Liverpool FC Forum

stmichael wrote:

Bad Bob wrote: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.

As the partnership developments, mate, I think we'll see all that and more.  On a couple of occasions now I've seen Kuyt drift to the touchline while Johnson cuts inside  so I think we'll see occasions where Johnson drives infield, dragging the oppo fullback and winger with him and leaving Kuyt in space near the touchline.  If the defenders close Johnson down the option will be there to prod it back to Kuyt for a cross--by which time we should have plenty of red shirts in the box.

What I like about their emerging partnership down the right is some of the clever little reverse balls they've been playing to each other.  There was one last night where Johnson played Kuyt in with a deft little ball into the box.  Kuyt did his job by driving the low cross across Sorensen  but there was no one charging in at the back post to stab it home.  Great movement though. 

Nando26 wrote:For me hes up thier with Ramos & Alves as the best right back/right wing back in the world, Hes still afew years off his peak & one of the only top quality british players out thier. An amazing signing

How people doubted him is beyond me

I didn't I always liked him ! well I really knew he was real deal when he scored that screamer for pompy. 

Reg wrote:I expect this new Greek fella Zorba to be as good if not better.

Dazzer wrote:

Nando26 wrote:For me hes up thier with Ramos & Alves as the best right back/right wing back in the world, Hes still afew years off his peak & one of the only top quality british players out thier. An amazing signing

How people doubted him is beyond me

I didn't I always liked him ! well I really knew he was real deal when he scored that screamer for pompy. 

And that was with his left foot!

crazyhorse wrote:

Dazzer wrote:

Nando26 wrote:For me hes up thier with Ramos & Alves as the best right back/right wing back in the world, Hes still afew years off his peak & one of the only top quality british players out thier. An amazing signing

How people doubted him is beyond me

I didn't I always liked him ! well I really knew he was real deal when he scored that screamer for pompy. 

And that was with his left foot!

WRONG !!!!

It was his left big Toe he is that good !! 

Zidane wrote:Two words, world class.

Zidane wrote:Two words, world class.