[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=46560.msg1385044#msg1385044 date=1314080533]
I didn't think Enqique was average against Sunderland at all Wiz, defensively he was sound even if he did concentrate more on that side of his game, which was understandable given he'd joined the previous day, not trained and it was our first game. I agree it'd be stupid to get carried away, but your assessment of his first game is well harsh.
As for Glen Jo and not risking him at right midfield, he's already under pressure at fullback, which says alot IMO about his ability to hold the spot down (and raises subsequent question marks about whether he IS good enough), dismissing the opportunity to even just try him on the wing is a tad short-sighted and stubborn. Most fullbacks fail when pushed forward because their lack of genuine skill is exposed, nothing really to do with running from deep, it hasn't done Bale and Baines any harm to play there and neither really have as quick feet as Johnson has. His primary strengths are attacking ones, his defensive play is questionable. If he's that mentally fragile that it would ruin him, why are the some people saying we should keep him as 2nd choice fullback? I'd wager he'd be less happy with that role than us trying to incorporate him into the side to attempt to play to his strengths. Either way this is a massive season for him. He's under pressure for a reason so dismissing this option is more than foolish and as damaging as the risk it 'might' entail.
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Excellent post.
Funnily enough, this time last year, I would have argued against converting Magic into a winger. I've always had a soft spot for him and have always believed he'll have some Ashley Cole like transformation into a solid defender. The truth however really is that he hasn't shown any signs of that and with the emergence of Kelly and Flanno, it's not going to be easy for him to stake a first choice claim to the RB slot anymore. In fact, I think it'd be fair to say that in Kenny's book, he's already behind Kelly at the RB stakes (note that it was Glenjo who played at left-back when both were available).
Now whether Glenjo's going to be comfortable with this situation and willing to slug it out with Kelly for the RB spot remains to be seen. Not playing is going to affect his England chances (and with the emergence of Kelly and Kyle Walker, chances are that he won't be first choice England RB for very long either), so it'd be interesting to see how things transpire. I do think however that he would prefer playing football, even if not in his favoured RB role (and this is pure hypothesis - for all you know, he harbours a secret ambition of being a bombing right winger - certainly seems so from the way he plays) rather than playing second fiddle to a 20 year old who's shown in about half a season that he's a better full back than him.
