Johnson is not a Premiership player. You will see that soon. As you probably know he refused his contract with us because he felt he was a starting 11 player (which he was) so he should be on starting 11 wages like the likes of Snodgrass and Gradel. The only difference was is Snodgrass and Gradel are 2 of our best players. Johnson was only a starting 11 player because we were weak in that area anyway. He turned down a wage increase from £3, 000 to £7, 000 in January because he wanted to be on £11, 000. That isn't set in stone but Bates has said that "a player" wanted that. It's pretty safe to assume it was Johnson. He will have good games for you, but doesn't every game. He whacks the ball every time, time and time again just for the sake of it. Every so often it may go in, as you saw against Arsenal, but if you keep trying it's going to go in eventually. He's had the odd deflected shot in. He's strong I'll give him that. He's stupid I'll also give him that. He stands there with the ball at his feet thinking what to do next and then OOPSS, the ball has disappeared and from his feet and he looks behind and they're running away with it. Leeds fans will begin to despise him. Not because he left us, as we only needed him because he played in an area we have no depth, but because of his attitude. Schmeichel and Kilkenny won't be hated. Past players that have gone aren't hated such as Beckford, a lot of us watch his games and hope he does well. But Johnson is a player who if you described you would be describing football in general today. Money grabbing. He's not got the talent to hold a place in most top Championship teams. You will find this out soon. Knowing our look he will suddenly become the next Lionel Messi, but I doubt it, but he really isn't that good. God help you, because if you play him every game you're ****ed :L.
I fell asleep half way through that OP. I've learned one thing if nothing else - never expect any good wishes from a Leeds fan.
Take it how you want, Bradley Johnson is over rated. He had good games on the TV, as did Kasper Schmeichel. That's all it takes to be highly rated these days, have a good game when the spotlights are on you. Doesn't matter about the rest.
"He whacks the ball every time, time and time again just for the sake of it. Every so often it may go in, as you saw against Arsenal, but if you keep trying it's going to go in eventually. He's had the odd deflected shot in. He's strong I'll give him that. He's stupid I'll also give him that. He stands there with the ball at his feet thinking what to do next and then OOPSS, the ball has disappeared and from his feet and he looks behind and they're running away with it" Hell, he sounds terrible! What on earth were you doing offering a new contract? I've total faith in Lambert's judgement and ability to make the best of any player in the squad. If he works out (probably primarily as a squad player), that's great, if not, he's not exactly going to be an expensive mistake.
Sorry, you posted while I was typing. "He had good games on the TV, as did Kasper Schmeichel. That's all it takes to be highly rated these days, have a good game when the spotlights are on you. Doesn't matter about the rest." If that's what you think of Paul Lambert and our scouting set up, forgive me, you don't know what you're talking about.
Because we were very weak in that area. We had Howson and Johnson and then Kilkenny (who can only slow play down so he'd be used if needed towards end) and that's all we had in central midfield that were good enough to play. If Chelsea only had 1 striker and a 16 year old academy player, it doesn't mean the academy player is a good Premiership player. That's Johnson, he got into the team because there was no real competition. In the words of good old Arnold, I'll be back, and I'll bring this post back up because you will see.
Of course it wouldn't make that 16 year old a good player, but if their contract was running out, I would suggest the club would replace them with better rather than offering a new contract, perpetuating the problem. As I said, if he works out (and I've no reason to doubt it) great, if not, no biggie.
#In the words of good old Arnold, I'll be back, and I'll bring this post back up because you will see. # Seriously, don't bother - i think we've heard quite enough from you. Fact is, none of our players are Premier players yet. We have a management team capable of moulding them, probably more so than Leeds, and we believe in them. We've had some players we were glad to see the back of, but 'hate'? Get a grip.
Johnson always said he wanted to be on the same as some of the best at Leeds, but the staff clearly didn't rate him that high. He wanted to be on £11k so we can assume the likes of Snodgrass are on £11k. So we can clearly afford that. If Johnson was worth it we would of offered him it, because it's not that he just wanted to move to Norwich, he just wanted more money and "Hey, watcha know, another team that don't know how **** I am are willing to stump up money for my wages and HEYYY! THEY'RE A PREM TEAM. IS IT CHRISTMAS?" You can probably tell I'm slightly pi$$ed off. And I am. Not because I'm sour. It's because I'm involved directly with football to professional standard. And I see the emotions people go through when they get rejected. And then to see people who aren't even good enough go all the way to the top league. It is ridiculous.
Thing is, it's still only your opinion Danny. Others, far more experienced than you disagree. Heck, it could even be them who are right.
1. If he's that awful why was he offered a new contract? 2. Why is it when a player chooses to, God forbid, leave Leeds, the fans instantly turn on him? 3. One of the best examples of destroying your own argument I've ever seen Beckford did exactly the same last season as Johnson has just done. Refused to sign a new contract so he could play in the Premier League and get more money 4. The last line of your post smacks of jealousy, thus nullifying the whole argument.
People said alot about the players we signed last year, and they all turned out to be excellent players for us. Johnson is hard working and can play in midfield or left back, so adds versatility, effort, strength and determination to a squad of like minded players. I don't think he will be starting 11 every week but as a back-up I think he is very capable. Less talented individuals have made it in the Prem through hard work and determination. Look at Robbie Savage for one. Lambert is very good with his players and gets the best out of them, I think Johnson (bearing in mind he was on a free) was a very well considered purchase. And like already stated, if it doesn't work out we haven't lost much.
I'm not saying I agree with Danny Crying or whatever he's called, but I do have one concern about Johnson's signing- what on earth took so long for the contract agreement to be finalised? Given his reputation for being money grabbing (Danny isn't the only one thats expresssed this concern) it does make you wonder whether he was holding out for higher wages? This is only a minor concern and ILWT! More importantly, did anyone else have a chuckle at Leeds when they read the following quote from Johnson- "I'm over the moon really to get the chance to play...with a big club like Norwich City"?!?
RT - the signing took so long because he was contracted to Leeds until June 30th! He'd been through the rituals of agreeing personal terms and having a medical, then, when he became a free agent, the anouncement was made
Errr surely if he was making such mistakes that's down to the manager to point them out and then between him and the backroom staff to sort it out. Doesn't say much about your staff if they didn't sort it out but still then offered him a new contract instead of replacing him.
I remember how Peterborough fans said Russell Martin wasn't good enough for League One, only to become arguably the best defender in the Championship a year later. I remember how Wolverhampton fans berated Andrew Surman for being slow and lethargic, and quite generally massively overrated, yet he went on to impress so much in so very few games that he was rated as one of the best midfielders in the Championship by pundits and critics alike. I remember how Coventry fans said Elliott Ward was too slow and too docile to make any impact here, and was on course for a slide into the lower leagues, yet he now finds himself as a crucial part of a team going to the very highest league. I remember little things like that, and this post can't strike me with fear.
Spot on, Sussex I imagine there were a few Brighton / Colchester fans who said the same sort of thing about Crofts / Fox respectively, when we signed them. Almost willing them to fail, for having the audacity to move to a "bigger" - or more ambitious club. And the more the OP says 'it's not sour grapes', etc, the more evident it becomes that that is exactly what it is. As for Beckford, I remember reading 606 when he went to Everton and the vitriol flying around from some Leeds fans was scary Nice try, Danny Ryan, but you're wasting your breath on this one.
One massive difference, Beckford is extremely talented. Let me put it a different way for you. We offered Bradley Johnson a new contract because he was adequate as a squad player in the Championship, was quite flexible (could play on the left wing reasonably well and was decent at left back), and would have made decent back up when we get a new player to do a similar (albeit better) job in the central midfield. Now, we have to find 2 players instead of 1. We offered him more than double what he was on and he rejected it because he wanted nearly quadruple. It's common sense that your best players get paid the most and he wanted paying the same as our best players, which would be unfair on plenty of other players, because Johnson was not one of our best players. He has his moments, and will perhaps be a good squad player for you. This is entirely what we wanted to keep him as, a squad player. Or the fans did, maybe Grayson had different ideas. I've heard plenty of people slate Johnson well before his contract became any sort of an issue, and the whole problem has thrown fuel on the fire. Basically, Danny Ryan has a point, but he was stupid to bring it up and made himself look like a bitter idiot. I hope my more in depth and mature analysis has helped clear this matter up. I will admit I was quite embarrassed reading the original post.
