Proving many wrong (or perhaps a little bit right) Bradley tore up the Championship last season and stood out to richly deserve our POTS. What this time round? Can he cut it at the top level? Is last season proof of his improvement, or is the Championship his level? How many games will he get? Is he going to be an away game specialist? I personally think he's developed his game and AN knows exactly how (and when) to use him. Very much doubt he will be POTS when we get to May next year, but I could certainly see him shine more brightly then the last time we were Premier League.
Hootun frequently played him in more of a holding role, alongside or just ahead of Tettey. Now there's Tettey, Mulumbu (get well soon!) and Dorrans, who are all better suited to that deeper position. Leaving Johnson to do what he proved last season he was best at - as long as he can get the nod over Brady?
With Olsson's injury, Johnson will get the nod for the left midfield berth early on, and has a run of favourable fixtures to stake a long term claim for the position. In terms of whether he can step up, I don't know. He's a fairly unorthodox wide player by modern standards, so poses a different challenge to the more common Redmond-like winger. How well opposition full backs stand up to that challenge will be interesting to see. Both him and Brady can offer defensive solidity on the left, so I don't see home or away preference coming into it.
An interesting conundrum and one that will test the management skills of AN etc. He had a brilliant season last season and I'm not convinced many PL defenders will enjoy playing against him, as he's so different from the typical wide player and I can still see him scoring a few goals, as his shooting has definitely got more accurate last season.
He was good alongside fox in our first season in the prem under lambert before the diamond came back, not sure he's good enough on the ball in a central position in the prem. his passing stats were the worst the year we got relegated for any midfielder. I do like him more in a physical role though as he can bully players and build confidence. I think he will start on the left and we will keep kicking long diagonal balls to him so he can rough up opposition right backs for a bit, but I don't see him long term as a key man in the prem. this may seem harsh after the phenomenal season he had but I think he may be ousted by howson/Dorrans in the wider central roles and tettey and mulumbu in the holding roles. I think as the season draws on his limitations will start to count against him more and more unfortunately. He deserves a run at the beginning of the season just for being the stand out player last year and must be full of confidence to become a good prem player.
The chap has potential to become a legend if he carries on his rate of progression. I see no reason why he shouldn't either.
After we got relegated I wanted him sold, he was atrocious that season, then again most were. Undoubtedly I was wrong. The move to the left basically means his limitations have less effect on the overall team and let him use his combative style better. This season will be tough for Bradley and I doubt he will be making the first team every week by the end of it. The hard chase for Brady clearly says that AN feels his position required an upgrade and I don't see him managing to compete for the central positions. He's a dead cert to start on Saturday and will really need to prove himself before Olsson returns.
