Glen Johnson

[dww]

The thing for me on our current system is, that it requires a lot of defensive awareness for it to work properly. We might have 3 CD, but they are in effectiveness covering the two traditional CD positions and the two traditional backs that normally would have support of backtracking wingers.

In our system, when the wingbacks are caught up the pitch we are effectively one man down, even with Lucas covering central. It works out most of the time, and Can/Sakho have been really good at making decisions when covering (thank god it's not Skrtel in that position!!), but it's also led to a lot of the chances created against us. Either like in the Chelsea game when a ball is quickly sent to Hazard giving him a lot of room, or when Can/Lucas went there giving Costa a 1v1 against Skrtel. Usually with Sakho having to watch the other wing when we are attacking.

This happens a fair deal with someone like Henderson there, that acutally covers his back well and have the speed/stamina to make up for when out of position. With someone like Johnson that get's caught out a lot even as full back, I have my serious fears putting him back in the team.

Johnson used to be good at getting back and covering. He increasingly seems to just 'turn off' when the ball bypasses him though. I do wonder if it is about his physical condition though.

It is a difficult one with Johnson as when on form he's really good but it's seemed for a while that something is wrong. I think he would be better than any of the options we have if he/we can get him back to his best.

[RichC]

The thing for me on our current system is, that it requires a lot of defensive awareness for it to work properly. We might have 3 CD, but they are in effectiveness covering the two traditional CD positions and the two traditional backs that normally would have support of backtracking wingers.

In our system, when the wingbacks are caught up the pitch we are effectively one man down, even with Lucas covering central. It works out most of the time, and Can/Sakho have been really good at making decisions when covering (thank god it's not Skrtel in that position!!), but it's also led to a lot of the chances created against us. Either like in the Chelsea game when a ball is quickly sent to Hazard giving him a lot of room, or when Can/Lucas went there giving Costa a 1v1 against Skrtel. Usually with Sakho having to watch the other wing when we are attacking.

This happens a fair deal with someone like Henderson there, that acutally covers his back well and have the speed/stamina to make up for when out of position. With someone like Johnson that get's caught out a lot even as full back, I have my serious fears putting him back in the team.

The thing is prior to a back 3 we played with a back 4 but effectively the fullbacks were asked to press on, give us width and helped supplement the attacking side of our game this left us dreadfully short at the back from time to time with the 3 CBs we do have naturally more protection at the back than we had previously with a more conventional back 4.

As I said though I can see that he could do a job in the system we're employing at the moment but it will depend on wage demands and how we adapt our side to reintroduce Sturridge into the side it's quite possible we also try to play with a front 2 again with Ballotelli coming into the side to play with him.

One think I think we will have with Sturridge back is options to change how we set the side up be it back 3 or 4 which is going to be a good thing.

[Buzzo]

Wonder if he needs the security of a contract to get back to his best?

I sometimes think that some view players as the pixelated computer FIFA players, with strengths and weaknesses out of 10 as opposed to scented beings. The other thing is in our old formation so much was put on our full-backs to provide an attacking threat, but also to cover in defence. If caught out of position it would then be the job of a Centre Back or defensive mid to cover. As we have been weak in both those positions it leaves the full back frequently caught out of position and exposed.

[Shaggy]

I get the thinking re Johnson - young squad, full of kids, we clearly need some older heads. It's just that his performances have been so, so ****.

[baitman]

i used to suggest that johnson could play like a winger/wing back for us a while back. i could see he was good and fast getting forward but i reckon that is now in the past.
when he has played and dashed forward he is often walking back when the attack breaks down with no thought of getting back to track the runners, helping his team mates etc.

i also suggested we could better utilize the players we had available in a back three set up.
that got a big laugh from many

[Pablo]

I get the thinking re Johnson - young squad, full of kids, we clearly need some older heads. It's just that his performances have been so, so ****.

He looks like he's downed tools mentally ages ago. Barely tries. I get we need experience, a good example to set to the kids. I'm just not sure he's that any more. He's another to me who seems to have lost his hunger for the game.

[Doc_Piptorious]

The most telling contribution Johnson has made to the first team this season was being unavailable through injury.


He is one of a small number of players who absence normally sees an improvement of play from the positions they would normally play in.


Not a hope in hell would I play him over Markovic in the RWB slot as Markovic has earned the right to that slot with his performances and the same can be said for Can in the RCB slot. Would be wrong if all Johnson had to do to take one of those slots was to turn up fit.

Would be using the likes of Manquillo as cover for Markovic as Manquillo has done little wrong in the game time he has had.

Johnson may be a senior player but it has been a long time since he showed it on the pitch. The younger guys have been stepping up, and showing they will work hard for the team so Johnson should, on form, be at the bottom of the pile waiting for a chance to get back in rather than simply returning to the first team.

Another thing that stands out for me is the seeming lack of interest from other clubs for a player who is a free agent come the summer.

[Lecter]

The most telling contribution Johnson has made to the first team this season was being unavailable through injury.


He is one of a small number of players who absence normally sees an improvement of play from the positions they would normally play in.


Not a hope in hell would I play him over Markovic in the RWB slot as Markovic has earned the right to that slot with his performances and the same can be said for Can in the RCB slot. Would be wrong if all Johnson had to do to take one of those slots was to turn up fit.

Would be using the likes of Manquillo as cover for Markovic as Manquillo has done little wrong in the game time he has had.

Johnson may be a senior player but it has been a long time since he showed it on the pitch. The younger guys have been stepping up, and showing they will work hard for the team so Johnson should, on form, be at the bottom of the pile waiting for a chance to get back in rather than simply returning to the first team.

Another thing that stands out for me is the seeming lack of interest from other clubs for a player who is a free agent come the summer.

[Cormack74]

X 2

[danperkins]

Johnson has no future at LFC & Manquillo is a young prospect that needs games. Much rather we start Manquillo instead of Johnson.

[The_weatherman]

OK then, it's settled then. Johnson get's shipped off this summer. About the experience thing, I don't really want him to pass on his experience.

[EwarWoo]

About the experience thing, I don't really want him to pass on his experience.

[frank the tank]

for me, if we persist with the 3 centre backs formation as a long term solution, then Andre Wisdom should be given a chance to play where Emre Can is playing right now.....this assuming that Emre Can moves into central midfield.

On a flat back 4, i see Wisdom being a right back but he could definately play on the right of a 3 as well.....

Flanagan getting fit and back into the reckoning is important as well. I would love to see him involved soon enough and given a chance to make the right back / right wingback position his own as well to be honest. The thing with flanno is he is so versatile - a bit like carragher was when he first came through - but he wants to be careful he doesn't end up being the #2 for both right back and left back without being #1 in either position.

Regarding Johnson, it will be hard to justify keeping him because even if he took a 50% pay cut, it will still cost 50 - 60k a week to keep him. And in reality, i don't think he would be first choice any more anyway.......i also doubt he will be next season and i am pretty sure he won't be in 2 years time either. He would be a great free transfer for someone like Man City or Chelsea because they can pay the wages for him to park his hairy hole on the bench every week but we can't....

[Phoenix07]

The thing with "experience" is that it's associated with those over 30. Johnson has won a few trophies, but you have someone like Arbeloa, who is probably going to be available, having won everything with Real Madrid, is excellent defensively, sound going forward, and played with/against some of the best players in the world, then it's a no contest for me. I'd want Arbeloa for his experience.

[Kenneth]

I don't rare either very highly.