Why James Milner is the man for Manchester United and United the club for Milner?
Just about over a year ago he was uncapped, highly talented, opportunity deprived individual still living under the shadows of his teammate by the name of Gareth Barry.
A year on and everyone now seems to want a piece of James Milner, who while being busy with the England World Cup squad must be wondering who is his agent talking to right now. So what has transpired in just a year that has seen the stocks of the football star rise so sharply that he seems to be the man on top of everybody’s shopping list?
Nothing especial, it basically and unsurprisingly comes down to the most basic and valuable commodity in football and that is sheer talent. While there was a time when Graeme Souness (Milner’s manager while he was at New Castle) commented “we will not win anything with a bunch of James Milners” and there is today when even Sir Alex is an admirer. So what makes Milner so desirable for Manchester United, there are more factors than one to count from here. Up until last season the stupendous goal-scoring ratio of Cristiano Ronaldo kept the lid on the lack of goals from their midfield ranks but with his departure to Real Madrid last year this weakness was explicitly exposed.
Ronaldo was essentially a wide player but during the later part of his career at United he played as a front man and repaid his manager’s faith with a staggering tally of 44 goals in his final season for the club but since his departure United has lacked the impetus. Apart from Wayne Rooney scoring 34 goals last season no one is worth mentioning, Berba 12, Scholes and Giggs 7, which by no means is the quality of a league winning side and provides the sole reason why Sir Alex wants Milner. Milner has lived up to the promise that he showed the world playing as a 16 year old for Leeds and it’s now time for the step up. While City are offering 20 million for the midfielder, United’s need for the man is much greater than that of their neighbors and Sir Alex should do everything in his rights to get the player.
As it is the ginger head and the ever reliable Welshman are embarking on what will surely be their last hurrah, and with Andersen failing to live up to his 17 million pound price tag, Michael Carrick disappointing and Hargreaves also not sure of an impactful come back makes it even more worthwhile for Alex to sign Milner. Milner may just have scored 12 for Villa this season but has the potential to develop into a world-class midfielder under Ferguson and take some burden off Rooney’s shoulder to score all the goals, something United failed to address last season.
A team like United under the current circumstances are crying for the energy and drive of a player like Milner who will carry their midfield on his shoulders like Scholsey used to do and with City, bankrolled by the untold, unheard and unimaginable riches of Sheikh Mansour ready to make this a bidding war there is only one thing Milner needs to think.
Milner needs to look at the illustrious success that the old Trafford club has had and the exceptionally world class players they have produced under the tutelage of Sir Alex and the knowledge that his career will be better served with a move to Old Trafford rather than Eastlands.
According to all their financial might, City still have to prove that they have it in them to be one of football’s greatest power and to stay there, but for the moment United does not need to prove Milner anything. The stage is set for him to go and conquer if only he is wise enough to understand and do just that.
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