James Milner was set to join Aston Villa on August 31st after Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd accepted an offer for the player. Aston Villa confirmed Milner was traveling down for talks and the fee was £4,000,000.As we know Newcastle recalled Milner at the last moment when a deal for Mark Viduka broke down. Many Newcastle fans thought Milner would end up joining Aston Villa in January because of his poor handling by the club.
Who would have thought James would still be here and making his 200th Premiership appearance against Blackburn today.
Against Blackburn today James will be making his 52nd appearance of the season – 44 starts and sub 7 times. In total James has made 100 total appearances for Newcastle (70 starts by our reckoning) since Bobby Robson signed him on 2nd July 2004 at 18 years old and against Blackburn – as mentioned above – we reckon this will be his 200th Premiership appearance including 143 starts.
In total he has started 143 games in the Premiership – his first at age 16 for Leeds – and made 56 substitute appearances – and has a total of 16 goals.James has had a phenomenal season at Newcastle and been one of the club’s best (and most consistent) performers. With his 4 sensational goals he has quickly become a major asset to the club – not too shabby for a Yorkshire lad only just turned 21 in January.
James gives his Elvis Impersonation
To his credit Milner took the adversity in August with a maturity way beyond his years – and a couple months later was making noises to stay at Newcastle.
He is now showing the promise he had when a 16 year old at Leeds and has become very consistent for someone still only 21 – and will be pressing for a place in the full England side shortly.
We believe he’s favorite for the Newcastle Player of the Season award – and he throughly deserves it.
Steven Taylor (pictured below) and James Milner are key members of England’s under-21 team who play in the European U-21 Championship Finals this summer in the Netherlands. Newcastle’s assistant manager Nigel Pearson will also be participating as England’s under 21 assistant coach.
Steven Taylor
This will be a chance for two of United’s most talented youngsters to shine on the international stage – we’re sure they’ll do us proud.
Note: This is a reworked article first published 12 days ago on NUFCBLOG
8 responses so far ↓
1 toma // May 5, 2007 at 9:43 AM
Got to say milner and taylor are awsome and no way should they leave the toon they would be missed if newcastle sold them they would need slapped but come on the toon lets get ready for next season and no slip ups ok
toma
2 W // May 5, 2007 at 11:26 AM
One thing’s for sure he’ll overtake Dyer easily in terms of number of appearances. Milner’s no. of appearances to no. of years at club ratio must be phenomenal.
I just have two complaints about his game sometimes except the one for chelsea(1st half), sometimes it can be overelaborate and second his crosses are consistently very inaccurate even from dead ball situations. Maybe Roeder just lets him practise blindly without help. Roeder said “milner’s the most hard working in the squad he stays back and works on his game more than any one in the squad,” well something vaguely like that.
I think he needs to add variety to his game, because he is capable of doing so. Such as cutting in, running with it through middle and supporting the two main strikers upfront when ball comes from the left he should be making himself available in the box as well. Too many times this season a cross comes in with too little options for the wingers or full backs or providers to choose from. Compare this to 1997 keegan’s team, you’d find at least three, not one.
3 Ed Harrison // May 5, 2007 at 12:38 PM
W – yes – but I noticed his crosses seemed to have improved immensely when he arrived back from Aston Villa – where he started 33 times for them last season.
From what I hear he works like crazy on the practice field so am sure he’s working on his deficiencies – he could actually turn our to be a real star for Newcastle in the next few years….we need them
4 W // May 5, 2007 at 12:55 PM
are you going to the match today? im stuck at school and i’m trying to find a radio or tv link. but can’t find any.
5 Ed Harrison // May 5, 2007 at 1:09 PM
W – I’m now resident in Raleigh, NC in the US – unfortunately the Newcastle game is not one of the 3 on the Fox Soccer channel today.
You can always get a commentary on NUFC.com web-site – or radio Newcastle ?
6 W // May 5, 2007 at 1:24 PM
I’m not in newcastle, parents has sent me away. Brown has just given away a penalty, I told you guys he gets on my dad’s nerves. Damn it van der saar saves. Mpenze reminds me of martins. they don’t know how to take pens.
7 W // May 5, 2007 at 2:34 PM
I had a feeling benni would score against us. sigh. my fears do come true under roeder. Ed the injury to taylor, somethings needs to be done about this. We are only in one competition, still these needless injuries happen. Btw tevez is doing so well, bolton without big sam is losing.
8 James // May 21, 2007 at 1:52 PM
This guy will sort out England’s right midfield problems ,lennon who???? Already Newcastle’s best player and if we keep him will become an amzin talent
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