Johnson vs. Kelly

[Craig_H]

I dont much care for your sarcasm.

[MrMichael]

Fixing that problem would be Kelly rightback and Johnson right wing. Put Kuyt in midfield instead of Adam since his passing is better and he runs down every single person who has the ball, making midfield far stronger and harder for the opposition to get through. Gives him the chance to run forward with the ball at goal.

I can see your point about Kelly being better defensively, but I think Dirk at CM really is beginning to push it.

I'm not Johnson's biggest fan, never have been, I like my defenders to defend first of all and I don't think he's top quality in that respect. However I can see what he offers offensively, and in the right lineup with the right tactics I can see why Kenny would prefer him to Kelly at this point of Kelly's career. I still think Kelly will get a good number of games over the next 18 months or so, by which point if he keeps improving he'll either be playing ahead of Johnson on merit at fullback, or he'll be moving inside to play CB. Either way there's no rush for him to be picked ahead of Johnson consistently from now, no rush at all.

Dirk in centre midfield though, seriously, where to start with that one? Just no.

[billy_mac]

Great goal and Johnson really is capable of much more in an advanced position.

I'd love to see the two of them playing on the right together with Johnson at RM.

Very hard to pick one or the other. They are two very different players and I prefer a defender first and foremost and that is Kelly.

Johnson got a caught a few times yesterday and got away with it. Kelly has been caught once in games and not got away with it.

Good we have the two of them and Flanagan looks like he could be a mix of the two them.

[danperkins]

I can see your point about Kelly being better defensively, but I think Dirk at CM really is beginning to push it.

I'm not Johnson's biggest fan, never have been, I like my defenders to defend first of all and I don't think he's top quality in that respect. However I can see what he offers offensively, and in the right lineup with the right tactics I can see why Kenny would prefer him to Kelly at this point of Kelly's career. I still think Kelly will get a good number of games over the next 18 months or so, by which point if he keeps improving he'll either be playing ahead of Johnson on merit at fullback, or he'll be moving inside to play CB. Either way there's no rush for him to be picked ahead of Johnson consistently from now, no rush at all.

Dirk in centre midfield though, seriously, where to start with that one? Just no.

[vlahka]

I can see your point about Kelly being better defensively, but I think Dirk at CM really is beginning to push it.

Dirk in centre midfield though, seriously, where to start with that one? Just no.

I probably should type out my thoughts better. As a midfield I'm more thinking of him as an advanced one, like the way Gerrard plays when he's not on the right. Plays a little higher up in support to the strikers with free run to just bolt whenever he wants, but close enough to midfield to harass other players.

[Roboklopp]

I can see your point about Kelly being better defensively, but I think Dirk at CM really is beginning to push it.

I'm not Johnson's biggest fan, never have been, I like my defenders to defend first of all and I don't think he's top quality in that respect. However I can see what he offers offensively, and in the right lineup with the right tactics I can see why Kenny would prefer him to Kelly at this point of Kelly's career. I still think Kelly will get a good number of games over the next 18 months or so, by which point if he keeps improving he'll either be playing ahead of Johnson on merit at fullback, or he'll be moving inside to play CB. Either way there's no rush for him to be picked ahead of Johnson consistently from now, no rush at all.

Dirk in centre midfield though, seriously, where to start with that one? Just no.

Also.

[yamiedo]

Put Kelly's defensive capabilities with Johnsons attacking and you'd have the perfect right back.

[danperkins]

Put Kelly's defensive capabilities with Johnsons attacking and you'd have the perfect right back.

[Neil Young]

I seem to remember Kelly being taken apart a couple of times - the second half against Everton for instance. OK, it might well have been a result of his inexperience but people are far too quick to forget stuff like that when it suits. To say he's currently better defensively than Johnson is at best unproven, and I think it's wrong, even if it ends up being that way in a few years.

Also, assertions along the lines of "Kelly would never have been caught out like Johnson was yesterday" is, to be charitable, unprovable and I can see no rational grounds for asserting it.

I think Kelly does look very good but there's no need to criticise Johnson to make the point somehow more urgent or telling.

[Exiled_red]

I seem to remember Kelly being taken apart a couple of times - the second half against Everton for instance. OK, it might well have been a result of his inexperience but people are far too quick to forget stuff like that when it suits. To say he's currently better defensively than Johnson is at best unproven, and I think it's wrong, even if it ends up being that way in a few years.

Also, assertions along the lines of "Kelly would never have been caught out like Johnson was yesterday" is, to be charitable, unprovable and I can see no rational grounds for asserting it.

I think Kelly does look very good but there's no need to criticise Johnson to make the point somehow more urgent or telling.

For me there isn't much between them. Johnson's composure on the ball probably puts him slightly ahead of Kelly.

[danperkins]

The Kelly/Johnson comparison seems to divide but i suppose it's a good problem for us to have.

[Icon]

For me there isn't much between them. Johnson's composure on the ball probably puts him slightly ahead of Kelly.

I actually find Kelly more 'composed', but obviously Johnson a much bigger goal threat...

[yamiedo]

Johnson's positioning is poor at times as he can be suspect to ball watching. Recall shouting at the TV screen on a few occasions about Johnson yesterday and that happens often for me. He is capable of being good (Defensively) but I think sometimes it is a lack of concentration that holds him back. Kelly seems more composed and I think defending comes more naturally to him whereas you can tell Johnson loves to attack. Not to say Kelly hasn't had his share of mistakes but I think he is better defensively.

[danperkins]

I actually find Kelly more 'composed', but obviously Johnson a much bigger goal threat...

[danperkins]

Johnson's positioning is poor at times as he can be suspect to ball watching. Recall shouting at the TV screen on a few occasions about Johnson yesterday and that happens often for me. He is capable of being good (Defensively) but I think sometimes it is a lack of concentration that holds him back. Kelly seems more composed and I think defending comes more naturally to him whereas you can tell Johnson loves to attack. Not to say Kelly hasn't had his share of mistakes but I think he is better defensively.

i remember Alan Hansen going through several of Johnson's performances in games and he absolutely picked him apart for his defensive mistakes. Defensively positioning and body positioning as a defender in particular, Hansen said.

IMO Kelly is a naturally better defender.