Why Rafa's playing Johnson at left back

[GWistooshort]

Johnson played the entire second half in an unfamiliar left-back role, a position he has also been filling in during sessions at Liverpool’s pre-season training camp in Badra Gaz.

 

Benitez told the ECHO the temporary positional switch is designed to bring the best out of the 24-year old defensively.

 

“Johnson did well,” said the Reds boss. “I was using him on the left because he has to think more about his defending there.

 

“We know that he is really good going forward and in this game he played well in defence and well in attack so it was good.

 

“If he is playing left-back it means he cannot go in attack in the same way because he is not quite as comfortable with his left foot as he is with his right so this means he will think more about defending.”

 

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...252-24168258/2/

[Rory Fitzgerald]

The man is gold.

[Sion]

His performance was Cheyrouesque. Very very promising.

[Stefano]

It's quite clever. Carra is one that certainly improved his defensive focus by playing in an unfamiliar position. Johnson is naturally attack minded anyway, so it won't take anything away from that side of his game.

[Bo Benn]

Same career route as Arbeloa wasn't it?

 

But still hope he switches to the right sooner rather than later.

[yellow jumper]

just likes to toy with their minds early on.

[Alonso]

You can imagine Sky's reaction if he plays there on the first day of the season!

[Cam]

It worked so well when Antony Le Tallec and Chris O'Brien were played in different positions "to increase their understandings of the game".

 

Johnson's not a kid who needs to be moved around Ajax-stylee. If this affects the quality of his warm-ups I'll be fuming.

[AJ The Red]

Lets not focus on the players he has moved around and improved eh?

 

All players should be looking to better themselves throughtout their career , if it helps his defending great because there is room for improvement there

[Gray - YPC]

It worked so well when Antony Le Tallec and Chris O'Brien were played in different positions "to increase their understandings of the game".

 

Johnson's not a kid who needs to be moved around Ajax-stylee. If this affects the quality of his warm-ups I'll be fuming.

Behave...

[stressederic]

It worked so well when Antony Le Tallec and Chris O'Brien were played in different positions "to increase their understandings of the game".

 

Johnson's not a kid who needs to be moved around Ajax-stylee. If this affects the quality of his warm-ups I'll be fuming.

 

Yeah that Rafa is a b*****d isn't he?

[johngibo YPC]

Who on earth is Chris O'Brien?

[McBain]

Dunno but i always let him go on a free on cm 01/02

[Billy Talbot]

It worked so well when Antony Le Tallec and Chris O'Brien were played in different positions "to increase their understandings of the game".

 

Johnson's not a kid who needs to be moved around Ajax-stylee. If this affects the quality of his warm-ups I'll be fuming.

 

 

I quite agree. I'll be most angry if his star-jumps go skew-wiff thanks to this positional meddling. Imagine if he ends up with a wonky spine.

[Herbie von Smalls]

i bet johnson's still more effective working on a weakness than riise was playing to his strength. where's kaizer to chastise Rafa for ignoring this golden rule of coaching?

[Dan]

It worked so well when Antony Le Tallec and Chris O'Brien were played in different positions "to increase their understandings of the game".

 

Johnson's not a kid who needs to be moved around Ajax-stylee. If this affects the quality of his warm-ups I'll be fuming.

 

Fuming? Calm down soft lad.

[Conrad]

Houllier used to play henchoz in goal in training sessions...

[Cam]

Who on earth is Chris O'Brien?

Exactly!

 

Fuming? Calm down soft lad.

[Maldini]

Chris O'Brien is the guy who's being mistaken for Jack Hobbs