Topic: Glen Johnson...

[Discipline]

Love Glen. Probably my favourite player behind Stevie right now. If Roy sells him, I'mma become a hitman. 

[CHOPPER]

Love Glen. Probably my favourite player behind Stevie right now. If Roy sells him, I'mma become a hitman. 

Thats funny that you liking him that much Discipline, because I'd wish he'd fucking show some.

[classycarra]

Nah, Glen is streets ahead of anyone in terms of two footedness.

i wasn;t comparing them. you just said johnson is the only one, which he isn't

[Mr Dilkington]

i wasn;t comparing them. you just said johnson is the only one, which he isn't

He is really.

[Discipline]

Thats funny that you liking him that much Discipline, because I'd wish he'd fucking show some.

Half our team don't show discipline, isn't that the manager's job to make them do so?

[CHOPPER]

Half our team don't show discipline, isn't that the manager's job to make them do so?

Well ye, to a degree, but switching off when you've got the ball and not being aware of the line and where it is relative to the play should really come down to the individual themselves, especially as he's been doing this 'right back' thingy for a while now.
Love the lad going forward, shit meself when he's defending.

[Discipline]

Well ye, to a degree, but switching off when you've got the ball and not being aware of the line and where it is relative to the play should really come down to the individual themselves, especially as he's been doing this 'right back' thingy for a while now.
Love the lad going forward, shit meself when he's defending.

Yeah. Would love to see us do try and do a 5-3-2 one game playing with wing backs. But, seeing as Insua is gone, Aurelio is made of glass, it gives the chance for the likes of Kelly/Wilson a chance, as Agger is suffering from another injury Roy will make up next week. I doubt we'll see it happen.

Pepe
Kelly Soto Skrtel
Johnson ------------------ Aurelio
Meireles Gerrard Lucas
Ngog Torres

Imagine that, with Stevie streaming forward.

[CHOPPER]

I could kiss you, I've been advocating that set up for a while now - I know that system is dated, I know that everyone plays 4-5-1 or a derivative of that, but that 3-5-2/5-3-2 set up, I believe would suit us down to the ground with the players we have at our disposal. We lack any true width to play a 4-4-2 style set up, yet we need to start playing 2 up front more often and that formation (3-5-2) ticks the boxes for what we have in strength with our squad, which is a lot of centrally positioned/comfortable players. Play to your strengths is what I say.

But he won't play it, who would come to that, it's considered dated.

[Mr Dilkington]

I know where you're coming from Chopps, but it really doesn't work in modern day football, with teams playing one up top, 3 is just not viable, however there is no denying that formation suits our squad best.

[CHOPPER]

I know where you're coming from Chopps, but it really doesn't work in modern day football, with teams playing one up top, 3 is just not viable, however there is no denying that formation suits our squad best.

I honestly don't see how the three at the back would be a problem and as we agree on, it would suit our squad down to the ground. Plus we get to put RM, LL and SG all together centrally and add to that we get FT a partner in a Kuyt or Eggnog.

It's all fanciful stuff I know, but unless we can invest and invest big in some width what better option to have a Johnson who is comfortable going forward, playing in that role, unless we put him on the right of mid-field?

[Gifted Right Foot]

glad he's back but he is going to have a tough time marking bale this weekend.  i feel sorry for any fullback who has to mark that whippet

[Discipline]

Would Johnson be great at right mid/winger? I mean, I wanted to see it happen, but you have to remember the space he has as a RB going forward. Yes, he can take on his man, but can he take on the man if he's actually getting marked? We have to try it to find out, he could be the next Bale.

[Mr Dilkington]

I honestly don't see how the three at the back would be a problem and as we agree on, it would suit our squad down to the ground. Plus we get to put RM, LL and SG all together centrally and add to that we get FT a partner in a Kuyt or Eggnog.

It's all fanciful stuff I know, but unless we can invest and invest big in some width what better option to have a Johnson who is comfortable going forward, playing in that role, unless we put him on the right of mid-field?

Too be honest i'd just rather we went out and bought two genuine wingers and a back up striker, and just play 4-2-3-1, but it's all speculation because we don't know how much Comolli will have to spend or which type of players he wants, will he go after players ready to step straight into the team or will he sign a few youngters ?, Roy may just have to make do with what he's got until the summer, when he will probably be booted out and a new manager will get a healthy transfer kitty.

[zero zero]

I could kiss you, I've been advocating that set up for a while now - I know that system is dated, I know that everyone plays 4-5-1 or a derivative of that, but that 3-5-2/5-3-2 set up, I believe would suit us down to the ground with the players we have at our disposal. We lack any true width to play a 4-4-2 style set up, yet we need to start playing 2 up front more often and that formation (3-5-2) ticks the boxes for what we have in strength with our squad, which is a lot of centrally positioned/comfortable players. Play to your strengths is what I say.

But he won't play it, who would come to that, it's considered dated.

I agree with you CHOPPER! I'd change Dirk for Ngog in that set up. I'm not convinced that Ngog is comfortable working with a strike partner, he'll defer to Torres too often. Dirk and Nando are comfortable going wide when needed too as well. 3-5-2 would be perfect for Spurs away who won't play with one man up top. VDV will be hovering around the penalty area and need to be picked up by one of the 'free' centrebacks.

Sadly we've not seen much in the way of tactical flexibility so far this season

[RyanBabel19]

He is really.

No he isnt

[Mr Dilkington]

No he isnt

Disagree, but i can see why you made the suggestion.

[rowan_d]

Glen is the only one in our squad who willingly drags the ball onto his weaker foot, without having it forced on him

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

And we are still talking about football at the end of the day. After all, I am commenting on two statements that the manager has made in his capacity as manager of the club. If press statements had nothing to do with football, managers would not be making them. Given that it is the main method by which a manager communicates with the fanbase, if that is not legitimate material to talk about, what is?

With respect, do you have any idea what a `forensic linguistic analysis' is?! If you did, you would not be comparing what I did to that level or depth of inquiry. I did not have to nit pick at all nor to interpret any "nuance".

All that I did was to read the two statements and compare them. It took me just a few seconds to spot the contradiction. I assumed that most other people saw the same thing. However, in order to bring it up in my post, I summarised (translation was the wrong word to choose) what both statements said to make it really easy for anyone to get my point. If even that cannot be appreciated but is instead classified as nitpicking and unfair dissection, then I am just whistling in the wind, and so I will quit trying to explain the patently obvious.

Good. About fucking time.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Yeah. Would love to see us do try and do a 5-3-2 one game playing with wing backs. But, seeing as Insua is gone, Aurelio is made of glass, it gives the chance for the likes of Kelly/Wilson a chance, as Agger is suffering from another injury Roy will make up next week. I doubt we'll see it happen.

Pepe
Kelly Soto Skrtel
Johnson ------------------ Aurelio
Meireles Gerrard Lucas
Ngog Torres

Imagine that, with Stevie streaming forward.

See that hole.  VdV will run the game from there on Sunday.  Either running at Soto or sitting and then dinking Defoe in.

Despite his limitations I would replace Soto with Poulsen.

[underdog]

See that hole.  VdV will run the game from there on Sunday.  Either running at Soto or sitting and then dinking Defoe in.

Despite his limitations I would replace Soto with Poulsen.

Soto with Poulsen? Do you mean going to a flat back 4 then with CP as DM? or do are you actually suggesting playing Poulsen as a CB?

[lamonti]

See that hole.  VdV will run the game from there on Sunday.  Either running at Soto or sitting and then dinking Defoe in.

Despite his limitations I would replace Soto with Poulsen.

Lucas is back for Sunday right? I trust him to marshall and kick Van Der Vaart more than Poulsen, even if Poulsen did prove finally he was at least a professional footballer on Saturday evening.

Spurs will be tough though. Have to play Johnson and Kuyt on the right. By far the best combo.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Soto with Poulsen? Do you mean going to a flat back 4 then with CP as DM? or do are you actually suggesting playing Poulsen as a CB?

DM, obviously

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Lucas is back for Sunday right? I trust him to marshall and kick Van Der Vaart more than Poulsen, even if Poulsen did prove finally he was at least a professional footballer on Saturday evening.

Spurs will be tough though. Have to play Johnson and Kuyt on the right. By far the best combo.

Me too mate, but I want him operating in central midfield with Meireles.  I think they can make a formidable partnership there.  Neat passers, nice movement, build up a good understanding and they could be a great pairing.  They will need cover behind though if we are going to tuck Kuyt and Maxi in and push the fullbacks forward

                                Reina
                    Carra              Skrtel

                             Poulsen
Johnson                                            Aurelio
                     Meireles     Lucas
   
                 Kuyt                       Maxi
                               Torres

[Yorkykopite]

Not much pace in that team Kev.

[underdog]

DM, obviously

Thank god for that I thought you had gone mental then 

[M17ARFilms]

He is really.

Johnson is not the only one ,

Gerrard
Meireles
J.Cole
and REINA !

are all comfortably 2 footed .

Torres , Agger and Shelvey are not far away either

[Red_Mist]

Not much pace in that team Kev.

That's one of the main problems though isn't it. We've become a counter-attacking side that hasn't got the means to counter. Didn't need pace when we had the ball further forward.

[underdog]

Johnson is not the only one ,

Gerrard
Meireles
J.Cole
and REINA !

are all comfortably 2 footed .

Torres , Agger and Shelvey are not far away either

Gerrard is two footed  there's a difference between being able to use both feet if needed and being comfortable with both. Johnson is quite happy to shift the ball to his left for a cross or a shot, Gerrard will almost always shift to his right for a shot or a cross, even when it's more difficult to do so.

[steveeastend]

I honestly don't see how the three at the back would be a problem and as we agree on, it would suit our squad down to the ground. Plus we get to put RM, LL and SG all together centrally and add to that we get FT a partner in a Kuyt or Eggnog.

It's all fanciful stuff I know, but unless we can invest and invest big in some width what better option to have a Johnson who is comfortable going forward, playing in that role, unless we put him on the right of mid-field?

I always thought that 3-4-3-1 would be the perfect modern system though. It´s very flexible, it could be switched into a 5-4-1 defending unit quicker than anything else. You could attack from the middle or wing... anything is possible with a system like that. Anything. Austria played like that at the euro and it saved their asses as anything else would have been destroyed by the other obvious stronger teams.

[M17ARFilms]

Gerrard is two footed  there's a difference between being able to use both feet if needed and being comfortable with both. Johnson is quite happy to shift the ball to his left for a cross or a shot, Gerrard will almost always shift to his right for a shot or a cross, even when it's more difficult to do so.

I know whats the difference , and Yes Gerrard is comfortable on his left foot , yes he might shift it to his right because its more powerful , but that doesnt mean he is not comfortable on his left foot ?

this is a goal I remembered stevie score using his left foot :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9cggyz4TtY

ill look up more when im free .

[underdog]

I know whats the difference , and Yes Gerrard is comfortable on his left foot , yes he might shift it to his right because its more powerful , but that doesnt mean he is not comfortable on his left foot ?

this is a goal I remembered stevie score using his left foot :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9cggyz4TtY

ill look up more when im free .

I could show you clips of Crouch scoring with his head, he is still a terrible header of the ball though

Gerrard is not two footed, not by any stretch of the imagination. Not many footballers are these days to be honest.

[beardsley4ever]

Glen is the only one in our squad who willingly drags the ball onto his weaker foot, without having it forced on him

Disagree.  Carra drags the ball onto his weak foot every time.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Not much pace in that team Kev.

Not a great deal of pace in our squad in fairness mate.  My priorities in Jan if I were Comollo would be a fast ball playing centre back and a nippy Mascher-a-like holding player, preferably blessed with at least a touch of the Pirlo or Alonso.

Who those players are, I don't play Champ Manager enough to know

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

I always thought that 3-4-3-1 would be the perfect modern system though.

It would be brilliant with the players we have.  Not sure how many refs would let you get away with it though 

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

That's one of the main problems though isn't it. We've become a counter-attacking side that hasn't got the means to counter. Didn't need pace when we had the ball further forward.

It's a good point and it also explains why Roy is preferring Babel and Ecclestone for places on the bench in preference to Pacheco (apart from the obvious passport thing of course 

[Chief.]

I think Glen is just crying out to be played as a right winger/midfielder just as how Bale has made the transition. We all know his positioning and tactical awareness arent two of his strong points but he does provide much more going forward and will be able to track back well. At least give him a couple of games up there with Kelly behind him to see how he does I think.

[steveeastend]

It would be brilliant with the players we have.  Not sure how many refs would let you get away with it though 

ups... of course I meant 3-4-2-1

[Roy of the rovers]

I could kiss you, I've been advocating that set up for a while now - I know that system is dated, I know that everyone plays 4-5-1 or a derivative of that, but that 3-5-2/5-3-2 set up, I believe would suit us down to the ground with the players we have at our disposal. We lack any true width to play a 4-4-2 style set up, yet we need to start playing 2 up front more often and that formation (3-5-2) ticks the boxes for what we have in strength with our squad, which is a lot of centrally positioned/comfortable players. Play to your strengths is what I say.

But he won't play it, who would come to that, it's considered dated.

The reason why it's considered dated is that against a team with 1 striker, you end up with a 3-v-1 at the back, which means you're outnumbered somewhere else on the pitch. Against a 2-striker setup, it's fine

[Samee]

Glen was bloody fantastic in my eyes today. He kept Bale quiet almost all game when everyone was expecting him to get torn apart. Showed his doubters that he can in fact defend. His contribution wasn't acknowledged by Gray et al today though. No surprises there..

[xerxes1]

Glen was bloody fantastic in my eyes today. He kept Bale quiet almost all game when everyone was expecting him to get torn apart. Showed his doubters that he can in fact defend. His contribution wasn't acknowledged by Gray et al today though. No surprises there..

I agree he had a good game. much of his work was done off the ball preventing bale from getting the ball and doing damage in the first place.