter of Can getting used to the position rather than him not having the tools for it. After all, Can did play quite a number of games at LB for Leverkusen last season. Might be using a stint there as the staging ground for him to hone his defensive skills before eventually shifting him back to the centre to replace Lucas in a 4-3-3 when Flanagan is back. Just speculating, of course.
Mignolet
Can Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Hendo Milner
Ibe Coutinho Sterling
Ings/Origi
Mignolet
Can Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Lucas
Hendo Milner
Coutinho Sterling
Ings/Origi
Perhaps the last few games will convince Rodgers that it isn't a good idea (neither is Wisdom at RB by the way in my opinion) but I can see him toying with that idea in pre-season again if he believes it's a matter of Can getting used to the position rather than him not having the tools for it. After all, Can did play quite a number of games at LB for Leverkusen last season. Might be using a stint there as the staging ground for him to hone his defensive skills before eventually shifting him back to the centre to replace Lucas in a 4-3-3 when Flanagan is back. Just speculating, of course.
Mignolet
Can Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Hendo Milner
Ibe Coutinho Sterling
Ings/Origi
Mignolet
Can Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Lucas
Hendo Milner
Coutinho Sterling
Ings/Origi
I should of said likely be sold..
If we play a 433 wouldn't you tend to think the most advanced of the middle 3 would be Coutinho/Lallana? Oscar plays that role for Chelsea, and Lampard used to.
Then Can and say Milner behind. I'd happily sell either or both of Henderson and Allen.
Then Can and say Milner behind. I'd happily sell either or both of Henderson and Allen.
Who would you make skipper if Henderson went? Genuine question.
Looking at Henderson's decent assist stats this season, and generally how he plays, it's worth considering his position.
In a classic 4-2-3-1 model, would it not be wise to move him from the '2' into the '3'. Could he not play a Dirk Kuyt role, except with more movement, pace and assists? That leaves Milner to occupy a more reserved, controlling role in the centre alongside a DM in the '2'.
In our standard 4-3-3, I suppose Milner and Hendo could sit alongside each other in front of a DM, but it means pushing Coutinho into a wide forward role, which isn't ideal.
In a classic 4-2-3-1 model, would it not be wise to move him from the '2' into the '3'. Could he not play a Dirk Kuyt role, except with more movement, pace and assists? That leaves Milner to occupy a more reserved, controlling role in the centre alongside a DM in the '2'.
In our standard 4-3-3, I suppose Milner and Hendo could sit alongside each other in front of a DM, but it means pushing Coutinho into a wide forward role, which isn't ideal.
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