Earlier this month, Glen Johnson made a public plea to FSG to give him a new contract, and made it clear that he'd 'love' to stay at Anfield for a few more years. What do LFC fans think about that, though? Does the right-back retain faith of the club's supporters, or is it time to leave?
Speaking to the Daily Mail recently, Johnson - who cost Liverpool £17m - said:
"I've loved every minute of the five years I've been here and I'd love to stay but really the only truth in it is that I've not been offered a new contract on any level"
Last week, I conducted a survey on the site asking if Johnson deserved a new contract.
* 13100 (approx) voted.
* 62% of participants voted for Johnson to be handed a new deal.
That's quite a positive result, and it shows that a majority of LFC fans (in this instance) still have support for Johnson despite his erratic form this season. Or, could it be the case that fans are translating their positivity around the club into support for Johnson? If the Reds were in 7th place right now, I suspect the result of the poll would be different.
For me, Liverpool can still benefit from Johnson's vast experience in the game, though, like Lucas, this should be as a squad player. The Reds need upgrades on both players if they're to seriously compete in the Champions League/Premier League, and their automatic first-team status should no longer be guaranteed after this season.
With Gerrard's successful move into a deeper role, Lucas has already lost his automatic first team status, and alone with one or two new full-backs (to be brought in over the summer), Jon Flanagan will provide serious competition for Johnson next season.
Johnson regularly refuted this, but he can be defensively suspect, and he's proved that repeatedly over the last five years. The Reds' right back is clearly sensitive about people criticising his defensive abilities, though, and in 2012, he barked:
"It's annoying when people say I can't defend because I've proved over the years I can. If I couldn't defend I wouldn't be playing for Liverpool and I wouldn't be playing for England"
A few weeks ago, Johnson went on the defensive again, arguing that the accusation that he can't defend is nonsense. He told the Daily Mail:
"You don’t get 49 England caps, play in World Cups and European Championships, you don’t win the Premier League twice, the League Cup twice and the FA Cup if you can’t defend. It’s that simple. No disrespect, but you’d be in the Championship"
To his credit, after a period of injury and middling form, Johnson appears to be back on track this season, and he deserves praise for helping LFC keep two clean sheets in a row over the last month.
Author: Jaimie K
Speaking to the Daily Mail recently, Johnson - who cost Liverpool £17m - said:
"I've loved every minute of the five years I've been here and I'd love to stay but really the only truth in it is that I've not been offered a new contract on any level"
Last week, I conducted a survey on the site asking if Johnson deserved a new contract.
* 13100 (approx) voted.
* 62% of participants voted for Johnson to be handed a new deal.
That's quite a positive result, and it shows that a majority of LFC fans (in this instance) still have support for Johnson despite his erratic form this season. Or, could it be the case that fans are translating their positivity around the club into support for Johnson? If the Reds were in 7th place right now, I suspect the result of the poll would be different.
For me, Liverpool can still benefit from Johnson's vast experience in the game, though, like Lucas, this should be as a squad player. The Reds need upgrades on both players if they're to seriously compete in the Champions League/Premier League, and their automatic first-team status should no longer be guaranteed after this season.
With Gerrard's successful move into a deeper role, Lucas has already lost his automatic first team status, and alone with one or two new full-backs (to be brought in over the summer), Jon Flanagan will provide serious competition for Johnson next season.
Johnson regularly refuted this, but he can be defensively suspect, and he's proved that repeatedly over the last five years. The Reds' right back is clearly sensitive about people criticising his defensive abilities, though, and in 2012, he barked:
"It's annoying when people say I can't defend because I've proved over the years I can. If I couldn't defend I wouldn't be playing for Liverpool and I wouldn't be playing for England"
A few weeks ago, Johnson went on the defensive again, arguing that the accusation that he can't defend is nonsense. He told the Daily Mail:
"You don’t get 49 England caps, play in World Cups and European Championships, you don’t win the Premier League twice, the League Cup twice and the FA Cup if you can’t defend. It’s that simple. No disrespect, but you’d be in the Championship"
To his credit, after a period of injury and middling form, Johnson appears to be back on track this season, and he deserves praise for helping LFC keep two clean sheets in a row over the last month.
Author: Jaimie K
Sign him up. He is a solid right back who on his day can be extremely influential. Even on his off days he is at worst a decent right back, injury free. I think Flannagan is learning a lot from him, especially how to power forward and take the wide spaces confidently, whilst remaining true to your defensive duties. When Enrique is back to fitness we will have excellent first team and cover for LB/RB with JF covering for both players and contesting the staring spot. Very healthy indeed. Keep up the good work Brendan, doing a spectacular job.
ReplyDeleteI'd certaily offer him a new deal, although young Flannigan is playing well at the moment he always fills me with a sense of dread. I'm almost always close to gettin on him receiving his marching orders during any 90 minutes as he can be very reckless. For that reason alone I'd keep Johnson around I just to mentor Flanno for a season or two in the hope of improving his game.
ReplyDeleteHe should get a new deal but not at his current wage (£100,000 per week) which is way above what he should earn.
ReplyDeleteA reduced wage of around 80k per week would be really what he should be earning but i'm not so sure he would accept that.
At the very least, we'd need the depth at the position.
ReplyDeleteSo if Glen left, we'd have to go out and sign someone anyway... either to become the starter over Flanagan or a backup.
It's not FSG that will decide to let him leave but the manager. But besides that, Johnson is a part of the squad and not a bad player so I'd rather have him and Flanagan be our first two RB next year than bringing in someone new who we may not know what he will turn out like. Or we bring in a third RB and allow one to leave in January.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good point. We have a young team, and the kind of experience Johnson has can be invaluable in helping development of some of the inexperienced players.
ReplyDeleteThat smile though. Infectious.
ReplyDeleteGlen is a Liverpool player through and through, works hard, good going forward and can defend pretty well (IMO) I really want him to get a new contract but I think the problem is that he is on too much money for owners liking, similar to the Reina situation. My question is who else is there to buy if he doesnt stay? YNWA. LMS (let moyes stay)
ReplyDeleteI'm all for optimism and bringing through the youths at Liverpool but to make statement of best right back in the league is quite ridiculous. Don't get me wrong I like the look of young Ryan however he is standing out against wingers who have not learnt the're trade yet. Lets see him in the premiership before we start saying he is going to be this or that. YNWA. LMS (Let Moyes Stay)
ReplyDeleteSo when you comment that you think Gerrard should have been dropped it doesn't actually represent your view? I'm confused!
ReplyDeleteI think that if he wants a new deal, he needs to earn it. Play every game with heart, work on his performances, play consistently - then if he does well, sure new deal at reasonable wages.
ReplyDeleteIf he doesn't keep form he can go, if he does keep up, he can stay.
To me it's a no-brainer. We keep GJ and bring the kid along too. There will be plenty of work for all in a 4 tourney season next year.
ReplyDeleteIt makes less sense spending similar money in wages then a transfer fee for a replacement. The owners are not stupid and realise this. I imagine they are letting him know who's boss. Then again it may be innocent and will be dealt with end of the season.
ReplyDeleteSince returning from injury GJ has shown his true quality. It makes no sense to spend 10 million on a replacement which you would have to bed in to the system when GJ has atleast 3 years in him if not more.
ReplyDeleteIf he doesn't want to take a pay cut then he should leave. We should only be paying the sort of wages he wants on top quality players! Not sure who we'd replace him with though.
ReplyDeleteHe has been faithful during the worst LFC seasons in history. It would be really harsh to show him the door now that we are back at the top dont you think?
ReplyDeleteNow im not saying he is the best but in my opinion he's got the potentional to be a top top player. On his debut for barnsley he marked tom ince out of the game and was brilliant going forward. I think he'll be in the squad next season. The outstanding players from the youth team for me are mclaughlin and rossiter.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to see some of the loan players get a chance... borrini, suso, coady, wisdom, robinson, illori and ibe... some might need another loan but others can come straight into the squad... i really dont think there needs to be that many new players coming in when we have so much talent within... regardless of what anyone else thinks theres no doubting the future looks bright
I think everyone agrees he's a decent player but maybe not 100 k a week. If he's sensible and accepts that too then great. We have him for 2-3 more years while flanno gets the long term experience.
ReplyDeleteThe likelihood is we'll be getting a new LB and maybe a new CB. There's even now talk of a new GK. Last thing we need is a new RB as well. Our main problem this season has been fielding a consistent back four/five. No need to add to that next season by having a completely new set of players.
It's amazing what good form and a modicum of success can do.
ReplyDeleteThe Spurs - Konplyanka rumors would have worried Liverpool fans before, now anyone I speak to is of the same opinion as me - we look to have made it, the tables have turned. We should no longer have to gamble and pay over the odds for unproven players, we are no longer chasing our history.
Players should now be lining up to play for us again.
If GJ wants to stay then take the pay cut and enjoy 2 more years in CL with us. Otherwise I'm sure someone like West Ham will let sentimentality get the better of them and offer him £100k - GJ has to ask himself if £1 million gross per year is really worth slogging it out under Allardyce vs staying with us.
I would personally snap someone's hand off if we were offered £5 million for him right now.
He is undoubtedly talented, but is becoming increasingly ponderous in possession, and close to becoming a liability
But he has close to a £100k weekly contract though and I doubt he'll be interesting in cutting that in half, which is more then a fair deal considering his foreseeable future at the club in addition to his age/injury sequence. But if we could get him on a deal like that he'd be one of the better signings we will do this summer.
ReplyDeleteTime to sell Johnson might even get 10m plus for him
ReplyDeleteAgger
ReplyDeleteEvery1 talks about player loyalty in football...when a player wants to leave for a better club, we label him as a traitor...but y don't we, as a club offer GJ another contract because this guy has been with us always when we were going through a very bad phase...now its the club's time to show some loyalty I think....
ReplyDeleteHis contract is expiring..we are not gonna get a fee for him, he's leaving for free. My opinion we have to offer him a 2 years contract for 60-70k and let him decide!
ReplyDeleteStupid not to offer him anew contract IMO. A new right back would cost us $15-20m and the likes of Flanagan could learn so much from Johnson over the next couple of years!
ReplyDeleteLFC can get big benefit because Glenn Johnson having high RESALE VALUE yet.Flanagan and others young players can replace him very well. Sell him asap to add more budget for new recruit players.
ReplyDeleteHis contract is up in Summer 2015
ReplyDeleteSwapping G.johnson with. Man City defender Richard? Can this work out?
ReplyDeleteJohnson has had a dip in form, plus he's a bit injury prone, he does seem to have improved the last couple of games, but, i think the time is right to get some cash back on him while we can.
ReplyDeleteI think this is what BR probably has in mind. He'll be setting GJ a challenge, even if he doesn't come out and say as much. Essentially Johnson has to prove he can play consistently well between now and the end of the season and he'll get a new contract, otherwise he'll be offered significantly lower terms in the summer, or sold.
ReplyDeleteTrue! My mistake..
ReplyDelete