Glen Johnson

[RedReet]

I am not knocking your take on the player and fully accept that our POVs may head off in different directions at times, but I really see no reason to play Johnson.

I just think there are at least one or two players in each position that Johnson can play in who are more deserving of starts than him.

Players that I feel are more effective in the roles than Johnson, and, maybe more importantly, who I feel add more to the team when they start than Johnson does.


I do think that Johnson has looked a little lacking in terms of desire/effort/call it what you will at times, but I also think he slows play down something rotten and that a lot of his decision making ranges between overly obvious to downright baffling.


For me he is too big a risk as he can be a passenger at times, and I don't think the rest of our team is so good that it can afford to have too many passengers in positions that traditionally need to have pretty consistent players in them.


The players I named in my earlier post deserve, in my opinion of course, to be ahead of Johnson on merit, and as such I see no reason at all for him to leapfrog over any of them in the pecking order unless one or more of them start to show the sort of poor form that warrants them being dropped.

That’s fair enough, but I do genuinely believe he could be a useful player to have in our current system and although I don’t believe he should be an automatic starter, I think the fact that he can cover RWB, RCB, LCB and LWB makes him a useful player to have, more so because we also have the flexibility to chance formation during the game without having to make subs.

That’s providing performances do improve of course, I’m not pretending that he’s been up to standard for the past year or so, but equally I don’t believe he’s been as bad as some make out and think his last few games he’s shown signs of improvement. Equally I hate this argument that we’ve been unbeaten since he’s been out of the side, because I could just as easily point to the 12 or 13 straight games we won with him in the side last year. Obviously he wasn’t the reason we won those games, just as much as he isn’t the primary reason we aren’t losing as many games now.

[DannyMan2006]

That’s fair enough, but I do genuinely believe he could be a useful player to have in our current system and although I don’t believe he should be an automatic starter, I think the fact that he can cover RWB, RCB, LCB and LWB makes him a useful player to have, more so because we also have the flexibility to chance formation during the game without having to make subs.

That’s providing performances do improve of course, I’m not pretending that he’s been up to standard for the past year or so, but equally I don’t believe he’s been as bad as some make out and think his last few games he’s shown signs of improvement. Equally I hate this argument that we’ve been unbeaten since he’s been out of the side, because I could just as easily point to the 12 or 13 straight games we won with him in the side last year. Obviously he wasn’t the reason we won those games, just as much as he isn’t the primary reason we aren’t losing as many games now.

LFC are doing better now thanks to a shift in formation and getting pace up top. It has little to do with individual players. It is about this formation suiting the players we have. Funnily enough Rodgers haters say it's all down to putting Lucas in, or bringing Sakho back, or playing Can, or finally putting Raheem up top, or giving Markovic a chance. In fact, any reason other than giving Rodgers the kudos for changing it.

I think Glen is good enough to play a part now. We have lots of games and he'll be needed. But whilst I think he's a good option we need at present, I wouldn't be rushing to give him a three year contract since he's already on the way down.

[RedReet]

LFC are doing better now thanks to a shift in formation and getting pace up top. It has little to do with individual players. It is about this formation suiting the players we have. Funnily enough Rodgers haters say it's all down to putting Lucas in, or bringing Sakho back, or playing Can, or finally putting Raheem up top, or giving Markovic a chance. In fact, any reason other than giving Rodgers the kudos for changing it.

I think Glen is good enough to play a part now. We have lots of games and he'll be needed. But whilst I think he's a good option we need at present, I wouldn't be rushing to give him a three year contract since he's already on the way down.

The way the team was playing before the change of formation, any number of players could have got injured and their replacements in the new formation perform better. It really is no win for Rodgers, which is bizarre considering his decision to play Markovic as WB, Can as a CB, wee Sterling as a CF and two similar players like Coutinho and Lallana in the same team were very bold decisions which very few managers would have taken, yet he’s accused of being fortunate because Johnson and Lovren got injured.

[DannyMan2006]

The way the team was playing before the change of formation, any number of players could have got injured and their replacements in the new formation perform better. It really is no win for Rodgers, which is bizarre considering his decision to play Markovic as WB, Can as a CB, wee Sterling as a CF and two similar players like Coutinho and Lallana in the same team were very bold decisions which very few managers would have taken, yet he’s accused of being fortunate because Johnson and Lovren got injured.

Indeed. Start of this season was car crash and that is down to Brendan. But if we finish strong that will also be down to him. Right now we have a serious chance of winning every cup competition we are in and we also have a decent chance of top 4. So CL and a trophy is still on. That would be a good season after losing the leagues best player.

Helps that we have the equivalent of a £50m signing coming in this month as well. Danny Sturridge.

[The_weatherman]

LFC are doing better now thanks to a shift in formation and getting pace up top. It has little to do with individual players. It is about this formation suiting the players we have. Funnily enough Rodgers haters say it's all down to putting Lucas in, or bringing Sakho back, or playing Can, or finally putting Raheem up top, or giving Markovic a chance. In fact, any reason other than giving Rodgers the kudos for changing it.

I think Glen is good enough to play a part now. We have lots of games and he'll be needed. But whilst I think he's a good option we need at present, I wouldn't be rushing to give him a three year contract since he's already on the way down.

I think this is moving the goalposts somewhat. Earlier in the season some posters were banging on about Sakho replacing Lovren, Lucas playing DM instead of Gerrard and/or using Johnson or Allen too much. Now that the team is playing well and the aforementioned changes have been made, it's all down to the change in formation but not the personel.....surely the truth lies somewhere in between.

I accept that I was wrong in wanting Rodgers out, he's done well recently turning getting out of an awful situation. But the personel was a big, big problem as well.

[RedReet]

I think this is moving the goalposts somewhat. Earlier in the season some posters were banging on about Sakho replacing Lovren, Lucas playing DM instead of Gerrard and/or using Johnson or Allen too much. Now that the team is playing well and the aforementioned changes have been made, it's all down to the change in formation but not the personel.....surely the truth lies somewhere in between.

I accept that I was wrong in wanting Rodgers out, he's done well recently turning getting out of an awful situation. But the personel was a big, big problem as well.

The truth does lie somewhere in-between, but I'm pretty sure if you show me a poster who called for these changes, we'll also find that they called for Skrtel to be dropped, Mig to be dropped, questioned Hendersons contribution, said that Coutinho offers nothing, or that Lallana was a waste of money etc. A lot of posters were also calling for a whole new defence at one stage and for Lucas to be sold on, so now that Rodgers has found a system that suits, I find it a little amusing that they can hand pick a few specific points and take the credit (obviously that doesn't apply to every poster, but I’m pretty confident that it does for the majority).

[RichC]

I think this is moving the goalposts somewhat. Earlier in the season some posters were banging on about Sakho replacing Lovren, Lucas playing DM instead of Gerrard and/or using Johnson or Allen too much. Now that the team is playing well and the aforementioned changes have been made, it's all down to the change in formation but not the personel.....surely the truth lies somewhere in between.

I accept that I was wrong in wanting Rodgers out, he's done well recently turning getting out of an awful situation. But the personel was a big, big problem as well.

Of course it lies somewhere in-between but it still takes the manager to make those changes. Even with the injuries the easy option would be to just replace and keep the formation the same; he didn't do that and in honesty through doing this he's probably the main reason Gerrard isn't going to continue with us after the end of this campaign.

[The_weatherman]

The truth does lie somewhere in-between, but I'm pretty sure if you show me a poster who called for these changes, we'll also find that they called for Skrtel to be dropped, Mig to be dropped, questioned Hendersons contribution, said that Coutinho offers nothing, or that Lallana was a waste of money etc. A lot of posters were also calling for a whole new defence at one stage and for Lucas to be sold on, so now that Rodgers has found a system that suits, I find it a little amusing that they can hand pick a few specific points and take the credit (obviously that doesn't apply to every poster, but I’m pretty confident that it does for the majority).

I'm not sure this is totally fair, and those who criticised certain aspects during the first half of the season were themselves criticised for criticising then as well as now, and the formation change is now hailed as the be all and end all, but I think I've said all I should say on this.

[vlahka]

One of my biggest recollections of the last game was a 37 year old Gudjonson slipping past glen 2 yards from our goal. Always a wonderful defender.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Indeed. Start of this season was car crash and that is down to Brendan. But if we finish strong that will also be down to him. Right now we have a serious chance of winning every cup competition we are in and we also have a decent chance of top 4. So CL and a trophy is still on. That would be a good season after losing the leagues best player.

Helps that we have the equivalent of a £50m signing coming in this month as well. Danny Sturridge.

I think the bit in bold would be difficult to argue with tbh. Whether a working formation and line up comes about by design or through having to use players due to injuries, a manager gets judged by results.

One thing about Brendan Rodgers is that when he gets a system to work he generally runs with it and improves it. Does not really matter to me whether it is a masterplan or him getting lucky with changes as I am pretty confident that when something clicks that he is the type to go all out trying to maximise the effective system.

I don't agree with some of what he has to say at times, and some of his team selections, especially early on in the season, were frustrating, but if he is to get knocked when he gets things wrong, then he should get kudos when results show he is getting things right.


As you say, and I think you are spot on, there are three pieces of silverware still to play for as well as a CL slot. If we finished the season with a CL slot and some silverware I would argue that it would not be a good season but rather an even better season than last season where we only ended up with a CL slot despite the excellent play.


Even with the poor start to this season we are still in a position to do well, and in a position where we still have two routes back into the CL open to us via either a Premier league position or winning the Europa league.

[Lecter]

LFC are doing better now thanks to a shift in formation and getting pace up top. It has little to do with individual players. It is about this formation suiting the players we have. Funnily enough Rodgers haters say it's all down to putting Lucas in, or bringing Sakho back, or playing Can, or finally putting Raheem up top, or giving Markovic a chance. In fact, any reason other than giving Rodgers the kudos for changing it.

Its all of those reasons

The change in form isnt about one thing its about the whole package

The change in system, the players that are currently being picked etc...

Rodgers has to get credit where its due for those changes

My only hope is that he sticks by the players that have been involved in our better performances and doesnt revert back to giving some of those players who have badly underperformed this season another go

[Lecter]

The way the team was playing before the change of formation, any number of players could have got injured and their replacements in the new formation perform better. It really is no win for Rodgers, which is bizarre considering his decision to play Markovic as WB, Can as a CB, wee Sterling as a CF and two similar players like Coutinho and Lallana in the same team were very bold decisions which very few managers would have taken, yet he’s accused of being fortunate because Johnson and Lovren got injured.

All that would be rather coincidental wouldnt it???

I think there is no coincidence that our better form occurred when Johnson, Lovren and Allen have all been out of the team

[RedReet]

All that would be rather coincidental wouldnt it???

What do you mean?

[QUOTE=Lecter;3053079I think there is no coincidence that our better form occurred when Johnson, Lovren and Allen have all been out of the team[/QUOTE]

I certainly think it may have helped, but I don't think it was the key factor, for me it was the change in system that made the difference.

[baitman]

What do you mean?



I certainly think it may have helped, but I don't think it was the key factor, for me it was the change in system that made the difference.

we had johnson and allen back in the team playing the 'new system' for the last game v bolton and they hardly lit the place up.

[MrMichael]

Personally I think this "Rodgers only change the system & personnel because he was forced to" stuff a bit silly as it rather ignores the normal process of managing a team and tactical development throughout a season.

I also find some of the vitriol about Johnson a little bit OTT, his form has undoubtedly been poor in the last season or two and he is being paid FAR too much, but I don't see how suggestion that we might offer him a new contract (on significantly reduced terms), as one of the few experienced players we have left, as a cause to immediately up pitchforks.

I'd imagine we could head over to the Balotelli thread (I stay out because, you know, "I told you so" becomes aggravating after a while I'm sure) and still find a portion of people finding any and every excuse why he's been such an appalling waste of space for us; "we just aren't playing to his strengths" etc. Yet apologists for players who like, have actually been decent for us at some stage and might actually give a tiny **** about the club, are much scarcer on the ground.

Not that I want to see Johnson's name on our teamsheet unless he significantly improves his recent level of performance, but in this current system which would seem to suit him it is at least theoretically possible that he could contribute something positive.