Liverpool FC's Full Backs.

[DannyMan2006]

I have to say Martin Kelly and Glen Johnson have been outstanding of late.

Both have looked solid at the back and both have shown a great willingness to get forward and have put some wicked balls into the box. Going purely on the last 4 games or so I would probably say I do not see buying a top full back as a priority as I did under Hodgson when we had Glen at RB and Konk at LB.

I think people have given some serious stick to Glen, and rightly so at times it must be said. But he's gone to LB and looks a completely different player. Now this could be down to a number of reasons, perosnally I think the main one is our style under Kenny suits him better and a change to LB is just a coincidence, I fully believe he'd still be playing well had he been playing RB.

But regardless of the reasons why he looks much improved. Meanwhile Martin Kelly has shown on the pitch exactly what we all knew after seeing him play at Anfield v Lyon - He's a class act. He's not the finished article, but he looks to have the makings of a top full back. Hopefully he can do a Carra and move to CB in the future, but for now I'm just pleased to see him putting in a good job at RB.

No doubt after singing their praises one of them will mess up over the coming weeks, but no player is perfect. An attacking fiull back will get caught out every now and then and the young Martin Kelly will make the odd rickett at the back. But I would love to hear everyone elses views on this subject.

Is the full back area still a massive cause for concern for people? Or are you happy with that area at this point in time? Clearly it's a case of see how it goes, but for me, so far, so good.

[saj]

I personally don't think they've been that good. Glen Johnson looks out of position and Kelly isn't great going forward. Kelly should definitely be played as a centre back once we get a decent left back in. Glen can then go back to the right.

[Fierce]

Kelly's been impressive, but I think he's been impressive due to his age and the fact that allegedly his best position is centre back

GJ has done very well at LB, but his strength has always been his attacking play. I feel with him on the left, and with an almost complete lack of a left foot, we're not playing to his strengths. We're missing his attacking threat and his crosses IMO

[Rudo]

Johnson's been a little more solid in recent weeks, before the new year he put in some of the worst performances iv ever seen from a Liverpool player and that is in no way an over-reaction.
That's in the past now and credit where credit's due he's battled on and is getting into a bit of form.
Still don't think he's ideally suited to left back position long-term.

Kelly's a great prospect, we all know that, again i don't really don't see him being a right back in the long run - he has the pace and positional sense to play there but he has centre back written all over him.imo.

In the summer, i expect new signings in the full back positions...defo left back anyway.

[Rudo]

Kelly's been impressive, but I think he's been impressive due to his age and the fact that allegedly his best position is centre back

GJ has done very well at LB, but his strength has always been his attacking play. I feel with him on the left, and with an almost complete lack of a left foot, we're not playing to his strengths. We're missing his attacking threat and his crosses IMO

Cant disagree with that really. I honestly can't imagine Johnson playin right back anytime soon.

[Mostar]

I personally don't think they've been that good. Glen Johnson looks out of position and Kelly isn't great going forward. Kelly should definitely be played as a centre back once we get a decent left back in. Glen can then go back to the right.

Interesting you said that as lately I have been thinking about both of them.

Glen is extremely uncomfortable in LB position and it almost feels like disaster waiting to happen. He is also predominantly right footed player so he cannot give us much on the left neither defensively nor offensively, which was ultimately his biggest strenght.

Kelly, on the other hand, is very strong defensively but gives us absolutely nothing going forward, which is a big problem as we have no wingers.

I totally agree that GL needs to play on the right either as RB or converted winger and Kelly, who at the moment is pretty solid, should over time being phased into his natural role as CB.

[Craig_H]

I have to say Martin Kelly and Glen Johnson have been outstanding of late.

Both have looked solid at the back and both have shown a great willingness to get forward and have put some wicked balls into the box. Going purely on the last 4 games or so I would probably say I do not see buying a top full back as a priority as I did under Hodgson when we had Glen at RB and Konk at LB.

I think people have given some serious stick to Glen, and rightly so at times it must be said. But he's gone to LB and looks a completely different player. Now this could be down to a number of reasons, perosnally I think the main one is our style under Kenny suits him better and a change to LB is just a coincidence, I fully believe he'd still be playing well had he been playing RB.

But regardless of the reasons why he looks much improved. Meanwhile Martin Kelly has shown on the pitch exactly what we all knew after seeing him play at Anfield v Lyon - He's a class act. He's not the finished article, but he looks to have the makings of a top full back. Hopefully he can do a Carra and move to CB in the future, but for now I'm just pleased to see him putting in a good job at RB.

No doubt after singing their praises one of them will mess up over the coming weeks, but no player is perfect. An attacking fiull back will get caught out every now and then and the young Martin Kelly will make the odd rickett at the back. But I would love to hear everyone elses views on this subject.

Is the full back area still a massive cause for concern for people? Or are you happy with that area at this point in time? Clearly it's a case of see how it goes, but for me, so far, so good.

Agree with all of that, but the part in bold especially.

Johnson was ripped to pieces by quite a few people acting in a kneejerk manner, and myself and others did say at the time, that whilst he's no Maldini, he's still a very good established fullback and that, if you put him in a side which plays a more fluid style, and attacks more, he will look good.

And here we are. He's quality, he always was and i am glad Bodgson went because if he hadnt, Glen was definitely on his way out of the club.

[Craig_H]

Johnson's been a little more solid in recent weeks, before the new year he put in some of the worst performances iv ever seen from a Liverpool player and that is in no way an over-reaction.
That's in the past now and credit where credit's due he's battled on and is getting into a bit of form.
Still don't think he's ideally suited to left back position long-term.

Kelly's a great prospect, we all know that, again i don't really don't see him being a right back in the long run - he has the pace and positional sense to play there but he has centre back written all over him.imo.

In the summer, i expect new signings in the full back positions...defo left back anyway.

It's a massive overreaction. Either that, or you've not been watching Liverpool games for very long. Because we've had far worse performances than what Johnson was producing.

[Rudo]

I'll not argue with you but i've been watching Liverpool for about 16 years and i can't recall as bad a string of performance from another player.

Not talking about one or two matches, i mean like 5 or 6 when Johnson was absolutely shocking. - out of position, slow, weak, giving ball away cheaply at nearly every opportunity, giving away the most needless of free-kicks, getting skinned by players of average ability to say the least. Woeful.

[DeeTheDog]

I'll not argue with you but i've been watching Liverpool for about 16 years and i can't recall as bad a string of performance from another player.

Not talking about one or two matches, i mean like 5 or 6 when Johnson was absolutely shocking. - out of position, slow, weak, giving away cheaply at nearly every opportunity, giving away the most needless of free-kicks, getting skinned by players of average ability to say the least. Woeful.

Nonsense, just a few years ago both Dossena and Josemi put in much worse performances at full back. I hope Glen returns to right back when Carroll gets in the team as his ability to attack down the flank will be a great asset.

[Rudo]

Nonsense, just a few years ago both Dossena and Josemi put in much worse performances at full back. I hope Glen returns to right back when Carroll gets in the team as his ability to attack down the flank will be a great asset.

I'll have to disagree with you

[Craig_H]

Thing is rudo, i think that people often get sucked into exaggerating something, in order to emphasise the point they are making. We all do it from time to time.

For example, someone might use the term 'shocking' to describe a player's performance, when in fact, i very much doubt that they stood watching it in 'shock'.

I think you may be doing the same kind of thing here with Johnson.

"Some of the worst performances i've ever seen" is a massive statement and whilst Johnson had moments when he was very poor, to graduate from this into a list of the 'worst ever' performances, is an astronomical step.

Hence, i feel it is an exaggeration.

[Craig_H]

Nonsense, just a few years ago both Dossena and Josemi put in much worse performances at full back. I hope Glen returns to right back when Carroll gets in the team as his ability to attack down the flank will be a great asset.

Is correct.

Sometimes people are guilty of memory by reverse-chronology.

[Rudo]

Thing is rudo, i think that people often get sucked into exaggerating something, in order to emphasise the point they are making. We all do it from time to time.

For example, someone might use the term 'shocking' to describe a player's performance, when in fact, i very much doubt that they stood watching it in 'shock'.

I think you may be doing the same kind of thing here with Johnson.

"Some of the worst performances i've ever seen" is a massive statement and whilst Johnson had moments when he was very poor, to graduate from this into a list of the 'worst ever' performances, is an astronomical step.

Hence, i feel it is an exaggeration.

I'm not sure why people are so surprised - i ridiculed Johnson's performance during and after these matches so why the shock at my comments? It's nothing out of the ordinary.

Nothing to do with trying to emphasis the point i'm trying to make - i just used certain words to describe his performances. Just as you do and everyone else does.

I've said fair play, he's playing alot better now, yet the negative stuff is highlighted...funny that. And the negative comments were about his form a month or two back...not now.

[saj]

Interesting you said that as lately I have been thinking about both of them.

Glen is extremely uncomfortable in LB position and it almost feels like disaster waiting to happen. He is also predominantly right footed player so he cannot give us much on the left neither defensively nor offensively, which was ultimately his biggest strenght.

Kelly, on the other hand, is very strong defensively but gives us absolutely nothing going forward, which is a big problem as we have no wingers.

I totally agree that GL needs to play on the right either as RB or converted winger and Kelly, who at the moment is pretty solid, should over time being phased into his natural role as CB.

Spot on uncompfortable is the right word. He's not neglecting his defensive duties but when coming forward he looks so uncomfortable. He actually struggles to dribble on the left side - not many right footers can without cutting in and as a full back thats a complete NO - he has to go on the on the outside. I think he will be devasting when played on the right in that position.