Magic

[LeTallecWiz]

Another very strong performance from Magic ... and with a strong performance, the rumors begin:

[article=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/10716864/Liverpool-defender-Glen-Johnson-in-Real-Madrids-sights.html] Real Madrid are considering a summer bid for Glen Johnson as the Spanish giants prepare to capitalise on Liverpool’s delay in offering the defender a new contract.

Johnson is emerging as a realistic target for Real at the end of the season and Carlo Ancelotti, the manager, has been alerted to the uncertainty over the England international’s future at Anfield.

Liverpool held preliminary negotiations with Johnson over a year ago but have suspended further talks until the summer, when the 29-year-old will enter the final 12 months of his contract.

The club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, are reluctant to pay players lucrative deals when they go beyond their 30th birthday and Johnson is unlikely to be offered significantly more than the £110,000 a week he currently earns.

Ancelotti is in the market for a new right-back, with long-term doubts over Alvaro Arbeloa, and is weighing up a £5million bid for Johnson with the offer of a new challenge in La Liga. [/article]

Should we be giving him a new contract? If so, what weekly wage packet is the max we should go?

 

[Hansern]

I'd offer him a new contract if he accepts a massive wage cut.
3-4 good games doesnt change the fact that he's been average for a looooong time.
Looks healthier and in the form of his life but I cant ignore that this form is related to the incentive of the WC and a new contract. Once thats settled will he drop down again?

 

[mom]

Yeh he will. He just seems to only perform when there's something in it for him. We have a fucking great team at the moment and I'd rather have a defender who can defend in every game without giving me palpitations, and actually really be part of the team with 100% commitment in every game. Extend his contract then sell him.

 

[Judge Jules]

I'm not as ready as you fellas to decide definitely one way or the other. Yesterday was proof, if proof were needed, of what a major asset a fit and firing Magic is to the side, and Brendan said quite some time ago that Magic had been carrying an injury. I'm not as ready as some of you to ignore that.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I'm not as ready as you fellas to decide definitely one way or the other. Yesterday was proof, if proof were needed, of what a major asset a fit and firing Magic is to the side, and Brendan said quite some time ago that Magic had been carrying an injury. I'm not as ready as some of you to ignore that.

Very much this.

I think it's unfair to suggest he's someone who only performs when there's something in it for him.

He's been here a long time, & through some very dull turgid times too, & hasn't openly agitated for a move, despite the fact there's always suitors, esp in the capital, who will pay him big money.

Even at this age he's going to be nigh on impossible to replace with a player of the same quality, so you have to balance the relatively low fee we'll get against the cost of a replacement or salary.

I'd like to think we will come to an arrangement with him & this is just his agent doing his job.

 

[the count]

Martin Montoya, who we were allegedly after as his replacement, has just signed a contract extension with Barca with a €20m buyout clause.
Well that is what Ballague said

 

[FoxForceFive]

Martin Montoya, who we were allegedly after as his replacement, has just signed a contract extension with Barca with a €20m buyout clause.
Well that is what Ballague said

Which is a good indication of what his replacement will cost.

Considering Rodgers & the owners are keen on developing players to become first team players I think Johnson staying for one or two more season's whilst he coaches up & bloods in a young replacement is more likely than selling him & trying to buy a replacement outright.

 

[Mors]

Difficult situation, at 29 and blowing hot and cold as he has done this season, he's not worth anywhere near 100k and upwards. But for spells yesterday he was good. I'd sell him personally. I think Rodgers could find a better RB with a bit of a better budget in the summer, and one not one demanding that sort of money for 2-3years.
He's decent, but he's too expensive to keep.

 

[red_maradona]

Difficult situation, at 29 and blowing hot and cold as he has done this season, he's not worth anywhere near 100k and upwards. But for spells yesterday he was good. I'd sell him personally. I think Rodgers could find a better RB with a bit of a better budget in the summer, and one not one demanding that sort of money for 2-3years.
He's decent, but he's too expensive to keep.

if you add the transfer required to buy someone who could be up to his level on top of the wages they would command, magic would be a cost-effective option for a year or two.

 

[juniormember]

Difficult situation, at 29 and blowing hot and cold as he has done this season, he's not worth anywhere near 100k and upwards. But for spells yesterday he was good. I'd sell him personally. I think Rodgers could find a better RB with a bit of a better budget in the summer, and one not one demanding that sort of money for 2-3years.
He's decent, but he's too expensive to keep.

A replacement would cost at least 10m if not 20m, plus will command big wages.
Taking that into consideration, keeping Jonhson for another 3 years at 4-5m per year actually isn't too bad.
He loves the club and I really don't think it's a coincidence that he's been so much better since coming back in after carrying the injuries throughout the season.

 

[mark1975]

I'm not as ready as you fellas to decide definitely one way or the other. Yesterday was proof, if proof were needed, of what a major asset a fit and firing Magic is to the side, and Brendan said quite some time ago that Magic had been carrying an injury. I'm not as ready as some of you to ignore that.

When he's on form, he is an important asset, particularly when we're on form too and we're keeping the ball against sides regularly. When we're under the kosh or when we're not in particularly good form and struggling to maintain possession, he can be a liability. I'll accept that his injury has clearly hampered him, but let's not pretend this is a blip, because moments of indecision and poor application have littered his career with us.

I've always maintained he's a very good "player", I just don't buy that he's a consistent enough defender, I don't think it's an exaggeration (as often gets levelled my way) and I don't think it's groundless. When he's good, his pros outweigh his cons, that's the way it's always been, every now and then though we'll continue to be reminded why some people have reservations about him.

 

[Modo]

I think it's gonna be pretty hard to sell Johnson considering his wages. He'll be 30 years old at the start of the next season and I think he has at least 2 good years in him. How much would we get if we found a buyer? £5 million?
I'd rather keep him in that case, I thought McLaughlin would have been ready by now but he's been a bit unlucky with injuries.

Johnson is the least of our problems imo, we should be looking at the left back position.

 

[mark1975]

I think it's gonna be pretty hard to sell Johnson considering his wages. He'll be 30 years old at the start of the next season and I think he has at least 2 good years in him. How much would we get if we found a buyer? £5 million?
I'd rather keep him in that case, I thought McLaughlin would have been ready by now but he's been a bit unlucky with injuries.

Johnson is the least of our problems imo, we should be looking at the left back position.

He's hardly the least of our problems, it's been a questionable position for a number of years. It's clear in the very least we need to look at the position with a more longterm view. He's worth keeping if he lowers his demands, for the sheer balance he brings, but it's hardly an untouchable area of the side, I'd say we should be looking at both fullback slots, a centre back, a midfielder and another attacker.

 

[Whirly]

It's only worth giving him a new contract if he can play asst the level we saw yesterday for the majority of the deal.

Odds are though between injury, age, and just the history of inconsistency we've seen, that's not going to good true.

If we can sell him to Real, I wonder if we can then work out a deal for Carvajal.

 

[Spionkop69]

To prove I don't have an agenda, I've been a bit more impressed of him of late.

 

[keniget]

I'd be quite reluctant to let Johnson go simply because we look fairly bare in the fullback department as things stand.

It all really depends on what our overall plans are. If the scouting team have identified a one or two really good alternatives, then fine, but if we're relying on Flannagan continuing to progress and perhaps a returning Wisdom filling in the gaps then I'd have my concerns.

 

[Hansern]

I wonder who we are looking at for right back. There arent many I really want or who could improve us straight away.

 

[tony]

If he goes ( he wouldn't if it was up to me! ) I hope we are in for Southamptons' Chambers. Only 19 and every time I've seen him (5/6 times ) he's been very good and better than Shaw. Maybe a bit under the radar as there is alot of hype around Shaw.

 

[peterhague]

I would keep him, ideally on a two year contract to start, and then go from there.

I wouldn't worry too much about what we pay him, try to get him down to £80k a week or so but no worries if it's at the same rate.

I think we've got enough to worry about in the summer without manufacturing more problems.

 

[keniget]

I would keep him, ideally on a two year contract to start, and then go from there.

I wouldn't worry too much about what we pay him, try to get him down to £80k a week or so but no worries if it's at the same rate.

I think we've got enough to worry about in the summer without manufacturing more problems.

Agreed.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

If he goes ( he wouldn't if it was up to me! ) I hope we are in for Southamptons' Chambers. Only 19 and every time I've seen him (5/6 times ) he's been very good and better than Shaw. Maybe a bit under the radar as there is alot of hype around Shaw.

Clyne is also solid.

 

[Silver Sean]

Not read anything but the title thread. But any thread that refers to him as Magic and not fucking Glenjo is good in my book.

 

[Judge Jules]

Clyne is also solid.

I've liked the look of him when I've seen him, but apparently he didn't have a particularly good game against Spurs yesterday.

 

[keniget]

I've not seen that much of guys like Clyne, so might be making rather crass, ill informed comparisons... but aren't they just less talented, younger versions of our own Glen Johnson?

 

[Mystic]

I've not seen that much of guys like Clyne, so might be making rather crass, ill informed comparisons... but aren't they just less talented, younger versions of our own Glen Johnson?

He looked great at Palace and at the start of the season at So'ton, but he's fallen away a bit as the seasons progressed, hence Chambers replacing him in the line up.

 

[Dirkus_Circus]

If Johnson plays even close to the level that he has shown against United and Cardiff on a more consistent basis he is essentially a 20+ million dollar player.

I'm starting to lean towards the idea of signing him to a new contract because I'm not convinced we could bring anyone else in of his level or better without breaking the bank.

I think a lot of the reaction to Magic's early season struggles were too harsh. It seems pretty clear that he was dealing with a physical issue.

 

[Mystic]

If Johnson plays even close to the level that he has shown against United and Cardiff on a more consistent basis he is essentially a 20+ million dollar player.

I'm starting to lean towards the idea of signing him to a new contract because I'm not convinced we could bring anyone else in of his level or better without breaking the bank.

I think a lot of the reaction to Magic's early season struggles were too harsh. It seems pretty clear that he was dealing with a physical issue.

Yep, no need to create ourselves new problems right now.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

If Johnson plays even close to the level that he has shown against United and Cardiff on a more consistent basis he is essentially a 20+ million dollar player.

I'm starting to lean towards the idea of signing him to a new contract because I'm not convinced we could bring anyone else in of his level or better without breaking the bank.

I think a lot of the reaction to Magic's early season struggles were too harsh. It seems pretty clear that he was dealing with a physical issue.

Hes a 20+ million yen player on his overall form this season.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Hes a 20+ million yen player on his overall form this season.

Oh do fuck off with that revisionist crap.

At the start of the season he was boss too, he had a long bad spell before this lay off, but that doesn't change his form at the start of the season.

Anyway, it's irrelevant why or whether you rate him or not, if he continues to play like this then he'll be worth his weight in gold in this run in, that's two stellar performances, I've watched both matches repeatedly (three times to be exact) & his contribution was immense.

He may be playing for a contract, Real may actually be sniffing around. I don't give a fuck why, I'm just glad, cos we've effectively added a 25m right back, that can defend & attack better than any other full back we have who suits our team perfectly, to a side that's already flying.

 

[red_maradona]

Oh do fuck off with that revisionist crap.

At the start of the season he was boss too, he had a long bad spell before this lay off, but that doesn't change his form at the start of the season.

Anyway, it's irrelevant why or whether you rate him or not, if he continues to play like this then he'll be worth his weight in gold in this run in, that's two stellar performances, I've watched both matches repeatedly (three times to be exact) & his contribution was immense.

He may be playing for a contract, Real may actually be sniffing around. I don't give a fuck why, I'm just glad, cos we've effectively added a 25m right back, that can defend & attack better than any other full back we have who suits our team perfectly, to a side that's already flying.

So well said. Thanks for cheering me up.