26 Sept 2010

Glen Johnson: *Still* a gigantic waste of money

When Rafa Benitez signed Glen Johnson in Summer 2009, I argued at the time that it was a waste of money, for a player that Liverpool (arguably) didn't need. According to many fans, Johnson was a world class signing (!); a player who would undoubtedly enhance the team. Clearly, this was wildly optimistic wishful thinking.

One common denominator in Liverpool's catastrophic failure last season, less than stellar start to this season (as well as England's pitiful performance at the recent World Cup), is Johnson’s' consistently abject performance as a so-called right back. Exactly what positive, consistent, specific, measurable impact does Johnson have on this Liverpool team?

Here are the facts:

* Johnson's arrival coincided with the club's worst league season since 1994 (in terms of position); worst overall season (all competitions) in decades, which included failure to get out of the group stage of the CL; a horrible 7th place league finish, with the consequent failure to qualify for this season's CL.

* In 2008-9 - prior to Johnson's arrival - 2 games were lost *all season*. Johnson arrived, and he featured in 12 defeats in 35 games (over one third of all the games in which he appeared). Coincidence?

* In his 35 appearances last season, the team conceded 30 goals (with Johnson directly responsible for several) His defensive frailty was exposed time and time again across the season, not only for Liverpool, but for England too.

* Despite Johnson's much vaunted attacking prowess, he managed only 3 goals and 3 assists all season. Then again, that's hardly surprising given that in the 7 years prior to joining Liverpool he averaged a paltry 1 goal and 2 assists a season. Johnson couldn't even beat his career-best figures for Portsmouth in 2008-9, where he got 3 goals and 6 assists in 37 games. Is this the level of return expected from an 18m player who is, apparently, amazing going forward?

* Johnson was directly at fault for several important goals over the season, including (amongst others) both goals in the 2-1 home defeat to Arsenal, and Christian Benitez's equalising goal for Birmingham in the 2-2 draw at Anfield. His mistakes have continued this season with his poor positional play leading to Sunderland's second goal today.

Like many fans over the last year, I've argued that Johnson should be converted into a right-winger, With Martin Kelly taking over at right back. I no longer think that's a good idea; he will be a liability in any position so the club should just cut its losses and get rid of him in January.

How have Liverpool benefited from the signing of Johnson? How has the 18m been worth it? Generalisations like 'he's great going forward' just won't cut it. If he's so great going forward, how come he only managed 3 assists all last season? I'm looking for specific, measurable examples of how Johnson actually improved the performance of the team, and how the money spent on him was worth it.

The sooner Johnson (and the remainder of the Benitez dead-wood) is shipped out, the better. For now, Roy Hodgson should just dump him in the reserves, and make Martin Kelly first choice right back.

Jaimie Kanwar


89 comments:

  1. i bet george is pretty pissed off that hicks would not let him sell and get out when the going was good, its such fun isnt it watching hicks with his begging bowl. i'm not a member of sos but i would sooner put my ptivate parts in a vat of boiling tar than join you nonentities.

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  2. Don't know what game u were watchin,but both sunderland goals came from crosses down our left...Johnson is no worse than konchesky yet u keep banging on about Johnson?

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  3. Don't know what game u were watchin,but both sunderland goals came from crosses down our left...Johnson is no worse than konchesky yet u keep banging on about Johnson?

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  4. Johnson was out of position for the second goal; didn't anticipate the cross; was too slow to react, and allowed Bent to get in front of him.  The ball was in the air for ages - Johnson had enough time to think about what he was doing.  He comitted the cardinal sin for a defender: allowed a striker to get goal-side of him. 

    This is not about Konchesky - stay on the issue.  konchesky has only been a Liverpool player for 5 minutes; Johnson has a history of mistakes and slack defending that has cost the club time and time again.

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  5. No more articles supporting Hicks anymore Jamie? Finally realised that you were talking bollocks??

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  6. Very Quiet of late Jaime, and when you do say something it is to pick on a player instead of the manager as you have in the past and you miss the most obvious of things H & G your articles are a waste 

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  7. I wasn't supporting Hicks - that's the unintelligent way of looking at it.  I was supporting the club by trying to cut through all the lies/exaggeration re LFC's finances.  And I was right, and since my articles, other sites/newspapers have begun to tell the truth a little.

    And anything else I wrote about Hicks and Gillett was an attempt to present facts and truth, which people like you didn't want to hear because the truth didn't aligh with your 'H+G are the devil' agenda.

    I want H+G out as much as anyonem, and I've stated that hundreds of times.  However, I won't ebgage in lies, exaggeration and smear campaigns to achieve that.

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  8. JohnBarnesAteMyTea7:46 pm, September 25, 2010

    Hi, I think Johnson is awesome, he helps the other teams so much i just wish he wasnt playing for england

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  9. he i totally agree he lacks positional sence and was responsible for the 2nd goal against sunderland and takes far to much time on the ball and all his crosses and looped up rather being zipped and offers nothing play kelly regularly and he do wonders let him sit on the bench for a while and and play daniel agger as a centre back and get some pacey wingers and a pacey left back if possible

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  10. i totally agree he lacks positional sence and was responsible for the 2nd goal against sunderland and takes far to much time on the ball and all his crosses and looped up rather being zipped and offers nothing play kelly regularly and he do wonders let him sit on the bench for a while and and play daniel agger as a centre back and get some pacey wingers and a pacey left back if possible<span>

    Read more: http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2010/09/glenn-johnson-still-gigantic-waste-of.html#ixzz10ZJUVY2G</span>

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  11. If they're a waste then why bother commenting, or even visiting the site?!

    I don't need to comment on H+G - it's all been said.  And re the manager - I've made plenty of comments about him on the facebook page.  I will post about Hodgson when I feel there is something worth writing about.  Right now, he's only a couple of months into his LFC career - to call for his head/criticise now is stupid.Yes, he's made mistakes, but he's feeling his way into the job, and mistakes will inevitably me made.

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  12. I agree with this article. Arbeloa and Finnan were both miles better than Johnson. Any of the reserve team would be better defenders.

    I know you can say look at the stats, but he looks much better going forwards. Why not just leave him to do that? The quicker he is out of our defence the better, as he is just as much a liability back there as Calamity James, or Djimi Traore was.

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  13. I very rarely ever respond to these sort of posts, but this one really annoyed me. It is absolutely ridiculous say that Liverpool were great two years ago finishing second without Johnson and are now struggling with him. Honestly saying such stupid things made me biased towards to rest of your piece. You come across like your blaming the teams downfall for Johnson being in the team!! If I read one of your pieces again I certainly won't be open minded after reading this rubbish.

    You want specific examples. But unfortunately I do not have an hour to go look them up and rack my brain for them. But I will make a few of the main points.

    Liverpools downfall since 07/08 has been for many many reasons. And although he has made mistakes defensively (like many defenders), Glen Johnson is not your scapegoat. What I will agree with you on is he was not worth 18m. But do you live in the real world? Have you seen the prices footballers and particularly English ones go for? Zlatan worth 68m? Bargains are out there but just look at the transfers last summer and see how many players with paid over the odds for. Im not even going to go into this. Its the performance that matters right now.

    Reasons Liverpool have fallen are more along the lines of:
    1. Losing 2 of their best 5 players in 2 seasons.
    2. Injuries (Torres was sorely missed last season)
    3. Lack of form (Last seasons was Gerrards worst for many years - it was still good overall but by his standards it wasnt)
    4. Riera added good balance in 07/08, he was non existant last season.
    5. The club havent had a positive net spend in 3 seasons.
    6. Offfield distractions.


    I actually dont have time to say any more but what I will say is that if you watched EVERY Liverpool game last season you would realise Johnson had a good season and when we lacked creativity often looked our most likely player to make something happen. Assists don't include chances created, space made, time created for others, taking up markers etc. Stats arent everything. According to stats Lucas was as good as Marcherano last season. They may have made a similar number of tackles but stats don't rate the importance and difficulty of them.

    And if your going to blame anyone for last season, it should be Insua who was skinned more times than the rest of the team put together.Last season Insua would get beat, Agger would come across, Carra would come across and Johnson would be left with a 2 on 1. Liverpool have been a shambles in the air this season. The whole back line is to blame - none of whom are dominant in the air.

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  14. for real football comment try:
    http://www.zonalmarking.net/
    http://swissramble.blogspot.com/
    Here is SR's piece on our finances...must better than Jaime "on H&G's payroll" Kanwar's attempt...
    http://swissramble.blogspot.com/2010/05/are-liverpool-good-investment.html

    Blocked by admin?

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  15. I often read the posts here, and probably only agree with about 20% of them, but I actually think that there is a point here. Certainly Glen whilst offering a little more in going forwards (able to beat a man) needs to improve his crossing to be of any great value there, and defensively I wuld take Finnan or Arbeloa any day. Bring back Marcus Babbel - he was a great RB!

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  16. Well i agree with jamie on a few points. Yes Glen johnson isn't good at all for defending but i also feel that carragher also should be replaced. glen isn't worth 18m but the problem is that english players are not cheap.... the downfall of the club is not related to glen atleast. we must agree that benitez has ruined us. had he purchased 2 speedy wingers,we wouldn't have struggled to score goals. this season also hogdson has done the same error. kuyt is just a workhorse with almost no end product... he should be replaced by a 'lennon or elia or some wijnaldum',someone speedy. our player clearly lack the ability to beat defenders,to make excellent crosses and to find that final killer pass..

    yeah glen should be dropped to the bench,enter Martin Kelly. The Partner of skrtel-agger should be put forward and carragher to the left. why carragher to the left? Because he'll provide solidity and cover till we purchase a good left back. Up front,give Torres the ball.he'll deliver and give a good support. I would bet for someone like Dzeko to come to Liverpool in January if we find new owners.

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  17. Well i agree with jamie on a few points. Yes Glen johnson isn't good at all for defending but i also feel that carragher also should be replaced. glen isn't worth 18m but the problem is that english players are not cheap.... the downfall of the club is not related to glen atleast. we must agree that benitez has ruined us. had he purchased 2 speedy wingers,we wouldn't have struggled to score goals. this season also hogdson has done the same error. kuyt is just a workhorse with almost no end product... he should be replaced by a 'lennon or elia or some wijnaldum',someone speedy. our player clearly lack the ability to beat defenders,to make excellent crosses and to find that final killer pass..

    yeah glen should be dropped to the bench,enter Martin Kelly. The Partner of skrtel-agger should be put forward and carragher to the left. why carragher to the left? Because he'll provide solidity and cover till we purchase a good left back. Up front,give Torres the ball.he'll deliver and give a good support. I would bet for someone like Dzeko to come to Liverpool in January if we find new owners.

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  18. Roy plays football like a coward - he is 62 years of age - for once in your life ATTACK ROY

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  19. It's time to play young Martin Kelly at right back, he's a better defender than Johnson, he's very good going forward too. I think Glen Johnson was expensive for a right back, but not expensive for a right winger, he has undoubted pace he can go past a player, cross a ball, and has an eye for goal. LFC lack natural width, so I would play Kelly at RB and play Johnson RW. And why we gave reassurances to Cole that he would play in midfield I'll never understand, but I would risk his wrath and stick him on the left. Drop Poulsen as he is not LFC quality, and although neither is Lucas, Lucas is the more mobile of the 2 players and In my opinion the better player.

    Paul

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  20. Glen does seem very lazy now..His first few games he looked deadly and got two goals last year..The lad can't tackle at all either. 20 million would of been better spent on a good winger.

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  21. Yes Jaimie he ia afew months in to his Liverpool career but on many occassions in previous artices you wrote you take great pleasure in telling us all how you knew Rafa was a bad manager before he was appointed so you believe we need to give a tactical idot time, yet with rafa you attacked from day one, its things like this that makes me visit your site, as for Konchesky you also say give him time but he is a seasoned pro nearing the end of his career he speakes the language is working with a manager he knows well did you give the same time and respect to Insua,Lucas and Ngog the latter two are looking good players because Rafa despite his many critics gave them time

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  22. Yeah I would sell Johnson. Not sure who would buy hm but 10m is the most we would get. Arbeloa and Finnan were more solid week in week out at right back and Riise was far better than Konchesky or Insua or Dossena, Benitez bought so much trash and clueless Woy is is doing the same thing wth Konchesky and Poulson. 

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  23. 100 percent agree 
    waste of time 
    kelly better

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  24. all a waste of time debating whos good , whos bad , who should play , who shouldn't play,benitez good , benitez bad ,the fact is woy is the manager and so far proved that he is not up to the job and neither was benitez the players we have are crap apart from stevie , torres ,reina ,agger and skrtel (carras not crap just past his best) we have to put up with the joke that we are on and off the field till professor bunsen and beaker are bought out or the bank reposses ,i love the club and am heartbroke that we are where we are but neither i nor you can do anything to change things no matter what we do,sos and the like just highlight matters for the press to have a dig at and we will suffer at the hands of these guys till our clubs future is sorted
    YNWA

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  25. I'm totally agreed with the fact above.the signing of Glen Johnson make worst for a Liverpool team.every single goal came from him..the angle of Liverpool defensive is leaked cause of glen. he so weak to call a defender and he (glen) should know the meaning of DEFEND if he  is a DEFENDER..worst for team spirit.

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  26. back on the scene i see  jamie have you been taken out of mothballs because the sos fans have got the better of hicks and gillett and they feel they need to counter them, - its a waste of time

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  27. 2nd goal came from our left but Johnson was covering Bent who had more desire to get to the cross 1st!!
    Johnson is a joke at right back, he gets flustered constantly and waits for an eternity to actually do anything. He also seems to of got even slower over the summer, 18m is unbelievable money for someone so average! Finnan and Arbeloa were far better defenders then Glenda which at present is what we need. We are shipping goals this season already and need some stability at the back which with Johnson there we will never get!

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  28. Yes Johnson is not worth 17 mill, crasy money spent of Benitez. But what about

    What about Christian Poulsen, he is just so bad a player, and what is Roy seeing in him, and way has he bought him, and for what????
    -can´t defend,
    -no pace, 
    -can´t hed a ball,
    -are always to late in tackles
    - are just running around, and don´t know where to runt to.
    When he was takin out today, then LFC started to play as a team. He is running in the way off Gerrard and Meireles.
    Sell Poulsen now, and please Roy start to play whit
     strikers up front, it is to easy for the other teams, to defent only Torres.....

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  29. Yes, that´s right John. Play 2 strikers up front, and play Meireles or Lucas insted off Poulsen.

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  30. Yes sell Poulsen in January, and buy Momo Sissoko back, he was a good def mid. Fantastic stamina, just like Mascherano!

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  31. I'm sure you stated time and again that the Hicks/Gillet debts had no impact on the club.
    That was your mantra!

    And then Purslow, on the official website, says: "<span>The issue today is that too much of that profit is being used to service loans put into place when the club was bought."</span>

    The money used to pay off those loans could have been used to buy some better players (or a better manager) in the summer.

    But still you insist you were right and telling us the truth.

    It will all be better soon you claimed, insisting that everyone should stop 'doom-mongering'.

    Well, we'll wait and see what happens in mid-October when the RBS loan is due.

    But don't you bother writing anything about that... you just keep on carping about Rafa (he's gone by the way, so you can get over it!)

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  32. Johnson has been a huge disappointment. His confidence is just shattered and he seems to get worse week by week. This doesn't instantly make him a lost cause but something needs to change. I've seen Johnson produce outstanding performances and some of Liverpool's best has been with him making attacks up that wing. Roy will be ruthless and make his decision, at least we see that he's not afraid to do that. It's insane to judge Hodgson on such early season form but I think he's made a mistake to completely change the system the way he has. Liverpool have never been so poor as I've seen these few games and while a new manager is an interesting excuse Roy would know damn well that temporarily sticking to existing tactics would have allowed Liverpool to maintain some solidity. 

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  33. I agree that Johnson shouldn't be playing at RB. But he is the only option we have on the right going forward. Stick him at RW, he adds width, and he has shown he can beat players and create chances. He is better than Maxi, and Kuyt, who in my opinion is the real waste of space. Yeah is a workhorse, but what is the point of having someone run around all day when nothing he does has any positive effect, he causes more harm than good. Stick him on in the last 20 minutes when everyone is tired out and let him do what he does, but to play him for 90 minutes is just absurd.
    Another thing, i agree that Rafa was a downer. But at least he was able to get the lads to defend, and very rarely leaked goals. Roy seems to have lost the plot, and our defence is all over the shop. Hoofing the ball out of defence to nobody up front is getting old, and there just isn"t any substance to our play. we are getting shutdown quicker than you can blink, and what is Roy doing about it. Nothing. He hasnt the sllightest idea as to get the most of what he has got, and his inabilty to make the difficult decisions and change ideas and tactics has led us to where we are today. Roy has to go. He is not a top flight manager, far from it.
    Jamie, you were quick to criticise Rafas reign, and yet you are willing to give Roy time to steady the ship. very hypocritical in my eyes. There is no time left. We need an overhaul, and the first to go should be Roy. Otherwise we will facing relagation, soemthing that i know would not have happened under Rafa, regardless of how bad his football was, and how much of a twat he was. Either see things for waht they really are and comment on them, or in the beginning of your articles you should point out that youare a hypocrite, and that your views should not be taken with a grain of salt.....

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  34. Well said, Defence was fine in 08/09. Only change in 09/10 was Johnson go figure.

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  35. we lose not becoz of glen johnson but because sale of xabi alonso.

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  36. Have to agree with this article. Glen Johnson is not good enough for liverpool. Personally I would put some if kids in. Give them a chance. Kelly, spearing, suso, pacheco. They all need game time. The current team is average. We need to start rebuilding

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  37. Have to agree with this article. Glen Johnson is not good enough for liverpool. Personally I would put some if kids in. Give them a chance. Kelly, spearing, suso, pacheco. They all need game time. The current team is average. We need to start rebuilding

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  38. Glen Johnson was and never will be a footballer worthy of mention. And I certainly do not have to read this article for confirmation of that!

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  39. Roy please sell pulson and konscheky, we knew they were crap before the signed and they're still crap now!

    Also I'm sick to death of Johnson cutting in , in the final third and trying to dribble his way in to the box, then either under hitting the cross or kissing the ball, when time he had half a yard whip the ball with attackers in the box!! He holds on to the ball too long!

    Roy why can't u just take a risk and play 4-4-2 gerrard meireles midfield and jonanovic left kuty right and Cole Torres together, every 1st 70mins of a game we are awful then Roy changes it (when its too late IMO) to a 4-4-2 then we play better, y not start with our best formation from the off?

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  40. Losing the ball, not kissing :-[*

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  41. what a surprise an article opening with criticism of Rafa benitez.  

    Kanwar really is pathetic bloger.  he is the butchers dog of journalism. 

    Kanwar pulls the ugliest of birds cause they are the easiest to get into bed.

    He was also 'dispelling' the myths that 'H&G' debt was having no impact on liverpool.  well thats been quickly founf out to be a load of old bollocks, but have we had a retraction.  no of course we havent because he is above that of course.

    i remember an article where he claimed to have sources in the club outlining teh debt structure etc etc.   hmmmm wonder if Kanwar is a lapdog for Hicks?

    its highly likely cos im sure Kanwar takes it up the arse like a prison rent boy

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  42. Was it just me or is there a problem between Gerard & Torres! When SG scored he completlely ignored FT who crossed the ball. Normally the scorer goes to the provider.

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  43. Guys, let's get this straight. He's been quiet because Rafa is no longer there to poke with a stick, if you trawl through the garbage on this site (and I haven't bothered after the 2 articles I read!) you will find that he will turn anything he can into a negative... He said we should have signed Lorik Cana instead of Aquaman... If we had actually done that, we would be reading articles of 2nd rate players like Cana that Rafa had signed.

    I'm a realist and agree that GJ isn't worth 18m... You Jaimie really are the so called 'anti-football'... You keep saying how things have got better under H+G and yes various aspects, but the team hasn't suceeded under their regime.

    Also, you mentioned that there will be money for Roy to spend, we made another profit this season through selling players. So it wasn't all available to spend, same thing with Rafa...

    It's ppl like you who destroy everything this club stands for and that is honour and integrity. You're very lucky we don't know much about you, you're like a Manc in disguise and make most of us sick with your articles.

    I'm sure whatever positive happens with the club there'll be a negative spin you can put on it. Notice how he never writes articles praising when we win??

    I bet you even look like Gary Neville. Effin Rat Boy.

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  44. You still don't get it.  You're misinterpreting Purslow's comments. I don't know what it is with people like you but you're seemingly incapable of seeing the fineer nuances of the bigger picture.

    LFC's debts don't have any impact on the club in the sense of the financial meltdown that people like you keep foaming at the mouth over.  The debts ARE NOT ON THE CLUB; they are the holding companies associated with the club.  That makes a huge difference. Furthermore, any attempt to leverage debts against the assets of the club have been - and will continue to be - vetoed by the board.

    Once the dust settles, LFC will be fine.  The sale will take care of everything.  There will be no finanicial meltdown.  Underperformance on the pitch has nothing to do with LFC's financial issues; even Dalglish has said tha today, and has repeated what I've been arguing all along: issues off the pitch cannot and should not be used as an excuse.

    The fact that you go on about 'the money could've been used to buy players' says it all.  If Benitez hadn't pissed away almost 300m on crap players, perhaps there would be more money to spend now.  As a result of financial wastage under Benitez, the club is being more prudent right now. And so they should be.  Additionally, with a takeover looming, no club in its right mind is going to sanction huge fees for players that might not fit in with new regime/management structure (if there is one).  Any money for trasfers will come when the takeover is completed.
     I could go on and on but it will not register with you.

    If Liverpool were doing well in the league right now you and thousands of others wouldn't even be moaning about the financial situation, just like you weren't moaning when we finished 2nd in 2009.

    We're struggling at the moment, so fans use the financial situation as an excuse.  Well, that is just being fickle.

    Liverpool is fine; 95% of stuff in the press about the debts etc is exaggerated BS. 

    I have been proven right so far, and I will be proven right in the future re LFC's finances. 

    Just becausr the Daily Mail tries to sell papers by saying that the apocalypse is night doesn't mean it's right.

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  45. I was against Benitez's appointment from the start but I still supported him.  I did not start to actively criticise him until 2007 - 3 years after he was appointed. I gave him time; I defended him against H+G; I defended him when he subbed Gerrard in the merseyside Derby, and in many other situations.  I didn NOT attack from day one, so stop making things up.

    Re Konchesky - I called for Liverpool to sign him 2 years ago.  He is a good player, and he has performed well for Liverpool so far.  Just because some crosses got by him doesn't make him a bad player.  You are being unbelievably fickle.  Look at our other defenders - how many fatal mistakes has Carragher made in his career?  How many times has be been skinned by the likes of Henry, with the end result being a goal? Does that make him a crap player?  NO.

    Konchesky is a good player, and he is a cut about the likes of Insua. 

    Re Lucas - find me one post, or even one line on this site or the facebook page where I have ever been on his case.  I have never jumped on the 'Lucas is crap' bandwagon; My position on him has always been he's a good player, but not a first-teamer. 

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  46. This is a joke, right? :)

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  47. i would bet my house that jamie is in the pay of gillett or purslow, when rafa went so did jamie why ? because his paymaster thought he had won but the sos have grown stronger and are having an impact hence jamies return, to try to counter them.

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  48. Matt - In future, please respond without the insults. Make your points and stick to the issues.  If you can't do that, your posts will be deleted.

    I very rarely ever respond to these sort of posts, but this one really annoyed me. It is absolutely ridiculous say that Liverpool were great two years ago finishing second without Johnson and are now struggling with him.
    First of all, stop misinterpreting my post.  I did not say that LFC were 'great' before JOhnson arrived.  It's clear that my point is that *defensively*, Liverpool were superior before Johnson arrived.  That is not ridiculous; it is fact, whether you like it or not.  The FACT is that Liverpool's defence was better pre-Johnson.  We lost fewer games, conceded fewer goals, and were gnerally more solid.
    Our defence suffered as a result of Johnson's poor defensive intelligence.  He was constantly out of position, and his awareness was/is regularly suspect.  Consequently, our central defenders have to worry about him as well as the opposition attack, which has often led to the likes of Carra and Skrtel having to cover for him and/or being dragged out of position themselves to compensate. 
    Given the fact Johnson is an England international, we should expect more from him; what we got instead is a defensive liability.  Insua also contributed to our defensive instability for the same reasons, but mistakes from him should be expected given his youth and comparative inexperience.



    Liverpools downfall since 07/08 has been for many many reasons. And although he has made mistakes defensively (like many defenders), Glen Johnson is not your scapegoat.
    Downfall?  What downfall?  In 2009 23 finished 2nd.  In 2008 we qualified for the CL.  Whilst these are not amazing results (in context), it is certainly not a downfall in any way. 
    The downfall came in one season: 2009-10 - the season Johnson arrived.  Don't try and lump the previous two seasons into the same bracket - the catastrophe of last season belongs in an entirely different bracket of mediocrity.
    Johnson is not the scapegoat, but he is responsible in many ways.  Benitez is the scapegoat, but he has thankfully gone.
    Reasons Liverpool have fallen are more along the lines of:  
    1. Losing 2 of their best 5 players in 2 seasons.  

    Benitez to blame.

    2. Injuries (Torres was sorely missed last season)  
    Yes, this had an impact, but that doesn't excuse last season's appaling performance. 

    3. Lack of form (Last seasons was Gerrards worst for many years - it was still good overall but by his standards it wasnt)  
    What about the other 30+ players in the squad. This is not a valid excuses.

    4. Riera added good balance in 07/08, he was non existant last season.  
    Benitez to blame.

    5. The club havent had a positive net spend in 3 seasons.  
    Absolutely incorrect, and a typically lame pro-Benitez excuse.  In the last 3 Benitez seasons, Liverpool spent approximately 150m (gross).  Net spend is irrelevant.  Tell me: what did we get for that 150m, and how have we benefited?!
    6. Offfield distractions. 
    Nonsense.  Has nothing to do with performance on the pitch, or the manager's football-related decisions.

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  49. I actually dont have time to say any more but what I will say is that if you watched EVERY Liverpool game last season you would realise Johnson had a good season and when we lacked creativity often looked our most likely player to make something happen. Assists don't include chances created, space made, time created for others, taking up markers etc. Stats arent everything. According to stats Lucas was as good as Marcherano last season. They may have made a similar number of tackles but stats don't rate the importance and difficulty of them.
    Here we go - the superfan response.  The implication here is that you went to every game and have more knowledge because you saw the games live.  Total BS.  Everything you say here is unfounded conjecture.  Lucas did not have the same stats as Mascherano; for one or two months, he had the same/better stats, not over an entire season. 
    And I did watch every game, and you are in denial about Johnson.  Creativity?!  You cannot just say he was more creative.  None of that matters if there is no specific, measurable end product.  Tell me: how did Liverpool benefit from Johnson's alleged creativity?!  The answer is, the club DIDN'T.  Stats DO matter.  Only someon fo supreme ignorance would argue otherwise.  If a striker scores 3 goals in one season, that stat matters more than how many shots he had on target.  His job is to score goals, not *almost* score goals.
    Johnson's job is to defend.  Last season stats show he did that poorly.  Given the fact people rave about his so-called attacking prowess, he can e judged on that too, and the end product was practically nil.

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  50. Change the record.  You seriously need some new material!  I am not payed by any individual/company for writing on this site.  I take breaks because I have a love/hate relationship with football.  Furthermore, I actually have a life, and have many things to be getting on with.

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  51. Tired old cliche from a lazy journalist. Liverpools ills are not down the right hand side of our defense, they are firmly rooted in the boardroom and untill those parasites are removed from our club there is very little chance of them changing. Even the most ardent H & G sycophant can appreciate that now can't they?

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  52. what a cheek change the record, yours was stuck in the rafa groove until he left, then you left off diddnt you, the problem is you know i'm right, of cousre you have a life, your a payed for cowardly mouthpiece hiding behind a false i/d, i know more than you will ever know about life, ive stayed with the astors and lived with killers, as for fooball you have no idea you little shit.

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  53. So come on then... how am I 'misinterpreting' Purslow's comments.
    They were quite clear... the debts are impacting the club.

    Yes, Jaimie, the sale will take care of everything - because it will mean the Yanks are gone.
    THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT!
    While they are still here the debts keep mounting up, the increased cash from corporate income has to be diverted to pay the interest rather than improve the team (or build the new stadium that would generate even more money long-term) and our better players (Masch, Xabi, Yossi) will keep getting sold and replaced with cheaper, inferior counterparts.

    You accuse me of not listening, but you show no sign of accepting that the debts are even a small problem.
    Let's just keep saying 'Rafa spunked £300m on rubbish' rather than consider how much he also brought in, or give credit for players like Reina and Torres who have taken us up another level.

    There actually isn't any reason for us to be more prudent now. Purslow highlighted how successful we have been in increasing income, but none of that is helping the club.
    Would you be happy if you brought in thousands of extra pounds to your business, but your boss turned you down for a pay-rise (and even told you to take a pay-cut) because he was losing it all due to mis-management. 


    Your view now seems to be that as long as Hicks and Gillet don't actually make the club bankrupt, then it's OK.
    No matter if they keep running us into the ground and will take us years to get close again to the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd.. with Tottenham and Man City going into the distance as well.
    Don't worry about any of that, because the '<span>The sale will take care of everything'</span>

    We've been waiting a long time for that sale.
    How long are you prepared to wait for it? How bad does the situation have to get before you even acknowledge one little bit that the Yanks have caused it - no-one else.
    7th not bad enough? Fifth from bottom after six games not bad enough?? Relegated this season, would that be bad enough??
    Gerrard, Torres, Reina all leaving, would that be bad enough??

    The more you scream '<span>I have been proven right so far, and I will be proven right in the future re LFC's finances.'  the more you sound like Comical Ali in Iraq.</span>
    <span>
    <p>"Be assured, we have them surrounded in their tanks. There are NO Americans there. I will take you there and show you. IN ONE HOUR!"
    </p></span>

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  54. jamie ive made my point, ive no intention of using this crap site again,  tell us who you are instead of hiding behind a stupid pseudonym and a dopey silhouette, then we might believe you are your own man.

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  55. great to see you back jaimie!

    as regards konchesky being here 5 minutes, you seemed to be judging johnson before he even arrived!

    and as for defending him with generalisation, i will not..nor will i criticise him as such, eg "Johnson's arrival coincided with the club's worst league season since 1994"

    he was at fault for the second goal, but at the moment there are bigger troubles throughout the team than johnson which should be adressed i think.

    18m was a bit extarvagant but overall im just about ok with it at the moment!

    ;)
    <span>
    </span>

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  56. Glen didn't cost us 18million cash. We were owed money and knew Portsmouth finances were crippling so acted accodingly to make sure we got something back from thecrouch sale. And for what it's worth, Glen might not directly assist but how many chances has he created by cutting inside on opponents areas squared it to someone else yo make a chance, plenty. He's not the greatest defender but still does a good job. Fans used to criticise that we created little from the back, now we do attack you all start moaning. What about Carra aging and slowing up? Can't just blame 1 player there and numerous factors for the defencive decline

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  57. Glen didn't cost us 18million cash. We were owed money and knew Portsmouth finances were crippling so acted accodingly to make sure we got something back from thecrouch sale. And for what it's worth, Glen might not directly assist but how many chances has he created by cutting inside on opponents areas squared it to someone else yo make a chance, plenty. He's not the greatest defender but still does a good job. Fans used to criticise that we created little from the back, now we do attack you all start moaning. What about Carra aging and slowing up? Can't just blame 1 player there and numerous factors for the defencive decline

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  58. I completely agree with the article. I have one more point here. Even though he is going forward, he always look either to score a goal himself or to provide a direct assist.. he never minds if another player calling for the ball from a better position to cross or a pull back.. I even have this video compiled of johnson ignoring other player's intelligent runs and try to beat all other diffenders coming in his way and run into trouble ( Babeling I would say)...even in last match with Sunderland I could see three or four instances of similiar nature..Because of this we were loosing some potential goal scoring chances. Since we were not creating much 3 or 4 potential chances to shoot would definitely had made a difference...What he should understand is, he is not Glen Ronaldo or a Glen Messi and he is just Glen Johnson.

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  59. Jamie has got this one spot on.  Johnson coupled with Carraghers demise make the right half of our defense a complete shambles. Skrtel is BACK and playing well but can't do it on his own.  Ahh well at least Insuas gone 8-)

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  60. agreed.  Carras legs have gone at 32 which is a shame.  He doesn't read the game as well as hyppia and will struggle for the rest of his liverpool career.  In my opinion he shouldn't get a new contract.  Fergie would have shipped him out by now. Sentiment should'nt come into it.

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  61. man utd aren't doing too bad on the field.  Granted they have spent a little more than us but their players are real men who never hide from a challenge.  We have far too many players willing to let the issues at the top soften the blow for inept performances.  We should't let the players off that easily.

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  62. ok i agree that glen was and has some time been a bit wayward in his game but that does not make him a bad investment. on many a times he has shown his skills. so,, cut the crap!! furthermore spare us from your bitterness about rafa. he has overperformed with a liverpool team whose financial statement showed that they deserved to be in the  mid table yet, he managed to be runner up 2 years ago. liverpool recent form is all due to roy rodgson for his inabilities to coach high profile teams. what is more annoying is that roy has not even set himself an objective and his tactics is pure bullshits. most of the time he is satisfied with the draws.. keep up like this roy and we'll soon be fighting against relegation. jamie, carry on with these posts and soon you'll be well paid by the yanks bcause i thibk the yanks love you!!!!!!!!!!!

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  63. Welcome back Jamie - you were badly missed. It's about time someome started to talk back against these liars who are destroying the moral & fabric of the club & the supporters and giving the gutter media a whip to beat LFC with, as if they needed one. Again welcome back

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  64. losing alonso is the prime reasone of our failure! benitez's way of handling men was terible. players loss confidence after joining liverpool. lossing crouch, belamy, sissoco, benayoun, alonso, and mash are all not good. rissie and LUIS GARCIA are not well replaced. Playing LUCAS regularly is also a terrible mistake
    No attacking football. wins are not usualy convincing even with poor teams. the new manager is not yet on the right track. The gesture and appearance of the new manager during plays is not so motivating.

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  65. losing alonso is the prime reasone of our failure! benitez's way of handling men was terible. players loss confidence after joining liverpool. lossing crouch, belamy, sissoco, benayoun, alonso, and mash are all not good. rissie and LUIS GARCIA are not well replaced. Playing LUCAS regularly is also a terrible mistake
    No attacking football. wins are not usualy convincing even with poor teams. the new manager is not yet on the right track. The gesture and appearance of the new manager during plays is not so motivating.

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  66. losing alonso is the prime reasone of our failure! benitez's way of handling men was terible. players loss confidence after joining liverpool. lossing crouch, belamy, sissoco, benayoun, alonso, and mash are all not good. rissie and LUIS GARCIA are not well replaced. Playing LUCAS regularly is also a terrible mistake
    No attacking football. wins are not usualy convincing even with poor teams. the new manager is not yet on the right track. The gesture and appearance of the new manager during plays is not so motivating.

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  67. yeah I say that.  Once again Gerrard is all about...Gerrard.

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  68. yeah I saw that.  Once again Gerrard is all about...Gerrard.

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  69. basic and predicatable

    rafa has gone so the self serving meglomanic fools serve up drivel like this.

    the whole defncisve system has been shocking cara,skirtl , even ager can be highlighted as making mistakes.

    2 seasons ago the best record in the league deensivlly and now shot to s^^t

    put a barresi in or even bobby more and he would  stuggle such is the current form - its a collective and the whole team must accept the blame.

    attacking individuals is pety

    ashley cole sucked in south africa and is often out of his water for chelski yet he gets away with it -why ?partly as he does a good job 70 % of the time, but mostly as hes surrounded by class players - this is obviously lacking at anfiloed these days!

    simmples - so get of individuals backs 

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  70. <span><span>j</span><img></img></span> says:Today, 23:12:08<span><span>“</span></span>basic and predicatable  
     
    rafa has gone so the self serving meglomanic fools serve up drivel like this.  
     
    the whole defncisve system has been shocking cara,skirtl , even ager can be highlighted as making mistakes.  
     
    2 seasons ago the best record in the league defensivley and now shot to s^^t  
     
    put a barresi in or even bobby more and he would  stuggle such is the current form - its a collective and the whole team must accept the blame.  
     
    attacking individuals is pety  
     
    ashley cole sucked in south africa and is often out of his water for chelski yet he gets away with it -why ?partly as he does a good job 70 % of the time, but mostly as hes surrounded by class players - this is obviously lacking at anfiloed these days!  
     
    simmples - so get of individuals backs 

    Read more: http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2010/09/glenn-johnson-still-gigantic-waste-of.html#ixzz10fzbZ4oa

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  71. Jaimie,

    The problem last season was not about conceding goals, it was about scoring them away from home.

    Our home form last year in terms of goals was the same as our excellent 08/09 season, with a total of 43 goals scored and 15 conceded, the same +28 GD as the preceding season (41 scored, 13 conceded).

    Our away form was woeful however. We managed to score only 18 goals while conceding 20. In the preceding year we had scored 36 and conceded 14. So, at worst you could argue that Johnson had caused us to concede 6 more goals away from home than the previous year, although given the form of Insua it would be unfair to give Johnson him all the credit.

    Our defensive record remained the third best in the league in 2009/10, behind Chelsea and Man Utd, so Johnson 'defensive frailty' had little to no effect on our league position last year.

    It was all down to failing to score away from home, and for the most part the disappointing goal return from Steven Gerrard.

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  72. The beauty of the Internet... anyone can write bull sheet article on here and get responses... it's very sad.
    why you guys would ol 'Jamie' airtime is beyond me, unless your a man then you love his stuff

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  73. Thank god someone has stated the obvious, people are going on and on about Johnson and Konchelsky but nobody dare talk about the bloody obvious fact that our beloved Carra has past his sell by date.
    He has made more obvios mistakes than anyone but nobody mentions this. He is the centre half that allows most centre forwards to rise above hime these days with efforts on goal and a lot of them scoring but nobody mentions this, perhaps it is because he is from Liverpool and we do not slag our own, but you lot need to wake up and get real, one of the first signings we make in January is a centre half to replace Jamie and put him to coaching the youngsters, he would be good at this. 

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  74. I'd play him on the right wing or switch to wing backs with Agger carr & Skrtel in the centre.

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  75. Konchesky wasn't even on the pitch for the 2nd goal so it's Agger you gotta have beef with for that, another player playing badly but at least Roy has dropped him. Johnson's positioning was terrible. How many times playing as a kid were you told to always keep goalside of the guy you mark. It's elementary school stuff.

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  76. I'm sure you have refused to accept stats in the past when Dirk Kuyt is the player in question (i.e. assists and goals scored). How come stats matter for Johnson but not Kuyt?

    Also, if you go to the game you are able to see more of the game then if you watch it on the TV. The camera angles don't allow you to see off the ball movement etc which you can see from your seat in the ground.

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  77. If i remember well we were going through to europa league final when near the end johnson ducked a cross wich led to atletico goal which put them through

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  78. If i remember well we were going through to europa league final when near the end johnson ducked a cross wich led to atletico goal which put them through

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  79. If i remember well we were going through to europa league final when near the end johnson ducked a cross wich led to atletico goal which put them through

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  80. Yes, you're absolutely right lfc kosova - just one of the *many* costly defensive lapses from Johnson last season.

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  81. couldnt agree more as regards Kuyt,probably one of the worst players ever to pull on a Liverpool jersey,i reckon he would struggle in the Championship.We need pacey wingers to supply Nando,and we dont have them.Everything is through the middle,and at the end of the day,we dont have enough options.All great centre forwards were supplied by great wingers.

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  82. LFC's debts don't have any impact on the club in the sense of the financial meltdown that people like you keep foaming at the mouth over.  The debts ARE NOT ON THE CLUB; they are the holding companies associated with the club.  That makes a huge difference.

    Read more: http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2010/09/glenn-johnson-still-gigantic-waste-of.html#ixzz10nGw7kd4That makes no difference whatsoever, if the holding company go's in to administration so does the football club and if you don't believe that try reading about Southampton FC. The Football club and Kop holdings at this moment are the same business and thats how the FA view it.

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  83. Jaimie,

    You seem to have alot to say about Rafa...perhaps a closer look at your own research may tell a story...

    http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2010/09/lfc-first-6-games-comparison-hodgson-vs.html

    Prior to last season, our average finish over the previous 4 years (I am excluding Rafa's 1st year) was 3rd...with the NET outlay that we spent each year in that period...Rafa's performance was actually great value for money.

    Secondly, (unlike Houllier & Souness), Rafa left the foundations of an excellent team (Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Carra, Mascherano [subsquently sold], Aquilani [Roy's decision to get rid], Torres and Gerrard are not too bad are they?.

    Thirdly, Many of Rafa's purchases actually appreciated in value...Torres, Reina, Alonso, Agger, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Mascherano, Ngog...)

    Fourthly, Rafa has left some good young players who have already represented the 1st team(Kelly, Ngog, Pacheco, SUSO, Lucas, Darby)

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  84. still goin on about alonso?
    jesues

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  85. I just find it funny that u think u know more than a group of experienced professional scouts with reports, graphs, data etc and a world class manager. At that point in time Johnson was a good buy. Things changed immediately after his transfer. We all called for a more attacking team, Rafa was doing that. When a person is hated he can do nothing right and people will always find everything wrong with everything he does, period. In your opinion Johnson is shit, in my opinion he is playing in a team style he doesn't belong to. IMO he'd be amazing at manu or arsenal, just like Agger, Babel, Torres, Gerrard. Rafa was trying to build a beautiful attacking team, Roy is trying to turn it into a long ball, boring, typical Brittish team.

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  86. "If Benitez hadn't pissed away almost 300m on crap players<span>" ... If Benitez hadn't taken us to 2 CL finals he wouldn't have had anything to piss away. P.S. About 80/90 percent of a transfer happens due to a scouting department. A manager will see a need to strengthen e.g. Left Midfield, scouts provide a list and manager and his team choose their favourite then 2nd 3rd etc. Most of Benitez's transfers were his 3rd or 4th choice because the club usually didn't provide the funds for 1st or 2nd
    </span>

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  87. Hi Jaime , good to c u back and about...

    As always we can agree to agree and disagree...

    I think the Glen is not a Gigantic waste , but to agree he is badly off form and visibly lacking confidence and drive this season... i must say though that there are a number of players @ the moment we can say that about...


    I feel that its time for Dirk to take a back seat or either start playing upfront with FT and lets give young Kelly a shot as the right fullback , allowing Glen to play more as an out and out winger.

    To blame GJ for goals conceded by crosses or set pieces is abit harsh esp last year when Insua was the real weak link @ the back , coupled with a dodgy Cara.

    This year though i feel GJ has suffered with the loss of his 2 holding players and the introduction of Poulsen, who has lots of composure but very little pace.

    That with the strange lack of form of Cara and Skrtel, the unwillingness of Roy to play Agger has contributed to GJ lack of form and defensive misfortunes.

    The bottom line is Glen is a top fullback , that when on form is a nightmare form opposing teams , both as a defender and attacker , right now though we need to help him get back there.

    And maybe some time on the wing will help....

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