In June 2015, James Milner agreed to move to Liverpool on a free transfer.
After spending five years at Manchester City, primarily used as a utility player, Milner made the switch in the hope of regular football in the centre of midfield.
12 months and a managerial change later, he’s right back to square one. No closer to playing central midfield where he feels he is best suited, even though most supporters don’t think the same.
Instead, he’s often been shoved to the wing, probably his best position, and occasionally asked to fill in at full-back. There’s even suggestions Jürgen Klopp may abandon buying full back cover and use Milner instead for the new season.
Not exactly what he signed up for when he joined Liverpool.
In some aspects, I feel sorry for Milner. For a free transfer, he had a decent debut season for Liverpool. He’s not easy on the eye but you can’t say he hasn’t got end-product. Seven goals and 14 assists in all competitions is better than most of the Liverpool squad.
Yet when most fans, including myself, draw up their starting line-up for the new season, Milner isn’t even mentioned. Some fans don’t even think he has a place in the squad at all. It can’t be an easy thing to stomach.
Milner has been called the ‘Utility Man’, the man who’ll give you 7/10 every game, ‘Mr Versatile’. In a lot of ways, this has been his downfall. Is he good enough to start in the center of the park for Liverpool? No. Does he have a place in this squad? Yes. Whether he is content with being the utility player in the squad is a different story.
We have a lot more dynamic and exciting options to pick from in midfield. Unless we have another mass injury crisis to key players, it’s unlikely he’ll get first-team football on a regular basis.
Now I’m not suggesting we sell him, far from it. I’m just wondering from his point of view whether he would so easily accept being shoehorned into the side when he’s entering the final years of his career.
He’s 30 years old, winner of two league titles and a model professional. His experience at the top level is invaluable. There are plenty of clubs in the Premier League where he could start in the middle of the park every week. Whether he decides to continue being stamped as a utility player is up to him.
Personally, I’d keep him, having that experience and maturity in the dressing room can only be a good thing – also because our squad depth at full back is beyond shocking.
He may not ever be in the heart of midfield, but spare a thought for James Milner – a man who just can’t catch a break.
