Johnson in SS yesterday was saying 'roy can't ignore me now I will be playing first team football every week'. There are a couple of problems with that (1) He has to play well enough to justify his selection his every week and (2) against swansea he was awful. I know he will need time to settle and he ust be better than what he showed on Saturday. However, it is a bit alarming for him to think he is guaranteed his place every week and let's hope he doesn't see Sunderland as an 'easy ride' and is here to rest on his laurels.
Well said Nomore, he was pretty ordinary against Swansea, hope for a better performance against Liverpool.
Dont think he does Just think he wants to play for England and now that he will more or less be playing every week he has to at least look at him and consider him as an option
Tbf I think it is hard for any player to walk into a team... I think once he has trained with us for a month or two he will start to click with the team and be brilliant, same as fletcher... by the sounds of it we were woeful as a team at Swansea so
I sort of understand that RAW but on the other hand isn't he supposed to be the provider of service? The other disappointing aspect of his game was that he never even attempted to run at anyone or take anyone on. On the other hand, he did ok defensively but we need to see much more from him in the next few games.
By the sounds of this your expecting him to tape the ball to his foot, fly off on his wings, take it to the goal and score every game at least 3 times, he isnt the greatest footballer of all time nmg... He is a class above us and it will show eventually
Not exactly, just wanted to see him have a go be direct and cause the opposing defence problems similar to what Mclean does. Admittedly MClean sometimes just runs up blind alleys. However, he just tries running at defenders time after time and it is unnerving for them. I just want Johnson to live up to the hype. I think we are all unified in that.
He wasn't receiving the ball to his feet from the back mate, either long hoofs, or the ball tended to go to McLean, who never really used it well. AJ was having to come very deep to look for the ball at times, and Swansea's lads despite having a general off day at the back, clearly knew he was a massive threat and stuck to him like glue. . He needs a couple games for match fitness, but there is no questioning the lads brilliance.
Johnson rarely lost the ball though, he clearly understands ball retention and you don't run and try and beat your man every time, Mcclean could learn from that!
I think he must need a few games as he did appear to be slightly off the pace and just hoping he will get better. My main point is that the way he was talking he sees to think he is guaranteed his place and that is not good for anyone. On the plus side the other signings Fletcher scored goals so I am not bothered about anything else he does as long as he keeps scoring and Cuellar has been excellent so far.
Maybe more a case of him saying 'Roy will see me playing every week'. Maybe the word ignore changes the context of his point a wee bit.
I think Swansea did their best to knock lumps out of him and Jimmy Mc. There's only so much of that you can take. Laudrup has certainly got them playing a tougher style of football than last season.
This. Jimmy Mac needs to learn when to run at defenders and when to keep possession, still love him though and don't want him to change his game.
Definitely mate, they are a very good side, with some work at the back they could be excellent, they will concede, but they will score for fun.
I think they'll have a very good season. I'd imagine they'll try and strengthen the back in January, should they have funds.
Lets face it lads, he didn’t move back here to be on the bench did he and we are desperate for his pace and trickery to ignite our season. He came here to play not be on our bench (he could have stayed at City for that) and only a catastrophic collapse in form or injury will stop him being a first team pick He was scintillating against Morecombe and subdued v Swansea, two games we also didn’t lose btw. He will be a huge player for us this season and hopefully many more after that but 2 games in isn’t the time to evaluate? He can regain his England place imo but to do that he must be playing well for us too. It’s a win/win for everyone imo.
Two games gone and no defeats he is doing fine when they all get up to speed you will notice the difference
I don't think he see's SAFC solely as a ticket into the England set up, he can have an off day now & then, pig face Rooney & that whining scouser Gerard don't play as well as they are supposed to every game,but, they still get selected.
He came to us for one reason and one reason only, to play football if that means he gets an England call up so be it. That would mean he is playing well for us which in my humble opinion is the whole point of him coming to us.
