Glen Johnson

[The Birdman]

Well it's well-known he's been taking Spanish lessons for ages and wants to play there at some point. He's also on massive wages - circa £100k a week. Apparently Rodgers was aghast when he arrived that a right-back would be on such huge money.

Shaggy has posted pretty much word for word what i think, GJ will have 2 or 3 years left on his contract this summer, he wants to play in Spain so this summer will be the optimum time to sell, 8-10m to a top 6 side in Spain.

I think he's probably the best all round full back in the PL, can play both sides, quick, strong, defends well and provides an attacking threat.

[Shaggy]

I think there is a misconception with FSG and high wages. I think FSG has a problem with high earners that contribute little rather than high wages full stop. Johnson is the nailed on first choice right back and has been for years. Also look at the lack of transfer activity with regards to a right back.

Possibly. No doubt Glen contributes but I do think his salary is a bit much. It will obviously boil down to whether Rodgers thinks he can find someone who'd make a similar or better contribution on significantly lower wages - eg Reina/Mignolet.

I don't think there are many better right backs around than Johnson so it might be difficult.

[The Birdman]

I think there is a misconception with FSG and high wages. I think FSG has a problem with high earners that contribute little rather than high wages full stop. Johnson is the nailed on first choice right back and has been for years. Also look at the lack of transfer activity with regards to a right back.

We dont 'urgently' need a right back though do we?
Kelly, Wisdom, Toure can all play there, the telling sign will be if McLoughlin starts to feature here and there.

He's the one earmarked to break through, he knows it as well hence dipping out of international call ups recently.

The thing with wages is we can get a right back to do what BR wants for probably circa 50k a week.
The extra saved from GJ's wages (for example) goes towards a 'world class' or marquee game changing signing.

[Muddled]

I think there is a misconception with FSG and high wages. I think FSG has a problem with high earners that contribute little rather than high wages full stop. Johnson is the nailed on first choice right back and has been for years. Also look at the lack of transfer activity with regards to a right back.

I agree with your point with regards to FSG's stance on the wage-bill. From memory, their initial concerns were around the wages in relation to the squad depth. A brief search returns this quote:

The worst surprise was the lack of depth in the squad. Our biggest concern in taking on this responsibility was this issue and it was a bigger issue than we feared. There was a huge multi-year pay-roll for a squad that had very little depth.

Of course FSG will have addressed the wage-bill, but this will have been amplified by getting rid of the dross.

However, I disagree with your point about Johnson; whilst he's a cracking right back, I do think he'll be off and half expected him to have gone this summer. Our lack of transfer activity for a right back doesn't validate your point, it might just highlight that Rodgers has had to address other areas of the squad first.

[dww]

Possibly. No doubt Glen contributes but I do think his salary is a bit much. It will obviously boil down to whether Rodgers thinks he can find someone who'd make a similar or better contribution on significantly lower wages - eg Reina/Mignolet.

I don't think there are many better right backs around than Johnson so it might be difficult.

It's not just quality but suitability to the way we play, there is no fullback similarly comfortable on the ball in the PL. I think the best route is to keep Johnson and groom a young player to be his successor.

[Fredo]

I think that is the main problem with either Kelly or Wisdom coming in - a more defensive fullback means more problems higher up the pitch. My feeling is that Wisdom + Henderson on that side would be a mistake, we would have to move one of the more creative attacking players that side if we lost Johnson for a run of games IMO.

Think Henderson might well be asked to play there and Coutinho moved in the middle, with Moses on the right and Suarez on the left.

[Rich]

Possibly. No doubt Glen contributes but I do think his salary is a bit much. It will obviously boil down to whether Rodgers thinks he can find someone who'd make a similar or better contribution on significantly lower wages - eg Reina/Mignolet.

I don't think there are many better right backs around than Johnson so it might be difficult.

To be fair, I remember Rodgers talking about Johnson's wage very early on. He's since shut up about it. I reckon he's seen how good GJ is and is more accepting of his wage.

So, I'd imagine that Agger's latest deal isn't too far away from Johnson's either.

Every player's wage will be judged on his contribution to the team - but I can't think of many better RBs knocking around so he's worth his wage I reckon.

[Fredo]

Hope Ilori gets the nod at right. Pace and technique. Though I suspeck Kelly or Wisdom will play there.

How do you know he could play there - have you seen him play much? I've got no idea if he's suited to play right back. It's such a difficult position to play in and I doubt Rodgers would throw him in that position first things in his Liverpool career.

[Phoenix07]

Kolo Toure can play there. He has done with Arsenal and Manchester City. It depends whether Rodgers will play with two left-footed centre backs in Sakho and Agger or not.

It also depends whether he wants to give Wisdom more game time to gain experience, or stick with actual experience.

[Fredo]

Skrtel is still there, so would take the right centre back role.

[dww]

To be fair, I remember Rodgers talking about Johnson's wage very early on. He's since shut up about it. I reckon he's seen how good GJ is and is more accepting of his wage.

So, I'd imagine that Agger's latest deal isn't too far away from Johnson's either.

Every player's wage will be judged on his contribution to the team - but I can't think of many better RBs knocking around so he's worth his wage I reckon.

Also, at the time he was coming from Swansea where I imagine no player has ever seen wages like that. To see it for a fullback must have been a bit of an eye opener.

Selling him to maximize his sale value would be madness without identifying a useable replacement.

[Arn]

I doubt that Wisdom is the second choice right back because Rodgers was prepared to loan him out and he would never do that if Wisdom was second choice IMO.

[Muddled]

I doubt that Wisdom is the second choice right back because Rodgers was prepared to loan him out and he would never do that if Wisdom was second choice IMO.

Agreed.

[dww]

Kolo Toure can play there. He has done with Arsenal and Manchester City. It depends whether Rodgers will play with two left-footed centre backs in Sakho and Agger or not.

It also depends whether he wants to give Wisdom more game time to gain experience, or stick with actual experience.

It is an interesting point about Toure - although that was a long time ago and if he has left any of his athletic ability it might not suit him now and he is just coming back from injury too. If it was the Arsenal era Toure he would be first choice.

I doubt that Wisdom is the second choice right back because Rodgers was prepared to loan him out and he would never do that if Wisdom was second choice IMO.

There is something to be said for that point of view. Although at the minute he may be due to Kelly and Toure being on injury come back and Ilori having just arrived.

[Arn]

Well, I think that Ilori will be our long term right back. I don't think he was signed to play as a central defender but that is my opinion.

Time will tell.