Liverpool FC Forum

[Scottbot]

I can't say enough about the guy. If anyone doubted what a £17.5m right-back would add to our play against classic park the bus-ers just watch the game. He was sublime in his attacking capacity, and that performance was very much reminiscent of his performances for Pompey last season. What you saw there is what he's always been good at, he's just so much more refined these days in terms of his physique and consistency. His technique is practically flawless for a full-back. He receives the ball so easily, his passing is smooth and accurate, he can turn his marker, he can hold the ball up using his body strength (that's something he's really improved upon), he can float the ball into the box without any trouble, he can even make the deft pass. But what he's exceptional at, and what sets him apart from most other full-backs is his ability to go down the line or come inside using that burst of pace he has. Most fullbacks can go down the line and get the cross in, but it's a rare breed that can come inside with similar ease; with such pace, balance, strength and control.
Like the run into the box at Spurs, he was at it again against Stoke and it's particularly significant because it's MUCH harder to defend against if your opponent has the ability to go both ways with such ease, as Higginbotham found out. He could do you either way and by the time he's made that burst one side or t'other, as an opposing defender having to adjust your body to stay with him is very hard, especially if there's nobdoy covering you; something more likely to be the case in the latter stages of games or when the play's been switched quickly. Tired defenders will get mauled by this guy.

I used to play as a full-back, more in the Finnan mould though, and I was happy to see the winger down the line (which is essentially what Johnson is/will be in these types of games) and that was just conventional play, but when you throw in this other dimension - the ability to go one way or the other, and with ease - you're exposed to getting turned inside out (I used to dread the thought of them coming inside - you want the usual down the line try and block the cross drill), and adjusting is hard, but to pacey, powerful players like Johnson it's a nightmare. By the time you've adjusted your body to shadow him the other way he'll likely be past you, and such differences are crucial at the highest level. That extra yard throws a stubborn defence open to another kind of attack - a penetrating threat deriving from out wide, and for us I think it will prove to be crucial. Finnan couldn't do it, though he could cross well enough. Arbeloa was a little better in that capacity, but Johnson's in a different stratosphere in this respect; in any attacking respect for that matter. Tonight served as emphatic evidence of that. From a full-back's perspective you don't get much better than that tonight. He was a consistent and direct threat in a number of capacities - from his crossing to his penetrating runs, all beside his general play in which he was a comfortable, assured option throughout. He got the goal, an assist and a made an important covering interception at 2-0. Naturally gifted just about sums him up.

His natural athleticism, his (fairly good) aerial ability, a great attitude are some of his other attributes.

Good post mate, great shout on him coming inside + he looks quite comfortable with that left foot which makes that alll that easier to do.

[bigmick]

A couple of posters now have made the point that two matches is hardly proof that Johnson is going to be "worth" 17.5 million quid, and of course they are right. I suppose it raises the question, at what point is any player "worth" what you paid for him? I suppose the tried and trusted method is would you get more for the player if you put him on the transfer market than you paid for him? It may seem presumptious to suppose you'd get more for Johnson if you listed him tomorrow, but although I think you would, it's not a fair test. We got feck all for Hamann but that doesn't mean he wasn't an excellent buy at 8 million.

So how do you judge it, at what point has a player repaid his fee? Well a big fee such as this (and it's a huge fee for a full-back) would need the player I think to develop into being a really top class performer. If not World Class, then certainly one of the best in his position in the league, if not the best would be required.

I think Johnson will get there. He won us a penalty on Saturday from absolutely nothing, recieving the ball out on the touchline and coming inside to win the spot kick. As it turned out, it didn't make any difference but it could well have.Similarly against Stoke you could argue that significant though his contribution was, we'd have won anyway. To be honest I suspect we would have as well, but certainly his goal came at a vital time.

But people are right in that it's only a start. I do think though that he has already shown more than many imagined he had, some of the comments before we signed him made it clear that some people thought he was a fairly ordinary player, and he's certainly better than that. Whether he'll get quite to the heights which his ability and physicality indicate are possible remains to be seen, but clearly he is a player on the up who means business. I'm glad we signed him, I thought he was worth the money before we paid it, and although he obviously hasn't proved it one way or the other yet, I still think he was worth it.

[dawson99]

He's worth every penny if he keeps the crosses coming in and the odd goal... and the clean sheets are nice

[Toffeehater]

I can't say enough about the guy. If anyone doubted what a £17.5m right-back would add to our play against classic park the bus-ers just watch the game. He was sublime in his attacking capacity, and that performance was very much reminiscent of his performances for Pompey last season. What you saw there is what he's always been good at, he's just so much more refined these days in terms of his physique and consistency. His technique is practically flawless for a full-back. He receives the ball so easily, his passing is smooth and accurate, he can turn his marker, he can hold the ball up using his body strength (that's something he's really improved upon), he can float the ball into the box without any trouble, he can even make the deft pass. But what he's exceptional at, and what sets him apart from most other full-backs is his ability to go down the line or come inside using that burst of pace he has. Most fullbacks can go down the line and get the cross in, but it's a rare breed that can come inside with similar ease; with such pace, balance, strength and control.
Like the run into the box at Spurs, he was at it again against Stoke and it's particularly significant because it's MUCH harder to defend against if your opponent has the ability to go both ways with such ease, as Higginbotham found out. He could do you either way and by the time he's made that burst one side or t'other, as an opposing defender having to adjust your body to stay with him is very hard, especially if there's nobdoy covering you; something more likely to be the case in the latter stages of games or when the play's been switched quickly. Tired defenders will get mauled by this guy.

I used to play as a full-back, more in the Finnan mould though, and I was happy to see the winger down the line (which is essentially what Johnson is/will be in these types of games) and that was just conventional play, but when you throw in this other dimension - the ability to go one way or the other, and with ease - you're exposed to getting turned inside out (I used to dread the thought of them coming inside - you want the usual down the line try and block the cross drill), and adjusting is hard, but to pacey, powerful players like Johnson it's a nightmare. By the time you've adjusted your body to shadow him the other way he'll likely be past you, and such differences are crucial at the highest level. That extra yard throws a stubborn defence open to another kind of attack - a penetrating threat deriving from out wide, and for us I think it will prove to be crucial. Finnan couldn't do it, though he could cross well enough. Arbeloa was a little better in that capacity, but Johnson's in a different stratosphere in this respect; in any attacking respect for that matter. Tonight served as emphatic evidence of that. From a full-back's perspective you don't get much better than that tonight. He was a consistent and direct threat in a number of capacities - from his crossing to his penetrating runs, all beside his general play in which he was a comfortable, assured option throughout. He got the goal, an assist and a made an important covering interception at 2-0. Naturally gifted just about sums him up.

His natural athleticism, his (fairly good) aerial ability, a great attitude are some of his other attributes.

Spot on , good post

[bunglemark2]

Alvaro who?

....what a daft post...

[Igor Zidane]

A couple of posters now have made the point that two matches is hardly proof that Johnson is going to be "worth" 17.5 million quid, and of course they are right. I suppose it raises the question, at what point is any player "worth" what you paid for him? I suppose the tried and trusted method is would you get more for the player if you put him on the transfer market than you paid for him? It may seem presumptious to suppose you'd get more for Johnson if you listed him tomorrow, but although I think you would, it's not a fair test. We got feck all for Hamann but that doesn't mean he wasn't an excellent buy at 8 million.

So how do you judge it, at what point has a player repaid his fee? Well a big fee such as this (and it's a huge fee for a full-back) would need the player I think to develop into being a really top class performer. If not World Class, then certainly one of the best in his position in the league, if not the best would be required.

I think Johnson will get there. He won us a penalty on Saturday from absolutely nothing, recieving the ball out on the touchline and coming inside to win the spot kick. As it turned out, it didn't make any difference but it could well have.Similarly against Stoke you could argue that significant though his contribution was, we'd have won anyway. To be honest I suspect we would have as well, but certainly his goal came at a vital time.

But people are right in that it's only a start. I do think though that he has already shown more than many imagined he had, some of the comments before we signed him made it clear that some people thought he was a fairly ordinary player, and he's certainly better than that. Whether he'll get quite to the heights which his ability and physicality indicate are possible remains to be seen, but clearly he is a player on the up who means business. I'm glad we signed him, I thought he was worth the money before we paid it, and although he obviously hasn't proved it one way or the other yet, I still think he was worth it.

Good post mick . I am/was one of the people you refer to who thought he wasn't that good . I'm tucking into sum humble pie as i type this . Very very good so far and no complaints from me . Not really been tested defensively yet ,but very encouraged by his performances so far .

[stmichael]

He's also a phenomenal athlete. A lot of the time you get great athletes who aren't footballers or footballers who can't cope physically with this demanding League. This guy is both a great player and also great physically. I hadn't reckoned on him being so physically imposing (both speed and strength-wise) or having such wonderful feet.

[GYBS]

Dont care how much he cost - so far he is proving to add an extra dimension and is basically playing as a right winger in tandem with Kuyt as Mick expected them too and that to me means so far his fee is justified and money well spent .

[KOPMATT]

Even at 17 Million he looks well worth it!!

[tubby]

And im sure with time Rafa will even improve his game. A goal now and again from him doesn't hurt either.

[Aussie Style]

Alvaro who?

....what a daft post...

My point was, he came in for a guy that didn't want to be here and IMO his performance last night was better then any I can ever recall from Arberloa. Exactly what we needed and personally I'm stoked we got him.

[Toffeehater]

If he carries on the way he is playing at the moment surely 7 to 8 goals is a realistic target for him , best right back in the league arguably

[Bad Bob]

What price attacking balance?  That to me is the real question because it takes the focus off paying 18 million for one player and especially for--shock, horror--a defender!  Does Johnson help give the side more balance in attack?  Well, it's early days but on last night's evidence he most certainly does.  He's scored one and created two goals now in three matches, he's causing opposition fullbacks and wingers all kinds of problems, pulling them out wide, creating space for Kuyt and Gerrard and Torres to operate in.  He's also creating space for Benayoun and Insua to work in on the other flank because the oppo's whole defensive unit is going to have to cheat over slightly to keep their shape when he's on the ball and raiding down the flank.  Arbeloa and Finnan, good as they both were, did not offer this kind of attacking dimension to our play and it's arguably been a big reason why we've struggled to break some teams down.  People often talk about needing more attacking flair to beat the park-the-bussers but, IMO, they get too fixated on strikers.  Having a genuine wide threat is fundamental to proper attacking play.  We saw it last year with Riera, where a good genuine winger gave us a new dimension and a lot more balance in attack.  Well, Johnson's providing that and more for us down the right so far and that means he's justifying his fee IMHO.

[Judge]

good post bob.

liverpool of old had players who could score goals from any position they were in. From defense to attack, we had guys who could do that.

last nights performance showed that with a little flair and quick feet, that can be achieved by anyone. Unless your lucas

[stmichael]

What price attacking balance?  That to me is the real question because it takes the focus off paying 18 million for one player and especially for--shock, horror--a defender!  Does Johnson help give the side more balance in attack?  Well, it's early days but on last night's evidence he most certainly does.  He's scored one and created two goals now in three matches, he's causing opposition fullbacks and wingers all kinds of problems, pulling them out wide, creating space for Kuyt and Gerrard and Torres to operate in.  He's also creating space for Benayoun and Insua to work in on the other flank because the oppo's whole defensive unit is going to have to cheat over slightly to keep their shape when he's on the ball and raiding down the flank.  Arbeloa and Finnan, good as they both were, did not offer this kind of attacking dimension to our play and it's arguably been a big reason why we've struggled to break some teams down.  People often talk about needing more attacking flair to beat the park-the-bussers but, IMO, they get too fixated on strikers.  Having a genuine wide threat is fundamental to proper attacking play.  We saw it last year with Riera, where a good genuine winger gave us a new dimension and a lot more balance in attack.  Well, Johnson's providing that and more for us down the right so far and that means he's justifying his fee IMHO.

His overlapping of Kuyt is exemplary, but my concern is that Dirk has become an excellent crosser of the ball and provider of assists for Torres in the last 2 seasons and I don't like to see Dirk coming inside all the time as he provided a lot of quality from holding his wide right position on many occassions in the last 2 seasons.

I think with Johnsons dribbling and shooting ability, game intelligence and athleticisim there is plenty of scope to develop the relationship between him and Dirk first and foremost and Babel as an option, as I feel the options Benayoun and Riera offer us on the left are too strong for Babel to force his way into that birth on merit, but we do need options on the right and up front so we should be looking at developing him in those 2 areas. I like Johnson's work wide right, but would like to see Dirk hold his "cog in the machine" position out there a bit more often and Johnson looking to make diagonal runs from wide right behind Dirk to drive between the oppositions left back and centre back for a shot on goal, or to provide an assist and that he could do this receiving the ball on the edge of the area of from a ball slid into the area behind the defence from wide right by Dirk.

Anyway, I'm just being picky now. The guy is class.