Of all the signings they have made, it's the Milner one who is getting the most bizarre Kopite love in with the way they are going on about him. They are banding words around like "world class" and going on about his league winner medals. Some are carrying on like he was a pivotal part of City's success. I think they reckon he is going to be the new Gerrard for them so the hero worship has begun.
The sombre analysis is they have taken a caste off from a side who were well off the pace last season. He is the equivalent of a Phil Neville. He'll be a water carrier in a decent team. Essentially he is overhyped Osman.
I was listening to them talking about their best 11's and Milner seems to be irreplaceable to them. There's a lot of "whatever formation we use, Milner and Hendo are dead certs" normally followed up with "it won't be like Gerrard and Lampard though". That's exactly what it will end up like though, but Lampard and Gerrard several leagues below. Sticking two lads in central midfield together who's main attribute is their headless chicken running is not going to bode well.
The real irony of it all and the lad I feel sorry for (as far as one can) is Lucas. He steadied the ship last season by actually doing the job of a defensive midfield player, while Slippy and Hendo miserably failed in that role. When he went out of the team it didn't surprise me that they struggled again. It's funny that they have learnt nothing from last season whatsoever. Milner and Hendo as a combination has all the hallmarks of a terrible midfield being completely outfoxed and overran.
As for Milner, I used to quite like him. Seemed like an honest if a bit dense plodding workhorse. I obviously had him a bit wrong though, and he actually believes he is a playmaker type in the mould of a David Silva. He's moralised his own discourse enough to invent the idea that he was good in cm for Villa (I remember him being poor in that position). In the end only a weak manager and a man who likes to pamper delusions would ever have accepted Milner spouting off like this. Step forward Rodgers.
It highlights what a weak manager he is. The players know it. They know they can tell him where they are playing in public. This is where the "tactical genius" and "flexibility" of Rodgers come from. He hasn't got the balls to design a formation, and stick to it. He flip flops around to try and keep ego's happy. This season is going to be a car crash for them. I mean where is the logic on buying a target man who needs crosses, not having any wingers, signing a winger who excels in crosses and sticking him in a position he won't do that?
