http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/08/adam-johnson-sunderland-league-survival Given a choice between avoiding the Championship and winning the Capital One Cup, Adam Johnson would not think twice before declining the trophy. "Staying in the Premier League is much more important," said the erstwhile England winger. "It's about being a Premier League footballer. A cup final is just one game. We've seen over the years how many teams have won a cup, gone down and never been seen again. If you do well in the cups it's great but the main priority is the league. I can't really understand why some fans would rather win a cup than stay up." Despite this stance, Johnson is delighted to have earned the penalty, scored by Fabio Borini, which gave Sunderland a 2-1 semi-final first-leg win against Manchester United at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday. As David Moyes and his players contemplated the repercussions of a third successive defeat, Gus Poyet's Sunderland squad pondered how on earth they can be within touching distance of Wembley yet remain resolutely bottom of the table after winning only three Premier League games all season. "Over the years teams who've struggled have tended to do well in the cups; I think that's hardly a coincidence," said Johnson whose side face a trip to Fulham on Saturday. "We seem to do it in the cups but we can't seem to quite do it in the League. Unlike the top teams, we're not consistent. Now we've just got to put the cup aside and concentrate on the league. "Maybe there's less pressure in the cups but I think it's important we try and take that form into the league. If we can play with that bit of freedom, go for it and not be scared to lose, I think we'll be all right." Whether Sunderland can prevail in the second leg at Old Trafford is another matter. "We've got a lead to hold on to," said Johnson. "And the best time to play Manchester United is probably now but, regardless of the situation they're in, it's going to be difficult. The hardest task of the tie is ahead of us. Old Trafford is still a difficult place to go whatever sort of team United are now. We've just got to try and attack them." As a former Manchester City player he is expecting plenty of "stick" from United fans but is rather less confident about taking the injured Theo Walcott's place in England's World Cup squad for Brazil. "I'm probably too far away now," conceded Johnson. "I think Roy Hodgson's mind's made up. But I won't give up. Theo's quite a good friend of mine so it wasn't nice to see that happen to him but you've got to take your chance. "Having been involved with England for a few years until I signed for Sunderland going to the World Cup is always going to be in the back of my mind," he acknowledged. "You never know, stranger things have happened." Brighton, meanwhile, have announced that they have turned down a transfer request from the midfielder Liam Bridcutt, a target for Sunderland.
If AJ can turn in a few more performances like last night , relegation won't be an issue. Wembley will become a reality , and Hodgson just might come calling. Your future is in your own hands young man.
This should be pinned up on AJ's locker tomorrow. Said the very same thing last night and the door is ajar now with Walcotts injury for someone to go to Brazil in the summer. If Johnson would rather just go to Magaluf on the piss then thats his loss and ours btw.
I don't get why people talk like we can only do one of staying up or winning the league cup. I want both. Both are achievable
Certainly are but if I had to choose one I'd choose to stay up. And we are still in the FA cup. I can see a treble on the horizon.
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/foot...Adam-Johnson-writes-off-his-World-Cup-chances Johnson admits his chances of reaching this summerâs finals are somewhere between slim and non-existent, but at least he is beginning to show the kind of form which won him 11 England caps, the last of which was nearly two years ago. Johnson delivered a telling display in the FA Cup win over Carlisle on Sunday and followed that up with a brilliant cameo performance off the bench against Manchester United on Tuesday, capped with a searing run into the box which earned Sunderland a penalty that meant they will travel to the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Old Trafford on January 22 with a 2-1 advantage. The 26-year-old has not made a single Roy Hodgson squad during the England managerâs tenure. Johnson said: âIâm probably too far away now. His (Hodgsonâs] mind is made up. He has used 30-odd players and I havenât been one of them, but I wonât give up. Theo Walcott is quite a good friend of mine so it wasnât nice to see that happen to him but you have to take your chance. âYou never know, he [Hodgson] might come and watch a few of our games. Playing in big games against big teams helps and hopefully he had someone watching on Tuesday. âItâs always going to be in the back of your mind to go to a World Cup having been involved with England for a few years until I signed for Sunderland. Itâs still difficult, but you never know, stranger things have happened.â As for club matters, Johnson was delighted with the first-leg win over David Moyesâ United, although he cannot understand why some Sunderland fans would prefer to end the 41-year wait for a trophy on Wearside than stay in the top flight. âItâs just one game in the season, you play in the Premier League for a full season,â said Johnson. âItâs much more important to me as itâs all about being a Premier League footballer. âWeâve seen over the years how many teams have won the cup, gone down and never been seen again. Youâve still got to do well in the cups and if you do itâs great, but the main priority is the league. Semi-finals are big games â almost the best games to play in. It brings the best out of players like myself. I play better in the bigger games, so just to come on and play a part against United was good. âThey had lost the last couple of games. The best time to play United is probably now and we made the most of that. Itâs still going to be difficult, but weâll go there now with a lead and it gives us something to play with.â Sunderland went into the Capital One Cup game with just one win in their last nine league matches, but their form in knockout ties this season has been eye-catching, with Chelsea, Southampton and United all beaten. Johnson said: âWe seem to do it in the cups but we canât quite seem to do it in the league. âConsistency is the main thing. Thatâs why the top teams are the best, theyâre the most consistent. Thatâs the hardest thing in football, winning game after game after game, especially in this league, with the quality of teams around us. âNow, we put the cup to one side and concentrate on the league. Itâs important we try to take that form into the league and, if we can play with that bit of freedom and not be scared to lose and go for it, weâll be all right.â
If I had to choose one it would be silverware every time. If we don't win a cup then in 30/40 years time nobody will be vaguely interested in or remember this season, or most of the current crop of players. We support our team and hope for the occasional glory days when we might win a competition. At the moment, winning the league title is likely to be beyond us for the foreseeable future, so winning the League Cup for the first time is my main hope for the season. Adam Johnson speaks as someone who has already won silverware and medals (as have Brown and O'Shea). I suspect that if you asked some of the other squad members then they would be hungry for that winner's medal to show off to their grandchildren, as much as I want to be able to tell my great grandchildren that I was there when we won the Cup at Wembley. I already have far too many tales of "that was the season when we just avoided relegation from the top flight".
I know what you mean mate but financially relegation would be a disaster. Where are Wigan & Birmingham now?
Birmingham were already in the financial clarts when thy were in the Premier League - something to do with their owner and fraud charges. Wigan are struggling with their European commitments this season with a smaller squad. I do think that with the parachute payments Wigan will be a very strong team in the championship next year. If you asked either set of supporters whether they would give up their cup wins and European adventures for another season of struggle (and possibly relegation) in the Premier league, I suspect that the majority would vote to keep their cup wins.
A fan would choose silverware. A club (business) and Player would choose Premier League. No Championship player will go to the world cup with England - all players will be in the top division of their countries. The polish/Czech's etc. would be fine in Championship so, to me, what Johnson says makes perfect sense from a footballers perspective - particularly one which has already got some silverware under his belt. Fans want trophies for the main part - but me, I'd rather be in the Premier League next season than win the cup. There's no reason we can;t do both
