Glen Johnson as a leftback

[madaboutlfc]

has been f***ing awesome.. doesnt look as suspect defensively as he does on the right.. his left peg aint half bad either.. maybe we should play him permanently there because there arent many good pacy leftbacks available as it is.. Another great performance last night.. making Duff defend in his own half and eventually leading to his substitution would be feather in anyones cap

[Cooldude]

Very comfortable on his left foot as well, he can cut inside or keep running down the line... gives him more options. He seems to be loving it as well

 

Always be a bit suspect defensively but as long as he's a threat going forward then no one will complain

[Falconhoof]

Kenny has been out of the game too long

[Stew F]

In fairness it could have had a lot to do with Steve Clarke.

[Conrad]

I'd rather Johnson at left back than f***ing warnock

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Kenny has been out of the game too long

 

 

In fairness it could have had a lot to do with Steve Clarke.

 

Rafa played him there quite a bit at the start of last season. (mainly pre-season games)

Edited January 27, 2011 by Behind Enemy Lines

[Cooldude]

Rafa played him there quite a bit at the start of last season. (mainly pre-season games)

 

What the f*** would that fat Spanish waiter know?

[Leo No.8]

Absolutely superb last night. Has looked much more at home at left back than he has at right back to be honest.

 

It seems to be like maybe he concentrates more because he's a bit out of his comfort zone on the other side, and to me it seems like the angles he gets running at defenders with the ball from that side suit him. There was a run he made at the end of the game last night where he was kind of dragging it back and going past and he did it about 5 times in succession, beating the man every time when you thought he'd lose it. Defenders are worried about him cutting in and shooting but he's equally happy accelerating outside.

 

That was why I'd have liked to see him wide midfield! That dual threat of going inside or outside and being as two footed as he is can make for an incredibly dangerous winger. You can't show him either way the way you could show Babel outside when he was on the left for example, because he had no left foot and was basically always trying to work the opportunity to come inside and shoot. Show him outside and watch him stop and try to come back in or fluff his cross with his left.

 

Both our full backs got forward superbly last night - Kelly is coming on a hell of a lot in his attacking play and his delivery is excellent.

Edited January 27, 2011 by Leo No.8

[The_Adder]

Absolutely superb last night. Has looked much more at home at left back than he has at right back to be honest.

 

It seems to be like maybe he concentrates more because he's a bit out of his comfort zone on the other side, and to me it seems like the angles he gets running at defenders with the ball from that side suit him. There was a run he made at the end of the game last night where he was kind of dragging it back and going past and he did it about 5 times in succession, beating the man every time when you thought he'd lose it. Defenders are worried about him cutting in and shooting but he's equally happy accelerating outside.

 

That was why I'd have liked to see him wide midfield! That dual threat of going inside or outside and being as two footed as he is can make for an incredibly dangerous winger. You can't show him either way the way you could show Babel outside when he was on the left for example, because he had no left foot and was basically always trying to work the opportunity to come inside and shoot. Show him outside and watch him stop and try to come back in or fluff his cross with his left.

 

Both our full backs got forward superbly last night - Kelly is coming on a hell of a lot in his attacking play and his delivery is excellent.

 

Agree with all of that and the original poster - he has been superb.

 

Warnock, if he came, would be our third choice left back now, so there really isnt any point - Aurelio is a cut above him and Johnson has been superb.

 

He gives us an amazing attacking threat going forward and cutting in on his right foot is giving teams a real worry as he can hit them as he done last night.

 

He does strangely look better defensively on that side, which is mad really, but maybe it is the higher need for concentration that is helping him here.

 

Excellent player.

[Leo No.8]

Absolutely - that c*nt Paintpot was sh*tting his pants every time Johnson was one on one with him. I think he knocked that one in just so Johnson would get forward a bit less and leave him alone.

[richwilks]

Johnson is under rated defensively and under rated on his left foot as well. He scored some crackers with his left foot for Portsmouth and I think he's scored a couple for us with his left.

 

The one cross he put in with his left yesterday was top notch. Full backs sorted, let's sort the centre back now.

[Leo No.8]

Johnson is under rated defensively and under rated on his left foot as well. He scored some crackers with his left foot for Portsmouth and I think he's scored a couple for us with his left.

 

The one cross he put in with his left yesterday was top notch. Full backs sorted, let's sort the centre back now.

 

The full backs were far and away the biggest positive from last night for me.

 

Kelly tried to overplay at one point in the first half and gave the ball away in a bad spot, but aside from that they were both brilliant, our major attacking threats. I was in favour of moving Kelly to centre half and Johnson back to right back, but watching them both last night it'd be foolish not to just let them carry on as they are. I think the Greek should probably be playing with Agger to sort the aerial balls out, but I think his performance against Blackburn has damaged confidence in his ability to handle any kind of pace or skill.

 

We really need someone aerially dominant but less agricultural. Watched Hangelaand quite closely last night thinking about him as a potential target; everyone knows he's good in the air and he is huge but I wanted to try to get a better feel for how comfortable he was on the ball, and I thought he looked good in that respect. He does have an air of Sami about him which is about the biggest compliment I can give. His major strengths are obviously aerially but based on last night I'd say he is perfectly competent with the ball at his feet.

 

He doesn't seem to be mentioned as a target anymore - I'm not sure why because what he does very well is what we need desperately, and he is proven in our league. He's pushing 30 but no reason a player of his type shouldn't play at a high level to 35-36 at least.

Edited January 27, 2011 by Leo No.8

[richwilks]

The full backs were far and away the biggest positive from last night for me.

 

Kelly tried to overplay at one point in the first half and gave the ball away in a bad spot, but aside from that they were both brilliant, our major attacking threats. I was in favour of moving Kelly to centre half and Johnson back to right back, but watching them both last night it'd be foolish not to just let them carry on as they are. I think the Greek should probably be playing with Agger to sort the aerial balls out, but I think his performance against Blackburn has damaged confidence in his ability to handle any kind of pace or skill.

 

We really need someone aerially dominant but less agricultural. Watched Hangelaand quite closely last night thinking about him as a potential target; everyone knows he's good in the air and he is huge but I wanted to try to get a better feel for how comfortable he was on the ball, and I thought he looked good in that respect. He does have an air of Sami about him which is about the biggest compliment I can give. His major strengths are obviously aerially but based on last night I'd say he is perfectly competent with the ball at his feet.

 

He doesn't seem to be mentioned as a target anymore - I'm not sure why because what he does very well is what we need desperately, and he is proven in our league. He's pushing 30 but there's no reason a player of his type shouldn't play at a high level to 35-36 at least.

 

Short term Haageland would be the answer and we'd probably get 2-3 top seasons out of him, if he improves the defence immeasurably which he could potentially do he'd be worth the high transfer fee. He's good on the ball and dominant in the air, question marks over his pace but he copes.

 

 

 

[Tones]

I'd rather Johnson at left back than f***ing warnock

 

Definately.

[Gethin]

I'd rather Johnson at left back than f***ing warnock

 

I'm wondering if GJ's recent performances are why the Warnock links seem to have stopped. We now know we can get to the summer with Gpen and Fabio covering left - and Glen, Kelly and if needs must Carra at right.

 

Wed never have signed Warnock at the end of the loan anyway

[torn]

I think he'd probably do an equally good job at right back. The new tactics suit him better and he's more confident.

 

However he has been excellent, particularly last night. Was like the first few games he played under Rafa.

[Epic Swindle]

Far better at left back. He's forced to concentrate more.

[épieur]

He doesn't seem to be mentioned as a target anymore - I'm not sure why because what he does very well is what we need desperately, and he is proven in our league. He's pushing 30 but no reason a player of his type shouldn't play at a high level to 35-36 at least.

 

We haven't been linked with any cetrebacks since Kenny came in. It's weird.

[Swipe]

I think he's just improved hugely under kenny, rather than it being due to the move to LB.

 

In this form I suspect he'd look good in his favoured position too.

[Drexl]

Short term Haageland would be the answer and we'd probably get 2-3 top seasons out of him, if he improves the defence immeasurably which he could potentially do he'd be worth the high transfer fee. He's good on the ball and dominant in the air, question marks over his pace but he copes.

Not really, he is very slow.

Very much similar to Hyypia, I think. Excellent in a team sitting back, but would be more exposed here. Would need a pacey partner.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

FAR better at LB than RB. Keep him there

[Knox_Harrington]

It is the change of manager and playing on the front foot. He's an asset either side. Kelly would be a significant improvement on Skrtel.

[Leo No.8]

It is the change of manager and playing on the front foot. He's an asset either side. Kelly would be a significant improvement on Skrtel.

 

Kelly f*cking Clarkson would be a significant improvement on Skrtel. Bet she's better in the air.

[John am Rhein]

left back probably works better for Johnson because it stops him trying to play like an outside forward when he's actually a full back

 

being able to come inside (where the rest our players are) on his stronger foot probably helps too

[Elm0]

Dont know why people are very happy with this Yes, after a shaky first game hes been solid, but hes still not a LB and shouldnt be considered as so. No way.