Liverpool FC Forum

by **DaMo** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 4:09 am

I've always thought that Johnson would be perfect bombing up and down the right in a system with 3 CBs, but since we don't utilise such a system, it's hard to say where he fits in if Kelly is to be preferred at RB. Playing him at LB doesn't seem ideal, but there must be a good reason why he'd sooner be picked there than on the right wing. It's easy for us to say stick him on the right instead of Kuyt/Maxi/Mereiles due to how good he can look when going forward, but there's a good chance that the possibility has already been explored on the training ground and that he simply isn't cut out to be an out-and-out winger for whatever reason.

by **RED BEERGOGGLES** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:20 am

I thought the article Merson wrote in response to Johnson's character assassination on him was actually composed with a great deal of decorum .... Merson is a clown ,but he didn't deserve to have his past failings thrown in his face ,addiction is a hard enough road to get off without people constantly using it as a vehicle for ridicule ..... I agree with Thommo on this, he was simply repeating what fans who have seen enough good defenders over the years believe.... and that is Johnson will never fall into that illustrious company .... even a move into the same neighbourhood is overshooting the mark

by **Waldo** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:05 pm

Greavesie wrote:
metalhead wrote:I thought he did brilliantly attacking wise. Its harsh to criticize him today because he did try to create chances. If we had better players around him, you will see the best out of him.

nail on head, get him on the wing!!!

Easier said than done. I heard the reason he has been played at LB is because he has a term in his contract that states he has to play full back in order to protect his England place.

If this is the case then we have to sell him whilst his stock is high and look to bring in 2 defenders with the cash. Micah Richard would get my vote.

by **Thommo's perm** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:46 pm

Waldo wrote:
Greavesie wrote:
metalhead wrote:I thought he did brilliantly attacking wise. Its harsh to criticize him today because he did try to create chances. If we had better players around him, you will see the best out of him.

nail on head, get him on the wing!!!

Easier said than done. I heard the reason he has been played at LB is because he has a term in his contract that states he has to play full back in order to protect his England place.

If this is the case then we have to sell him whilst his stock is high and look to bring in 2 defenders with the cash. Micah Richard would get my vote.

If thats true its unbelievable!
A player dictating where he can and cant be played
No wonder the worlds fu'cked up!

by **Rockthekop** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:14 pm

Surely Johnson could be played on the right wing, who can say he won't excel in that position.

He's certainly a vast improvement over Kuyt who offers little going forward.

by **NiftyNeil** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:17 pm

Thommo's perm wrote:
Waldo wrote:
Greavesie wrote:
metalhead wrote:I thought he did brilliantly attacking wise. Its harsh to criticize him today because he did try to create chances. If we had better players around him, you will see the best out of him.

nail on head, get him on the wing!!!

Easier said than done. I heard the reason he has been played at LB is because he has a term in his contract that states he has to play full back in order to protect his England place.

If this is the case then we have to sell him whilst his stock is high and look to bring in 2 defenders with the cash. Micah Richard would get my vote.

If thats true its unbelievable!
A player dictating where he can and cant be played
No wonder the worlds fu'cked up!

Thats not going to be true. Rafa was a control freak, he would never have allowed a player to have such a clause.

by **Zidane** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:22 pm

For me Glen is still a top 5 RB in the world right now, he just plays in a bad team atm. At his best he's arguably the best attacking RB in the world in my opinion.

by **stmichael** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:27 pm

metalhead wrote:I thought he did brilliantly attacking wise. Its harsh to criticize him today because he did try to create chances. If we had better players around him, you will see the best out of him.

yeah. he's actually been one of our better players recently. it's noticeable that with glen bombing forward all the time how much we miss mascherano. he was excellent at covering the space that johnson left when he bombed forward. the main problem we have now is that niether lucas or mereiles are what i would call out and out defensive midfielders. kuyt's form has also dipped which has had a detrimental effect on johnson at times this season as the cover has not been there infront of him as it was in the past.

by **Zidane** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:30 pm

stmichael wrote:
metalhead wrote:I thought he did brilliantly attacking wise. Its harsh to criticize him today because he did try to create chances. If we had better players around him, you will see the best out of him.

yeah. he's actually been one of our better players recently. it's noticeable that with glen bombing forward all the time how much we miss mascherano. he was excellent at covering the space that johnson left when he bombed forward. the main problem we have now is that niether lucas or mereiles are what i would call out and out defensive midfielders. kuyt's form has also dipped which has had a detrimental effect on johnson at times this season as the cover has not been there infront of him as it was in the past.

I think we miss Mascherano's pace more than anything, the lad could really run when he was backtracking and makeup lost ground so we could get back and setup. Lucas is a lot slower than him and when teams hit us on the counter as Glen goes forward he doesn't get back fast enough and we suffer, teams with pace give us really big problems because of the lack of pace we have in our CBs and our CMs.

by **PabloMedina28** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 6:00 pm

Glen Johnson reflected on his current role as Liverpool left-back and declared: 'I'll play anywhere Kenny Dalglish wants me to.'

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The England international has been deployed on the left-hand side of the Reds' defence in all six of the Barclays Premier League matches Dalglish has presided over following his return to the helm last month.

Since making the switch, Johnson has produced a series of authoritative displays in the position, helping the team keep four consecutive clean sheets in the league - and the 26-year-old has no qualms about being asked to play out of what's considered his regular position.

"There were no real discussions about it. Kenny said I was playing left-back and that was just fine with me," he told LFC Weekly.

"The team isn't about me so if I'm asked to do a job elsewhere, whether it be in the short or long-term, I'm happy to give it my best.

"Everyone knows I'm a right-back by trade, but if the team is winning and I'm in the team - it doesn't bother me where I play."

Prior to being deployed at left-back, there had been some discussion amongst fans and media whether Johnson could prove a useful asset to the team in a right-midfield berth.

It's a role the Londoner has been utilised in before at former clubs - and one he'll happily fulfil again should the boss ask him to.

Johnson added: "Like with left-back, if the manager asked me to play there, I'd do it, no question - without any complaints.

"I played in a more advanced role quite a few times at Chelsea. I remember when we beat United at Old Trafford to practically clinch the title and I enjoyed it out there (as a right midfielder).

"I think all of the Liverpool squad has the same attitude now - do your best at whatever you're asked to do. It's not about individuals here."

While Johnson has been generating outstanding displays on the left side of defence, Martin Kelly has been equally as impressive at right-back.

The 20-year-old has started every match since Dalglish took over, and Johnson admits it's clear for all to see exactly why.

"Since coming in against Manchester United, he has been very consistent in everything he has done and acted very maturely about the place," he said.

"He deserves to be where he is at the moment and it can only be for the good of the club if it is producing its own again.

"Fans like to see local boys come through and when they do, it gives everyone a lift."

by **parchpea** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 7:07 pm

You have to look on the brightside but the truth is Johnson, the England right back, has lost his place to a rookie and is now filling a position only because we have absolutely no one of any worth to play there. Bottom line is if we had a decent left back Johnson would not be in this team. Yes hes done a decent job covering there, but for him personally its been a poor season and when, not if, we purchase a left back in the summer Johnson will probably decide to move on if he wants to play regular football. Johnsons a right back and we have a better one now.He is easy to get rid of and will command a decent fee.

by **Shake abush** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:20 pm

Better left back than right back that's for sure.

by **SouthCoastShankly** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:50 pm

parchpea wrote:You have to look on the brightside but the truth is Johnson, the England right back, has lost his place to a rookie and is now filling a position only because we have absolutely no one of any worth to play there. Bottom line is if we had a decent left back Johnson would not be in this team. Yes hes done a decent job covering there, but for him personally its been a poor season and when, not if, we purchase a left back in the summer Johnson will probably decide to move on if he wants to play regular football. Johnsons a right back and we have a better one now.He is easy to get rid of and will command a decent fee.

Hardly. Based on that argument you don't rate Aurelio. Dalglish is accommodating both, as they both are quality full backs.

by **Zidane** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:48 am

parchpea wrote:You have to look on the brightside but the truth is Johnson, the England right back, has lost his place to a rookie and is now filling a position only because we have absolutely no one of any worth to play there. Bottom line is if we had a decent left back Johnson would not be in this team. Yes hes done a decent job covering there, but for him personally its been a poor season and when, not if, we purchase a left back in the summer Johnson will probably decide to move on if he wants to play regular football. Johnsons a right back and we have a better one now.He is easy to get rid of and will command a decent fee.

To the contary, if we had a better LB I don't think Kelly would play. The truth is Johnson has enough quality to be effective on either side and Kelly would suffer greatly from being played on the left. We still haven't seen Johnson on the right with Kenny at the helm, I think he would be at his best in our new found form.

by **PabloMedina28** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 6:59 pm

Johnsons bettter then Kelly at the moment, granted i think Kelly will be a better right back when hes Johnsons age, he wont offer nearly as much going forward but his overall play will give him the edge. Its just he had a dip in confidece then needed to be shifetd to the other side before he could regain his confidence in his natural position. People forget how good Johnson was before his dip, judging by his solid preformances playing out of position under Kenny i believe if he was shifted back to right back wed see the old Glen back. That predator haircut surely couldnt of helped him either.

Ive always said with a player like Johnson who attacks so much he will never have 100% in the tank when it comes to defending. A player like him thrives when you have better quality centre defenders like Cole does with Chelsea and Evra does at United, but when those CB´'s let you down such mentioned players become more of a liability. Theyre just as suspect when it comes to defending but it never proves as costly to them so they dont get as much abuse as Glen does. If we had a player like Sakho at center back id have Johnson over Kelly anyday.

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