Glen Johnson - the defender

[Fox]

the lad has been slated again this week for his defending. They say Babel slaughtered him, I did not see the match.

Talksport were saying England must find a new right back, Wes Brown or someone as Johnson defensively will cost England and will cost us this season.

There is no doubt he is a "new style" full back who gets forward has some skill and can score a classic like the left foot volley last season.

He is not a carra type full back, is he more Roberto Carlos ????

We will see how his defending goes, I hope he proves the doubters wrong

At least we might get some goals from right back this season

 

[Squiggles]

Johnson's is a decent enough defender, but is naive at times, and can get easily dragged out of position for a ball he can't win.

I'm sure Rafa will improve him defensively, Johnson has huge potential.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

In the knowledge that Kuyt will be out on the right with him, I'm not half as worried about his defending as some others seem to be.

I'm sure that Rafa will improve this part of his game given a little time.

 

[spider-Neil]

babel absolutely striped him but glen with have better protection here than with england.

 

[spider-Neil]

it's very simple, johnson is an attacking fullback and WILL get up the field to help us press the attack, but lets be honest here he can't be in two places at once, when he is up field lucas and masher HAVE to tuck in and protect the right flank, we have TWO holding midfielders for pete's sake.

 

[TheBunnyman]

Johnson's a good player, and I'm sure in all those matches at Anfield against the Fulhams and the Stokes that he'll help us by providing more penetration and better crossing than Arbeloa did, but there's always a risk with attacking full-backs - and the risk with Johnson, as far as I can see, is that he's got an annoying habit of trying to dribble past people on the halfway line, and thus losing the ball in a dangerous area. Hopefully Rafa will cure him of this trait, perhaps using electrical shocks.

Babel did blaze past him a couple of times, but then Babel is very very fast.

 

[doctor_mac]

Rafa knew that in losing Arby and gaining Johnson we are improving our ability to beat the park the bus teams at Anfield (but sacrificing some defensive security). We need to have him well drilled against the bigger boys, and in Euro matches, and I'm sure we will.

 

[keniget]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=35239.msg924226#msg924226 date=1250246156]
it's very simple, johnson is an attacking fullback and WILL get up the field to help us press the attack, but lets be honest here he can't be in two places at once, when he is up field lucas and masher HAVE to tuck in and protect the right flank, we have TWO holding midfielders for pete's sake.
[/quote]

It's not about getting caught out of position after an attacking move breaks down, it's defending when he is part of the back four that is causing some concern. He does have a tendency to switch off and he does at times make bad decisions

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=35239.msg924226#msg924226 date=1250246156]
it's very simple, johnson is an attacking fullback and WILL get up the field to help us press the attack, but lets be honest here he can't be in two places at once, when he is up field lucas and masher HAVE to tuck in and protect the right flank, we have TWO holding midfielders for pete's sake.
[/quote]

Nobody's naive enough to think that his attacking abilities won't leave us sometimes short at the back

We're judging his defensive qualities when he is, y'know, having to defend.

 

[Stulikesdrums]

We will concede a few more goals this season than last.
Johnson is not as good at defending as Arb but that is not why he has been signed.

 

[KopKing]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=35239.msg924236#msg924236 date=1250246806]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=35239.msg924226#msg924226 date=1250246156]
it's very simple, johnson is an attacking fullback and WILL get up the field to help us press the attack, but lets be honest here he can't be in two places at once, when he is up field lucas and masher HAVE to tuck in and protect the right flank, we have TWO holding midfielders for pete's sake.
[/quote]

It's not about getting caught out of position after an attacking move breaks down, it's defending when he is part of the back four that is causing some concern. He does have a tendency to switch off and he does at times make bad decisions
[/quote]

Really? I don't see that at all. I think its one of those things that people say that have little bearing in fact. In any case, he'll improve defensively under Rafa's coaching.

 

[keniget]

[quote author=KopKing link=topic=35239.msg924288#msg924288 date=1250250573]
Really? I don't see that at all. I think its one of those things that people say that have little bearing in fact. In any case, he'll improve defensively under Rafa's coaching.
[/quote]

He's done it in an England shirt quite a few times. The fact that you "don't see it all" doesn't mean it has little bearing in fact. I don't think anyone is getting particularly worked about it anyways, it's just a casual observation.

Agree with your second point.

 

[Hansern]

The fact that he's 24, has Carra to his left, Kuyt ahead of him on the pitch and Rafa to teach him all about defending. Makes me 100 % certain that this won't be a problem.

And that Johnson got skimmed twice in a international friendly 4 days before season kick off really means nothing. England haven't got a better right back, and with the right development Glen will warrant that position for many years.

 

[Judge Jules]

If Rafa improves Johnson's defending as much as he improved JAR's, we won't need to worry.

 

[willby]

babel left him dead a few times, but his passing was great. he's gonna be great under Rafa!

 

[rage]

johnson will be fine. once he's had a few good performances we'll be comparing him to alves.

yes we'll concede more but then that's inevitable at first with an attacking full back.

 

[LarryHagman]

Johnson will be fine. His offensive prowess will make up for it. The alternative is play someone like Carra there, never crosses the half way line (effectively).
I'd take Cafu and Carlos any day of the week and they were both shit defenders.

 

[Frogfish]

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35239.msg924222#msg924222 date=1250246042]
In the knowledge that Kuyt will be out on the right with him, I'm not half as worried about his defending as some others seem to be.

I'm sure that Rafa will improve this part of his game given a little time.
[/quote]

This.

Kuyt & Masherano will cover for him when he bombs forward. We all know Rafa didn't buy him for his defending but will improve him in that regard anyway. He is there to add width and improve delivery - he will do that. He is very pacey for a defender too.

Babel only just had him, Johnson wasn't burned, was just hanging onto Babel's coat tails.

 

[singlerider]

Having not been arsed to watch the game and therefore basing judgements purely on what is written here - is anyone else, like me, more excited by the fact that Babel was skinning people than they are worried by Johnson's defending?

 

[madmax]

[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=35239.msg924411#msg924411 date=1250263663]

Johnson will be fine. His offensive prowess will make up for it. The alternative is play someone like Carra there, never crosses the half way line (effectively).
I'd take Cafu and Carlos any day of the week and they were both shit defenders.


[/quote]

Cafu was anything but a shit defender.

 

[Frogfish]

[quote author=singlerider link=topic=35239.msg924442#msg924442 date=1250266745]
Having not been arsed to watch the game and therefore basing judgements purely on what is written here - is anyone else, like me, more excited by the fact that Babel was skinning people than they are worried by Johnson's defending?
[/quote]
'
IMO he was hardly skinning anyone - but fact is there was no end product, the one time he was put through he tripped over his own feet and stumbled. I am still of the opinion we should have sold him.

Why oh why did Rafa listen to the naysayers on SCM re. Milner who was fucking ace on Wednesday.

 

[Judge Jules]

Amen to the last bit. I was flamed something rotten for saying at the time that Milner would be a decent buy. He looked as if he'd been playing international football for years.

 

[keniget]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=35239.msg924479#msg924479 date=1250271129]
Amen to the last bit. I was flamed something rotten for saying at the time that Milner would be a decent buy. He looked as if he'd been playing international football for years.
[/quote]

Heh, he kinda has been... at U-21 level anyways.

 

[Judge Jules]

Yeah, fair one. That occurred to me just as I clicked on "Post". ;D

Milner did look to the manor born though, and not against a team of mugs either.

 

[Squiggles]

Defensively Holland were as bad as we were.

It was a perfect opportunity to come on and show what you can do, but yeah, fair play to him.