Johnson

[Craig_H]

The comment about our defence is a load of ****e though.

It's lazy and incorrect. Johnson hasn't been at fault for any defensive lapses this season for Liverpool so why spout ****e about it?

Is it a load of ****e? I've seen a few occasions already this season where Johnson's been caught up the park and out of position. Cascarino doesnt single this out as the only reason why we've conceded goals, but he highlights it as a questionable area and it's a perfectly valid question to ask, because Johnson HAS been too high up the park on occasion.

It's not a case of Johnson singularly being 'at fault', but a contributing factor (amongst several) towards our defensive solidity not being upto scratch yet.

The fact that 3 out of the back four (at Bolton) are either new or inexperienced, played a big part in the lack of a cohesive defensive unit and from that point of view, you can say that it's down to those three players being new, that we're not defending properly as a unit yet.

That however, isnt the same as saying it's their fault.

[Ben_Itez]

All this criticism of Johnson seems to stem from him allowing a player to get a cross in for Slovenia's goal. IIRC he had two players to cover and wasnt getting any kind of help from the RM or CM positions. Teams are going to get crosses in at some point during the game. For me it was Lescott who was more at fault as he allowed the Slovenia scorer to get goalside and nip in front of him when he really should have outmuscled him and headed it clear. For 24 million pounds you'd expect better.

[Craig_H]

Also stems from Ryan Babel (who is generally rubbish), giving him a torrid time in Amsterdam. And for £17m, you'd expect better.

[Ben_Itez]

The fact that 3 out of the back four (at Bolton) are either new or inexperienced, played a big part in the lack of a cohesive defensive unit and from that point of view, you can say that it's down to those three players being new, that we're not defending properly as a unit yet.

That however, isnt the same as saying it's their fault.

I think it's obvious to most that this has been a big contributing factor to our defensive frailty...esp at set pieces. Things can only improve though (hopefully!)

[Ben_Itez]

Also stems from Ryan Babel (who is generally rubbish), giving him a torrid time in Amsterdam. And for £17m, you'd expect better.

Im not saying that he isnt without fault in his defending but he is naturally a more attacking full back than we're used to and with experience im sure he'll know when to go forward and when to be more restrained.

Anyway i think it'd be more prudent to judge him in a Liverpool shirt as against Holland it was pre-season and defensively England were all over the shop and very sloppy in possession meaning our full backs were often caught stranded in offensive areas when we lost the ball.

[Craig_H]

Basically, it's clear to see he's excellent going forward and arguably a better winger than a RB, because defensively, he can look suspect.

That's more or less what Cascarino's saying in the posted article, which is why i was saying i dont know why it makes him a cunt.

[Pacman]

Is it a load of ****e? I've seen a few occasions already this season where Johnson's been caught up the park and out of position. Cascarino doesnt single this out as the only reason why we've conceded goals, but he highlights it as a questionable area and it's a perfectly valid question to ask, because Johnson HAS been too high up the park on occasion.

It's not a case of Johnson singularly being 'at fault', but a contributing factor (amongst several) towards our defensive solidity not being upto scratch yet.

The fact that 3 out of the back four (at Bolton) are either new or inexperienced, played a big part in the lack of a cohesive defensive unit and from that point of view, you can say that it's down to those three players being new, that we're not defending properly as a unit yet.

That however, isnt the same as saying it's their fault.

I would disagree that I don't think Johnson has been caught out to high up the pitch for us this season (even though it's only been 4 games). I think we've defended poorly mainly because we haven't had our first choice centre backs 100% fit and healthy.

I really don't care if Johnson plays **** for England or he gets dropped as long as he carries on playing for us the same way he has been doing then he will do for me for a long, long time. I just think to use our poor start as a bit of a stick to beat Johnson with is wrong IMO.

[Tee]

Basically, it's clear to see he's excellent going forward and arguably a better winger than a RB, because defensively, he can look suspect.

That's more or less what Cascarino's saying in the posted article, which is why i was saying i dont know why it makes him a cunt.

But hopefully with Rafa, Pellgrino and the rest of the team he can improve defensively and become the almost complete RB.

[red g]

Basically, it's clear to see he's excellent going forward and arguably a better winger than a RB, because defensively, he can look suspect.

That's more or less what Cascarino's saying in the posted article, which is why i was saying i dont know why it makes him a cunt.

Unless he manages to clone himself he just is never going to be win and will always be targeted. I dont think he is suspect defensively.....he mjust may get caught out of position due to his attacking tendecies.

but as dww pointed out, other people should cover that. I

[Ben_Itez]

Oh yeah im in agreement that the article doesnt make Cascarino a cunt....just seems a popular stick to beat Johnson with at the moment. Everyone's entitled to their opinion. I think we can fully evaluate Johnson's defensive capabilities once we've completed the season and he's come up against world class teams and players. Maybe he'll be found out, maybe he won't but it is very rare for any defender not to be caught out at some point during the season.

[red g]

Oh yeah im in agreement that the article doesnt make Cascarino a cunt....just seems a popular stick to beat Johnson with at the moment. Everyone's entitled to their opinion. I think we can fully evaluate Johnson's defensive capabilities once we've completed the season and he's come up against world class teams and players. Maybe he'll be found out, maybe he won't but it is very rare for any defender not to be caught out at some point during the season.

I fear that just as zonal marking has been the stick to beat us with that johnson will be jumped on every little mistake he makes.

Look at Arbeloa he was hardly attacking and still got caught out, as you say every full back gets caught now and again......as i said before, as long as he creates more than we concede i am not bothered

[Kenneth]

All this criticism of Johnson seems to stem from him allowing a player to get a cross in for Slovenia's goal. IIRC he had two players to cover and wasnt getting any kind of help from the RM or CM positions. Teams are going to get crosses in at some point during the game. For me it was Lescott who was more at fault as he allowed the Slovenia scorer to get goalside and nip in front of him when he really should have outmuscled him and headed it clear. For 24 million pounds you'd expect better.

So the guy turned him and got a cross in. Johnson didn't cover himself in glory trying to close him down but teams will manage to get crosses into the box. It's inevitable. The main problem for England was that Lescott got done by the stirker, didn't follow his movement and ended up on the wrong side of him.

Hmm

[Ben_Itez]

[red g]

http://fourfourtwo.com/news/worldcup2010/36701/default.aspx

Former Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday striker Mark Bright has launched a stinging attack on Liverpool and England right-back Glen Johnson, claiming his defensive shortcomings could cost the Three Lions the World Cup next summer.

The former West Ham and Chelsea defender has improved immeasurably since joining Portsmouth in 2006, where his consistently impressive form earned him a big money move to Liverpool and regular spot in Fabio Capello's starting XI.

However, BBC pundit Bright - who made more than 200 league appearances for Palace from 1986-92 - believes the full-back is the weak link in the Italian's side, a point he says was proved last weekend when Johnson was partly at fault for Slovenia's late goal in England's 2-1 win at Wembley.

"This summer Liverpool paid £18 million to Portsmouth for Glen Johnson but come next July he could just cost England the World Cup," he told Metro.


"Going forward he is great but as a defender he gets beaten too easily.

"Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho thought Johnson would let him down against top-class *opposition, At the moment, he looks to be right although i do think what Tony Cascarino said was wrong, that guy is definitely a cunt"


"Slovenia were modest opponents at Wembley last weekend but it was *amazing how easily Johnson was *beaten and Slovenia's goal came from his poor defending.

"If England are going to win the World Cup we need a rock-solid defence.

"Fabio Capello says Johnson is one of the best right-backs in the world and he has the talent to be the best if he *improves the defensive side of his game."

[Reece]

I'd be worried if I was Johnson. Capello is bound to take all that on board bearing in mind the footballing legend that said it.