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Milner's new role

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rurikbird

Part of the Furniture
Honorary Member
Interesting read. My thoughts are below the article.

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James Milner: Is Liverpool vice-captain set to become utility man again?

  • Joining Liverpool last summer, James Milner aimed to hold on a regular role in midfield, but his versatility may put paid to that this season.
by Jack Lusby
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Milner linked up with the Reds squad shortly before their flight to the US, bolstering Jurgen Klopp‘s ranks ahead of a testing period across the Atlantic.
Joined by his fellow England internationals on Friday, the 30-year-old made his first appearance in Thursday morning’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the International Champions Cup.
But replacing Connor Randall at right-back just after the hour mark at the Rose Bowl, Milner operated in an unlikely position.
Renowned as something of a utility man for much of his career, this tactical switch from Klopp may have pointed towards a reversion to type from Liverpool’s experienced vice-captain.

James Milner

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“I’m Milner’s No. 1 fan,” former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini told the Guardian months before the Englishman made the move to Anfield from the Etihad Stadium.
“Find me a more complete English player. There are players who’re better technically, yes. Quicker players, yes. Players who head better, yes.
“But show me one who does all the things Milner does well. There isn’t one.”
As those who have overseen his development as a player throughout a 14-year senior career to date, Milner is a manager’s dream; as invaluable to Sam Allardyce as he was Roberto Mancini.
Pellegrini described him as “polyfunctional,” and, in some respects, this may be why the Yorkshireman received such a muted reception on his free transfer to Anfield last summer.
With the ‘boring’ tag following him across the M62, Milner slotted in alongside newly appointed captain, Jordan Henderson, as the refined, very ordinary face of Liverpool Football Club; the most unassuming of poster boys in a post-Steven Gerrard landscape.
Milner arrived on one condition, however, and that was to drop the “polyfunctional” persona and finally take up a regular role as a central midfielder.
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Brendan Rodgers duly obliged, but the performances failed to follow—Milner scored one goal and laid on two assists in eight appearances in his favoured position in the Premier League.
With Rodgers’ dismissal and Klopp’s appointment, Milner’s role changed. This gentleman’s agreement was rescinded, with the German wiping the slate clean after a poor start to the season.
Fortunately, Milner’s performances followed, and he soon carved out a regular role on the flanks of Klopp’s 4-2-3-1, scoring four goals and registering nine assists from out wide.
This included a remarkable run of three goals and three assists in five games around the turn of the year.
However, Milner was never Klopp’s first choice on either wing, withPhilippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana preferred, and this is a situation only magnified by the signings Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum this summer.

Liverpool’s Full-Back Options

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That Milner came on at right-back against Chelsea was indicative of two things: a wealth of options in Klopp’s attacking ranks, and a dearth of options in his full-back ranks.
With Nathaniel Clyne missing through injury, Brad Smith sold to Bournemouth and Jon Flanagan back in the UK considering a season-long loan move to Burnley, Klopp’s available left- and right-backs for the Reds’ tour of the US are thin.
Randall started against the Blues, with Alberto Moreno operating on the opposite flank, and with Andre Wisdom deputising in an injury-hit central group, Milner was Klopp’s only viable option.
Heading into the 2016/17 campaign, with Clyne due back in action in the coming days, Klopp’s full-backs are still few and far between.
A failure to sign Leicester City left-back Ben Chilwell has left the German wanting in terms of cover, or competition, for Moreno, while a lack of quality in his backup right-backs suggest reinforcement would be required in both positions.
Liverpool are expected to sign a new left-back this summer, though Klopp’s alternative targets remain unclear, but there has been no suggestion so far that they will look to draft in another right-back.
Wisdom is expected to be sold, Randall has been linked with a loan move and Trent Alexander-Arnold will join up with Michael Beale‘s under-23s on his return to Merseyside.
If Milner’s cameo in Pasadena is anything to go by, this could leave the vice-captain as Klopp’s go-to guy if Clyne is unavailable.

Jurgen Klopp’s Utility Man?

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Like Pellegrini, Klopp has already noted Milner’s ability to shine in different positions, telling reporters after his first game as Liverpool manager that the ex-City man was “the complete football player.”
Milner played in five different positions for the German in 2015/16, including an appearance on either defensive flank.
He was drafted in at right-back following the withdrawal of Jon Flanaganin March’s 2-1 win away to Crystal Palace in the Premier League, though he was sent off for two bookable offence shortly after.
Meanwhile, in Liverpool’s second leg against Manchester United in the Europa League’s last 16 less than two weeks later, Milner filled in at left-back, deputising for the injured Alberto Moreno, and shone.
Speaking after his performance in the latter, Milner admitted: “It’s not a position I want to play, but the team comes first before any individuals and we got the result we needed which is all that matters.”
Pellegrini also attested to Milner’s dissatisfaction in the full-back role last year, saying it was “the only position he doesn’t like.”
However, as he showed against Chelsea, balancing defence with attack comfortably, Milner is capable of performing at right-back.
With added competition, and goalscorers—which, averaging a goal every 10 Premier League games, or 700 minutes, throughout his career, Milner is not—in both midfield and attack this summer, it may be where he’s seen more often in 2016/17.
A victim of his own versatility, Milner looks likely to become Klopp’s utility man this season.

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I know Milner has his fans here who think he should be one of the key players and settled in his preferred CM position. This is why he moved from a richer team with whom he won two EPL titles to a team was objectively a level below, trading a utility role in the former for what he hoped would be a key role in the latter. However things have changed with Klopp's arrival. This team has few bona-fide stars, but the quality and depth particularly after this transfer window is higher than at any point in recent years. I feel that with Klopp we can genuinely compete with City or any other team in the country and we are likely to steadily improve year after year instead of following one year of promise with several years of stagnation and disappointment, as has become the pattern.

I don't mean to say we are going to win everything this season and everything is going to be rosy and flawless from now on, but I really think that right now the likes of City and Chelsea, United and Arsenal will have just as much reason to fear playing us as we playing them. Our biggest weakness last season was horrible lack of consistency and that's why it was so important that this summer's transfers address all the issues that contributed to that lack of consistency one by one – and that's exactly what happened (well, in truth there is still one or two more holes to patch, but summer isn't over yet).

Back to Milner though, clearly the rationale that brought him here no longer exists and Klopp is not bound by whatever tacit agreement Milner may or may not have had with Rodgers. It needs to be acknowledged that as talented as Milner is, the two most high-profile managers he has worked with in his career – Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini – both viewed him primarily as a utility man, a jack-of-all-trades player rather than someone to build the team around. There are plenty of signs that Klopp generally views Milner in the same way – that's why he played in 5 different positions in his first few months in charge. It also can be argued that it's actually better for Milner as a player too – he seemed burdened by the responsibility of filling Gerrard's shoes under Rodgers, but his form improved dramatically under Klopp, despite (or maybe because) being shuffled between different positions. Sometimes the player's self-image simply doesn't match the reality and it's the manager's job to make decisions based on reality.

So once again, it's clear Milner has a lot of fans (which he fully deserves) who expect him to play a big role next season. However I would argue that this role will be, after all, once again of a utility man who plays in whatever position needs more help at any point. I don't know if he will be happy with it – if he has to play full-back a lot then probably not – but I guess it's not the worst thing in the world to play for Liverpool at an exciting time in its history, under a world-class manager who trusts you as one of the senior players of the squad. It may happen that Milner will leave after 1 or 2 years and will try again to make a step down in order to secure a bigger role, but he will be an important player this season even without a defined starting position. I hope that this season Henderson returns to his best form to partner Can in midfield as the first-choice option and Wijnaldum hits the ground running as the most attack-minded of the CM 3 (when we play that system), while Milner can compete for both of these roles as well as cover on the wings and an emergency full-back.
 
And right on cue...

Liverpool FC boss Klopp preparing to use Milner as defensive cover
Jurgen Klopp is prepared to use Liverpool vice-captain James Milner as an emergency full-back this season rather than bringing in defensive cover.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...ws/liverpool-fc-boss-klopp-preparing-11678255

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This would be consistent with Klopp's style of management – in Borussia he had no qualms about using one of his CMs as a full-back, even for an extended period of games when one of the first choice pair of Schmelzer or Piszchek were injured. I guess a lot will depend of whether Milner is OK with it, but if Klopp is seriously considering this then he must have talked through this with JM already...
 
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If we're going to really push on this season we need a rock solid back four of specialists, not two or three semi-strangers being moved around from game to game. Klopp needs to be ruthless here and replace Moreno, settle on a first choice CB pairing and then let them bond as a unit. Milner's a midfielder and that's that. He doesn't deserve to be used as cover at this stage in his career.
 
He's a decent player, mo more than that. His best displays, despite where he may have wished to play, were on the flank. Now, he's going to have fight with Mané for one of those wide spots. If Klopp sees him as defensive cover, it merely confirms he's got more than one person ahead of him.
 
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Milner is very effective in his midfield role. He scores and assists regularly from midfield spots. I doubt he'll be a full back other than in exceptional circumstances.
 
Statistically he's more than a decent player, not many players get more assists than him from midfield/wide, he was crucial in the Europa League run last season and was probably our best player post Xmas. He might not be the most fashionable player, but that's where it ends.
 
I'm guessing klopp is trying to make sure Miner is in the team in some capacity.

You have in MF ( possibly) Mane----Henderson----Can----Wini
With coutinho playing in the advance role. You want Milner in the team where do you play him? If the preseason games prove that Miner can play at LB and the other players can make up for Miners potency in MF, then why spend bear 10m plus on a LB?
 
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If we're going to really push on this season we need a rock solid back four of specialists, not two or three semi-strangers being moved around from game to game. Klopp needs to be ruthless here and replace Moreno, settle on a first choice CB pairing and then let them bond as a unit. Milner's a midfielder and that's that. He doesn't deserve to be used as cover at this stage in his career.

I don't think anybody can accuse Klopp of lack of ruthlessness, particularly after some of his decisions this summer. The reason he so far didn't replace Moreno was that he wants a long-term solution, not somebody who is not much of an improvement and will only waste everyone's time. Plus Moreno is useful in the attacking phase and maybe there is a way to compensate for his deficiencies with improved defense in other areas (last season there were simply too many problems at once – Mignolet, CBs, Can getting used to the new role etc) and use a more defensive option (Milner, Gomez, Ragnar) for games where we really have to be rock-solid in the back at the expense of the attacking game.

UPD: Another article just popped up:
http://www.empireofthekop.com/2016/...d-be-liverpools-utility-fullback-this-season/
His lungs and fitness are unrivalled, and he can swing in a cross on his right-foot expertly. Milner is strong, sensible and physical. He has all the traits a good fullback requires, and the ability to perform just as well on the left as the right. In fact, It’d be fair to say in a big game, many would trust Milner over Moreno at left-back – which says lots about both players.

Looks like this is more than just idle speculation.
 
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So much for Milner's desire and preference to play in central midfield, which is the main reason he joined us.
 
I don't think anybody can accuse Klopp of lack of ruthlessness, particularly after some of his decisions this summer. The reason he so far didn't replace Moreno was that he wants a long-term solution, not somebody who is not much of an improvement and will only waste everyone's time. Plus Moreno is useful in the attacking phase and maybe there is a way to compensate for his deficiencies with improved defense in other areas (last season there were simply too many problems at once – Mignolet, CBs, Can getting used to the new role etc) and use a more defensive option (Milner, Gomez, Ragnar) for games where we really have to be rock-solid in the back at the expense of the attacking game.

UPD: Another article just popped up:
http://www.empireofthekop.com/2016/...d-be-liverpools-utility-fullback-this-season/


Looks like this is more than just idle speculation.

What leads you to that conclusion, Rurik? Surely this is just that, another bit of speculation. I'm not saying it won't happen but I am saying there's no way of knowing yet. Klopp will do what he thinks he needs to do for the benefit of the team overall but I'd have thought he'll have to take Milner's stated preference into account, at least to some extent, if he wants to get the very best out of him over a sustained period.
 
What leads you to that conclusion, Rurik? Surely this is just that, another bit of speculation. I'm not saying it won't happen but I am saying there's no way of knowing yet. Klopp will do what he thinks he needs to do for the benefit of the team overall but I'd have thought he'll have to take Milner's stated preference into account, at least to some extent, if he wants to get the very best out of him over a sustained period.

Milner hasn't helped in some ways. His versatility is one reason why he will always get shifted around, but even when he did start in a central position, he was AWOL far too often, and always drifted out wide.
 
That's true, but Klopp will need to consider carefully whether that was down to Milner or down to circs.on the day. Milner was skipper for almost all those games and may have felt in all/any of them that he needed to go wide to shore things up. Hopefully that need won't arise so often this season.
 
What leads you to that conclusion, Rurik? Surely this is just that, another bit of speculation. I'm not saying it won't happen but I am saying there's no way of knowing yet. Klopp will do what he thinks he needs to do for the benefit of the team overall but I'd have thought he'll have to take Milner's stated preference into account, at least to some extent, if he wants to get the very best out of him over a sustained period.

I think there is no smoke without fire (well, sometimes there is, but you get the point). Did this idea of playing Milner at LB just strike 3 of 4 different journalists that they wrote long articles about it all at the same time or maybe did they got a sniff of Klopp's plans for next season? The latter got to be more likely, no? Of course I'm no expert and could be wrong.

As for Milner's preference, it's interesting that the article in the OP (did anybody actually read it? I know it's too long) mentions that full-back is actually the one position Milner really dislikes playing. But like I said, if Klopp is seriously considering him an option I'm sure they would have discussed it. Whatever it is, so far Milner played all of his minutes in the pre-season as full-back. And Klopp did use CMs as full-backs on a fairly regular basis in his previous teams.
 
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That's true, but Klopp will need to consider carefully whether that was down to Milner or down to circs.on the day. Milner was skipper for almost all those games and may have felt in all/any of them that he needed to go wide to shore things up. Hopefully that need won't arise so often this season.

You are far more benevolent than me. He seemed to go wide because he feels comfortable there, can get crosses in, and use his industry.

And every time he went wide, he left Can on his own, and if there's a part of the pitch where you need to "shore up" it's centrally.

I am, and always have been a Milner fan, but I wonder if the increased range of passing options, ball-carrying and responsibilities that a central role demands were a bit too much, and he's happier with a narrower set of options that playing wide gives him. He often seemed not at all confident about what to do and where to run in the middle.
 
Klopp had a few players at Dortmund that played in several positions if I remember correctly. Grosskreutz comes to mind.
Milner will at least give 100% regardless of his starting position
 
Klopp had a few players at Dortmund that played in several positions if I remember correctly. Grosskreutz comes to mind.
Milner will at least give 100% regardless of his starting position

Agreed. I have no issues with him playing at LB

I wonder if he will start there in our first game?

Milner is a great asset to any squad. Proper Liverpool type player. Shame we didn't buy him years ago
 
Indeed. Shame we didnt sign him when he went to Villa for 12 mill in 2008.
Would have saved us quite a bit of money on shite wingers aswell..
 
Friend of mine who is a City supporter said he got plenty of chances in central midfield for them but never performed well enough to keep it.

Personally I think he can play in midfield but really needs to be in a midfield three.

He's worth more to "top" clubs as a utility player than he is as a midfielder.
 
Milner tells Liverpool boss Klopp: I'm happy to be Mr Versatile this season

The team comes first for Reds vice captain
The Reds vice-captain confirmed that Klopp has asked him to fill in at full-back at times this season.
It emerged earlier this week that the manager might not sign another left-back during the current transfer window after missing out on Leicester’s Ben Chilwell as he believes the experienced midfielder can provide cover for Alberto Moreno.
“The manager pulled me at the start,” Milner said. “He’s obviously looked at his squad and what players he has.
“He’s asked if I was willing to cover the full-back positions, basically, if there was a point in the season where there were injuries or like at Man United last season in the Europa League when I played left back.
“We had a conversation about it and I told him it’s not my favourite position and not one I particularly like playing, but he’s the manager and if he wants me to play there, I’ll play there. The team comes first, always has, always will.”
That’s a typically selfless approach from Milner, who chipped in with seven goals and 14 assists during his first season with the Reds after joining from Manchester City on a free transfer.
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Part of the attraction of signing for Liverpool a year ago was Brendan Rodgers’ promise of a central midfield role. Under Klopp, he was shifted out wide last season and he accepts the landscape has changed.
“That’s football,” he said. “Throughout my career you have to play in different positions.
“I’m sure things will come up during the season and there will be injuries and suspensions in all the positions, and I’m probably a good player for a manager to have because I fill in in a number of positions.
“It looks like I have added two more to the reel as well. I’m just looking for goalkeeper now to complete the set!
“It’s the the only one, yeah. It’s like hunting Pokemon - it’s the only one I need!
“Like I said to the manager, I don’t like playing there but I will give you the best that I can and if that’s needed I will play there.
“We do have a lot less games this year with no Europe, so that will be slightly different as well, but I am confident that given the game time I can perform in whatever position the manager puts me in and still fight for a place in that midfield as well.
“But, ultimately, where the manager picks me I will go out there and do as well as I can.”

Milner clocked up 45 appearances for the Reds last season and relished being a key figure after life on the periphery at Manchester City.
The 30-year-old came agonising close to lifting some silverware as the Reds fell short in the final of both the Capital One Cup and the Europa League.
Now he wants to help ensure that Klopp’s revamped squad kick on in 2016/17.
“When I moved I wanted to play football,” Milner added.
“That’s what it is all about. You get nothing for training really, the amount of sessions you do throughout your career, ultimately it means nothing, it’s to prepare you for that game day.
“I have still got a lot of years left touch wood, I am only 30.


“I want to look back and think I have done as much as I can and played as much football as I can.
“I was playing 25 games (per season) at City which is not a small amount, but I just felt like I wanted to be involved that little bit more.
“It wasn’t just about that as well. We know how big a club Liverpool is.
“I probably have not won as much as I would have liked to over the years, I said that when I joined.
“We gave ourselves those two opportunities last year and didn’t quite take them so that was disappointing.
“I was pleased in another way that the move worked out the way I’d hoped in that we were in with a chance of winning silverware. That’s ultimately what the game is about.”
 
Liverpool midfielder James Milner willing to retire from England duty to pave way for emerging talent
The 30-year-old is a veteran of four tournaments, but will sit down with new England boss Sam Allardyce to discuss his future


FameFlynet.uk.com
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James Milner will hold talks over his England future
James Milner is ready to retire from international football if it paves the way for a young Lion.
Liverpool midfielder Milner will sit down with new England boss Sam Allardyce to discuss his future.
The 30-year-old is a veteran of four tournaments, but has featured very little for England over the past two years – despite a stellar time with Liverpool.
That has led him to openly question the role he is left to play for England.
In pictures - Liverpool train ahead of AC Milan clash:
VIEW GALLERY
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Milner said: “I’ll have to speak to Sam about it. At my age, travelling around and not featuring, is that a good thing for myself and the side?
“For a young player coming in and travelling and gaining experience and going to tournaments is massive.
“I am fortunate enough to have been to four tournaments so for me to have done has not really helped me at all.
“But if a younger guy had come in and maybe done the same job in the summer he would have taken a lot more from it than I would. That is something I need to talk to Sam about.”
REUTERS
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James Milner spent most of Euro 2016 watching from the bench
Getty
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The Liverpool midfielder has played in four major tournaments for the Three Lions
Milner has a young family, and also a huge role with Liverpool, where he is boss Jurgen Klopp’s experienced voice on the pitch.
He worked under Allardyce at Newcastle a decade ago, and knows that he can have a straight talk with the new England boss.
Miller explained: “It is pointless me being there if I am not going to play.
Andrew Powell/2016 Liverpool FC
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The 30-year-old is in the US gearing up for the new campaign
Liverpool FC via Getty
Liverpool-Training-at-Levis-Stadium.jpg

Jordan Henderson and James Milner during training
“With the good young players that we have coming through, it is pointless me taking up a spot just because I am reliable and I will be there.
"I’ve been involved in international football since I was 17 or 18 without stopping. I was U21s and went through. So I have played more than 100 games.
“I want to play football and I have two young kids now and I think if I am traveling around and know I am not going to play, that is something I am going to have to consider.”
 
Is he really going to play that much this season? I love him as a player - but I worry he won't be happy with his role this season.
 
I hope we don't play him at left-back again. He wasn't any good there.

He wasn't awful, but I kind of have to agree - it's not the best use of his qualities and also defensively a midfielder will never be as solid as a good specialist full-back. I wonder if Klopp will try this and that and finally admit he has no other option except to fork out 20M+ on Hector before September 1st.
 
Is he really going to play that much this season? I love him as a player - but I worry he won't be happy with his role this season.

My guess is he'll get plenty of game time. I know we've got a number of new signings coming in, but if anything that'll increase the value of having Milner's experience out there on the park helping to knit the new team together.
 
He should always be one of the first names on the team sheet as far as I'm concerned. A top professional, brilliant attitude, super work rate and great game intelligence. It would take a much better squad, full of much tougher characters, to warrant keeping Milner out the team. It needs more like him, not fewer.
 
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