I'm not sure where that stat has come from but I'm not sure it's 100% accurate. Johnson was actually decent defensively today, didn't do anything wrong in my eyes. It was on the ball he struggled.
he was mince... manquillo showed a willingness to get across and block. johnson let everything in and trotted about BUT he was not as bad a gerrard and lucas who basically killed the game for us. Our midfield is pretty average with that lot in. The allen bashing is far too strong however as he did inject willingness to run at least. johnson is just one player and not the most vital. we have to make a choice however... carry gerrard or johnson but not both. We need two runners in midfield to carry gerrard. we need a winger pinned out wide to cover johnson's style of lazy.
There were 7+ players worse than Johnson today including the other fullback. It's an issue but he's just become a scapegoat these days rather than reflecting actual performances. He was decent today.
7 players worse !!! it wasn't GJ worse game but still pants plus he now looks terrified of the ball TBH i'd would amost prefer Cissokho !!!
Balls.... No I wonder if you were watching the cricket rather than the football as if there were 7 Given the fact I'd allow Gerrard and Lucas in this supposed 7 That would require 5 of the following to be worse Skertl Lovern Manquillo Mingolet Coutinho Henderson Sterling Sturridge Sorry but not one man jack of them played worse than Johnson even if coutinho was in and out and manquillo offered little going forward Sorry but that 7 is a gross exaggeration
Johnson made 18 passes to Sterling. Highest to an attacking player for the game. Plus his sliding block saved a certain goal. Not too bad. A 6.5 rating I would say. Lucas and Coutinho were a 5. Gerrard a bit leaden, esp in the second half (5.5). Manquillo wasn't offering a threat past Henderson (6). Henderson (6) and Sturridge (6) were mediocre except for their (beautiful) assist and goal respectively. Skrtel was just ok (6) - started to hesitate a little in the second half. That's 7.
Lidvor is spot on the ball, I dont comment much on any forum but you are all very quick to critizise Johnson, Gerrard Lucas and coutinho were much worse today. But no one slating them. Stevies positioning was atrocious for a senior player and lucas looked amateur. take the blinkers off lads
It was the first game of a new season. Johnson played better yesterday than he did in most games last season. My main concern is the midfield. Lucas should never play alongside Gerrard as they both lack pace and at times yesterday were trying to occupy the same space. Would like to see either Hendo or Can alongside Gerrad. Against City I would be surprised if Moreno started as it is a big game to throw in someone who has only been with the club 10 days, could see him on the bench though. Markovic might also make the bench if fit.
I think tactical flexibility is key in the midfield. If I were playing say Henderson and Can, box to box of course with gerrard behind. I would want on of these guys to be smart enough to take simple instruction to switch to sitting beside gerrard and make it two DMs and one box to box. Thats what you really want in either a diamond formation of a 4-3-3. Lucas and gerrard don't just lack pace they lack stamina so fade out after 25 mins. Its not a good way to go.
we got lucky yesterday playing a weak midfield, just hope its been noticed and doesn't happen again, or too often! ie injuries force it. glad we had a home game though, as we would probably have lost that game if it was away game yesterday. we got lucky, will be games this season we will get robbed, so onto the next one thankful we have 3 pts on the board. someone please buy johnson as well, batards!! please
He was one of our worst players- but to be honest- I don't think anyone individually did bad. The team was below par... and we had few GOOD performances, but no one was terrible (not even GJ). Johnson was definitely better than Cissokho ever was. If he could always perform like he did today- Johnson would make an accepted squad player/benchwarmer... although not on his salary.
