Been speaking about this with the lads in the office for some time now and I don't think we do! If Kelly can cement his place in the first team put him at RB and push GJ up to right wing. This gives the options of GJ getting forward or covering Kelly when he goes on one of his runs that he showed he could do last season. I really don't see th point in spending money on a position we basically have covered and the cash we would have spent on a RW could be put to better use on another striker...What do you guys think?
This has been put forward before. I can only assume that the various (a few now) managers that have had Johnston discovered in training that it didn't work. I can't see why TBH but then I'm not a coach.
I've been saying this for years but I always get shot down with the "plenty of class attacking right backs look bollox when moved forward" argument Always thought it would be worth a shot personally.
Yes, we do need a right winger. I would prefer a specialist in that position. This is an argument that has been ongoing since his first year with us...I've given up on it as I presume the coaching staff know more than I do.
With us probably changing to that formation the argument would be over, he may well have played ok on the wing (I didn't think so) but I can't see him in a front 3.
Starting from RM and RB are completely different propositions. I'd rather see a RF or LF than a winger with one of two DM's providing cover for Enrique and Johnson to bomb forward
I think the formation that Rodgers plays will suit Johnson. The Fullbacks basically play as wingers due to the central holding midfielders, and the fact that the centre backs are encouraged to keep the ball rather than lump it, so they need to get into more attacking positions. I think we have two fullbacks that are ideal for this formation. As for the original question about buying a right winger, I think this is where Suarez will play, albeit in a front three. So no, we don't need a right winger, we need a right sided forward to cover Suarez.
i have said for quite a while that Johnson should be tried on the RW and have just had it laughed at. guess opinions vary, but until its tried in a match situation how do we know? training is dif in the sense you can be good in training but crap on match day, whose to say it doesn't work the other way round.
Not "completely" different as in one could argue Johnson does his best work going forward in what would traditionally be a right wing position. The reason for that may well be (as Davidako suggested) that its because he's coming from deep and can get a run at people but still...wingers can get a run at a full back as well surely. As for FIFA...I don't play it...but my seat is directly on line with the left back position (Kop End) so do regularly see how good Johnson is at both attacking opposition full backs (because he can go either side) and how cool he is when running into the box I've had this argument plenty of times and I expect it will never happen especially with a system unlikely to employ out and out wingers (plus he improved his defensive game last year so makes the argument somewhat redundant anyway). The simple question I always ask though is...."Would he have been any worse than the other options we've had over the past few years?".
Johnson is a very good right full back, why change his position and not only risk him not being effective in an alternative position and therefore weakening the team, but also possibly weakening the right back position whilst at it too...? Makes no sense to me
We had the same discussion about Walker last season whilst Lennon was injured. Both Johnson and Walker are good on the ball, have pace and can cross so I guess it could work like it did for Bale.
this really has to be asked not about johnsons but in the the context of rodger's tactics. if we really are going to play 4-3-3 we now have borini and suarez who can both operate from the RF type channel. add downing and cole and bellamy and even sterling to that mix and i think you'll see we don't need to buy a right winger in a 4-3-3 we might just need another striker though width in 4-3-3 needs to come from the full backs and the left and right sided central midfielders need a lot more discipline and awareness than either gerrard or adam could provide so we also need to consider these positions. if it really is 4-3-3 i can't see a right winger coming.
http://www.eplindex.com/16467/fabio-borini-statistically-compared-liverpool-strikers.html The stats seem to show Borini should be the left of the three and Suarez the centre
Didn't Walker play right mid in your cup game against Stevenage? I remember watching it and being surprised by where he played, but it could have been at centre-back now I think about it.
Fair enough. See what you are saying, but not sure if our squad is the best defense for your position. Dowing: most people think he shouldn't be played on the left let alone the right. Cole: has the ability to hold and pass, but is he still good enough to do a job for us? I guess the proof of the pudding will be in this season's eating. Bellamy: agree he has the nous to play deeper but given his age and sick-note credentials is he really a long term prospect? Sterling: I see this kid as a traditional winger (flying past people and swinging in crosses or cutting inside and scoring) or, in time, a Henry-like striker. Not sure all those player fit the mould, or would do in the long run. Definitely; especially if AC goes. Er...didn't you consider these above, i.e. Downing, Sterling, Cole, Bellamy? Anyway, I consider Gerrard (especially) and (to a much lesser degree) Adam two of our most aware and disciplined players. You could argue Bellamy and Lucas are well disciplined and aware too, but not much more than Adam and Gerrard. Plus, if you want them deeper and more disciplined doesn't this rule out Sterling? I'd have Sterling as one of the forwards. I'd say there were question marks over Downing (performance), Cole (performance/fitness) and Bellamy (fitness), as I mentioned previously. We don't know for sure it will be 4-3-3. And, even if it is, I could still see a right winger coming here because a good right winger would be able to fulfill that RM role in the 4-3-3 that you mentioned needed considering, as well as being available as a traditional winger in a 4-4-2 formation.
