23 May 2013

Enrique insists: £17m LFC star is one of the 'best in the world'. Deluded or correct...?

Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson is a joy to watch when he's attacking the opposition, but even the most fanatical LFC fan would probably concede that consistent defensive solidity is not one of his strong points. Generally speaking, Johnson's defensive mistakes are guaranteed to cost the club goals every season, but according to Jose Enrique, the 29-year old England international is up there with the very best.

In a recent interview with the official LFC website, Enrique enthused:

"He [Rodgers] has always said to me and Glen, and the other full-backs as well, that we have to play really high up the pitch.

"I don't like to speak about myself but, for me, Glen is one of the best right-backs in the world".


I've posted many articles over the years highlight Johnson's defensive weaknesses, and in my view, he is a defensive liability at the best of times. Indeed, it's no coincidence that since Johnson arrived, LFC's overall defensive solidity has become progressively worse with each passing season.

The club's abject performance in the league over the last four years is one glaring consequence of that, though I'm not suggesting Johnson is solely to blame - he's just one part of leaky defensive unit in urgent need of major overhaul.

The primary purpose of a right back is to defend, and in my view, a right-back cannot be considered to be one of the 'best in the world' unless he excels defensively. Similarly, a striker cannot be one of the world's best unless he excels on the goalscoring front.

It's almost a cliche to mention this now, but it still amazes me how successive LFC managers have neglected to give Johnson a run of games on the right-wing/right side of midfield. Over the years, many players in the squad have been played out of position (Downing, Henderson, Borini, Wisdom etc), yet the one obvious positional change is totally ignored. It makes no sense to me, especially since:

* The club is short of genuine right-sided attacking midfielders. After Stewart Downing - who is himself playing out of position - who else is there?

* LFC is overflowing with options at right-back, so it's not as if Johnson couldn't be spared.

* Johnson regularly plays at left-back (!), so Rodgers is willing to play him out of position. So why not try right wing...?

It might work, or it might fail, but surely at some point, the club has to give it a shot...?


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59 comments:

  1. liverpool4life5657:45 pm, May 23, 2013

    He is on his day, he up there with Alves and Zabeleta

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  2. His defending has gotten much better since he first joined Liverpool and does it just as well as most right backs in the league. If anything it was his attacking and running into defenders this year that let him down. He loses the ball more than any other Liverpool player. On his day he's incredible #West Ham away

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  3. I think he is. Yes he has his problems defensively and yes he probably would do better in the wing position (arguably, because there is the argument that he finds all that space because no one is really assigned to make him as a RB). But who are the best RBs in the world? Lahm, Zabaleta, Alves (who's just as bad defensively), and....? Abate?

    There just aren't that many great right backs playing now, just good ones imo. Its also very rare to find a RB/LB that great at both defending and attacking with Baines and Lahm setting that standard. Johnson can obviously improve that side of his game, but with what's currently out there, I think he's easily in the top 5 in the world.

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  4. I've never really understood the Johnson bashing, hes constantly up and down the right defending attacking overlapping shooting and scoring, everything you would want from a Right back,

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  5. I think Glen Johnson has improved on his defensive weaknesses and his game has become progressively stronger. He is as good as most defenders out there especially combined with his attacking prowess.

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  6. im a big fan of johnson for what its worth.......on another note im signing off for a few months following my other club saints at rugby leauge...hope you all have a great off season and i hope rogers makes some decent signings see you all when the season begins

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  7. Jamie Kanwar Im appalled by your level of football knowledge.

    The primary purpose of a right back is to
    defend, and in my view, a right-back cannot be considered to be one of
    the 'best in the world' unless he excels defensively.

    Football has changed and teams these days are relying on the full backs to push up and consistently transition play from defence to attack. Dani Alves plays that position better than any one else in the world at the moment.

    It's almost a cliche to mention this now, but it
    still amazes me how successive LFC managers have neglected to give
    Johnson a run of games on the right-wing/right side of midfield

    Thats bollocks as Johnson is better at running with the ball from deep.Why hasnt Dani Alves, an attacking full back played at right wing for any team hes played for? Are all the coaches blind?

    Shyte blog just from the mainstream media bullshit!

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  8. I also am a fan of GJ. very underrated in some quarters,but surely it's no coincidence that successive managers (professionals) have not agreed with your cliched assumption.He's a right back....

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  9. Headless chicken !! He's up there with Titus Bramble and Glen Keeley !!!

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  10. liverpool4life5658:34 pm, May 23, 2013

    Stop talking sh*t, :)

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  11. Do you really watch football ? To even compare Johnson with Alves is a sin. He is an awful defender.

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  12. liverpool4life5658:42 pm, May 23, 2013

    On his day yes he is. Who up there with Alves then?:)

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  13. Look forward to your return, gilstrap. All the best.

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  14. It's not an assumption, it's a contention.

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  15. Alves is a pretty dodgy defender, just amazing going forward.

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  16. "World's best" is relative.


    Are we talking one of the top 2 or 3 RBs in the world? Or are we talking one of the top 10 to 15 RBs in the world?


    Glen has been very good for us. He's certainly more offensively gifted than defensively, but I also believe that he's serviceable on defense.


    I thought he played too much this year, and it showed when he started to slow down as the season dragged on.


    In my view, he's certainly one of the top 2 or 3 RBs in the premier league though. I'd have to consider who else in the world to take over him... they're out there, but I'd have to give it some thought beyond someone like an Alves, or a Zabaleta.

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  17. England's first choice right back since 2009 makes him world class in imho. Can't think of any England 1st team starter who isn't tbh.

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  18. Think Johnson is top quality and very happy LFC have him. Again like Carroll people tend to use the same old tags that have stick to some players. "Carroll is a donkey" "Johnson cant defend". To be honest I haven't seen many mistakes from Johnson for the past 2 seasons and he always has the speed to get us out of trouble. And how many times has he assisted the assists for our goals?

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  19. NonEventHorizon9:06 pm, May 23, 2013

    10 years ago a right backs main/only priority was to defend but times have changed and so have positional disciplines. With modern attacking teams the defence falls mainly to the centre backs and defensive midfielders. The LB / RB obviously still defend in as much as the whole team defends, that being the thing - defend as a team. Johnson is certainly no where near the worst RB for making mistakes, our midfield have made just as many mistakes and/or lost the ball resulting in goals. Johnson shouldn't be singled out as he is as much an attacking player as he is a defensive player, he has his area to attack or cover like every over player. Modern RB's/LB's aren't the same type of players (positionally / tactically) as they used to be.

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  20. No, just no, not even in these so-called times of shallow depth of top right backs. I don't rate him and never have. I'd take Arbeloa back in a heartbeat. For all this talk of how modern full backs are required to attack, Johnson is still very wishy washy at best for a so-called modern right back in terms of defending. Predictably, he doesn't get much negative spotlight from the media, he can thank his nationality for that. If he was Brazilian, he'd have a long list of playstation jokes. He looked so dodgy in a more conservative system under Rafa, where he was supported by a much stronger central midfield and workaholic Kuyt, than I think its understandable why I've never rated him as if you get shown up in a system like that, then there are very big flaws in your defending. Although he has improved a little bit (very little to do with system, more to do experience) and does seem to defend better at left back. In terms of form this season at right back, I'd comfortably take the likes of Zabaleta, Rafael, Azpilicueta and even Riether over Glen and I wouldn't label any of them up there with the best. If it weren't for the spine of the time needing overhauling, I'd be for replacing Johnson but his position is not a priority now, although not because he has been that good.

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  21. AndWithSuchSimplicity10:13 pm, May 23, 2013

    I'm pretty sure that Carragher voted Finnan and Johnson as the best full backs in all his time at the club, and I think we should trust his judgement.
    Glen is nailed on as England full-back and has been for a couple of seasons, and he scores his share of goals.

    You've just had a beef about Glen Johnson ever since he wore the Suarez T-shirt. I mean, how DARE a black man have a mind of his own and back a teammate................

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  22. Jaime, defensively I think he has in fact improved leaps and bounds. His tackle win % is 80 above Zabaleta's and is only beaten by Chelsea's Azpilicueta, Coleman (eveton) and Sagna. He wins a challenge every 10.21 mins better than every other RB in the league bar Zabaleta and Rafael. His aerial wins are at 57% while his mins per successful clearances are sitting at 43.5% (both above average) and clearances are a misleading stat since lower table teams clear the ball more often which is why Simpson at Newcastle leads the stat followed by Bosingwa and Martin (Norwich).

    The errors that he makes are not so costly either only 1 of his errors all season has led to a shot/goal. (Walker is the worst followed by Sagna with 5 & 4 respectively). His attacking stats i don't need to mention as he is highly praised on those fronts, his shortfall is that he is caught in possession more often than anyone bar Walker but it's also to do with being caught high up the pitch as he used as a wing back often.

    I think Johnson suffers from being typecast as a poor defensive RB with great attacking stats while in most areas he is above average if not sitting in the top range. (all from EPLindex).

    I think for the time being he is an excellent right back and I can't think of too many better than won't cost a shedload of cash.

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  23. Glen Johnson is one of the poorest right back for LFC in the last 2 decades.Overrated British crap as usual.What a liability in defence.His positioning and marking are simply atrocious.

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  24. His passing is also a big liability that can cost us to lost game.

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  25. Johnson is a type of hot and cold player i suppose, he seems to thrive one day go missing the next or just play very poorly.
    At his best he is definitely one of the best full backs in the league its when he is at his worst i worry most.
    I look back and wonder why all the managers who Johnson has played under never tried him as a wing well i dont think he finishes well enough to be there and needs space to run into.

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  26. My opinion, whether wanted or not, is that he is a great RB and at the moment, one of the best in the league. Fullbacks are required to push up and the DM or DM's need to hold back to cover. If GJ pushes up, a CB should cover the RB spot, Lucas/Hendo/Stevie can slot in defense and then you keep your back line strong.

    I agree that GJ would be utilised better as a Right Winger/Midfielder due to his pace and shot, but the reason that I have heard around the traps and tend to beleive is that he wants to remain Englands Right Back, and with younger players like Walker knocking on the door, he may be pushed out if he doesnt play there for his bread and butter. Playing on the right wing would put him in competition with all of Englands other wingers and with his lack of experience in that possy, he wont get a look in.

    Just my $0.02.

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  27. Johnson would not work on the wing because he's even less of a winger than he is a defender. A winger needs to have quick feet, explosiveness and the ability to get past players and Johnson doesn't have any of that. He is in every way a modern full back. And I would agree he is up there with the best in the world.

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  28. ING-UR-LAND ING-UR-LAND ING-UR-LAND....

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  29. Correct. Along with Ivanovic he is the best in EPL and one of the best in the world.

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  30. His defending has improved heck of alot from a few seasons ago.

    Johnson tackle success this season is 84% , His Aerial 50/50 challenges win percentage is 58% which is good for a player of his stature and he only has recorded 1 defensive error that has lead directly to a goal.


    I feel people are using an old and out dated stick to beat Johnson about his defending which is as good, if not better than any right back in the league currently.

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  31. 3-5-2 would work for him perfectly. and for the team too, in some occasions. with lukas coutinho stevie suarez and sturridge.
    Great player anyway.

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  32. he;s up for sale. i can guarantee you that. wages are too high and there is better value for money out there. if anyone will pay 7/8m for him and get his wages off the bill, the club will bite someones hand off

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  33. All this talk of GLEN JOHNSON can't defend to save his life.Can somebody tell me out of the 50 matches he played this season,how many goals we conceded were directly down to him?
    I can only think of the MAN U goal at ANFIELD.He lost the ball then hacked VALENCIA or NANI down for a penalty when he played LB.Yes, he does get caught out of position at times but supporting the attack as he does I don't expect him to fly in and out of position.He doesn't have a S on his chest!
    This debate is subjective some people like a solid fullback that doesn't go forward as much but positioning wise is never far away from where they should be.I like the athletic fullback who supports attacks and will every now and then be caught out, it's up to the team to be intelligent enough to cover him for a few seconds until he gets back!

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  34. He really lost his edge this season , but I was very impressed when he filled into the LB position because of Enrique`s loss of form...........but Downing playing in front of him is never going to inspire him to greatness...........top 5 ...NO .

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  35. His day was the last LFC game with QPR. Rest of the season, he's been awful, Defensive errors and fumbles the ball in attack.

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  36. No explosiveness, quick feet and ability to pass players but is in every way a modern full back. I do not understand you...

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  37. Nice heavily stats-based post but that is the biggest flaw of the post, that it is so heavily stats-based. Stats are a nice little icing on the cake but they won't tell the whole story in a situation like this. The stats you given do not illustrate how obviously poor he has been in the last half of the season. Stats aren't the be all and end all.

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  38. A modern day full back runs from the back so he doesn't need to be on full speed rightaway. He runs into space rather than creating them for himsef which is what a winger does (should do).

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  39. fair enough.. but with us having one player or none in the box when he does rrun into space, he often has to try to dribble and I think he does it very well We do not have a heavy competition when it comes to drriblers but I think he is actually our second best.

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  40. He may very well be but that doesn't make him a winger :-)

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  41. Agreed, 3-5-2 is that middle that suits him best I think...

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  42. I could compile a list, but I don't have the time. I'll concede that Johnson has been less error-prone this season, but we're talking about four seasons worth of mistakes here, not just one season. He will also cost the club goals, and this will only become worse as he gets older and his speed/reaction times recede.

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  43. Johnson 'doesn't have' quick feet, or the ability to get past players? You're being ironic, right? :-)

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  44. Fair point...Alves is a an awful defender.

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  45. The matches that i've missed us play in the last 10 years you can count on one hand so a list is not needed.Last season our defence was good,REINA chucked a few in but JOHNSON was alright.
    The first 2 seasons i'll concede he looked like the weakest link but i'm not going to make judgements on him now for poor performances he gave 2 years ago.Defenders make mistakes even the solid ones!
    "He'll get worse as he gets older" that happens to everyone.I'm not proposing we keep him around for another 10 years but he's got a couple of seasons left in him unless we get a offer that makes sense financially.

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  46. Like a bright yellow sun on your wedding day :-)

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  47. We could do alot worse than GJ so im pretty happy he's on our team

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  48. I guess most people voting are liverpool fans however, his defensive work has improved and he was rightly lauded as one of the best england performers (alongside gerrard) at the Euro's.

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  49. man utd is your team jamie , go back to OT theatre of cheese

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  50. by not allowing guest downclicks you skew figs and mislead readers

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  51. and who else do you suggest would replace him bearing in mind we have 20m busget on all players and no champions league . at least hes loyal . i vote to 'v' downclick your comment but you dont allow guests that . cheat , like yuo always say about suarez .

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  52. Playing a flat back 4 his primary duty is defend as he will have a right winger in front to attack. Playing this style, then he is absolutely woeful!!, however Liverpool do not play this style and he plays instead a wing back role and supports the attack as he creates width due to having either a right mid or winger who comes inside up above him. To ensure he can play this role and move high up the pitch he needs a defensive midfielder (lucas) who's job it is to break up play across the middle if he gets caught out. So in conclusion, Johnson as a wing back, plays the role brilliantly, however if he was placed in a rigid flat back 4 part of 442, then he would be ordinary.

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  53. He isn't explosive though, the guy is right.
    His pace is good but his acceleration less so.

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  54. How very English of you! stats don't matter. The stats for the last few seasons show that comments about his defensive ability are wide of the mark. WRONG and stereotyped When i watch him he is often the most reliable player we and England have . The major problem is this

    "The primary purpose of a right back is to defend,"

    This is not true any more. football has been evolving players have multiple roles in a flexible team. the primary purpose is to 'Attack and defend'

    when i was young the opposite was true ...defenders defended and attackers attacked . b4 i was born players stayed in their zone etc ....until we break from the past ideology we(England) will always be playing catch up.

    Stats matter, Players must be flexible and technical, will and power are important but secondary to tactic/strategy and ball skill etc ..

    I am glad that we have One of the very few English modern type players who is genuinely skillful technical and well suited to the modern game rather than an old school type one dimensional who doesn't add much to a team attacking

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  55. That needless, childish, pathetic, nonsensical and stupid jibe and neanderthal attempt at stereotyping of yours aside ('how very English of you!'), I haven't said stats don't matter, nor do i imply that clearly but I said and implied heavily they don't tell the WHOLE STORY in a context like this. Bit of a difference there between that and 'stats don't matter'. Doesn't take a genius to work that out. I don't see much wrong in believing that stats don't tell the whole story in such a context, as it is, IN MY OPINION, a limited resource (stats) to rely upon in context like this, as for example why, the stats the fella above gave don't reflect fully as to how poor he has clearly been in the last four months. To repeat, no I didn't say 'stats don't matter', so don't put words in my mouth. As for the rest of your post, I don't care for it nor do I care to reply further, after the stupidity that is your opening line as well as the generic waffling nature of the rest of your post, as I don't like to engage long with people that come up with idiocy like that. Cheerio, as the English say.

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  56. While stats don't tell the whole story especially in the case of someone like Carragher who's leadership skills and defensive organisation are hard to analyse in numbers in the case of Johnson I was merely pointing out he is not as defensively poor as most people make out. At least he hasn't been this season. Furthermore, on average he has been either an exceptional or above average full back in comparison to the other premier league full backs.

    Also, the post above yours does have a good point, Full backs roles have changed, they are expected to attack almost if not as much as they defend. Rodgers held a fan Q&A a while back on his vision of full backs and wingers. He said on Enrique than using Downing as a traditional winger on the left meant Enrique was blocked off and couldn't get forward which is why he switched him the right. He also states that Enrique at the start of the season wasn't performing as he thought a full back should, namely assist and score goals something Enrique has improved on this season. While full backs in lower table sides might be primarily relied on to defend that is not the case higher up the table.

    Ashley Cole who has probably been the most best left back of the past few years in the prem (sorry to use stats again) has average defensive stats with Gibbs, Shaw and Danny Rose of the English FB's outperforming him in most key areas. Where he shines is his offensive contribution in his pass success, crossing etc. Funnily enough Luke Shaw beats him out here as well in most areas bar pass accuracy. Anyway, back to the point, I was making the observation that Johnson isn't defensively poor the majority of the time and his attacking stats are up there with the best which are crucial as a full/wing back.

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  57. I just don't fundamentally agree with using stats heavily like that, as I don't feel they ever come close to the whole story in a context like that. That is why I disagreed with your initial post's use of stats to hype up Johnson and latter paragraph (I think Ashley Cole's defending is very good, certainly better than the likes of Rose and Gibbs but I don't need stats to justify that. He has very good defensive game for a attacking left back. I've seen him mark the hell out of Ronaldo to a excellent degree, like no other full back I've seen). Just far too incomplete a tool/resource in a context/conclusion like that. Some things in football are not that simple, as too many variables. But I guess its a case of each to their own, you put more weight into stats in that context than I do, which is fair enough as its your view.

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  58. He is not "awful".. What a stupid comment.

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