West Brom - Post Match

[Shaggy]

Johnson's a *miles* better right back than Kelly will ever be.

[Muddled]

Laughable really. Kelly has actually regressed since breaking through so impressively.

I don't think he's regressed. Kelly has always been a solid, reliable full back, just not of the calibre of Johnson. You could count the amount of bad performances Kelly has put in on one hand; Although equally, you'd struggle to think of any 'outstanding' performance from him.

[Fredo]

Johnson's a *miles* better right back than Kelly will ever be.

Think Kelly is a good steady player, not more than that. Johnson is outstanding.

[Exiled_red]

To think there are - or at least were - *loads* of Reds on this forum who think Kelly is better than Johnson. Mind boggling.

I think that people seriously under-estimate Johnson

[Shaggy]

Kelly is stagnating IMO, and it's a fair comment that progression won't be easy without regular football. But he just does not fit into what Rodgers wants to do, his use of the ball is pretty poor and he's not great going forward. I don't think a lumbering 6ft+ full back is ideal either. I've been and am a fan of his but we need to decide what to do with him before his stagnation turns to regression.

[Shaggy]

I think that people seriously under-estimate Johnson

So do I. I don't just think it, I *know* it.

A real bug-bear of mine.

[Fredo]

Maybe he can play as a centre back in time but Lecter does not seem to agree that he'll make it in that position.

[Shanks]

Think Kelly is a good steady player, not more than that. Johnson is outstanding.

Questions raised on whether he (Johnson) is "outstanding" defensively though..

[Exiled_red]

Why do all our young players start stagnating? it's happened to Kelly, previously it happened to Insua; after doing well the previous season, Flanagan went backwards last year. A similar thing happened to Spearing, after being around for ages he got a chance in Kenny's first season, but then regressed last season as well.

Are we over-estimating their potential/ability, is there too much pressure, do we wrap them in cotton wool early on, and then as we give them more responsibility they can't handle it? What is the deal because we haven't had a player come through the system and establish themselves in a long time.

[Lee]

Kelly is stagnating IMO, and it's a fair comment that progression won't be easy without regular football. But he just does not fit into what Rodgers wants to do, his use of the ball is pretty poor and he's not great going forward. I don't think a lumbering 6ft+ full back is ideal either. I've been and am a fan of his but we need to decide what to do with him before his stagnation turns to regression.

Yeah stagnating is definitely the word for it.

He looked fantastic when he first broke through and got a run of games when Johnson was out injured. He's not going to develop though when he has one of the best RB's in the world in front of him.

I remember the calls of playing Johnson RM and Kelly RB.

Johnson RM.

[McDermotX]

Maybe he can play as a centre back in time but Lecter does not seem to agree that he'll make it in that position.

Heading is suspect, even when he was somewhat impressing in his first few proper appearances.
Stuck out so much that some opposition specifically targeted long diagonal balls to his quarter. Something that certainly needs to improve in order to prosper at CB IMO.
There's more to it than that clearly, but he certainly doesn't warrant first XI football with us right now given who's in front of him.

[Shaggy]

Heading is suspect, even when he was somewhat impressing in his first few proper appearances.
Stuck out so much that some opposition specifically targeted long diagonal balls to his quarter. Something that certainly needs to improve in order to prosper at CB IMO.
There's more to it than that clearly, but he certainly doesn't warrant first XI football with us right now given who's in front of him.

I remember the mauling Anichebe gave him.

[Exiled_red]

Questions raised on whether he (Johnson) is "outstanding" defensively though..

That is a question that is always asked of every attacking fullback, if you are expected to get forward so much no matter how good you are there will be times where you are caught out of position. If you want someone who will offer something going forward you have to accept this, if you want someone who is more solid defensively you have to sacrifice what they offer going forward. I don't think there are many better than Johnson that can offer as much as he does in both attack and defence.

[danperkins]

I don't think Johnson is miles better than Kelly. Kelly is younger and hasn't got much game time. He's is not a progressive as Johnson nor will he ever be, but he is solid and reliable. How do people think any young player can develop if they do not get regular football? As i said he is unlucky than Johnson is ahead of him in the pecking order.

As for Johnson being outstanding, that's a wee bit of an exaggerating IMO, he has improved leaps and bounds no doubts but he still needs to improve defensively. Another example yesterday for the first goal West Brom scored Johnny Giles highlighted this yesterday on RTE, Needless foul by Johnson for them to get corner & Johnson turns his body away from the shot too. Mistakes like this costing us goals, like Gerrard's silly pass for the sending off. Taking away nothing form the strike was class!

I do like Johnson though he is a better option at RB for sure, and it is bit of a dilemma what to do with Kelly, as he has so much potential. is he commanding enough in the air to be a CB? I'm not so sure

[Exiled_red]

Maybe he can play as a centre back in time but Lecter does not seem to agree that he'll make it in that position.

The thing is at the moment you would assume he is behind Agger, Skrtel, Carragher and Coates for that position. I don't think he has any experience at first team level as a centre back, so if he is to play there long term then now (at the age of 22) it's time to give him some experience either by giving him opportunities to play there (unlikely) or sending him out on loan to another Premiership club and seeing how he does.