England v Croatia and other Internationals 9 September 2009

[Ben_Itez]

I think it's pretty clear that Johnson could improve on the defensive side of his game but it's not as if he's useless at defending. Im sure Rafa will improve this area and his decision making as im sure Capello will too.

However, i find the recent criticism of him to be way over the top and for me he's the best right back in the country by a mile. Of course improvements are always welcome, and should indeed be expected, but he's getting stick tonight for letting a cross be delivered and stopping a certain goal (covering his CBs) where he could have possibly given away a penalty. What was he supposed to do? Just let Eduardo have a free header from 6 yards out?

I thought overall he was excellent tonight.

[Craig_H]

I do agree that the stuff peddled by ITV has been somewhat exaggerated.

And he's the best english RB by an absolute chasm.

[Joe King]

I do agree that the stuff peddled by ITV has been somewhat exaggerated.

And he's the best english RB by an absolute chasm.

'Wes Brown is better' according to baked beans society.

[Craig_H]

What's the baked beans society?

Wes Brown is a pile of festering ****.

[wiw]

Might revise that view actually.

I get the feeling that your nasty ways arent in jest

Nah

We've taken the thread completely off-track though, and it wasn't funny in the slightest let's be honest (the only way it is acceptable, obviously)

So..I actually think Johnson can defend. The more he plays with us the more he will learn when to make runs forward, safe in the knowledge that we will either a) keep the ball (more often than not), b) have cover from midfield, or c) someone else will have his back. Even if he does get caught out of position, he has pace to burn which is a big plus

On the pure defending side of things, he's not bad, not great. Rafa will put him right though

[Joe King]

What's the baked beans society?

Wes Brown is a pile of festering ****.

[Craig_H]

I dont get that Joe - it's just a picture of baked beans. I didnt not know what baked beans were.

Nah

We've taken the thread completely off-track though, and it wasn't funny in the slightest let's be honest (the only way it is acceptable, obviously)

So..I actually think Johnson can defend. The more he plays with us the more he will learn when to make runs forward, safe in the knowledge that we will either a) keep the ball (more often than not), b) have cover from midfield, or c) someone else will have his back. Even if he does get caught out of position, he has pace to burn which is a big plus

On the pure defending side of things, he's not bad, not great. Rafa will put him right though

One thing i HAVE said and still stand by - any defensive frailties he has are far less problematic for England than they are for us, because we're far more often much better than our opposition, than England are. Still think he needs to improve though. Not saying he's not a good defender, but he's not at the "£18m worth" level yet, when it comes to defending.

Just watching the highlights from tonight, and Andy Townsend's just said he thought Johnson was excellent - not a critical word from the fake irishman.

[Joe King]

One thing i HAVE said and still stand by - any defensive frailties he has are far less problematic for England than they are for us, because we're far more often much better than our opposition, than England are. Still think he needs to improve though. Not saying he's not a good defender, but he's not at the "£18m worth" level yet, when it comes to defending.

Which full back is though? The best full backs are the most attacking: Maicon, Alves, Evra, Lahm, Cole, Vargas

[Craig_H]

Which full back is though? The best full backs are the most attacking: Maicon, Alves, Evra, Lahm, Cole, Vargas

Not saying any of them are £18m worth. If you remember, i said from the outset that the price for GJ was too high.

[Joe King]

Not saying any of them are £18m worth. If you remember, i said from the outset that the price for GJ was too high.

Alves went for €34m - worth it considering he takes free kicks as well?

[Craig_H]

Of course not, that's insanity.

That's only acceptable if the club is either minted, or has brilliant players all over and barely needs to improve much - in which case, they can spend big on one position.

We're not in that boat sadly.

[Joe King]

Of course not, that's insanity.

That's only acceptable if the club is either minted, or has brilliant players all over and barely needs to improve much - in which case, they can spend big on one position.

We're not in that boat sadly.

I'm afraid the market for English international players is insane.

Btw, I was playing devil's advocate. I'm not disagreeing with you.

[Craig_H]

I know you werent. You're too clued up to do that

[Joe King]

I know you werent. You're too clued up to do that

I'm going to handbag that.




OOoooooo. OOOooooo.

[Ben_Itez]

I dont get that Joe - it's just a picture of baked beans. I didnt not know what baked beans were.




One thing i HAVE said and still stand by - any defensive frailties he has are far less problematic for England than they are for us, because we're far more often much better than our opposition, than England are. Still think he needs to improve though. Not saying he's not a good defender, but he's not at the "£18m worth" level yet, when it comes to defending.

Just watching the highlights from tonight, and Andy Townsend's just said he thought Johnson was excellent - not a critical word from the fake irishman.

Do you not mean they'd be more problematic for England? Because im sure for us if he's caught out of position he's far more likely to have a player covering his back.

I think he's worth 18 mill for what he brings us in an attacking sense particularly with the way we set up with Kuyt at RW. Money in football is generally ludicrous nowadays and very few players are 'worth' their prices but in the grand scheme of things i think Johnson will prove better value than most.