Glen Johnson - Right Mid / Winger?

[Guest LFD]

What a run and goal by Johnson today. It wasn't the first time he looked a threat going forward today and we have seen it before in the final third he can run at opposition full backs and be a real threat.

 

But today we also saw a few times, where he looked vulnerable defensively.

 

I just wonder whether it might be a good chance to try Johnson at right midfield / wing, especially with Kuyt not really playing that well today and Henderson struggling in that position when used.

 

Johnson can then focus at what he is good at - attacking and we can play the more solid Kelly at right back.

 

It worked for Bale at Spurs and Johnson has played right midfield with success at Pompey, so why not give it a try?

 

Thoughts?

[Guest ShoePiss]

I say leave him where he is, he's our best right back.

[Iceman]

We have to try him at right mid. Until we try him there we can't say if it works or not. I want to see him tried there. If he can't do it, we need to alter our style of play so he can get into the opposition box like he did today.

[dirk grout]

Mourinho, Benitez, Dalglish and LFD. One of these 4 thinks Johnson should play on the wing and not at right back. I'm prepared to trust the judgement of the other 3.

[Beantown Red]

3 cb's and Enrique and Johnson as wingbacks

[dirk grout]

We have to try him at right mid. Until we try him there we can't say if it works or not. I want to see him tried there. If he can't do it, we need to alter our style of play so he can get into the opposition box like he did today.

 

No we don't.

[Guest LFD]

Mourinho, Benitez, Dalglish and LFD. One of these 4 thinks Johnson should play on the wing and not at right back. I'm prepared to trust the judgement of the other 3.

 

I'd like to see him tried in that position. It might not work, but then again people probably said that about Bale before he was tried at left wing.

[moof]

I don't think he was vulnerable defensively.

[moof]

I'd like to see him tried in that position. It might not work, but then again people probably said that about Bale before he was tried at left wing.

 

I think people were saying that about Bale playing left back. He was dogshit in that position. Johnson is not dogshit at right back.

[dirk grout]

Heres a crazy suggestion, so try to stick with me here, but I've had this insane idea that we should stick with the back four that has conceded 1 goal in 3 games. Call me crazy if you like. Thoughts? I await the resident mongs to start calling for kelly and carra to return asap. Don't fix what aint broke someone once said. Fortunately for us, I reckon Kenny might just be familiar with this.

[Guest LFD]

I don't think he was vulnerable defensively.

 

I remember Mata skinning him once.

 

I also remember Drogba running into the box and he made a half / weak challenge by dangling out a leg, which could have cost us.

 

I just feel Kelly is more solid defensively. Johnson however can be a real threat going forward.

[Scousa Tomo]

I just wonder whether it might be a good chance to try Johnson at right midfield / wing, especially with Kuyt not really playing that well today and Henderson struggling in that position when used.

 

Thoughts?

Thats putting it mildly, and Downing has been playing there mostly this season anyway.

 

3 cb's and Enrique and Johnson as wingbacks

I would like to see how that works aswell.

[Guest LFD]

Heres a crazy suggestion, so try to stick with me here, but I've had this insane idea that we should stick with the back four that has conceded 1 goal in 3 games. Call me crazy if you like. Thoughts? I await the resident mongs to start calling for kelly and carra to return asap. Don't fix what aint broke someone once said. Fortunately for us, I reckon Kenny might just be familiar with this.

 

Well I agree with the reasoning, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

I just think sometime in the future it might be an option worth trying.

[dirk grout]

I'd like to see him tried in that position. It might not work, but then again people probably said that about Bale before he was tried at left wing.

 

Gareth Bale hasn't played left back since he was 20 years old. Glen Johnson is 27 and has earned all of his 30 odd caps as a right back for the same reason Reina has earned his playing in goal. Why the fuck do you keep going on about Bale? Shall I start listing any right back I can think of that hasn't been turned into a winger to prove you wrong?

[dirk grout]

I don't think he was vulnerable defensively.

 

I remember Mata skinning him once.

 

I also remember Drogba running into the box and he made a half / weak challenge by dangling out a leg, which could have cost us.

 

I just feel Kelly is more solid defensively. Johnson however can be a real threat going forward.

 

World class player beats fullback ONCE in game. Person on internet claims this is 'being vulnerable defensively'. You couldn't make it up.

[Phoenix]

No i dont want him playing right wing.

 

His skills are better utilised attacking comes from running from deep past the right midfielder which he is good at rather than playing right midfield

[Guest LFD]

World class player beats fullback ONCE in game. Person on internet claims this is 'being vulnerable defensively'. You couldn't make it up.

 

Johnson has not looked solid defensively for a while. Lots of questions have been labelled at him for awhile. I have been a supporter of his and think he is much better defensively than people give him credit for.

 

However I do think a Kelly / Johnson combination could work brilliantly defensively and going forward.

 

I just want to see it tried and I'm amazed we haven't seen it tried since Johnson has arrived at the club.

[ngogswilly]

Well I don't think the sky would come crashing down if we were to perhaps try it out for a game or two.

 

Especially considering Kelly is very solid at Right Back and needs the games to continue is already extremely promising development.

[Guest LFD]

Gareth Bale hasn't played left back since he was 20 years old. Glen Johnson is 27 and has earned all of his 30 odd caps as a right back for the same reason Reina has earned his playing in goal. Why the fuck do you keep going on about Bale? Shall I start listing any right back I can think of that hasn't been turned into a winger to prove you wrong?

 

Bale is an example of it working.

 

Sure there are probably examples of it not working.

 

I don't know if it will work, nor do you - until we try it, that's all I ask.

 

It is something that should have been tried in pre season and I said as much in the MF.

[Kurt]

It`s not that simple. Playing him in right midfield would not give him the spaces to attack that he gets coming from deep at right back. Playing him in midfield, will se him make more inward runs to create space for the fullback. It`s completely different.

 

Also the vulnerable defensively aspect. He can be defensively suspect. But so do any other attacking full backs of his kind. Alves at Barcelona. Playing for a team like Barcelona, that keeps hold of the ball almost 75% of any match covers up his defensively shortcomings. In the end it`s all about balance. Do you want a player to stay back and play it safe? Or do you want someone with the ability to create moments like today?

[Evil_Ways]

Been saying it and wanted to see it tested since he signed for us basically.

 

One of the best attacking right sided players in the league, and we have Kelly to play at RB too, so i dont see the harm in trying it out. With the ball at his feet he's amongst the most talented players in our team. Likes to run against defenders, good one on one, cuts in well and goes out wide well. I dont see the harm in testing it, wont know until we do. By the look of things he's got everything to be a class attacking player down the right.

[Iceman]

No we don't.

 

My point was Dirkus, that we have to try him there before we can say it doesn't work or not as an experiment.

[Scousa Tomo]

Johnson has not looked solid defensively for a while. Lots of questions have been labelled at him for awhile. I have been a supporter of his and think he is much better defensively than people give him credit for.

 

However I do think a Kelly / Johnson combination could work brilliantly defensively and going forward.

 

I just want to see it tried and I'm amazed we haven't seen it tried since Johnson has arrived at the club.

 

or we could just leave him where he is and buy a right winger?

[Guest LFD]

It`s not that simple. Playing him in right midfield would not give him the spaces to attack that he gets coming from deep at right back. Playing him in midfield, will se him make more inward runs to create space for the fullback. It`s completely different.

 

Also the vulnerable defensively aspect. He can be defensively suspect. But so do any other attacking full backs of his kind. Alves at Barcelona. Playing for a team like Barcelona, that keeps hold of the ball almost 75% of any match covers up his defensively shortcomings. In the end it`s all about balance. Do you want a player to stay back and play it safe? Or do you want someone with the ability to create moments like today?

 

I agree with that you are saying.

 

He might struggle, then again he might thrive - we don't know until we try it.

 

But he did play there for Pompey and looked very good, the season before we bought him.

 

I'd love to see him have less defensive responsibility and be free to attack more - which he is great at doing.

[Guest LFD]

or we could just leave him where he is and buy a right winger?

 

Might not need to buy a new winger if Johnson thrives.

 

Give it a try and we could save some money, like Spurs did with Bale.