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StatsPremier League op Instagram: "4,776 players have made at least one Premier League appearance. James Milner has played against 2,277 of them." (reddit.com)

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[–]Coolica1 2745 points2746 points  (41 children)

Reckon there must be a few who he's played with but not against too.

[–]theenigmacode 1629 points1630 points  (27 children)

and the rest he hasnt played with or against.

[–]Defero-Mundus 794 points795 points  (7 children)

Fascinating

[–]clowegreen24 153 points154 points  (4 children)

Of great size if authentic

[–]WagwanDeezNutz 34 points35 points  (3 children)

large samuel if true

[–]IAmElNino 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Extra pint of gravy with a side of chips if factual

[–]Wargizmo 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Your mum if accurate

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    [–]me_like_stonk 12 points13 points  (0 children)

    Mad how prepositions work.

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      [–]cmdrxander 131 points132 points  (10 children)

      And some he’s played with AND against

      [–]EastlyGod1 131 points132 points  (5 children)

      And sometimes he even played with himself

      [–]imposter_in_da_house 27 points28 points  (0 children)

      🤨

      [–]thunderhorse 14 points15 points  (3 children)

      Well luckily we don't have any video evidence of that so we can only speculate

      [–]Chesney1995 22 points23 points  (1 child)

      Yeah he religiously does it at 3pm on a Saturday so it can't be videod

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        [–]pengunia2502 20 points21 points  (2 children)

        And some he neither have played with or against

        [–]cmdrxander 9 points10 points  (1 child)

        And some he’s played against but not with!

        [–]thisisokokok 3 points4 points  (0 children)

        Nice try, Mr. Venn.

        [–]GroltonIsTheDog 21 points22 points  (0 children)

        As James himself would tell you, this could be a Venn diagram.

        [–]A_lad_insane_bowie 7 points8 points  (1 child)

        Big if true

        [–]SirEltonJonBonJovi 9 points10 points  (0 children)

        Cheers Geoff

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          [–]yaniv297 33 points34 points  (0 children)

          There would be a bunch of those... just a few examples I'm pretty sure of:

          Nabi Keita - Arrived to the PL after Milner was already in Liverpool, played together, left same summer (And Keita went abroad so Milner didn't play against him in Brighton)

          Firmino - both arrived in Liverpool at 2015 and left 2023. Firmino didn't play for another PL team, and I'm pretty sure City never played Hoffenehim while they were there.

          Fabinho probably too, arrived in 2018 and left together with Milner last summer.

          [–]QouthTheCorvus 59 points60 points  (7 children)

          Yeah I'm curious what this stat is, and why they wouldn't lead with this (given it'd be a crazier number)

          [–]MERTENS_GOAT 136 points137 points  (6 children)

          OptaJoe made the better tweet imo

          50% - Across the 632 Premier League matches that James Milner has appeared in, those games have featured 50% of the total players to have made at least one appearance in Premier League history (2,381/4,776). Mind-blowing.

          https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1747998363063132629?t=wJz_pfnAcMpxYQHAdb6o0A&s=19

          [–]Stay_Beautiful_ 98 points99 points  (2 children)

          Not that mindblowing when you consider that football only started in 1992...

          [–]a_lumberjack 2 points3 points  (0 children)

          Leaving the arbitrary aspect of the PL start date, that he's played in League matches with 50% of all players who've made a single appearance since 1992 is actually kind of mind blowing. 

          [–]MaraudngBChestedRojo 4 points5 points  (0 children)

          REALITY-MELTING

          [–]7igma 9 points10 points  (1 child)

          If you asked any player that ever played in the Premier League at some point in their career, if they ever faced or played with Milner, half of them would say yes

          [–]WifeBeater69420ha 1 point2 points  (0 children)

          I hate how opta starts their posts

          [–]MERTENS_GOAT 28 points29 points  (0 children)

          Yeah with them it's half of all players in PL history

          50% - Across the 632 Premier League matches that James Milner has appeared in, those games have featured 50% of the total players to have made at least one appearance in Premier League history (2,381/4,776). Mind-blowing.

          https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1747998363063132629?t=wJz_pfnAcMpxYQHAdb6o0A&s=19

          [–]RemiOlsen 21 points22 points  (0 children)

          He's such a great servant to football in general

          [–]MyAssDoesHeeHawww 7 points8 points  (0 children)

          Maybe even some PL players that he only played against in European matches but never in Premier League matches?

          [–]Splattergun 1 point2 points  (0 children)

          Would like to know Giggs levels up to his retirement.

          [–]bambinoquinn 1041 points1042 points  (26 children)

          His 09/10 season was incredible. O'Neill switched him to central midfield to partner petrov instead of playing on the wing. He was so good, he would sometimes drag villa through games. I think he won PFA young player of the season. I really wish he could have won the league Cup game that season, he was superb.

          [–]Mercerai 969 points970 points  (14 children)

          The fact he won young player of the year after having been in the league for 7 years already with like 150 games under his belt is really funny

          [–]KodakFuji 316 points317 points  (12 children)

          Same with Raheem Sterling a few seasons ago. Wouldn't surprise me if he was still somehow elligible lmao. No idea what idiot set the rules for that award.

          [–]SEND-MARS-ROVER-PICS 239 points240 points  (7 children)

          They've lowered the age you can win it from 24 to 22. Still think there should be an appearances rules as well, but still an improvement.

          [–]QouthTheCorvus 122 points123 points  (2 children)

          Aussie Rules football has a "Rising Star" award and the eligibility is under 21, and has started less than 10 games in prior seasons. It mostly goes to debutants.

          [–]sbprasad 14 points15 points  (1 child)

          What I never figured out is when they award the thing – Brownlow night?

          [–]paddyc4ke 2 points3 points  (0 children)

          I think it's between the last round and finals when they award it? Was awarded last year on the 30th of August at the AFL Awards Ceremony so well before the Brownlow.

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            [–]scandinavianleather 115 points116 points  (1 child)

            In 2010-11, Gareth Bale won the PFA player of the year award at 22 but lost young player of the year. Then two years later at 24 he won player of the year again, but also won young player of the year.

            [–]L_to_the_OG123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

            It's a weird one. Sometimes seems to be more reserved for rising talents, then in other years just goes to the undisputed best player under the age to qualify for it. Ronaldo lost out on it in the year he basically secured his first Ballon D'Or despite still being eligible.

            [–]dukeotty 13 points14 points  (0 children)

            Saka will be right behind him

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              [–]AskNotAks 4 points5 points  (0 children)

              To put it into context, he won it, then Wilshere won it the following year

              [–]Broad_Sunlit_Uplands 107 points108 points  (3 children)

              With due respect to the Grealish promotion/survival seasons and Benteke, I think his 09/10 performance is the finest I’ve personally seen from anyone in a Villa shirt. Always a little disappointed he never got to continue in that role and became Mr. Utility at city.

              [–]WhenWeTalkAboutLove 48 points49 points  (0 children)

              Makes sense why he wanted to come to Liverpool since they were willing to play him in central midfield primarily. Ended up being a left back and everything else as needed still but he seemed to really like playing in the middle. 

              [–]Adammmmski 11 points12 points  (1 child)

              You mean to say Joleon Lescott lying about that tweet after that 6-0 demolition wasn’t the greatest performance you’ve ever seen?

              And yes, yes. We really did sign him after he’d been disastrous at Villa.

              [–]dkb1391 15 points16 points  (0 children)

              That Villa team was great

              [–]lawfulkitten1 10 points11 points  (0 children)

              the previous season, I don't know if they ever actually started together but Villa could field a midfield 4 of Ashley Young - Gareth Barry - Petrov - Milner...

              [–]michaelserotonin 17 points18 points  (4 children)

              vidic should've been sent off like 5 minutes in

              [–]Kashkow 20 points21 points  (1 child)

              I'm still livid about that. Likely robbed us of a trophy.

              [–]TroopersSon 3 points4 points  (1 child)

              Fuck Phil Dowd the fat cunt.

              [–]KatieOfTheHolteEnd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

              I fucking hate Phil Dowd!

              [–]littleboypunder 362 points363 points  (14 children)

              Gzzz on maxing

              [–]zoomersLULW 94 points95 points  (5 children)

              Wonder how long it took him for 99 rc

              [–]desouki 39 points40 points  (4 children)

              knowing young james, he probably did lavas and ran essence to himself

              [–]Adammmmski 17 points18 points  (3 children)

              He was born at 200m agility xp.

              [–]Perspii7 13 points14 points  (2 children)

              I’m so confused rn

              [–]Idliketotastetamales 3 points4 points  (0 children)

              Better start playing osrs then, it will all make sense

              [–]dm9796 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              His run energy doesn't go down as fast because he's got more agility than Nani

              [–]Benjips 26 points27 points  (0 children)

              🦀🦀$12.49🦀🦀

              [–]joemcmanus96 16 points17 points  (0 children)

              Surely he's only just creeping up to lv 92, no?

              [–]Lemondrizzle01 13 points14 points  (0 children)

              Just gota wait for Sailing to cone out to get the next 99 lvls

              [–]klawehtgod 12 points13 points  (0 children)

              I knew this comment would be here

              [–]HS-Tripper 14 points15 points  (0 children)

              He's still got more in him, I might have to get him to boost my account

              [–]Relxnce 12 points13 points  (1 child)

              Wonder what his boss log is like

              [–]jayjefferis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

              He’s greenlogged england

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                [–]DarrenBridgescunt 622 points623 points  (15 children)

                Makes sense- without checking I bet he has played 50% of all the premier league seasons.

                [–]dajoli 720 points721 points  (12 children)

                Closer to 70% in fact (68.75% to be exact). He's played in 22 of the 32 PL seasons, and is only 22 games away from having the most appearances in the competition.

                Edit: Had the number of games wrong in initial post.

                [–]The--Mash 80 points81 points  (11 children)

                Behind Giggs, or? 

                [–]A_Round_of_Gwent 315 points316 points  (2 children)

                Gareth Barry is 1st with 653 appearances

                [–]war3_exe 198 points199 points  (0 children)

                Barry and Milner were balling in my fifa 11 team, wow time flies

                [–]DrJackadoodle 46 points47 points  (0 children)

                Uh. Gareth Barry. It's funny, he always comes up in discussions like these, but he's not so memorable that he immediately jumps to mind (like Giggs). It's like I only know him if we are talking about him but never remember about him myself.

                [–]dajoli 62 points63 points  (7 children)

                He's joint 2nd with Giggs now. Just Gareth Barry to catch.

                [–]superduperspam 80 points81 points  (3 children)

                But James Milner didn't have a long-term affair with his brother's wife. So I give the edge to Miller on this one

                [–]indoubitabley 28 points29 points  (2 children)

                Now we need the stats on who's slept with Giggs brothers wife the most in the Premier league.

                [–]Scouse_Werewolf 10 points11 points  (1 child)

                You wouldn't sing that

                [–]indoubitabley 6 points7 points  (0 children)

                Either hold me back or count me in.

                [–]TheScarletPimpernel 5 points6 points  (2 children)

                Funny thing is if he goes past Barry then the next rung on the ladder is Giggs again for all time top flight appearances

                [–]dajoli 6 points7 points  (1 child)

                Not exactly. Mick Mills is the next one up the ladder before Giggs, and Peter Shilton is the all-time top flight leader.

                [–]A_Round_of_Gwent 70 points71 points  (1 child)

                Counting this season, there's been 32 Premier League seasons. Milner has played in every single PL season since 2002/2003 (so 22 seasons), which means he played in 68.75% of the PL seasons

                Edit: looks like someone beat me to it already

                [–]setokaiba22 7 points8 points  (0 children)

                It’s amazing, I might be remembering this wrong but Rooney came on for Everton against Arsenal scored that wonder goal set a record.

                Then a few months or was it weeks later Milner a little younger came on for Leeds did the same. Was a mental time.

                Never thought he’d still be playing now, never mind the trajectory he had after leaving Leeds for Newcastle. I don’t me at any disrespect to Newcastle or Leeds for that matter but Rooney obviously went to Utd, didn’t seem Milner would end up winning the league, a champions league at Liverpool and such. (City wasn’t the club it is now back when he left Leeds either) Amazing player.

                [–]Adammmmski 216 points217 points  (7 children)

                I wonder how many players he’s played against, weren’t born when he made his Leeds debut.

                [–]Sibs_ 152 points153 points  (3 children)

                He made his Premier League debut in November 2002. Even looking at our team who played Brighton in September you've got 3 players who were born after that point (Hannibal, Garnacho, Hojlund).

                Must be quite a few.

                [–]Sun_Sloth 69 points70 points  (2 children)

                They had Hinselwood and Milner doing an interview after the Tottenham game where Murray was a pundit.

                Hinshelwood wasn't born when Milner made his debut and Murray played with his dad I believe.

                [–]esn111 25 points26 points  (0 children)

                When James made his debut on loan at Swindon in 2003, he played at Withdean in direct opposition to Adam. A full 2 years before Jack was born.

                [–]Adammmmski 10 points11 points  (0 children)

                And of course, he scored his first goal against us. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2575725.stm

                [–]KembaWakaFlocka 75 points76 points  (0 children)

                I’d imagine a hundred or two. Someone born in 2002 is 21-22 now.

                [–]thelonesomedemon1 11 points12 points  (0 children)

                11 chelsea players ig

                [–]snkifador 2 points3 points  (0 children)

                That is honestly a mind bending thing to think about. 

                [–]allyc31 203 points204 points  (6 children)

                1.8% of all TOP FLIGHT games in England from 1888 have featured James Milner.

                Edit

                1.2

                Which is still mental. That’s what I get for typing and watching tv

                [–]Tootsiesclaw 42 points43 points  (0 children)

                If James Milner never plays another top-flight game, this figure won't drop below 1% until the final day of the 2056-57 season (33 years from now)

                If he makes eleven more appearances this season - roughly proportional to his current apps - then retires, he won't drop below 1% of matches until some time in April 2060.

                [–]Fazlic 33 points34 points  (0 children)

                absolute madness what a stat

                [–]thought_adulterer 15 points16 points  (3 children)

                This is not true

                Edit: 1.2 is in fact true

                (1.8 would have needed 1000 games or so)

                [–]Mozezz 841 points842 points  (38 children)

                You'd honestly hate your job if you had to sit there and go through the years and count just how many players James Milner played against

                [–]dispelthemyth 622 points623 points  (23 children)

                Id assume they have databases they can write scripts for

                [–]KenHumano 847 points848 points  (6 children)

                Actually they had the intern call each player and ask.

                [–]drew__breezy 113 points114 points  (0 children)

                That intern has been working on getting this stat together for years. Nobody answers their phone, I poor guy.

                [–][deleted] 42 points43 points  (0 children)

                A lot of: "yea I played against that cunt, what's it to you?"

                [–]Mr__StealYourGirl 11 points12 points  (2 children)

                can confirm i was the intern

                ..they gave me a pint for it

                [–]Appropriate-Fly-7151 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                That would make you the highest paid intern in London

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                  [–]Shuriken95 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                  Whenever a player wasn't sure, they had the intern conduct an investigation into the player's match history to make sure they had or hadn't played a match against James Milner.

                  [–]-SandorClegane- 74 points75 points  (15 children)

                  All matches featuring James Milner playing at least 1 minute

                  qryJMilnerMatchesPlayed:

                  SELECT match_id, homeaway_id
FROM Players p
WHERE league = "EPL" AND lastname = "Milner" AND firstname = "James" AND minutes_played > 0

                  All opposing players in matches featuring James Milner

                  qryJMilnerOpponents

                  SELECT lastname, firstname
FROM Players pl
INNER JOIN qryJMilnerMatchesPlayed jm ON jm.match_id = pl.matchid 
INNER JOIN qryJMilnerMatchesPlayed jm ON jm.homeaway <> pl.homeaway      
WHERE pl.minutes_played > 0

                  [–]Adammmmski 27 points28 points  (0 children)

                  Well played sir. You know your SQL.

                  [–]fingerbib_4 12 points13 points  (8 children)

                  INNER JOIN qryJMilnerMatchesPlayed jm ON jm.homeaway <> pl.homeaway

                  can you explain this part.

                  [–]chaosabordine 27 points28 points  (1 child)

                  Less than or greater than is a neat way to say "not equal to". I'm guessing it's making sure that if Milner's game is a home game then the opposite player is at an away game (and vice versa) to exclude teammates.

                  [–]fingerbib_4 3 points4 points  (0 children)

                  thats it, thank you

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                    [–]lemoeeee 9 points10 points  (1 child)

                    what if Milner got subbed out and the other player came on after that, or vice versa? did he really play against them then? (i don't think the op stat takes that into account tho)

                    [–]-SandorClegane- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                    That's a great point. You'd have to add a clause like [Player1 OFF time > Player2 ON time]. You'd probably want to just run that once and then run it again with the remaining players on opposite sides of ">". You could get it in one go by throwing in calculated fields, but you'd still want to verify those results by comparing them against results from more basic logic.

                    Honestly, something like this is a lot easier when you're just looking at the career of a single player against everyone else.

                    [–]lynxo 3 points4 points  (1 child)

                    I didn't know The Hound also wrote SQL. Chapeau, good sir.

                    [–]-SandorClegane- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                    Merci. There's a better way to write that, surely, but I don't write SQL directly very much these days.

                    I've gotten so used to putting together one BAQ with broad criteria, then API-ing to a lighter platform where it'll have 10-15 children.

                    The BAQ editor in the system I'm working with now won't even let me write SQL on a blank page. I have to use their fucking GUI to set it up first.

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                      [–]brankoz11 55 points56 points  (5 children)

                      Sounds like a job for boring James Milner, whilst he has a cuppa and biscuit.

                      [–]Grim_Farts_Barnsley 8 points9 points  (2 children)

                      Nowt wrong with a cuppa and a biscuit mate

                      [–]Adammmmski 1 point2 points  (1 child)

                      Has to be a bourbon or custard cream, and Yorkshire Tea, otherwise what are we doing?

                      [–]FuzzyPeachMan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                      Just to let you know, Milner and Robertson did a video ranking dunking biscuits with tea. Custard Cream was #1

                      [–]ChlckenChaser 5 points6 points  (1 child)

                      cup of tea sounds too intense, Ribena is a better shout

                      [–]SpeechesToScreeches 5 points6 points  (0 children)

                      Got to say a ribena is definitely more intense than tea

                      [–]TimathanDuncan 75 points76 points  (3 children)

                      If we were in maybe 1930 that would be the case

                      [–]KenHumano 113 points114 points  (1 child)

                      No, it would be much easier back then, he had played against fewer players.

                      [–]HardturmStadion 19 points20 points  (0 children)

                      But football was invented in 1992 you stupid

                      [–]Mozezz 9 points10 points  (0 children)

                      This is James Milner we're talking about

                      [–]Phil_Account_2 22 points23 points  (1 child)

                      They probably just asked James himself

                      [–]The--Mash 23 points24 points  (0 children)

                      In my head he'd rattle off the names one by one like Uncle Colm from Derry Girls

                      [–]CFBCoachGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

                      I think you could write a script fairly easily. Transfermarkt has his appearances. You could copy the rosters from each Premier League game Milner appears in, and then remove duplicates.

                      The hard part would be looking at opponents in non-Premier League games (FA Cup, Champions League, international friendlies), then tracking if those players ever played in the Premier League

                      [–]ChlckenChaser 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                      They just asked him, he definitely has a spreadsheet with all this info on it

                      [–]esn111 83 points84 points  (1 child)

                      For context to the length of his career, when he was on loan at Swindon in 2003, he made his debut v Brighton at Withdean stadium, in direct opposition to Adam Hinshlewood. This was two years before his current team mate and Adams son Jack was born.

                      [–]thelongdarkblues 16 points17 points  (0 children)

                      jesus christ

                      [–]thehibachi 55 points56 points  (2 children)

                      FourFourTwo did a ‘one to watch’ type youth profile on him when he was still at Leeds.

                      He said his favourite thing in football is crossing so I’ve spent his entire career completely made up for him whenever he gets a chance to put a cross in.

                      [–]Upset_Impression218 12 points13 points  (0 children)

                      I remember those! “The boys got talent” was the section of the mag

                      load more comments (1 reply)

                        [–]zoomersLULW 48 points49 points  (1 child)

                        Damn, he hit max total level

                        [–]CharizardOSRS 38 points39 points  (0 children)

                        Milner with the osrs max cape

                        [–]aussietinask 136 points137 points  (0 children)

                        2277? Bro is maxed in old school RuneScape

                        [–]a_______________j 28 points29 points  (3 children)

                        Im pretty sure this is how it happened, I remember being a young Everton fan and having some pride in Rooney becoming the youngest premier league goalscorer. Not so long after, we are talking a matter of weeks, some player called Milner took that record off him. I was pretty annoyed that this Milner lad who was likely going to be a flash in the pan had taken that record. Little did I know he would still be around long after Rooney retired

                        [–]Napalm3nema 28 points29 points  (1 child)

                        Wayne may be bald again before Milly retires.

                        [–]Botheuk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                        Amazing comment.

                        [–]Mepsi 3 points4 points  (0 children)

                        Yes, he was massively hyped on ITV's 'Premiership' show as the new Wayne Rooney. I remember a kid in the park saying "imagine a team with Rooney AND Milner!?"

                        [–]Substantial-Ball-566 196 points197 points  (26 children)

                        Would it be safe to call him a premier league legend by the time he retires?

                        [–]Tyrconnel 234 points235 points  (21 children)

                        Well yeah he’ll probably have the PL appearance record by the time he retires so it would a bit mad if he wasn’t considered a legend. 

                        [–]jaycosta17 83 points84 points  (14 children)

                        I mean how often does Garth Barry come up on the legend conversation?

                        [–]dave1992 141 points142 points  (5 children)

                        Pl appearance record alone won't make you a legend, but if you include how many trophies and how many years he competed at the very top, then that may put him in the legend territory.

                        [–]ginopalladino 32 points33 points  (0 children)

                        One CL, multiple PLs, man is a legend 100%

                        [–]Marloneious 24 points25 points  (1 child)

                        PL appearance record alone should make you a legend, there's room to celebrate more than just goals and trophies. Barry competed at the very top for a very long while too and a bastion of professionalism like that should be celebrated.

                        [–]dave1992 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                        But the argument is always: Barry isn't considered a legend by many.

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                              [–]scott-the-penguin 48 points49 points  (0 children)

                              He will probably have the appearances record and also won it 3 times. Only about 45 players have won more out of about 300 title winning players. Of the top 10 appearances, only 2 have won it more (Giggs and Neville).

                              If that doesn't make him a legend then I don't know what to say.

                              [–]OutSproinked 27 points28 points  (1 child)

                              He is for me. I started following football more than 20 years ago he's already been a PL player back then. Been perfectly professional and non-controvertial too.

                              [–]Substantial-Ball-566 14 points15 points  (0 children)

                              Yeah as far as professionalism as a player goes Milner definitely stands out as someone to aspire to be like. I think that’s why even during his later time at Liverpool it was still stated how large of an impact he had on the squad despite barely playing.

                              [–]Curious_Distracted 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                              Absolutely. 

                              [–]ThisAccountForTalkin 70 points71 points  (1 child)

                              Excluding Brighton, he’s looked the same throughout pretty much all his career, that screams classic English

                              [–]Rc5tr0 34 points35 points  (0 children)

                              Nary a whisker for 20 years straight, then one day he thought “fuck it, full beard”

                              [–]TimingEzaBitch 19 points20 points  (1 child)

                              When Alexander Graham Bell first invented the telephone, the first call he got from was a young James Milner. It said "Hi Alex, do u want picking up in the morning pal."

                              [–]PanpsychismIsTrue -1 points0 points  (0 children)

                              😂😂😂 Underrated comment

                              [–]WalksinClouds 12 points13 points  (0 children)

                              Not often you get a kid make his debut at 16 and have the career last way into the late thirties, and the level he's maintained in between is astonishing. He's a legend at Anfield and an absolute credit to his profession.

                              [–]Snuffl3s7 35 points36 points  (0 children)

                              My second favourite Liverpool player after Firmino. What a great player.

                              [–]sestosento 8 points9 points  (0 children)

                              Damn, the first pic could easily pass as the youngest one if you don’t swipe ahead

                              [–]xeno-bat 41 points42 points  (1 child)

                              promising youngster! can’t wait to see him mature in 10 years!

                              [–]michaelspidrfan 5 points6 points  (0 children)

                              hair just started growing on his face!

                              [–]No_Parsnip9203 12 points13 points  (0 children)

                              He’s seriously impressive and such an underrated player. So underrated and so good technically

                              [–]KillerZaWarudo 16 points17 points  (3 children)

                              Similar to the stats of Lebron played against 35% of the players in NBA history

                              [–]hybridtheorist 4 points5 points  (2 children)

                              Personally I feel that's slightly different in a lot of American sports when the leagues have expanded (not sure if its true in the NBA, it's definitely true in NHL). 

                              The PL had a couple of early years of 24 teams, but rest of the time it's been 20 teams. The NHL is now 32 teams, it was only 26 teams as recently as 1998. 

                              [–]thebestguy96 7 points8 points  (1 child)

                              On the other hand the NBAs been around for 75 years, the PL is what? 30 years old?

                              [–]Subject_Wrap 2 points3 points  (0 children)

                              The first division has existed since 1888. Milner has played in 1.2 percent of those games

                              [–]Firm-Artichoke-2360 10 points11 points  (0 children)

                              When you get to the Leeds picture and remember he’s not always been 32 🤣

                              [–]puddingbank 2 points3 points  (0 children)

                              Maxed until sailing

                              [–]Fozman2108 6 points7 points  (0 children)

                              This man Maxed his account!

                              [–]sungbysung 4 points5 points  (1 child)

                              How do they keep track of these stats?

                              [–]FerretFarm 5 points6 points  (0 children)

                              Dave in accounting keeps updated charts on a board behind his desk.

                              [–]welsh_dragon_roar 4 points5 points  (0 children)

                              Grandpa Milner! What’s his secret? CrossFit & bacon?

                              [–]mattijn13 10 points11 points  (4 children)

                              That's crazy but also not really, right? He has been in the premier league since 2002 and the league was rebranded as the prem in 1992. So he has been around for 2/3rds of its rebranding and has played against 47% of its players.

                              [–]hybridtheorist 11 points12 points  (3 children)

                              Yeah, but how many players only played half a dozen (or less) games? Never played against whichever team Milner was playing for?

                              Even if he'd played 38 games a season every year, he wouldn't play against every player.   For example, Leeds last year had 5 players with less than 5 PL appearances for us (4 of which I reckon that's their entire PL career so far), if they didn't play against Liverpool, he never had the chance to face them. 

                              [–]CrateBagSoup 7 points8 points  (2 children)

                              That's why its 47% instead of 67%

                              [–]hybridtheorist 4 points5 points  (1 child)

                              I just dunno what the guys point is. Anyone playing (regularly) for 20 years is pretty astonishing in and of itself. 

                              The headline is just another way of expressing it. Nearly half of all PL players ever, (even including the ones with a handful of sub appearances, or retired before he made his debut) have faced James Milner. 

                              [–]mattijn13 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                              Anyone playing (regularly) for 20 years is pretty astonishing in and of itself. 

                              Absolutely but imo this way of expressing it isn't really saying anything more than "He has been here a long time hasn't he".

                              Anyway that's just how I read it, of course it is an amazing feat, there is a reason only 1 player has more premier league appearances: it's a really hard thing to accomplish

                              [–]jibbzzz 2 points3 points  (0 children)

                              Milner is forever

                              [–]WhenTheSunGoesDan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

                              Baggy football tops look so much better

                              [–]stockybloke 2 points3 points  (0 children)

                              This is looking a bit like a Fernando Alonso stat.

                              [–]TheDubious 2 points3 points  (0 children)

                              Did admin….see this exact stat about lebron that got posted yesterday and do the exact same thing?

                              [–]Wassertopf 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                              Some men really age good.

                              [–]FormalPerspective347 1 point2 points  (1 child)

                              Who sat there and worked that out?!

                              [–]Napalm3nema 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                              Me on my deathbed: "Let me tell you about a player I saw play back in the day by the name of Boring James Milner."

                              My great grandchildren: "Not this story again. We just saw him play last weekend."

                              [–]Zandercy42 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                              City, Liverpool and Leeds, the lad must fucking hate us

                              [–]joshhguitar 4 points5 points  (1 child)

                              Just looked up out of interest and he has the 3rd most premier league appearances. /#2 Ryan Giggs. /#1 Gareth Barry

                              [–]faltorokosar 4 points5 points  (0 children)

                              He's equal with Giggs now

                              [–]DisillusionedShark 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                              Imagine how many more it will be when he isn't an academy player anymore

                              [–]humbakpamietaj 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                              insane number lol

                              [–]Fazlic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                              Wonder what would be the number if you take something like players with at least 10 appearances.

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