Sport Liverpool Football Club

[Commander Jameson]

Michael Johnson or Adam Johnson?

[SMD]

No, let's see where this goes.

[Takizawa]

So you'd sell a midfielder because we have too many and buy another midfielder?

[Oh Danny Boy]

Michael Johnson or Adam Johnson?

Whoops Adam Johnson. But Michael Johnson was looking like a great prospect before City started spending. Just before the oil money City had an excitng group of younsters coming through that could have formed the spine of the team for the next decade, instead they wanted instant success instead of nurturing the talent they had with a few marquee signings. So yeah i wouldn't mind Michael Johnson at Liverpool either, same goes for Sturruge, Ireland (who will be amazing for Villa this coming season) and other city/ex city prospects

[SMD]

Whoops Adam Johnson. But Michael Johnson was looking like a great prospect before City started spending. Just before the oil money City had an excitng group of younsters coming through that could have formed the spine of the team for the next decade, instead they wanted instant success instead of nurturing the talent they had with a few marquee signings. So yeah i wouldn't mind Michael Johnson at Liverpool either, same goes for Sturruge, Ireland (who will be amazing for Villa this coming season) and other city/ex city prospects

Michael Johnson stopped playing before the takeover because of his injuries and heavy drinking. He doesn't take care of himself and he weighs about twice what he did when he broke through into the first team.

[Oh Danny Boy]

So you'd sell a midfielder because we have too many and buy another midfielder?

we've got too many central midfielders, and we need more quality wingers, signing Downing is a step in the right direction but to compete at the top we need more; United have Nani/Valencia/Young, City have Johnson/Silva/Milner Chelsea have Benayoun/Malouda/Ramires. If we don't we'll just end up having too many games next season where we are forced to play our central midfielders on the wings. Wouldn't it be more sensible if Liverpool managed to bring in some more naturally wide players?

[Oh Danny Boy]

Michael Johnson stopped playing before the takeover because of his injuries and heavy drinking. He doesn't take care of himself and he weighs about twice what he did when he broke through into the first team.

If he was that bad then i'm surprised that the club have hung onto him for so long. If so then they must believe he was worth persisting with. I'd like to think that Liverpool could fix him in the same way i believe they can sort of Carroll's excesses, and i haven't heard of Johnson having an injury problem for a while

[Takizawa]

we've got too many central midfielders...

Yes I realise that, but at the time of writing you mentioned Michael Johnson, another centreal midfielder.

I'm not sure we'll be solely relying on wingers for our width, and we'll be much more capable of playing the ball down the middle with the likes of Carroll and Suarez in the team now too.

[dizogg]

Wouldn't it be more sensible if Liverpool managed to bring in some more naturally wide players?

Which brings us back to Michael Johnson

[Oh Danny Boy]

Which brings us back to Michael Johnson

ignore the MJohnson comment hmm..he is looking a bit porky in that pic

Back to my point another winger and left back are still needed to make Liverpool challengers. And Adam Johnson will cost less than Mata too

[phresh]

Edit: @ Dizoggs post

United need more wide players than most other teams as we still play 4-4-2 and a lot and wide forwards/central midfielders who are used to playing in a 3-5-1/4-3-3 don't always cut it out wide in a 4-man midfield. Strange you mentioned Ramires as his performances wide in a 4-4-2 were pretty poor IIRC, same goes for Henderson when he was shoved out wide for Sunderland. I think it's fairly obvious you'l be playing a variation on 4-3-3 with your current squad and that doesn't really need another wide player (not that it wouldn't help the squad obviously).

[SMD]

If he was that bad then i'm surprised that the club have hung onto him for so long. If so then they must believe he was worth persisting with. I'd like to think that Liverpool could fix him in the same way i believe they can sort of Carroll's excesses, and i haven't heard of Johnson having an injury problem for a while

Idiots gave him a contract extension while injured, he's got years to run on it and he's just totally out of shape.

How you remember him:

c.2008

A year later:

http://content.mcfc.co.uk/~/media/Images/Home/News/Players/0910%20season%20first%20team/Johnson/Michael%20Johnson%20November%2009.ashx

How he is now:

]http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/pictures/article570935.ece/ALTERNATES/gallery-large/michael-johnson-manchester-city-cropped

Guy's known to love the clubs and casinos in Manchester and abroad, he's on 40k I think till 2013 and he's just going to end up either a journeyman or just drinking what's left of his salary as he fades into obscurity.

[dizogg]

ignore the MJohnson comment hmm..he is looking a bit porky in that pic

Back to my point another winger and left back are still needed to make Liverpool challengers. And Adam Johnson will cost less than Mata too

Man City have no need to sell, especially to a potential rival for Champions League spots.

I don't think we'll be buying another winger but probably a LB, especially as we have managed to sell on Konchesky.

[Liamness]

You don't need another winger. In fact, I reckon you can probably add Downing to your expansive list of central midfielders, as I don't think he'll work up front in a 4-3-3 (where Suarez, Carroll and Kuyt will be hard to get past anyway). Besides he's been very successful in a central role for Villa. You've got to start selling at some point, even if they go on the cheap it's still money off the wage bill. Your squad is bulging at the seams.

[dogsout]

What are you talking about? Downing is an out and out wide-man. There is no chance he will play centre-mid for us.

----------Carroll

Downing---------Suarez

Is how I'd bet our front line will shape up most often this season. I think that sets us up nicely because Suarez and Downing can both swap comfortably, as well as Downing holding the width, Suarez coming in off Andy Carroll, and then Gerrard/Henderson pulling out on the right, as they are both so good at doing. The main thing is Kenny has us passing and moving very well, and versatility is key to fluidity.

[Guest]

I think Michael Jordan or Michael Jackson could solve our left back problem.

[Hewson]

Suarez scores the opener

They can't handle Suarez.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/24/copa-america-2011-uruguay-paraguay

:-)

[Guest]

Stay fit son, win it, have a rest, tear it up next month

[Hewson]

Stay fit son, win it, have a rest, tear it up next month

God yes - sounds like he's on fantastic form out there. Fingers crossed!

[SMD]

God yes - sounds like he's on fantastic form out there. Fingers crossed!

He's demolishing them.

[Stig]

I hope he carries it on next season. The way he's been playing excites me for the coming season.

[Oh Danny Boy]

God yes - sounds like he's on fantastic form out there. Fingers crossed!

yeah, looks like the cluyb has unearthed another young world class player. Its amazing how rapidly he has improved in the last couple of years it seems Liverpool bought him at the right time. My only worry is that he will soon be attrcting the attention of europe's elite, if we are not challenging for the title and back in the champions league within the next two years then his head could be turned

[Sirloin]

yeah, looks like the cluyb has unearthed another young world class player. Its amazing how rapidly he has improved in the last couple of years it seems Liverpool bought him at the right time. My only worry is that he will soon be attrcting the attention of europe's elite, if we are not challenging for the title and back in the champions league within the next two years then his head could be turned

To be fair, Groningen unearthed him. He was hardly obscure before he went to Liverpool, playing for Ajax and all.

[SMD]

To be fair, Groningen unearthed him. He was hardly obscure before he went to Liverpool, playing for Ajax and all.

I think the club should take credit for getting him for 'just' £22m, especially since Ajax had been after a minimum of £35m in the summer.

[Sirloin]

I think the club should take credit for getting him for 'just' £22m, especially since Ajax had been after a minimum of £35m in the summer.

You would have been mad to pay much more really, so hard to tell how strikers who do well in Holland turn out elsewhere, for example Mateja Kezman.

EDIT: And before I get negged, not saying he isn't a great player, just that Liverpool didn't really unearth him, they spent a lot on a player who was already high profile from a large European club. He's been great tonight, would be nice to see him carry on this form into the Premiership season.

[SMD]

You would have been mad to pay much more really, so hard to tell how strikers who do well in Holland turn out elsewhere, for example Mateja Kezman.

Nah, I think that's just because a lot of people (not saying your good self, you're not the type) just look at records and stuff without looking at how they actually play.

van Nistelrooy was always going to be a hit and Kezman was always going to flop. I think the biggest flop was Afonso Alves but his attitude was terrible and he just seemed to have no concentration.

Dirk gets a lot of flak for not being a goal machine but he's rarely played as an out and out striker with service in our side. What surprised us was how quickly Suarez adapted but he's just carnage up front, like putting Taz in attack.

[SMD]

EDIT: And before I get negged, not saying he isn't a great player, just that Liverpool didn't really unearth him, they spent a lot on a player who was already high profile from a large European club. He's been great tonight, would be nice to see him carry on this form into the Premiership season.

I see no reason for you to be negged, it's a perfectly valid point.

[Sirloin]

You should buy Seb Coates.

[SMD]

You should buy Seb Coates.

Surely we should get Coates?

[Adrock]

The best thing about Suarez after his superb form since joining the club is the way he has played alongside Kuyt. With Carroll injured and Kuyt playing up top with Suarez the two hit it off instantly. Kuyt scored 15 goals last year and looked impressive in his striking role alongside Suarez.

Carroll hasn't filled me with any confidence yet, I appreciate he is new to the club and was injured for pretty much all of last season but the small amount he played didn't have many positives. His work alongside Suarez looked awkward and obviously they haven't had any kind of preseason to form a partnership.

That is why I'm so happy about Kuyt's form since playing alongside Suarez. It means the club don't have to rush out to purchase another striker seeing as N'Gog doesn't seem popular with Dalglish.