Topic: Glen Johnson...

[vivabobbygraham]

Basically said you can use the media in different ways.
If you want to get rid of a player you can use it, to try to give a player a kick up the arse etc.
Keegan said he didn't agree with using the media to berate a player and in my eyes he's right as it's a fine line between kicking up the arse and pushing out the door.

As opposed to Keegan talking out of it as usual.

[Spanish Al]

Best right back in the league, and some people want a kid whos started two league games (a very promising young kid yes, with potential) to replace him.

We miss Johnson when he doesnt play, he adds another dimension to our play and in the modern game the most successful full backs are probably better going forward than they are at defending. I feel some take Glen for granted, as we are not used to having a full back like this in recent times. We've had very solid, good defensive full backs in Finnan and Arbeloa.

Oh, and he can defend. Not exceptional at it, but good enough Id say.

[brightside.]

He played like he used to in our penultimate season with Rafa; very well. Hope he continues at this level. But sometimes the better teams can expose his defensive weaknesses. But I'd still rather see Johnson starting at RB if his attacking game is on form. The slight defensive skill gap between him and other world class RB's is a price to pay for his forward runs.

[Yorkykopite]

People think I've got it in for Kuyt. And it's true I have. But even those people who haven't got it in for him must wonder at some of the bizarre running from the Dutchie tonight. Johnson owned that right-wing in the first half. And he needed no help from Kuyt.

One thing was required of Kuyt in the second half and because it didn't involve him touching the ball it was well within his means to execute it. He needed to vacate the space ahead of Johnson and drag the West Ham right back into the middle whenever Johnson picked the ball up on the half-way line. But the turd did the opposite and actually kept moving from the centre of the pitch into the empty space ahead of Glen every time our full back got the ball. It was brilliantly effective from a West Ham point of view because it choked off Johnson's surging runs from the back. It was a spectacular misreading of what makes our right back such a powerful player.

Just get out of his flight-path you moron.

[shanks_legend]

People think I've got it in for Kuyt. And it's true I have. But even those people who haven't got it in for him must wonder at some of the bizarre running from the Dutchie tonight. Johnson owned that right-wing in the first half. And he needed no help from Kuyt.

One thing was required of Kuyt in the second half and because it didn't involve him touching the ball it was well within his means to execute it. He needed to vacate the space ahead of Johnson and drag the West Ham right back into the middle whenever Johnson picked the ball up on the half-way line. But the turd did the opposite and actually kept moving from the centre of the pitch into the empty space ahead of Glen every time our full back got the ball. It was brilliantly effective from a West Ham point of view because it choked off Johnson's surging runs from the back. It was a spectacular misreading of what makes our right back such a powerful player.

Just get out of his flight-path you moron.

Kuyt is class

[Yorkykopite]

Kuyt is class

Possibly. But today he was shit again.

[Dr Cornwallis]

Glen Johnson vs Gareth Bale next week.
I'm not expecting the same freedom as Glen had today.

[shanks_legend]

Kuyt scores goals and gets assists, moreover, he does this in big games more often than not = class

[jaygraham]

He played like he used to in our penultimate season with Rafa; very well. Hope he continues at this level. But sometimes the better teams can expose his defensive weaknesses. But I'd still rather see Johnson starting at RB if his attacking game is on form. The slight defensive skill gap between him and other world class RB's is a price to pay for his forward runs.

He only played for us in Rafa's last season.

Was a big fan of his last season, to be honest. He's been shite so far this however signs of him working his way back today. Suppose he never slotted into Rafa's system like Arbeloa did which is why our defence was being ripped apart last season.

[TravisBickle]

Bale is only as good as the opposing full-back allows him to be. A good player, very gifted... But stoppable regardless.

[shanks_legend]

He only played for us in Rafa's last season.

Was a big fan of his last season, to be honest. He's been shite so far this however signs of him working his way back today. Suppose he never slotted into Rafa's system like Arbeloa did which is why our defence was being ripped apart last season.

He suffered because Hyypia left and Carra and Skrtel were either injured or shit.

[Turkmeister]

Bale is only as good as the opposing full-back allows him to be. A good player, very gifted... But stoppable regardless.

Spot on, Johnson and Kuyt need to play high up the pitch and make bale play deeper, when bale is hugging that touch line and the defender plays deep he runs at them and most of the time past them!

[greatbritton]

Bale is only as good as the opposing full-back allows him to be. A good player, very gifted... But stoppable regardless.

bale seems to have both an excelent left foot and pace...johnson has pace but is troubled by tricky wingers who have intelligent movement off the ball...really feel like he can deal with a one dimensional bale, as he can match him for pace..

[Sachin4ever]

No he hasn't. He's the same Glen Johnson; our best attacker down the right side, capable of skill, pass and move football, linking up with the attackers and scoring a goal.

Only difference is, he was allowed to concentrate on attacking which is what all other top teams allow their attacking RBs to do. If players like Alves and Maicon were forced to defend as much as Johnson they'd look *far* worse than he does.

Watch him when he goes to an attacking team or if we turn into one; he'll easily be one of the most celebrated defenders in Europe.

Is right mate... Today, it was totally different because we kept a lot of possession. We did not have to sit back all the time at the edge of box and clearing the crosses constantly. That is not the way top teams play. He was good because we controlled the tempo ( which we used to do with rafa). But I worry for him when we play away and return to the sitting deep and hoofball tactics...

[Sachin4ever]

He only played for us in Rafa's last season.

Was a big fan of his last season, to be honest. He's been shite so far this however signs of him working his way back today. Suppose he never slotted into Rafa's system like Arbeloa did which is why our defence was being ripped apart last season.

I dont know what you are trying to say mate. Somewhere here i read that we were third in no of goals conceded.. So its not fair to say our defense was bad last year. we did not have him for large part of season and also inexperienced Insua was playing on the other side. Considering all these, i dont think we did that bad mate.. So its unfair myth to say that we were defensively bad last year....

[rowan_d]

Let Johnson attack, and he's the best right back in the country.

[paddysour]

Let Johnson attack, and he's the best right back in the country.

He's the best English. Sagna and Ivanovic are better on the whole.

[Didi_ram]

This is where Glen is an asset.Against these small teams.He can rip the left back to shreds.

[Mad Men]

Needs to sort out that mop on his head. Looks hideous. Get a decent hair cut like real men should.

[rowan_d]

He's the best English. Sagna and Ivanovic are better on the whole.

Disagree, but I can see where you're coming from. When Johnson has freedom, he's a massive, massive outlet for us. Unfortunately, he reacts ridculously badly to his own mistakes, and turns into a liability when he's flustered. If Johnson played in Arsenal's high back line, and was on form, he'd be up there with Maicon and Alves imo.

[Mad Men]

Johnson is johnson. Nobody in the premier league bar Cole have the same speed and power this Audi has when he is on form.

[rowan_d]

Johnson is johnson. Nobody in the premier league bar Cole have the same speed and power this Audi has when he is on form.

I was impressed by his strength and fight to get the ball especially today. Couple of times he was barged into, got up and carried on with the ball, at pace.

[TOMMO86]

Played really well yesterday, Hope he can keep to this level now.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

[Pokes head up above the parapet]

Perhaps Roy's public criticism of the player was actually well judged?  The players response was his best performance for a year and by some distance.

[ducks back down and digs in]

[rednich85]

Seems Roy has played a blinder with the bit of criticism aimed at GloJo.

He's upped his game.

Got there before you VDM.

[paddysour]

[Pokes head up above the parapet]

Perhaps Roy's public criticism of the player was actually well judged?  The players response was his best performance for a year and by some distance.

[ducks back down and digs in]

I said at the time he'd be fired up to impress. Apparantely I was talking shite..

[rowan_d]

If you're allowed to claim that Hodgson's criticism has fired Johnson up to that kind of performance, am I allowed to claim that he was putting himself in the shop window? 

They're both cases of pretty shoddy dot-connecting, so I don't see why not.

[Groundskeeper Willie]

vicgill posted a story about him speaking to Shankly about Tommy Lawrence after he made a whopping mistake in a game.

Said in private that had he had a gun he would have shot him. Then a journo called and he defended him saying he was a great goalkeeper.

That is how matters should be dealt with.

[BobbyDavro]

"I'll show you you old fucker....and then I'll fuck off in January and show you again"

Short-term gain at best.

[paddysour]

If you're allowed to claim that Hodgson's criticism has fired Johnson up to that kind of performance, am I allowed to claim that he was putting himself in the shop window? 

They're both cases of pretty shoddy dot-connecting, so I don't see why not.

You can. But considering both manager and player have gave interviews saying there is no problem with each other, you don't have as many dots as us.

[dgoh]

"I'll show you you old fucker....and then I'll fuck off in January and show you again"

Short-term gain at best.

Surprised he didn't give him the middle finger when he scored.

[Samee]

Possibly. But today he was shit again.

No he wasn't. He set Glen free a number of times. He closed down well. He linked up well. He even got a goal ffs.

[Samee]

[Pokes head up above the parapet]

Perhaps Roy's public criticism of the player was actually well judged?  The players response was his best performance for a year and by some distance.

[ducks back down and digs in]

I guess him playing against a shockingly bad West Ham team who didn't pressure us at all had nothing to do with it? Glen had all the freedom in the world to attack last night. It's got nothing to do with Roy.

[rednich85]

It's got nothing to do with Roy.

Didnt Roy put him in the starting 11?

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

I guess him playing against a shockingly bad West Ham team who didn't pressure us at all had nothing to do with it? Glen had all the freedom in the world to attack last night. It's got nothing to do with Roy.

I made it as a suggestion.  You've laid it out as facts.  Thanks mate. I consider myself re-educated.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Just thinking though, if Johnson playing well has nothing to do with Roy, nothing at all, then surely Liverpool playing shite for the most part of the season must have nothing to do with him too.  Yes? 

In which case, why do I want him gone?  I am all confused now.  37 years of watching the game and you undermine all my assumptions in one post.  Please help.

[BazC]

[Pokes head up above the parapet]

Perhaps Roy's public criticism of the player was actually well judged?  The players response was his best performance for a year and by some distance.

[ducks back down and digs in]

Can't see it, for me he didn't do anything different especially. Maybe it was the West Ham being shite factor? There were games earlier this season when he was forcing the winger on his side back to double up on him with his fullback and he was flicking the ball on his other foot and between them to get through on goal for the pullback. He's looked unstoppable at times.

I just can't wait to see him in a Liverpool team which is playing good, attacking football and keeping possession. We're at least 2-3 first team players away from it though and that probably means we won't see it until next season.

[xabi-and-rafas-lost-son]

He's the best English. Sagna and Ivanovic are better on the whole.

you hhave an arguement with Sagna, but i dont particularly rate ivanovic

[Buzz Killington]

[Pokes head up above the parapet]

Perhaps Roy's public criticism of the player was actually well judged?  The players response was his best performance for a year and by some distance.

[ducks back down and digs in]

Still don't think it should have been said in public mate. As for his performance yesterday it was brilliant but West Ham were actually embarrassingly shite, they gave us far too much time and space on the ball. Obviously Glen had a point to prove but I think it had more to do with West Ham than Roy.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Still don't think it should have been said in public mate. As for his performance yesterday it was brilliant but West Ham were actually embarrassingly shite, they gave us far too much time and space on the ball. Obviously Glen had a point to prove but I think it had more to do with West Ham than Roy.

Both fair points.  It was a "perhaps".  On the public thing I generally agree, "private bollocking, public backing" is pretty much always the way to do things.  But perhaps there are times when you don't think you are getting through to a player and only a public throwing down of the gauntlet will do.

Whatever, good to see Johnson back on the sort of form that he showed for the first month or so of his Anfield career.