Glen Johnson

[red g]

I dont have a problem with his defensive duties, more as Shaggy has mentioned he just doesnt seem 'right' for a few games last year he played amazing but he seems sloppy this season and not with it.

[lancinleeds]

I thought he played quite well too and am amazed at the criticism he is receiving once again (as he has done all season). I actually watched the match sober for once yesterday and specifically kept and eye on Johnson and his ‘terrible defending’. I can honestly only remember him letting a player past him twice, and bar that, I didn’t see anything wrong he did defensively, He wasn’t the usual potent threat in attack that we are used to, but as you said he got forward giving us an option, and although his crossing was a bit wayward, was involved in a few decent moves. I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to assessing a FB’s performance I struggle, as I don’t have the knowledge. Clearly it’s obvious when a player plays really well or really bad. When it comes to the finer details like when to tuck in narrow or when to stay out wide, or where their starting positions should be in certain situations, then I’m not always entirely sure myself and can’t confidentially argue if they are right or wrong (especially as I don’t know what they have been instructed do).

That’s only the second time I’ve watched Johnson closely this season, with the other being against Arsenal. As previously discussed, I thought he played very well that game and was more or less faultless defensively. He my well have been crap for all the forgettable games in-between and I was too drunk to realise, but personally he didn’t stand out to me as particularly poor or particularly good, certainly no worse than his other underperforming team mates. The team is a shambles at the minute and it’s a sorry state of affairs, but in my opinion Glen Johnson is the least of our worries.

[RichC]

I dont have a problem with his defensive duties, more as Shaggy has mentioned he just doesnt seem 'right' for a few games last year he played amazing but he seems sloppy this season and not with it.

He does appear to have something on his mind this season - you do hope there isn't going to be a NOTW breaking story coming anytime soon!

Thing with Johnson is he does need protection to able to get forwards properly, Dirk offers that and we miss him on the pitch massively at the moment.

He does need to get his head straight though and quickly along with Nando and if he's going to be playing Maxi who's been woeful in the games he's played in