The prospect of Champions League football lured Glen Johnson to Anfield in 2009. His experience of it was brief and unfulfilling before Liverpoolâs decline denied him a second chance. Now, five years on, the Merseysiders are on course for a belated return to the European elite. The worry for him is that he might not be. Johnsonâs future remains up in the air. Out of contract in the summer, he has seen Liverpool expend plenty of energy in the January transfer window, though they ultimately failed to recruit wingers Mohamed Salah and Yevhen Konoplyanka. Yet they have made rather fewer attempts to keep a stalwart of their defence. Johnson, a £17 million (Dh102.3m) signing from Portsmouth, could leave for free at the end of the season. He hopes to remain at Anfield but no new deal has been offered yet. âI would like to stay,â he said, accepting it is out of his hands. âI have not heard anything from the club.â His time at Liverpool has coincided with a fallow period in their fortunes. After signing for a side that had just finished second and run Manchester United close in one of the more memorable title races, they have come seventh, sixth, eighth and seventh again in his first four seasons at Anfield. Now they arrive at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday in fourth and buoyed by a 4-0 derby win over Everton. A top-four berth has long been the target â âthat was the objective at the start of the season,â Johnson added â but Liverpoolâs fine form means they would be left with regrets if they finished fifth. âIt would be a disappointment if we donât do it,â he added. Liverpool can sense the rewards it offers, the realisation of the long-term goal of a return to the Champions League. âWhen I signed it was one of the major factors,â said Johnson. âItâs where all players want to be.â The other preferred destination for high-class footballers is Brazil for this summerâs World Cup. While there were suggestions Johnsonâs groin and ankle problems could put his participation in doubt, the right-back, while reluctant to name a date for his comeback, is confident his absence will end much sooner. âIt wonât be for too much longer,â he said. âThings are headed in the right direction.â They certainly are for Liverpool. Rodgersâ reign began in earnest at The Hawthorns. His first competitive game, in August 2012, was an anticlimactic 3-0 defeat. âAny managerial change rocks the boat a bit,â Johnson rationalised. âBut Brendan didnât try to change too much too soon. Now we have started to play the way he wants us to.â It is an approach that involves a diet of goals, goals and more goals. Because Manchester City have been so prolific, Liverpoolâs own scoring exploits have been overlooked. Yet while they had 18 championship-winning sides, none had scored more league goals at this stage of a season. âWe have a killer instinct now,â said Johnson. Thrashings have become commonplace as Albion, who lost 4-1 at Anfield in October, can testify. âWhen you have the killer instinct, you donât want to settle for 2-1,â Johnson explained. âThis year goal difference could be crucial.â Liverpoolâs, of plus 29, is driven by the âSASâ, the potent pairing of Daniel Sturridge, scorer of 13 league goals, and Luis Suarez, who has 23. Johnson rates them the best strike duo in the Premier League. The Uruguayan is the divisionâs top scorer. âHe must feel he is unstoppable,â Johnson said. âHe shoots from angles that other players wouldnât.â It is proving a profitable policy. Yet while Liverpool are prospering by going forwards at every opportunity, one man has retreated: captain Steven Gerrard, now deployed in a deeper role. âI think it suits him,â Johnson argued. âHe can set up attacks with his passing.â It is a bold style of football that an attacking full-back enjoys. What he doesnât know is how much longer he will be able to savour it. http://www.thenational.ae/sport/liv...y-but-i-have-not-heard-anything-from-the-club ------- Straight to the point isnt he, maybe he didnt want to talk much that day Surely he will be offered a new one as we dont want him leaving for nothing!
Unless he stays with us (assuming we get CL) or goes abroad, he's missed the CL boat now. None of Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, Spurs or Everton will have him.
Could see him at Spurs but no others there Hes been rightly bashed for his performances but like BR said hes been carrying this injury where as many thought its because we offered him not what he wanted
Johnson is the prime example of physical ability without the mental attributes to be top class. If he has the professionalism of other players with less ability [G.Neville for example] he could have been one of the best right backs in the world. He seems to lack the concentration that comes with a strong mental discipline. Wont be much of a loss once he goes. [edit] This was shown best when he played left back. He couldn't sit in his comfort zone so was very effective.
I don't buy that. He's been playing crap for the majority of a year now (one or two performances aside) so, unless he's been carrying an injury for 12 months, sorry, he's just been playing ****. Same happened when Allen was playing awful for a long time - he was said to be carrying an injury all along, but no one thought to rest him or treat him for it... Either our medical staff are useless or BR is just covering up the players' poor form to protect them. I'd go with the latter. Johno will be off in the summer, we can get better than him. He was great, but now average at best.
Im sure this summer though we could get some cash for him so this contract does need sorting as there would be teams wanting him im sure Ive always thought with Johnson that when hes good hes been very good and of our out standing performers but havent thought this for a while Different kinds of injuries as well, maybe he thought he could play okay but like you say his poor form has been for such a long time
If we agree terms with Johnson then he will remain part of the first team as Brod rates him. Having just a year left means there a chance he will ****off
Which is why I said sort the contract? "Johnson, a £17 million (Dh102.3m) signing from Portsmouth, could leave for free at the end of the season."
He signed a new deal in July 2011: http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/johnson-signs-reds-extension Annoyingly, that article doesn't say how long the deal was. However, it does say "Very often defenders peak between 26 and 31". He was 26 when the deal was signed and he will turn 31 in August 2015
With Kelly, Flanno, Enrique and Wisdom and possibly a summer signing I don't see why we would need Johnson beyond this year. Fingers crossed that Kelly and Enrique can put their injuries behind them.
Not fussed about losing Johnson - never rated him as a defender but his ability going forward would compensate it somewhat. Get rid of his wages which can pay the wages of 2-3 new players.
