Topic: Roy Hodgson tells Glen Johnson to get his act together

[hedger]

And when exactly convinced you that he is a poor signing, over priced and on high wages. As far as I remember, there was a 'Our new Brazilian RB' thread that did the rounds for quite a while.

The big question is, what's a RB supposed to do to be considered a good one.

defend first and foremost

[rob1408]

I'm not sure Hodgson should be saying this in public but I agree with his sentiments.  If a club offered £10m for Johnson I'd take it, the only reason he's England right back is because he has no competition.

[Promised to never post on RAWK again]

make them stronger? have you seen him defending?

Johnson would be a clear improvement on Hutton ... I can understand that you hate Rafa and his signings, but please try to use your brain from time to time ...

[JM10]

I agree with him cos Johnson is playing like a pub player instead of englands first choice right back. and if rumours are true he is skulking about waiting on a move back south ASAP. Was a poor signing by Rafa - vastly overpriced imo

He was only overpriced because Portsmouth owed us something like 7 mil for Crouch. Chelsea were prepared to pay the same amount as us, yet in reality we actually got him for about 11 mil as we wrote off what they owed us. Still a lot of money for a full back, although I believe he could have developed to be excellent for us with Mascherano covering for him. Unfortunately this didn't happen, and he still has a lot to prove.

[Stigathedump]

I agree with Roy

[Rafa_La]

Where's the arm around Johnson's shoulder? Pot, kettle comes to mind.

[bam09]

Not sure how Roy has got his arm 'round his shoulder when he rips Glen and defends a much worse Poulsen.

[Gainsbarre]

please don't mention johnson in the same post as alves

you're ridiculous...

[Bonaqua]

I agree with Roy

No. You don`t

[thegoodfella]

defend first and foremost

The problem isn't Johnson's defending, the problem is how the team is setup and the poor tactics of not trying to have more than 60% possession.

[hedger]

In one game in the recent past?

Rumors about Johnson ''skulking about waiting on a move back south ASAP"

I think the last 'sentence' is the long and the short of it. You're just an anti-Benitez fanatic, aren't ya?

No I am just not a worshipper of Rafa like a lot on here. He signed players like Johnson, using a lot of the kitty, and they have not performed. Add to that Robbie Keane & Aquilani and add the wasted millions up

[Fanxxxxtastic]

I agree with him cos Johnson is playing like a pub player instead of englands first choice right back. and if rumours are true he is skulking about waiting on a move back south ASAP. Was a poor signing by Rafa - vastly overpriced imo

Really?  Would be helpful if you could provide a link to this source so that I could check it out.

[hedger]

The problem isn't Johnson's defending, the problem is how the team is setup and the poor tactics of not trying to have more than 60% possession.

He cannot defend. He is too rash in the tackle and his distribution is awful

[NZ Red]

Obviously Glen hasn't been up to his usual standard, but Hodgson can't criticise him whilst popping on the rose specs whilst watching some of our other players. I would suggest that he doesn't have the balls to criticise or drop Carragher, but I think he legitimately believes he's been playing well this season.

Johnson is just one of our many players who doesn't fit into the rubbish system we're currently playing. Can you imagine if he'd been in our side during the 2008-2009 season? Although Arbeloa was a great player for us, Johnson sure would've come in handy breaking down the teams we drew against.

[revelationx]

Johnson has been one of our best attacking forces this season. Right at the start when Torres was still coming back from his World Cup injury, a lot of the attacking impetus was generated by Johnson. He did give away one penalty against Blackpool but has otherwise been one of our few goal threats this season. At this early  point of the season, J Cole was suspended, Maxi was rubbish, Jova was coming to grips with English football and Gerrard was in CM. Kuyt had injured himself playing for Holland.  We were playing Agger or Kelly at LB and consequently all our attacking width came from Johnson. As far as I can recall, Johnson then got injured himself and has been out for a few weeks now.

Why the manager would find it beneficial to suddenly criticise Johnson is baffling. Johnson has not had poor form recently as he has been injured. I cannot imagine Wenger publicly slaughtering a player like this without warrant. It just seems to be another stupid interview that undermines one of our players' confidence in themselves and the manager. Kelly has performed well but let's not proclaim him ready to usurp Johnson's place in the England squad just yet.

Hodgson seriously needs to learn when to STFU as he just makes things worse with each press-conference. He is supposed to be building up our players confidence. I do believe Shankly found that this did actually work to improve performances. Yet again Hodgson does something that confounds me.

[jDJ]

The problem isn't Johnson's defending, the problem is how the team is setup and the poor tactics of not trying to have more than 60% possession.

yep - the likes of Alves would look awful in this side, absolutely awful.  We don't employ modern tactics so a modern full back looks out of place. 

[vitri]

I find it quite odd that he's openly attacked Glen, while at the same time, and on the same day defending Poulsen.

This.

I'm quite angry at these comments. Yes, Johnson was overpriced. That's in the past. So he's not been playing well? Tell him privately to buck his ideas up, or put your arm around hi shoulder. Don't air dirty linen in public. And if you are going to do it, have some consistency about it and don't go protecting someone else who's low on form just because you were the one that bought him.

I don't rate Poulsen by the way, but I do feel sorry for him. It's ability rather than effort that I see lacking, and so he's going to be made a scapegoat through no fault of his own. If I was signed by Roy right now and played as a regular I'd make an idiot of myself on the pitch because I'm clearly not a Premiership footballer. I'd be a fool to turn the opportunity down though.

[hedger]

Really?  Would be helpful if you could provide a link to this source so that I could check it out.

I have not got a link. I would bet he will be on his way in January - any takers?

[dane]

This kind of stuff should be dealt with behind closed doors.  If Roy wants to have a quiet word with him, so be it, but publicly criticising the form of a player who isn't even fit enough to raise his level at the moment is counter productive.

[Hazell]

I feel a bit sorry for Johnson. He's not playing that well but Roy's style isn't really set up for an attacking fullback like Johnson which means his defensive limitations have been highlighted. Kuyt's also been injured and he would provide some much needed insurance for Johnson to play his natural game. Having said all that, he's had some injury problems and has played only a few games for us. It's it's ridiculous that people are calling him 'shite' because he clearly isn't.

That Hodgson has come out and said this is a bit daft because it doesn't help anyone, least of Glen because I'm sure he just wants to get playing and get some form back and this isn't exactly the type of comment that would encourage him.

Also, those that are using this thread to attack our previous manager need to grow up.

[TSC]

Johnson has been one of our best attacking forces this season.

Sorry, but that almost puts the argument to bed. 

[thegoodfella]

He cannot defend. He is too rash in the tackle and his distribution is awful

Oh really, actually he cannot run, walk or even crawl. You are right, sell the over priced piece of shite and stick Carra in there for all eternity. In the meanwhile, Kelly will be a decent understudy to how not to cross the halfline and how to clear the ball first and foremost.

[Fat Scouser]

Never said he was but he could be in the near future thats for sure.

At this moment Kelly is more solid and Johnson has been making too many mistakes.

Fordy mate, Kelly's a kid who's doing well. Nobody in their right mind tosses away the best attacking right back in the country and leaves the job in the hands of a kid who's bound to suffer some sort of injury, bad run of form, dip in confidence or a roasting somewhere in the season.

What I think Roy should be questioning is why isn't the best attacking right back in the country playing well for him, in his teams, under his tictacs. Okay. On the sly, I just answered it anyway. And besides, here's what happened last time he was questioned about what he did to an attacking full back....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hKvNoqgDX0&playnext=1&list=PL3FE881DEA4A6E263&index=58

So, not much point I suppose.

[downtown]

He cannot defend. He is too rash in the tackle and his distribution is awful

ROFL.


I've seen him making numerous last ditch tackles to deny the opposition a tap-in, both last year and this year.

if there is anything with his defending, it's confidence and positional sense. he is a great tackler

[bam09]

He cannot defend. He is too rash in the tackle and his distribution is awful

How has his distribution been awful? If you care to look at the charts you'd see that the only passes he actually misses are the crosses into the box when all he has is Torres being defended by about 4 men.

[Rococo]

He cannot defend. He is too rash in the tackle and his distribution is awful

I still don't really believe this, to me it's just the standard commentators line that comes out whenever he has a poor game.

For me, Johnson can defend well and his distribution has been generally good.  The problem is the consistency and I think that's the point Roy is making (as mentioned earlier if true, I don't agree with making a manager making this point in public) in a slightly cack handed way

[jDJ]

I have not got a link. I would bet he will be on his way in January - any takers?

Fingers crossed, with any luck we can wrestle Luke Young away from Villa at the second attempt.

[RedinExile]

No I am just not a worshipper of Rafa like a lot on here. He signed players like Johnson, using a lot of the kitty, and they have not performed. Add to that Robbie Keane & Aquilani and add the wasted millions up

~£5M?

[hedger]

Oh really, actually he cannot run, walk or even crawl. You are right, sell the over priced piece of shite and stick Carra in there for all eternity. In the meanwhile, Kelly will be a decent understudy to how not to cross the halfline and how to clear the ball first and foremost.

Now you're getting carried away

[DangerScouse]

Can't fathom how many of our "supporters" thinks it's acceptable for our manager to publicly criticise a player to this extent, mind boggling. Glen clearly knows he hasn't played to his potential when he's featured this season, he sure as fuck doesn't need Roy heaping more pressure on him by slating him to the press.

[The Light]

I really don't know how you can get the best out of a player by publicly humiliating them like that. Roy, you really are a nobhead.

[Hazell]

Now you're getting carried away

I hope you see the irony of what you just posted.

[Rococo]

I feel a bit sorry for Johnson. He's not playing that well but Roy's style isn't really set up for an attacking fullback like Johnson which means his defensive limitations have been highlighted. Kuyt's also been injured and he would provide some much needed insurance for Johnson to play his natural game. Having said all that, he's had some injury problems and has played only a few games for us. It's it's ridiculous that people are calling him 'shite' because he clearly isn't.

That Hodgson has come out and said this is a bit daft because it doesn't help anyone, least of Glen because I'm sure he just wants to get playing and get some form back and this isn't exactly the type of comment that would encourage him.

Also, those that are using this thread to attack our previous manager need to grow up.

Agree with each of your points Hazell but I do think Johnson is/ should be good enough to adapt to the system.  The major change which has effected his play for me is the loss of the cover from Masch

[RJH]

At the end of the day he's got 12 points out of 15.  Since we got rid of G&H we've lost once out of six in the league (more if you wanna include the Europa), and that was the first game immediately after the takeover.  Admitedly painfull, as it was against Everton.

And how many games has Johnson played in that period? 
One, against Napoli, when  the entire team had a shite first half.

You said before that maybe Hodgson's tried the arm round the shoulder. If he tried it since the beginning of October, Johnson's not really had the chance to show an improvement as he?

[hide5seek]

It might get the best out of him you never know .

What when he's injured?

[hedger]

ROFL.


I've seen him making numerous last ditch tackles to deny the opposition a tap-in, both last year and this year.

if there is anything with his defending, it's confidence and positional sense. he is a great tackler

bit of a drawback that for a defender

[jDJ]

he sure as fuck doesn't need Roy heaping more pressure on him by slating him to the press.

Particularly as he's currently out injured so can do absolutely fck all about his "form" anyway.

[Les Willis]

Can't fathom how many of our "supporters" thinks it's acceptable for our manager to publicly criticise a player to this extent, mind boggling. Glen clearly knows he hasn't played to his potential when he's featured this season, he sure as fuck doesn't need Roy heaping more pressure on him by slating him to the press.

Nearly all managers do this at some point or another, there are plenty of examples out there.

[TSC]

I feel a bit sorry for Johnson. He's not playing that well but Roy's style isn't really set up for an attacking fullback like Johnson which means his defensive limitations have been highlighted. Kuyt's also been injured and he would provide some much needed insurance for Johnson to play his natural game. Having said all that, he's had some injury problems and has played only a few games for us. It's it's ridiculous that people are calling him 'shite' because he clearly isn't.

That Hodgson has come out and said this is a bit daft because it doesn't help anyone, least of Glen because I'm sure he just wants to get playing and get some form back and this isn't exactly the type of comment that would encourage him.

Also, those that are using this thread to attack our previous manager need to fucking grow up.

Johnson's season reached it's low with his tackle on that Blackpool player for the most blatent pen ever in front of the kop.  Sorry, that sounds sensationalist, but he's been dire this term.  Usually you can overlook his defensive weakneses due to his attacking abilities, but the latter has been absent this term.

Also, your comment re using this thread to attack a previous manager could also be swung around.  It's a bit poor to use a comment from todays manager which may have been intended to 'motivate' said player as yet another reason to crucify him.

[Rococo]

bit of a drawback that for a defender

Would be (arguably on occasion is) a drawback for a player like Torres too - doesn't make him a bad player