Liverpool FC Forum

by **Ola Mr Benitez** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:25 pm

Ive never understood the critiscism that Johnson has got from both the media and some of our own supporters. I thought last nights game showed how good he is as we looked a lot less dangerous gown the right where Kelly was playing even though I rate Kelly a lot.

I dont think Walker got past him once last night, great performancecfrom the lad

by **andy_g** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:36 pm

whoever has kidnapped the real martin skrtel and replaced him this season with a defensively accomplished monster will you please keep hold of him?

by **woof woof !** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:53 pm

stmichael wrote:johnson has been excellent this season imo. it was ridiculous how the media built up this "he can't defend" notion. an absolute myth.

Disagree St Mike, the hole's in Johnsons defensive capabilities are/were no myth, his poor positioning, lack of concentration, reckless challenging have all been apparent in recent seasons

Having said that (

) he certainly seems to be improving on those aspects of his game. Hats of to the coaching staff for the job they've been doing with Johnson and the rest of our back four.

by **red till i die!!** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 8:43 pm

andy_g wrote:whoever has kidnapped the real martin skrtel and replaced him this season with a defensively accomplished monster will you please keep hold of him?

lol,so true.
by far the most improved player this year by a country mile.
himself and agger have been immense and formed the best partnership in the league.

by **Kerry07** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 12:12 pm

andy_g wrote:whoever has kidnapped the real martin skrtel and replaced him this season with a defensively accomplished monster will you please keep hold of him?

Was watching him against Spurs and thinking the same thing. Imperious. He had always been decent, but the transformation this season into a world class defender has been amazing.

Would not swap him and Agger for anyone in the league.

by **stmichael** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 2:25 pm

always thought skrtel was underrated by our own fans. yes he made the occasional rick but all players do. the main problem for me was he never got a run of games alongside agger due to agger's terrible injury record. they bring the best out of each other imo.

what did we pay for him again? was it £6.5m/ makes a mockery when you see the likes of phil jones going for £16m when the bloke is supposed to be a centre half and yet he never gets played there because he can't defend. same for luiz at chelsea.

infact if you took johnson out of the equation you could have a back four of kelly, agger, skrtel and enrique who cost less than £20m between them which is an absolute snip.

by **ConnO'var** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 3:22 pm

woof woof ! wrote:
stmichael wrote:johnson has been excellent this season imo. it was ridiculous how the media built up this "he can't defend" notion. an absolute myth.

Disagree St Mike, the hole's in Johnsons defensive capabilities are/were no myth, his poor positioning, lack of concentration, reckless challenging have all been apparent in recent seasons

Having said that ( ) he certainly seems to be improving on those aspects of his game. Hats of to the coaching staff for the job they've been doing with Johnson and the rest of our back four.

Agree with this.

Johnson has done well this season so far and I'm more than pleased. But he still has mental lapses and can, on occasion, be a liability when he goes walkabout. If anything, he is the weaklink in an otherwise excellent defense this season.

Not saying he's bad. He has been very, very good and again agree with woof that kudos must go to the coaching staff, but of our back 4, he's the one who is most likely to be tsgrtrd by quality opposition.

by **Redman in wales** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 3:40 pm

tsgrtrd ? - trying to work out what word that's supposed too be. targeted? tested?

by **maypaxvobiscum** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 3:52 pm

Redman in wales wrote:tsgrtrd ? - trying to work out what word that's supposed too be. targeted? tested?

by **ConnO'var** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:04 pm

Redman in wales wrote:tsgrtrd ? - trying to work out what word that's supposed too be. targeted? tested?

Sorry mate. What happens when you try to type too fast! "targeted"

by **stmichael** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:44 pm

ConnO'var wrote:
woof woof ! wrote:
stmichael wrote:johnson has been excellent this season imo. it was ridiculous how the media built up this "he can't defend" notion. an absolute myth.

Disagree St Mike, the hole's in Johnsons defensive capabilities are/were no myth, his poor positioning, lack of concentration, reckless challenging have all been apparent in recent seasons

Having said that ( ) he certainly seems to be improving on those aspects of his game. Hats of to the coaching staff for the job they've been doing with Johnson and the rest of our back four.

Agree with this.

Johnson has done well this season so far and I'm more than pleased. But he still has mental lapses and can, on occasion, be a liability when he goes walkabout. If anything, he is the weaklink in an otherwise excellent defense this season.

Not saying he's bad. He has been very, very good and again agree with woof that kudos must go to the coaching staff, but of our back 4, he's the one who is most likely to be tsgrtrd by quality opposition.

i'm not saying he's perfect. most fullbacks will get caught out of position every now and again and switch off. hell i've seen enrique do it on more than one occasion this season.

what i'm saying is that this tag of him "not being able to defend" was completely innaccurate and stunk of lazy journalism to me. it was a bandwagon that everybody jumped on. he's a far better defender and player than kyle walker for example who somehow has the england right back shirt at the moment.

micah richards is the only right back who comes close to johnson in terms of ability in the league imo.

by **ConnO'var** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 5:52 pm

stmichael wrote:
ConnO'var wrote:
woof woof ! wrote:
stmichael wrote:johnson has been excellent this season imo. it was ridiculous how the media built up this "he can't defend" notion. an absolute myth.

Disagree St Mike, the hole's in Johnsons defensive capabilities are/were no myth, his poor positioning, lack of concentration, reckless challenging have all been apparent in recent seasons

Having said that ( ) he certainly seems to be improving on those aspects of his game. Hats of to the coaching staff for the job they've been doing with Johnson and the rest of our back four.

Agree with this.

Johnson has done well this season so far and I'm more than pleased. But he still has mental lapses and can, on occasion, be a liability when he goes walkabout. If anything, he is the weaklink in an otherwise excellent defense this season.

Not saying he's bad. He has been very, very good and again agree with woof that kudos must go to the coaching staff, but of our back 4, he's the one who is most likely to be tsgrtrd by quality opposition.

i'm not saying he's perfect. most fullbacks will get caught out of position every now and again and switch off. hell i've seen enrique do it on more than one occasion this season.

what i'm saying is that this tag of him "not being able to defend" was completely innaccurate and stunk of lazy journalism to me. it was a bandwagon that everybody jumped on. he's a far better defender and player than kyle walker for example who somehow has the england right back shirt at the moment.

micah richards is the only right back who comes close to johnson in terms of ability in the league imo.

I beg to differ Mick.

In terms of pure physical ability, I agree that there is very few out there in the premiership to match Richards and Johnson. The problem is that neither of them are mentally tough enough and that makes a difference.

I would prefer someone like Bacary Sagna. He may not be as physically imposing or as good in attack but he reads the game better, is more positionally aware and more dependable at the back.

Of course if we are dreaming, I would give my left arm to have Philip Lahm here..... in a conventional back 4.

Johnson's done well this season and long may it continue but at set pieces and defending a flanking counter attack, he gives me the heebie jeebies.

by **red till i die!!** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 5:53 pm

when arry lands the job that will cement walker in the r.b position with richards as cover.id honestly be surprised if johnson makes the squad as anything else other than a replacement if the other's get injured.parker will also get the captaincy ahead of gerrard.

by **yckatbjywtbiastkamb** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:00 am

is there a better defender in the country than martin skrtel right now?
he`s been tremendous this season and he`s starting to show real leadership qualities as well, it was martin who fronted evra when he celebrated in front of suarez at old trafford and generally no matter who we are playing any hint of trouble he`s first there to back his team mates up.
starting to weigh in with goals as well

by **fivecups** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:07 am

yckatbjywtbiastkamb wrote:is there a better defender in the country than martin skrtel right now?
he`s been tremendous this season and he`s starting to show real leadership qualities as well, it was martin who fronted evra when he celebrated in front of suarez at old trafford and generally no matter who we are playing any hint of trouble he`s first there to back his team mates up.
starting to weigh in with goals as well

Skrtel's our player of the season so far.

Am I the only one amazed that Agger has stayed fit for so long?

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