Have been you there when James Milner performed in opposition to Brighton as a 17-year-old on mortgage at Swindon City? 6,534 packed into Withdean for a 2-2 draw between Steve Coppell’s Seagulls and the Robins, for whom Milner was making his debut after signing for a month on the County Floor from The Leeds United.
The date? Saturday sixth September 2003. Sure, two thousand and three. Twitter was a noise the birds made, Tony Blair was in his second time period as prime minister and The Darkness dominated the charts with their first studio album.
Of the present Albion first staff squad, none of Evan Ferguson, Julio Enciso, Facundo Buonanotte or Yasin Ayari had been born when James Milner confronted Brighton on the Theatre of Timber.
If the hearsay mill is to be believed, Milner will grow to be their teammate subsequent season. A deal has all-but been agreed to carry Milner to the Amex when his Liverpool contract expires in the summertime, making him one of many oldest signings in Albion historical past on the age of 37.
It’s Milner’s age which has led to eyebrows being raised about Brighton buying his companies. Age although is only a quantity and while you look past 37, you realise that may be a signing which makes excellent sense for Brighton.
Firstly, there’s what Milner can carry on the pitch. He could be historic in soccer phrases, however he nonetheless stays one of many fittest gamers at Liverpool – a membership whose fashion of play depends on being fitter than their opponents.
Each pre-season, Jurgen Klopp places his Reds via lactate checks, which measure cardio endurance. And each pre-season, Milner wins.
Joe Gomez in 2019 is the one Liverpool participant to return near beating Milner, however even he proved no match for the veteran.
“Contemplating his age and the way lengthy he’s performed for, to nonetheless be the fittest participant in arguably the fittest staff on the earth, and by some margin, that takes some doing,” stated Liverpool teammate Andy Robertson final summer time.
Nothing is assured in soccer, however Milner is about as protected a guess as yow will discover for a participant who will probably be accessible most weeks.
In 2021-22, he performed 39 instances in all competitions as Liverpool received the FA Cup and Carabao Cup and completed runners up within the Premier League and Champions League.
This season, he has once more made 39 appearances with the potential for 4 extra outings if he options in all of the Reds’ remaining fixtures.
A lot of Milner’s worth comes from his versatility. He can play left, proper, as a central midfielder and in each full again positions. That is undoubtedly what has attracted the eye of Brighton and Roberto De Zerbi.
Milner is unlikely to be a daily starter for the Albion, however by signing him De Zerbi abruptly has cowl for Pervis Estupinan down one aspect, Joel Veltman and Tariq Lamptey on the opposite, and whoever winds up being the 2 holding midfield gamers subsequent season.
De Zerbi, the membership and Albion supporters are solely too conscious {that a} deeper squad is required subsequent season, particularly if Brighton obtain their dream of European soccer.
Milner is the perfect recruit to ease the workload on the beginning XI and supply succesful again up within the occasion the Albion discover themselves enjoying Thursday nights in Kazakhstan adopted by Sunday afternoons within the Premier League.
Having by no means relied on tempo, Milner just isn’t a participant who’s inclined to fading as he will get previous. It’s why Brighton followers can maintain out hope that Pascal Gross might nonetheless be a Premier League common in six years time (sure, Milner is six years older than Der Kaiser).
Then there’s what Milner brings off the pitch. His supreme health stems from his absolute professionalism, one thing which may solely be a optimistic affect on the younger gamers on the Albion.
A lot of the credit score for the success Brighton have loved over the previous two seasons has been given to the way in which they fearlessly provide such people alternatives to shine.
It could not be such an efficient technique, nonetheless, if the Albion didn’t sprinkle their squad with skilled heads to assist the contingent of youngsters and gamers of their early 20s thrive.
Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck have each confirmed impressed signings in that regard. Lewis Dunk too is the right chief as a captain who has labored his strategy to the highest from League One.
Including a participant like Milner who has received each main home honour in English soccer, a Champions League and been capped 61 instances for his nation can solely be a superb factor.
James Milner might play solely 10 instances for Brighton in 2023-24. Simply having him on the coaching floor, working on daily basis with Brighton’s younger squad will probably be of giant profit to the Albion and the careers of these gamers.
The best way by which De Zerbi talks about Lallana, Welbeck, Dunk and Gross exhibits that he values having skilled, older professionals round.
Milner for his half has apparently been blown away by the Albion supervisor, which had made the deal bringing him to the Amex a formality.
Brighton have little doubt sought the companies of Milner with one eye on the long run, too. Lallana was signed on an preliminary three-year contract because the Albion wished to combine him into their teaching setup as soon as his enjoying days had been completed.
Like Lallana, Milner is clearly an clever bloke with a temperament and understanding of soccer that would seem properly suited to administration.
Brighton stand to profit from Milner past what he can provide on the pitch subsequent season ought to he then take his first steps into teaching with the Seagulls.
There may be one other excellent cause for signing Milner too, though it’s in all probability not one which the membership or De Zerbi can have considered.
Gamers who performed at each Withdean and the Amex are actually in brief provide, with most both having retired or being a great distance away from Premier League soccer.
A Brighton staff with Dunk and Milner in it could include two. Much more outstanding, Milner performed his first skilled sport on the Theatre of Timber seven years earlier than Dunk.
However don’t fear about that. James Miler would nonetheless be an ideal signing for Brighton, even when he’s 37.
