Glen Johnson.
- Thread starter Cerberus
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Status
Yep, he has been since his Portsmouth days, brilliant player who gets so much stick he completely doesn't deserve.
I don't think it's undeserved. His attacking play outweighs his defensive strengths and it often gets pointed out. It's amazing that it get's noticed all the time by fans, the press, pundits etc yet we're all exaggerating.
Did anyone note Hansen's comments last night on MOTD2? He pointed out that for every brilliant run where he turned Jarvis inside out, he was leaving a gaping hole behind him for Jarvis to run into and end up one on one with Allen filling in. The difference was when Johnson went forward, Jarvis was back covering (and getting raped, admittedly). As Hansen said, he got away with it yesterday but against a better side we'd have been torn a new one.
^^^Still pissed...or something.
But thats like any fullback. If a fullback goes forward then obvously there is a gap to exploit. But the purpose of allen and lucas is to cover for those gaps to allow our fullbacks to bomb forward. So when Hansen said it was just like "huh obviously". The only way to not leave the space is to not go forward. Hence why many teams get caught on the counter attack. Why not say it about barcelona, real madrid, manure or chelsea who all play with very attacking fullbacks.
Be careful, in your state this might turn up:
Imagine trying to explain that to the wife.
Of course, that would explain his point about Jarvis exploiting the space behind Johnson. Yet who was Johnson one on one with time and time again?
Finnan and Arbeloa provided good balance and supported well, I don't recall the same issue. So what you're basically saying is that Johnson is a great fullback, on the understanding that he needs a couple of players to cover him defensively?
Brilliant.
Thats just basic football, one full back pushes forward and the other one stays back, that way the defensive line can cover, you can't be in two places at once. I'd much rather Johnson was forward and pushing Jarvis back rather than worrying about Jarvis counter attacking him.
Of course it is, you always have the one on the opposite flank tucking in, but we don't see that much these days, we haven't since the days of Finnan/Arbeloa/Riise, our full backs don't do it as much and as a result the centre backs get dragged out and we get torn a new one down the middle. Add that players like Allen are constantly getting dragged across to cover when we get hit on the break, that would explain why every side that's counterattacked against us this season has had the freedom of the midfield to run through (the Arsenal game is a great example of this, Johnson and the midfield are dragged all over the place continuously by being caught high up the pitch).
Allen twice got out muscled and out paced in the right back position and it nearly cost us. So for all Johnson's attacking prowess there 'are' flaws defensively and compromises being made. The point about Johnson pushing Jarvis back is great on paper, much like our possession football ethos, until we lose the ball and we haven't got a fucking clue.
Allen twice got out muscled and out paced in the right back position and it nearly cost us. So for all Johnson's attacking prowess there 'are' flaws defensively and compromises being made. The point about Johnson pushing Jarvis back is great on paper, much like our possession football ethos, until we lose the ball and we haven't got a fucking clue.
Errmmm no arbeloa was great at defending but his offensive capabilities were never good hence why rafa went for johnson in the first place. Finnan and Babbel are great examples of balance as both were strong defensively and offensively(babbel being the better one IMO).
I never said that Johnson was a world class defender. But i am saying his a good defender and amazing going forward and that his style suits perfectly for the system rodgers has us playing. Rodgers wants his fullback to be very offensive and for allen and lucas to cover so he's perfect for us. Do you honestly think he would be bombing forward so much if he wasn't allowed to by Rodgers??
And what Mystic said is spot on. Jarvis wasn't able to get forward because he was being pushed back by Johnson. Like they say, sometimes the best defense is offense.
The amount of times ive seen alves push forward and then busquets slots in to cover, or evra steaming on and carrick or fletcher slotting in to cover. Its standard football practice, i don't see what the problem is with that.
Glen, I don't really get the argument then. Apparently I never give him credit where it's due, all I've ever maintained is that he's a brilliant 'player' but a so-so defender who makes mistakes and is far too advanced at times in comparison to other defenders we've had.
And what Mystic said isn't 'spot on', Jarvis had at least two good opportunities that carved us open completely down our right, so Jarvis wasn't able to get forward? I suggest you watch the game again and maybe take a note of Hansen's comments and the two moments in the game that he highlighted. As he went on to say, against a better side we could have been punished heavily.
There is no problem with the 'standard practice' if you're happy to accept that you're having to neglect other aspects of your system to support that method of play - fine, but don't pretend it doesn't create issues, because it does.
And what Mystic said isn't 'spot on', Jarvis had at least two good opportunities that carved us open completely down our right, so Jarvis wasn't able to get forward? I suggest you watch the game again and maybe take a note of Hansen's comments and the two moments in the game that he highlighted. As he went on to say, against a better side we could have been punished heavily.
There is no problem with the 'standard practice' if you're happy to accept that you're having to neglect other aspects of your system to support that method of play - fine, but don't pretend it doesn't create issues, because it does.
I don't, honest! Can't we just play the fucker as a winger and buy a right back?
That is the difference in the system we play though Mark. Under Rafa, our FB of Finnan/Arbeloa or Riise had a right/left midfielder in front to work with and share the defensive workload.
Just like West Ham did yesterday when Jarvis tucked in to pick up Johnsons' forward runs.
The system we play now doesn't allow that, we play 3 high upfield and technically 3 CM players. When the FB bomb forward to attack, the whole idea is that One of the CM tucks in if needed to fill in. Like Mascher used to when needed.
Hansen points it out like it is a bad thing, Rodgers and others would say that is what is supposed to happen within the system we employ. And Glen Johnson is reaping the rewards of it.
Just like West Ham did yesterday when Jarvis tucked in to pick up Johnsons' forward runs.
The system we play now doesn't allow that, we play 3 high upfield and technically 3 CM players. When the FB bomb forward to attack, the whole idea is that One of the CM tucks in if needed to fill in. Like Mascher used to when needed.
Hansen points it out like it is a bad thing, Rodgers and others would say that is what is supposed to happen within the system we employ. And Glen Johnson is reaping the rewards of it.
Yeah, but I've said this all season long, and it's cost us in games, we don't have the players to do it. It's ok if you've got a Mascherano who'll run himself into the ground and cover everywhere. We don't. We have a half fit Lucas and a centre midfielder trying to cover the role and failing at it badly. So what's the point? We're throwing Johnson forward and it's creating issues - the centre backs are getting dragged wider, Johnson is leaving space behind him and when he loses possession we're prone to the counterattack, and the central midfield players are constantly plugging gaps. Who's plugging their gaps? No one.
We've had to compromise some of our solidity to become more expansive, I can deal with that, but our defensive record since Johnson signed for us has plummeted and we've never looked the same since we had a reliable back four. Of course the change to a more attacking player was going to mean some sacrifice, but that's the point really, there has to be 'some' balance, and there isn't. Everyone's creaming themselves because he's in great attacking form atm, what happens when he isn't? It's not like he scores and creates goals regularly. We've lost more goals by getting hit on the break (and from that side of the pitch) than we have from allowing our fullbacks a free reign.
We've had to compromise some of our solidity to become more expansive, I can deal with that, but our defensive record since Johnson signed for us has plummeted and we've never looked the same since we had a reliable back four. Of course the change to a more attacking player was going to mean some sacrifice, but that's the point really, there has to be 'some' balance, and there isn't. Everyone's creaming themselves because he's in great attacking form atm, what happens when he isn't? It's not like he scores and creates goals regularly. We've lost more goals by getting hit on the break (and from that side of the pitch) than we have from allowing our fullbacks a free reign.
I mentioned this in the match thread and far be it from me to question Hansen's comments (I didn't watch MOTD), but our problems down Johnson's side came when Cole was in front of him. When Sterling and Cole switched sides West Ham concentrated play down our left. Then they switched back it started coming through Jarvis again.
A lot of the time Cole was nowhere to be seen with one of Lucas / Allen having to cover the extra man / men with Johnson.
A lot of the time Cole was nowhere to be seen with one of Lucas / Allen having to cover the extra man / men with Johnson.
Thats a problem with the midfield/defence, not Johnson. Lucas and the left back should be tucking in to create the defensive line, Allen should be harassing them as they bear down on goal, unfortunately that isn't happening.
I know mate, but that's my point, Rodgers needs to compromise his philosophy instead of shoehorning players into it.
- Status