I've said it many times over the last three years and I'll say it again - Andrew Johnson is not the correct partner for Bobby. For some inexplicable reason, Johnson continually drifts into the middle and Bobby gets pushed out to the (usually) right wing. Johnson in the middle will not win the ball in the air; his close ball control is not good enough; his awareness of (own) players around him is not good enough; his deft flicks are in hope not in knowledge or purpose. Bobby in the middle hassles the centre backs; he pushes into them; he does use the flanks but that is by pulling across and away from the backs, leaving space; his ball control and ability to bring others in to play is v good. A Bobby standing out on the right wing waiting for the ball is an ineffective Bobby. Consider 3 years ago when Bobby was getting grief, who was his partner - Johnson. Two years ago when he was everybodies hero, who was his partner - not Johnson. Last year, when the team started brim full of confidence and probably playing as good football as we've seen, and before his injury, who was Bobby's partner - not Johnson. I rst my case.
Cottager, I agree. Johnson needs to be sold to make some space in the budget and the squad to bring someone else. Bobby is a centre forward and thus how he should be playing. Thinking of Jol and attacking football I would see a 4-3-2-1 system where Dempsey and Dembele are pushing forward with him.
Totally agree we should offload Fulhams most expensive player..,both in cost to buy and wages. have already expressed my views on AJ some days ago. Incidently have not seen any comments lately from AJs no 1 fan RF.
I have thought the same myself - I must confess I suspected you two were the same person AJ would be good to keep around an extra option, but on those wages I think it would be best if he went to make room for someone who works with Bobby Z a bit better.
I must admit that if I was in charge AJ would not survive the chop. As much as he energy and runs the channels he has not helped in the scoring department as much as he should. At present my shopping list would be Mladin Petric (Hamburg) to take the place of A.Johnson El Hamdaoui (Ajax) to take the place of Kamara Shay Given (Man City) if a Schwarzer leaving Iziguirre (Celtic) or Pogatetz (Hannover96) for Salcido N'Zogbia (Wigan) or Alex Kacaniklic for Gera Oleguer Presas (Ajax) or Phil Bardsley (Sunderland) for Pantsil Trotta or Dalla Valle for Eddie Johnston in case of injury to Murphy and give him a rest. Hitlzsperger (West Ham) or Benayuon ( Loan Chelsea)
Well Super Bri, the one's we're reported to be chasing are not on your list. That is - Bellamy £4m Defoe £10 - 12m Scotty Parker £10m The problem with each of these is of course the wages. Of those on your list - John P is his own agent and in America right now and will probably sign for a New York team Given and N'Zogbia are headed for the Villains Gera is his own agent and had a "lengthy medical late last night" with the Baggies Kamara is also his own agent We've turned down offers for both Johnson and Salcido. Goodness knows why since the money, any money, for the pair of them would be better value. To brighten up the day let's believe and trust in MAF. In Fultime he said, "Martin, Alistaiar and I have discussed players and the manager will get what he needs."
Is it really such a hard concept to understand that we need to buy an additional fullback for the squad, not to replace the ones we have? The reason Salcido was not dropped is because we had no better option, and selling him and keeping just the one fullback just exacerbates the problems we currently have. The vitriol against Salcido is really quite tedious now.
You're quite right Surlyc. And the thread in any event is about Andrew Johnson - more particularly that he is not the correct partner for Bobby. My motive in starting the thread was based on what I saw on Thursday night. As said, that reinforced a view I have held for nigh on 3 years. I, like everone else, want to see an exciting season and believe that Jol's attack minded approach can make it so. Only though, if Bobby is allowed his proper role. In the centre up front pushing, probing, pressing and naturally, scoring . He can do it. We know he can do it. My opinion is not with Johnson. What I had hoped for was a debate on that.
I did give my comment on Johnson 'I must admit that if I was in charge AJ would not survive the chop. As much as he has energy and runs the channels he has not helped in the scoring department as much as he should'. Before he got injured in that early Europa game that season he had started to gel upfront with Zamora, but the knee injury stopped that. After coming back Last season he showed the usual energy but again lacked the killer touch in front of goal. As far as I know it has been reported in the papers that Salcido wants to return to Mexico for Family reasons. Personally I don't think he is as bad as people think, he is just inconsistent, something that could be said of a few of our players.
Uncle Woy has shown renewed interest; although no offer yet. Leicester have reportedly had talks with his agent and £40k per week mentioned, but doubts expressed whether he would be prepared to step down a division. Usual rumours but what they say is that the club has approved approaches.
Yawn Yawn. The AJ saga goes on, why should he move, sit tight for another year cop your 40k = per week,then move on a free,then he could sign a 3 year deal at what ? 30k + per week luverly jubbly.
Jol may fancy some money to spend. Do the club want to wait a year? - we lost out on Gera and Pantsil going Bosnan,
I think its less what Jol wants,and more what the player intends. and i dont think he will move unless it suits AJ.
We need a player who can get behind defenders and run through the gaps, and right now that's Andy Johnson. Unless we can find a pacy striker to fill the position, Fulham becomes a one-trick pony (Zamora holds up the ball, Dempsey, Dembele or Duff, fakes an outside run, turns inside and takes a shot). Without a pace threat, Fulham's offense becomes predictable. Pace stretches a defense, creating space for everyone. So if not AJ, then who? Bellamy and Keane have the right qualities, but both are old and Keane is crap.
So if not AJ, then who? Bellamy and Keane have the right qualities, but both are old and Keane is crap.[/QUOTE] Completely agree DR though AJ is not that young himself, if we could find a twenty something pacy striker in our price range then this would be a more viable option than AJ. Someone in the style of Gabby Agbonlahor, (although I don't rate him massively myself and wouldn't particularly want him) he is the style of striker we need.
I think we all agree that we need a younger pacy striker but who would be available? Sturridge, Sinclair, Welbeck? I think a young English striker would be massively over-priced as we've seen so many times before. Time for Jol to use his European knowledge me thinks.
As I understand it, Jeffren plays as a winger or second striker, so he could be just the thing if he signs. I agree we need pace, but I'm not worrying yet. And I suspect AJ would be willing to drop a division for regular football if he thinks he won't get it here, as long as the wages are right. My best guess is that he'll be gone before the end of the window, and we'll have a nicely reconstituted pool of strikers to pick from. It may well include one or more of the youngsters stepping up into the first team squad, but will also include at least one new face. I've got no inside line on any of that, I'm just throwing my two penneth worth in as usual!
FulhamIreland ... that's one of the nice advantages to having a European manager. Same thing with Roy. Nothing wrong with an experienced English manager, but having someone who's traveled and seen for himself the range of talent out there is invaluable. Who'd have thought one could find a great central defender in Norway? I suspect Jol will unearth some nice talent for us out of the richness found in Holland and Germany. One of the odd things about Germany is that managers will keep very good players sitting on the bench, waiting their turn, while older players see out their careers. In England and other places, I think the best player gets the start whereas here (where I live) you see managers staying with the team's hierarchy more often. So Germany's a rich place for talent. I'm in for this Jeffren kid if we can get him.
