Topic: Glen Johnson...

[Aristotle]

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..

Exactly. For a player who can't defend, he sure did well against "the best winger in the world"

[ben]

I wasn't surprised by him at all today. I can't remember a single game in which Johnson has been ripped apart by a winger. He has the odd lapse of concentration and his positioning is sometimes a bit suspect, but these are pretty standard for any full back. When you balance that against what he offers going forward it's quite clear we've got a good player on our hands.

The bandwagon against him is literally ludicrous. I'm not suggesting he's Paolo Maldini but how many goals does the lad actually cost us?

[Samee]

I wasn't surprised by him at all today. I can't remember a single game in which Johnson has been ripped apart by a winger. He has the odd lapse of concentration and his positioning is sometimes a bit suspect, but these are pretty standard for any full back. When you balance that against what he offers going forward it's quite clear we've got a good player on our hands.

The bandwagon against him is literally ludicrous. I'm not suggesting he's Paolo Maldini but how many goals does the lad actually cost us?

I honestly think the only reason any defensive mistakes he makes are magnified is because he's so good at going forward. If he was average in both attacking and defending he wouldn't get anywhere near as much coverage for his apparent defensive 'frailties'. Just take a look at Konchesky..

[rouge nell]

Played well today, kept the welsh 'messi' quiet for the majority of the game and got forward well, just wished he would have had a few digs with his left when he got in and around the edge of their box.

[ben]

I honestly think the only reason any defensive mistakes he makes are magnified is because he's so good at going forward. If he was average in both attacking and defending he wouldn't get anywhere near as much coverage for his apparent defensive 'frailties'. Just take a look at Konchesky..

Agree. It's a criticism that gets levelled at most attacking full backs. Certainly remember Ashley Cole getting it when he broke through at Arsenal. Sergio Ramos, Carlos. People just seem to really resent attacking full backs for some reason. It's weird.

[Johnnyboy1973]

Fucking quiet this thread tonight.

19 million, load of shit, cant do the basics blah blah. Bag o' shite.

By and large I thought he handled one of the best players in the league with consummate ease.

[Rohit]

Fucking quiet this thread tonight.

19 million, load of shit, cant do the basics blah blah. Bag o' shite.

By and large I thought he handled one of the best players in the league with consummate ease.

Thats becuase they would have to go back on everything they said. The boy done good today defensively especially, but people would rather see kelly at right back.

[hedger]

played very well today. pity he had kuyt in front of him

[Samee]

I'm seriously surprised at the lack of praise Johnson is getting for his performance. Had it been a bad one this thread could easily be at about 25 pages right now..

[Marko B]

Agree. It's a criticism that gets levelled at most attacking full backs. Certainly remember Ashley Cole getting it when he broke through at Arsenal. Sergio Ramos, Carlos. People just seem to really resent attacking full backs for some reason. It's weird.

It's ridiculous. We've got one of the best fullbacks in the world and he consistently gets slated well beyond what he deserves both for his own errors and for the manner in which he is misused.

Under the right manager and team system this fella has what it takes to provide an attacking contribution the likes of that provided by Alves, Maicon or Lahm.

We're very lucky to have him.

[Rohit]

It's ridiculous. We've got one of the best fullbacks in the world and he consistently gets slated well beyond what he deserves both for his own errors and for the manner in which he is misused.

Under the right manager and team system this fella has what it takes to provide an attacking contribution the likes of that provided by Alves, Maicon or Lahm.

We're very lucky to have him.

well said

[Gifted Right Foot]

Brilliant game from the lad today!!  Like i said before im glad to see him back and on form.  brings a whole new dimension to our team

[GrkStav]

played very well today. pity he had kuyt in front of him

WHAT?

[GrkStav]

Fucking quiet this thread tonight.

19 million, load of shit, cant do the basics blah blah. Bag o' shite.

By and large I thought he handled one of the best players in the league with consummate ease.

By and large, I would have to disagree.

[Johnnyboy1973]

By and large, I would have to disagree.

You can.

But, you're wrong.

[downtown]

WHAT?

I like Kuyt, but did you count his misplaced passes and offensive movements which were broken down due to abysmal passing in the first half? I was screaming at the pub.


thankfully, he  got better in the second half

[vivabobbygraham]

Worth every penny. When we get a decent RM to work with him he'll be even better. Kuyt, for all his good intentions is not a RM, and never feeds Johnno with decent ball. Most of the time he just gets in the way. If we had Hazard or N'Zogbia there, it would be dynamite. I've never understood the notion he can't defend either. Bale was going nowhere today and had to come infield most of the game.

[carling]

Johnson is pure class.

I've no doubt if he was told to never go past the halfway line and just mark the opposing left winger then we would never hear of these supposed defensive frailties.

But it would be a nonsense thing to do.  I think it's only been in the past few years that people are starting to appreciate just how much of an impact attacking fullbacks can make.  If you get your tactics right they will wreak havoc on an opponent's backline.  Get your tactics wrong or have players failing to provide necessary cover and too many gaps are left.

A player like Johnson is an absolute dream for a manager looking to play expansive football.  You can see why Rafa signed him (and was so desperate to land Alves).  It would be a huge shame if we don't see the best of him in a red shirt!

[vivabobbygraham]

Johnson is pure class.

I've no doubt if he was told to never go past the halfway line and just mark the opposing left winger then we would never hear of these supposed defensive frailties.

But it would be a nonsense thing to do.  I think it's only been in the past few years that people are starting to appreciate just how much of an impact attacking fullbacks can make.  If you get your tactics right they will wreak havoc on an opponent's backline.  Get your tactics wrong or have players failing to provide necessary cover and too many gaps are left.

A player like Johnson is an absolute dream for a manager looking to play expansive football.  You can see why Rafa signed him (and was so desperate to land Alves).  It would be a huge shame if we don't see the best of him in a red shirt!

It would be a crime mate not a shame. He is still not the finished article but when he is he will be unstoppable. Just needs a decent RM to interact with. Hope that comes in Januray

[Samee]

By and large, I would have to disagree.

HOW can you disagree? It was clear as day that Johnson had Bale under control.

[smurfinaus]

Very solid for most of the game ...Unlike the otherside....

[vitri]

I'm seriously surprised at the lack of praise Johnson is getting for his performance. Had it been a bad one this thread could easily be at about 25 pages right now..

What do you expect when we have a sports media who will bang on about him when he makes even a single mistake simply because he's not the best defensive right back in the world, but when he has a fantastic game he doesn't even warrant a mention.

We're not impervious to this Sky brainwashing. You only have to look at the FA Cup thread. Apparently it's a Mickey Mouse trophy. I despair.

[Hank Scorpio]

He's been very good the last couple of games.

Looks like he is playing with a bit of swagger now rather than the timid Johnson we saw last season.

Hodgson riled him up?  Is that good man management?  Perhaps he understands what motivates Johnson.

[koolkamal]

Johnson was great.

The amount of criticism levelled at him comes from the blind.

[JackWard33]

It would be a crime mate not a shame. He is still not the finished article but when he is he will be unstoppable. Just needs a decent RM to interact with. Hope that comes in Januray

Him and Gerrard down the right would be terrifyingly good but doubt we'll ever see it

[scatman]

HOW can you disagree? It was clear as day that Johnson had Bale under control.

HE disagrees with the bit that Bale is the best winger in the league! not that johnno had him under control. I love GJ, i'll always defend him, proper class act and I'm glad he's back at right back for us.

[Spanish Al]

Someone laughed at my post when I said Johnson wouldnt get ripped a new one against Bale. Johnson is a better defender than what people say. Its almost like a myth that he is a bad defender, just because he is exceptional going forward.

[lafuriaroja]

Johnson is a better defender than what people say.

He's a great defender when we're playing a high line where he's pressing upfield and has space to move. He's pretty shit when we're defending on top of Pepe's toes, which isn't an issue because we have bigger problems when we're defending that deep.

[amir87]

One of our best footballers. We'd be nuts to even contemplate selling him.

[drpepe]

One of our best footballers. We'd be nuts to even contemplate selling him.

exactly.

And he's a proper athlete who can move with pace with the ball at his feet.

there's not many of those players around at the moment

[mbyx6cg2]

HE disagrees with the bit that Bale is the best winger in the league! not that johnno had him under control

Then why did he bold that entire sentence?

[Rohit]

He's a great defender when we're playing a high line where he's pressing upfield and has space to move. He's pretty shit when we're defending on top of Pepe's toes, which isn't an issue because we have bigger problems when we're defending that deep.

Thats a good point yesterdat he made quite a few tackles while in there half of the pitch and his recovery tackle is top class.

[sattapaartridge]

thought he was brilliant. he looked very very threatening, and didnt give bale any space to attack. wasnt done for pace too.

[beardsley4ever]

Someone laughed at my post when I said Johnson wouldnt get ripped a new one against Bale. Johnson is a better defender than what people say. Its almost like a myth that he is a bad defender, just because he is exceptional going forward.

But Andy Gray said he was a bad defender, and how can Andy be wrong?

[downtown]

Amazing footballer.

still can't believe some people want him sold.

[bigbear]

Another very good performance both defensively and as the game wore on going forward.

3 excellent games since he has come back.

[caze]

he missed a clearance which resulted in the Agbonlahore chance, but aside from that he was flawless, our best defender by far tonight, and was probably our best attacking player in the second half too. great game.

[bigbear]

he missed a clearance which resulted in the Agbonlahore chance, but aside from that he was flawless, our best defender by far tonight, and was probably our best attacking player in the second half too. great game.

That was a good ball inside him and Downing played it in first time didn't he ?

He got back in on Downing a few times in similar situations and I thought he did well throughout.

[Raoul Duke]

Thought he was excellent today, kept the Villa left side very quite as well as getting forward with fantastic pace all match. The pace, movement and passing for the one-two with Ngog was superb, despite the Frenchman miscontrolling it afterwards. Rock solid performance.

[The Flying Pig]

The lad's looking a good player again now.

Will the manager let him raid down the right like that in away games?