Liverpool FC Forum

[Rush Job]

Even though we will probably only be losing a small amount from our current budget all things taken into account im not sure about this move, not sure at all.
I think the only reason we are going after Johnson ahead of Richards is pompy owe us about 8mill.

[Dundalk]

Arba was a big part to our attacking game, i remember Hiddink coming out after their victory in the CL against us saying that he tried to cut out Arba getting forward to stop the fluency of our attacks. The modern game has changed and the fullback position is not what it used to be, they are now a big part of the teams attacking threat as much as they are defending.

Johnson will be an improvement on Arba in the role he will play for the team even if the price is way over the top

[bigmick]

It's a lot of cash Nan no doubt. That said he is an England regular, he's mid twenties, got a good injury record and you would think will improve. If he "works out" in a transfer sense, you've got to think he'll be the Liverpool right back/right midfielder for the next five seasons at least. It's a similar fee to to what Tottenham paid for David Bentley last season, or what we almost paid for Gareth Barry.

I reckoned about three weeks ago that we might have to go to around 17 million to get him, and I thinbk the fee is about right. I've always liked him and if Rafa can get his head fixed on right, he could be a top player.

I only hope we give the bloke a chance though. Not just as fans but as a club. He's just come through a season where he's probably played every match and is no doubt as fit as a fiddle. Lets learn from our mistakes if we do sign him. Play him, play him again, then again. Lets talk to him, make him feel welcome, put the famed "arm around his shoulder" from time to time. Lets not feck him about, sub him, play him left back, drop him, rotate him and all that old sh!t. If we do spend big money on him, lets give him time to settle in his favourite position. Give him a chance, that's all I ever ask of the management.

[NANNY RED]

Well if he is coming here hed better bring his own toilet seat

[Dundalk]

Well if he is coming here hed better bring his own toilet seat

The pup

[Igor Zidane]

£18.5 million though for Glen friggen johnson . Mick the only reason (imo) he's an england regular is that Neville and wes brown have been injured so much . If either one of them two were  fit ,they would have been right into the starting line up ahead of johnson . Look i will be over the moon if i'm wrong (there's a good chance i am going by my track record) but i just can't see the lad improving our team . If we do sign him however ,he will be getting my full support ,like all the players we sign .

[NANNY RED]

Well if he is coming here hed better bring his own toilet seat

The pup

 



Footballer fined for toilet seat fraud'
No one could quite believe a bloke like him, with all that money, would be moronic enough to nick a toilet seat'
!

Staff and agencies guardian.co.uk, Friday 19 January 2007 12.37 GMT Article history

Johnson is currently on loan at Portsmouth from Chelsea.

The Portsmouth full-back Glen Johnson stunned onlookers in at B&Q in Dartford, Kent, yesterday when he was caught trying to steal bathroom fittings.

Despite reportedly earning £30,000 a week, Johnson - currently on loan from Chelsea - was spotted by a security guard putting a toilet seat into a box with a cheaper price tag. Aided by Millwall striker Ben May, he also hid a set of taps underneath a sink at the checkout to avoid paying for them. Both were handed £80 on the spot fines by police.

"We all recognised Johnson," said one worker at the store. "No one could quite believe a bloke like him, with all that money, would be moronic enough to nick a toilet seat. But that's what him and May were doing.

"They were spotted by one of our security guards, a chap of 74, and cops arrived as they were trying to leave. They seemed to find the whole thing funny and couldn't stop smirking even after they had been arrested."

A Kent Police spokesman said: "Kent Police arrested two 22-year-old men on Wednesday on suspicion of theft in Dartford. Both men have been issued with £80 fixed penalty notices."

Spokesmen for Portsmouth and Millwall declined to comment.

[mart]

A good example of why we should stay the feck away from english players imo. Way way overpriced.

[RedRoots]

£18.5 million though for Glen friggen johnson . Mick the only reason (imo) he's an england regular is that Neville and wes brown have been injured so much . If either one of them two were  fit ,they would have been right into the starting line up ahead of johnson . Look i will be over the moon if i'm wrong (there's a good chance i am going by my track record) but i just can't see the lad improving our team . If we do sign him however ,he will be getting my full support ,like all the players we sign .

Theres no chance Neville would be called ahead of Johnson inthe england team, he's finished. Don't know about Brown though, on current form Johnson more than deserves his place. I'd be delighted if we signed him, i never was convinced about arby, one of our more average players i felt. With johnson on the right and insua on the left i reckon we could really do some damage to teams from the full back positions.

Its a huge fee but im delighted it looks like we've beaten chelsea and city to the chase, makes a change from feeling like the poor brother of the big money teams.

[Penguins]

I am not doubting Johnson being a good player, even a really good rb.

But 18.5 Million??
We spent 20 on Torres and 18 on Masch. They were/are world class and plays in positions vital to any team.
I am not belitteling the rb position but I much rather we invest some money in the squad in the creative attacking department.
We don't have a serious top class attacking midfielder, except Gerrard. Kuyt, Benayoun, Riera etc are all good players but not great by any stretch. And unless we are loaded with money
spending 18.5 million on a rb seems a poor choice to me.
Not saying Johnson is poor, but at that price with Arbeloa in place and Darby coming through I disagree that this would a good move.

Buying british players are so damn hard with those prices.
And no, there is no rule how many foreigners u can have.

[Dundalk]

RAFA BENITEZ is on the verge of making Glen Johnson Liverpool’s first summer signing after Chelsea beat a tactical retreat in their chase for the England defender.

Portsmouth are understood to have agreed a fee with Liverpool following more talks yesterday that could eventually reach £18.5 million for one of the Premier League’s most daring full-backs.

Liverpool will offset the outlay by selling Alvaro Arbeloa to Real Madrid for around £8m.

They are also still owed £7m from Portsmouth as part of the deal that took Peter Crouch to Fratton Park last summer.

Johnson, 24, had been the subject of a similar bid from Chelsea, but sources at Stamford Bridge last night indicated that their interest in a player who only left the club two years ago had waned.

Anfield boss Benitez’s long-standing interest in Johnson is thought to have been a major factor in the player indicating he preferred a move to Merseyside.

Manchester City, Tottenham and Bayern Munich had also been keen on Johnson, but the prospect of helping Liverpool push on from last season’s second-place finish in the Premier League appeals.

Despite the size of the fee, it is an indication of the constraints that Benitez is working under that Arbeloa, who began his career at Real Madrid, will be sacrificed to help fund the cash.

Real president Florentino Perez is pursuing other high-profile targets first, among those being Xabi Alonso, because he is aware that a move for Arbeloa will be straightforward.

Benitez is also likely to allow Andrea Dossena to return to Italy after just one season at the club with Juventus interested in a £6m deal.


LINK

[Reg]

We're not easy to please are we?

[Scottbot]

Anyone thinking Rafa is a genius in the transfer market should consider this. He spent near £40m on players last summer, only Riera of the lot really worked out and had the other £32m not been p1 ssed away on Dossena, Keane, Degen, Cavalieri and N'Gog, then maybe we'd have saved near £10m on signing Johnson when the price was right. Maybe Keane could have worked out, not that bad a player, but once the figure got silly then we should have pulled out. We paid £20m (in principle if not all up front) and he was worth maybe £12m as I've said elsewhere, not just for convenience as the £8m difference could have been enough that we bought Johnson.

Can't disagree with that, I really like Johnson and think he would/will make a quality addition to the squad BUT once again we are about to buy a British based player at the time when their value is at it's highest. Johnson was quality 6 months ago and he was pretty much the same player 12 months ago. I just wish Rafa could spot these players before they have their best season at their club. Barry could have been had two years ago for half the price Villa were asking last summer and the same goes for Keane. I just wish we could be a bit cuter in the transfer market. i still can't fathom Arsenal grabbing Arshavin for £10-12 million when we paid 7.5 for Dossena and are about to splash £17-18 mill on Johnson.

[Kharhaz]

Anyone thinking Rafa is a genius in the transfer market should consider this. He spent near £40m on players last summer, only Riera of the lot really worked out and had the other £32m not been p1 ssed away on Dossena, Keane, Degen, Cavalieri and N'Gog, then maybe we'd have saved near £10m on signing Johnson when the price was right. Maybe Keane could have worked out, not that bad a player, but once the figure got silly then we should have pulled out. We paid £20m (in principle if not all up front) and he was worth maybe £12m as I've said elsewhere, not just for convenience as the £8m difference could have been enough that we bought Johnson.

Can't disagree with that, I really like Johnson and think he would/will make a quality addition to the squad BUT once again we are about to buy a British based player at the time when their value is at it's highest. Johnson was quality 6 months ago and he was pretty much the same player 12 months ago. I just wish Rafa could spot these players before they have their best season at their club. Barry could have been had two years ago for half the price Villa were asking last summer and the same goes for Keane. I just wish we could be a bit cuter in the transfer market. i still can't fathom Arsenal grabbing Arshavin for £10-12 million when we paid 7.5 for Dossena and are about to splash £17-18 mill on Johnson.

Nor can I. That is a ridiculous amount of money, and if we do get him for that price then its official. Rafa is rubbish at signing players. It seems to me he has simply accepted that british players, regardless of position, are the best at what they do.

But that cant be right, he did sign Keane, and Bellamy. And they were by far the best. Werent they? Or is it simply, Rafa wants to honour the supporters by including british players, but is clueless when it comes to fees?

I would rather we saved our money, I like keane as a player and felt we overspent with him, the same would go with barry if we  signed him, also with johnson. If we spend this amount on johnson, we have to agree, its not just our owners blowing what money we have, rafas also quite good at it.

[Zidane]

Unfortunately all prices are now inflated due to the overpaying of players by Real Madrid, everyone has money BUT us so do not expect to get anyone that anyone else is remotely interested for a low amount of cash.  Anyone that thinks otherwise should really think again.  That said I have no idea how good this guy is but from what some posters are saying he might be just what we need on that right side.