Johnson

[ColkOfTheBarclay]

I think this is spot on in all respects, or at least it mirrors my view, I hope we can progress and sign enough players so that Johnson is no longer needed. I have never seen a player kick so many balls out of play, it is like watching a poor kicking rugby match

I think Johnson has been great for us and certainly gives his all but he simply doesn't have the range to be relied on. I like that he looks to do more creative passes and the like but most just go nowhere. Tettey for me is a more complete midfielder but it really is his effect on the rest of the team, namely Fer, that makes me want to see him starting ahead of Johnson.

 

[Home on the range canary]

Yes he certainly gives his all, and needs to cos he lacks guile. he may look for the cutting edge pass, but seldom makes it, or tries to belt it- I think he hates the folk in the boxes and is trying to shatter the glass. I like the fact that he can make a decent tackle but then fecks it up by giving it away and puts the team immediately on the back foot.

 

[Walsh.i.am]

I think Johnson has been great for us and certainly gives his all but he simply doesn't have the range to be relied on. I like that he looks to do more creative passes and the like but most just go nowhere. Tettey for me is a more complete midfielder but it really is his effect on the rest of the team, namely Fer, that makes me want to see him starting ahead of Johnson.

Problem is with Johnson, he needs someone close to him all the time so if he does win the ball, which he's good at, the someone else can make a better fist of distribution and therefore retaining possession. This is a waste, as the second 'shadow' mid could be much better used further up the pitch lending support to the striker(s) which as we all know, is one of our biggest problems.
An upgrade on Bradders would allow an extra player to get forward much more - but it ain't going to happen until the summer, at the earliest.

 

[Home on the range canary]

Problem is with Johnson, he needs someone close to him all the time so if he does win the ball, which he's good at, the someone else can make a better fist of distribution and therefore retaining possession. This is a waste, as the second 'shadow' mid could be much better used further up the pitch lending support to the striker(s) which as we all know, is one of our biggest problems.
An upgrade on Bradders would allow an extra player to get forward much more - but it ain't going to happen until the summer, at the earliest.

I think there is enough talent at carrow road without the need for the "magical" attacking midfielder but with Johnson in the side, it massively stifles what can be done, i thought at the start of the season, there was a formation that was beginning to work well and could see lots of chances being generated. The players were bedding in, but injuries fecked all that up

 

[robbieBB]

I get the impression that the way Hughton is going about building our squad is very long term and we are bringing in players for different areas in different windows. We got the defence strengthened in the first window, then we got 2 strikers and a strong CM. I'm hoping the next thing will be the creativity that we can build over the top of a more solid defence. The only problem is our defence has looked pretty wayward this season. I think this summer we'll get a new RB, a decent creative CM and then whoever else is available to improve on positions around the squad.

This is obviously all conjecture from me but I'd hope that's the way Hughton is looking at it.

As for Johnson, It was just a bit pathetic and I hope Tettey starts next week because even in the 15 or so minutes he was on the pitch we looked like a different team. I would have actually rather seen Tettey on for Johnson rather than RvW off for Elmander because Tettey closes down much quicker, tracks back better and generally allows Fer to roam a bit more. I think Fer had about 3 strong burst through the middle with Tettey there. I don't think he had one in the 80 minutes Johnson was on the pitch.

Yes, an excellent post. Despite all the undeserved flak he is subjected to, CH is in the middle of implementing a perfectly rational strategy converting us from an over-achieving Championship-quality side into one equipped to survive in the PL. Since this is being done without the luxury of owners able to dip into their pockets to swell the club coffers (in fact quite the reverse, money having had to be allocated to repaying the club's debts), it can only be done slowly, as a result of which we are neither financially in a position to buy, nor securely enough entrenched in the league to attract, the sort of quality it would be great to see at Carrow Road. Additionally the strategy involves developing a more sustainable style of play, implementation of which has been hampered this season partly by injuries and loss of form, and partly by players having difficulty adapting their game. This is no time for a collective loss of nerve.

Re. Tettey/Johnson, there is no doubt that CH prefers to play Tettey if the latter's fitness allows so I don't think it is really an issue.

 

[Canary Rob]

Chico Flores's play-acting even more embarrassing, but has done us a big favour - Carroll misses the home match against us and he has made Wet Sham look decent

 

[danary]

I've not seen it but it sounds as though it may be one that'll be rescinded?

 

[Canary Rob]

I've not seen it but it sounds as though it may be one that'll be rescinded?

No, I reckon Carroll pretty obviously took a swipe at his face, but Chico was like a rolling pin

 

[danary]

Oh okay. I was just going off the BBC interpretation of it:

"Andy Carroll's off - and I'm not quite sure why. The big striker goes up for a physical, aerial challenge with Chico Flores and, in the motion of coming down and untangling himself from the Swansea defender, he unintentionally clips his opponent on the back of the head. And I mean clips. Very harsh."

 

[Canary Rob]

Oh okay. I was just going off the BBC interpretation of it:

"Andy Carroll's off - and I'm not quite sure why. The big striker goes up for a physical, aerial challenge with Chico Flores and, in the motion of coming down and untangling himself from the Swansea defender, he unintentionally clips his opponent on the back of the head. And I mean clips. Very harsh."

Yeah I completely disagree and so do the BT commentators. It's probably a closer call than I suggested though