Is his football column this week Gary looks at the evergreen James Milner, the Saudi experience souring for some, Wayne Rooney’s sacking at Birmingham and more!
MILNER HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME
When James Milner turned out for Brighton against West Ham in the week, it marked his 632nd Premier League appearance. He joins Ryan Giggs on that figure and should go past the Welshman when Brighton host Wolves on 22nd January.
Only Gareth Barry, with 652 Premier League appearances, has enjoyed more games than Milner. In 2002, Milner made his EPL debut, for Leeds against West Ham, becoming the second youngest player to debut in the league, aged 16 years 309 days.
He turned 38 this most recent Thursday and before joining Brighton, is best known for his time at Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool.
BRIGHTON, HAMMERS IN RARE 0-0
Finally, a clean sheet for Brighton, the only Premier League club without one in their first half of the season. When it came though, against West Ham, they too failed to score. The 0-0 result was only the fifth such in the EPL this season in 198 matches.
It was also a rare scoreline for the Hammers. They were involved in their first 0-0 draw at their London Stadium home in 101 successive games, the last being the stalemate against Chelsea in September 2018.
SAUDI EXPERIENCE TURNS SOUR FOR SOME
Surprise, surprise. Life in the cash-rich Saudi football league isn’t all money and happiness. Those who have taken the dollars have, like their LIV Golf counterparts, been able to set up their families for generations, but that old expression that “money can’t buy happiness” rings true.
At least two high-profile stars are, reportedly, looking for a way out. Ex-Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino is being touted to English Premier League sides this season, while 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema has deleted his Instagram account and is fuming at the locals’ nickname for him – ‘Ben-Hazima’, which translates to ‘the son of defeat’.
Another who is raking in the millions, but whose days in Saudi might be numbered is Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard. And former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, on £375,000 a week, is also rumoured to have tinges of regret, especially with Euro 2024 on this year’s calendar
ROUGH TIME FOR BIRMINGHAM CITY FANS
While I was on TeamSA duty at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, I did what I always do when in another country – I spoke to the locals in the universal language of football. “Birmingham or Aston Villa,” I asked umpteen locals. Most of them replied, “I don’t really follow football.”
Obviously, I knew they were lying, but in a city where Aston Villa now hold bragging rights, Birmingham City fans are hiding under stones in broad daylight. This week the club sacked Wayne Rooney as manager after an 83-day stint at the helm. It’s the third club that the 38-year-old former striker has been sacked from, Derby County and DC United the other two.
He oversaw 15 games at Birmingham City, winning two of them. They’ve slid to 20th in the 24-team Championship. The Birmingham fans will be invisible for quite a while yet.
LITTLER LIVING IT LARGE
Luke Littler grabbed the attention of the sporting fraternity when the teenage darts sensation reached the final of the World Championships in London this past week. He picked up £200,000 for his efforts, but just missed out on being given free kebabs for life by his local takeaway in Warrington.
All in all, a great start to 2024 for the 16-year-old. The town in which he lives, Warrington, lies between Liverpool and Manchester. Live every town, it has a football club – Warrington Town. They’re mid-table in National League North, which makes them about the 110th strongest football club in England.
Littler, however, supports Manchester United. “It’s been difficult with the injuries we’ve got and everyone’s saying Ten Hag out and this and that but I say give him time and when the players are all back fit let’s see who he chooses,” he told Sky Sports of his club’s rollercoaster season.
