Glen Johnson

[Kenneth]

Maybe he should try cutting inside and hitting with his left, mix things up a bit

[danperkins]

Thought him and Allen were very good in the first half, our best players.

But that second half performance i will never forget.. wasn't just for 75 mins either. Mistakes crept in earlier.. the just weren't as glaring because we were controlling the game.

[Tee]

No he wasn't.

I thought it was Johnson's best game for a while for the first 70 minutes or so.

Seriously guys? Admire the faith and loyalty but he had a bad game last night. A very bad game (though tbf to Nigey he might not have quite been 'awful').

[Tee]

Maybe he should try cutting inside and hitting with his left, mix things up a bit

[danperkins]

Maybe he should try cutting inside and hitting with his left, mix things up a bit

[dom9]

Thought him and Allen were very good in the first half, our best players.

But that second half performance i will never forget.. wasn't just for 75 mins either. Mistakes crept in earlier.. the just weren't as glaring because we were controlling the game.

Of all the things you could possibly etch into your memory forever, it'll be Glen Johnson's second half performance against Crystal Palace.

[gentingfrmhell]

Getting old too. Sell and build defense for next decade

[DannyMan2006]

Getting old too. Sell and build defense for next decade

We should only sell if there is at least one better player coming in. I'd say two, but given his wages I would allow him to be moved on if we signed a better RB.

[Chazza]

Liverpool FC have no plans to offer Glen Johnson a new contract this summer – but they aren’t preparing to sell the defender.

The England right-back is down to the final 12 months of the lucrative deal he penned back in 2011.

Boss Brendan Rodgers said in March that starting negotiations over an extension would be “a priority” during the close season but the ECHO understands that Liverpool are now in no rush to sort out his future.

The Reds are prepared to retain Johnson’s services for next season and run the risk of losing him on a free transfer in 2015. By then he will be nearly 31 and have little sell-on value anyway.

Johnson’s form was erratic for most of the campaign and he didn’t come close to justifying his £110,000 per week salary which makes him one of the club’s highest earners.

Anfield officials believe he has done little to merit the security of a new deal but they don’t intend to off-load him.

Selling Johnson could raise £3million to £4million but Liverpool believe having invested so much in him since his £18million switch from Portsmouth in 2009 they would be better off keeping him for 2014/15 rather than having to splash out on a replacement.

Rodgers will need greater strength in depth to cope with the added demands of Champions League football and knows Johnson’s experience could be important.

The Reds’ approach to Johnson is also influenced by the terms of the contract he penned when Damien Comolli was director of football in July 2011. There is a significant reduction in his basic wage during the final year of his deal.

There is a feeling inside Anfield that Johnson is better when he has something to fight for and the hope is that coming back in pre-season without a contract on the table should focus his mind.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Manchester City right-back Micah Richards but he is not on the club’s summer wish list.

The Reds still hope to agree a deal with Southampton for midfielder Adam Lallana and Sevilla’s Alberto Moreno is their top left-back target.

Also on Rodgers’ shopping list is a commanding centre-back and another goalkeeper.

The manager believes the club’s return to Europe’s elite means they need a third senior shot-stopper to compete with Simon Mignolet and Brad Jones.

The Reds have been alerted to the availability of Swansea City keeper Michel Vorm and Rodgers is considering a move for the 30-year-old Dutchman.

Meanwhile, Lucas Leiva has distanced himself from reports linking him with a move to Inter Milan.

The Brazil midfielder’s future is uncertain as he is no longer a guaranteed starter at Anfield.

“I can say that at the moment I have received no offers,” he said.

“Liverpool have never contacted me regarding this possibility. I can’t say there is a chance of me going to Inter because I am under contract at Liverpool.”

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-no-new-deal-7133454#.U3aEF8IzubY.twitter

[SB]

There is a significant reduction in his basic wage during the final year of his deal.

I like this bit. In that case we keep him. If we do got Moreno or a similar high profile replacement at LB we can use Flanno as a RB too.

[BigChief]

I like this bit. In that case we keep him. If we do got Moreno or a similar high profile replacement at LB we can use Flanno as a RB too.

Excellent news. Also like the bit where the board have identified (unofficially) that Johnson plays better when he has something to fight for. Admittedly when he's focused he's bloody good. And when he's not he's bloody awful.

So we'll gladly hand that £1m to Portsmouth for him and us winning the league.

[SB]

Damn straight we wil.

[Exiled_red]

I think this makes sense (I suggested it previously) we have a number of youngsters going through in this position who we could give a chance, (Flanagan, Wisdom, Kelly, McLaughlin) or we could sign someone, either way we keep Johnson for experience and can offer him a new contract in the new season if we like.

[baitman]

its quite possible that the speculation that we are not offering him an extension and will discuss a new contract at the end of the next year is just bluff to make johnson consider his position and possibly look elsewhere.
not actually shoving him, just showing him that the door is slightly open.

[Kenneth]

Hope he finds somewhere he likes before the World Cup. Cutting it fine though.