Michael Johnson

[Fox92]

I've watched Wellens' have great games and poor games like any other player. Thing is, so much stuff goes through him. He may not be flamboyant but doing the sensible and the 'right' thing so often makes him appear under-rated or not noticed but I do think he contributes well to our long periods of possession and also is a good tackler - something our midfield needs.

Yes, agreed. But all the critics don't notice this, and this is exactly what I try to point out.

In my opinion, he is important but under-rated by some fans. I'd hate to see our midfield without him.

[Ric Flair]

I'd like to see him (MJ) play before making a formation suggestion.

I've watched Wellens' have great games and poor games like any other player. Thing is, so much stuff goes through him. He may not be flamboyant but doing the sensible and the 'right' thing so often makes him appear under-rated or not noticed but I do think he contributes well to our long periods of possession and also is a good tackler - something our midfield needs.

Tough call.

I tend to agree with you there but for one thing, the times he loses possession needlessly playing stupid balls. For a player who supposedly makes things tick in a midfield, that should be one thing that he tries to eradicate is sloppy, clueless passes. His job should be to get things started, play sensible passes and let King, Fernandes or Johnson when he get's in the team to pick out the killer passes which they're capable of doing. When Wellens doesn't try to be a hero, he's superb for us and it's usually then that he put's in a heroic performance. That said, I have no qualms about him being in our team but he needs to improve consistently as there are players breathing down his neck.

[Fox92]

I tend to agree with you there but for one thing, the times he loses possession needlessly playing stupid balls. For a player who supposedly makes things tick in a midfield, that should be one thing that he tries to eradicate is sloppy, clueless passes. His job should be to get things started, play sensible passes and let King, Fernandes or Johnson when he get's in the team to pick out the killer passes which they're capable of doing. When Wellens doesn't try to be a hero, he's superb for us and it's usually then that he put's in a heroic performance. That said, I have no qualms about him being in our team but he needs to improve consistently as there are players breathing down his neck.

Wellens is my favourite player, no doubt. But I do get frustrated when he plays, sometimes a backheel or whatever, because when it doesn't come off it looks poor, but when it does come off it is sensational - see Berner's goal against Forest when we beat them 3-0 under Pearson at home.

However, Wellens will play the killer ball (or hollywood ball as some say which does my head in) because thats his game. Andy King never plays these balls, he always passes sideways or backwards (adding to my thoughts I think he is a holding man), and Fernandes is probably the same because of his position of defensive midfield. So, Wellens' job is to most probably play these killer balls, when we've got runners - Nugent, Vassell and Beckford making the runs in the team (2 up front though). Theres no doubting Wellens' technique though, sensational.

I should think Wellens -- Johnson would be fantastic with a King/Fernandes sitting behind because Wellens' technique and creativity is great and, if we see the Michael Johnson of Manchester City from previous seasons with his fantastic technique, I think our midfield will be the most creative it has been for seasons.

[The Doctor]

Sounds good, though I haven't seen that written down anywhere...............

I'm sure it was mentioned in the merc article about him signing.

edit:

yep - link

Fernandes says there is plenty of incentive for him to do well under Eriksson, who was also his manager in the Premier League at Manchester City.

"If we go up, the deal will become permanent but I'm not projecting myself too far, I'm just thinking about Coventry tomorrow.

[Nick]

I'm sure it was mentioned in the merc article about him signing.

edit:

yep - link

That's cool - he'll be practicing his penalty taking this arvo no doubt!

[Rustyfox]

anyone go to the game to give feedback on Johnson. listening to the first half on radio Leic it sounded like he did well

[Raw Dykes]

Sounded like he's much fitter than the last time he played, which is very promising. Surely it can't be too long until he starts making appearances from the bench in the league. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I do think a fully-fit Michael Johnson could really give us a boost.

[MC Prussian]

Richie Wellens - be afraid. Be very afraid.

[AmyLGK]

Wow - just watched his post match interview on LCFC - what an nice, intelligent, humble, determined guy - I think I might love him a bit!

[Fox92]

Richie Wellens - be afraid. Be very afraid.

If I was manager it would be Wellens -- Johnson as the main two in midfield.

[absolutelegend]

Wish he was a winger. Sven has gone central midfielder mad! Wellens, Johnson, Fernandes, Abe, King - pick any 4 from 5 depending on who's fit / on form. For me Johnson will be on the bench on Sat and he'll play with the same 4 that started against Brighton

[Basingstoke Fox]

Wish he was a winger. Sven has gone central midfielder mad! Wellens, Johnson, Fernandes, Abe, King - pick any 4 from 5 depending on who's fit / on form. For me Johnson will be on the bench on Sat and he'll play with the same 4 that started against Brighton

Sunday.

[Fox92]

Wish he was a winger. Sven has gone central midfielder mad! Wellens, Johnson, Fernandes, Abe, King - pick any 4 from 5 depending on who's fit / on form. For me Johnson will be on the bench on Sat and he'll play with the same 4 that started against Brighton

This is the problem. And this why, against Brighton, we were playing two holding men out wide. There is no width. He has signed to many midfielders and tries to accommodate them all, which often means one midfielder getting dropped, like Danns, when he did nothing wrong against Barnsley.

If I was Sven, in the summer, I would have said, right my midfield two are xxx - xxx and now I need to buy a right winger as Vassell is my left winger.

[Happy Fox]

This is the problem. And this why, against Brighton, we were playing two holding men out wide. There is no width. He has signed to many midfielders and tries to accommodate them all, which often means one midfielder getting dropped, like Danns, when he did nothing wrong against Barnsley.

If I was Sven, in the summer, I would have said, right my midfield two are xxx - xxx and now I need to buy a right winger as Vassell is my left winger.

Didn't we try to get Kebe in?

[Fox92]

Didn't we try to get Kebe in?

According to the media we did, yes. But Reading didn't want to sell him, so we could have turned our attention to someone else, such as Adam Hammill of Wolves who has played in one game this year I think - and that was against Millwall in the Coca-Cola Cup.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Kebe - the most over-rated player in Championship football.

[Ric Flair]

We tried to sign Anthony Pilkington, Craig Conway, Jimmy Kebe, had a brief sniff about Wayne Routeledge and Max Gradel. Sven did want a winger, not sure why he's not sealed the deal. I'm sure we'll get one or two before the seasons out.

[bettso]

This is the problem. And this why, against Brighton, we were playing two holding men out wide. There is no width. He has signed to many midfielders and tries to accommodate them all, which often means one midfielder getting dropped, like Danns, when he did nothing wrong against Barnsley.

If I was Sven, in the summer, I would have said, right my midfield two are xxx - xxx and now I need to buy a right winger as Vassell is my left winger.

Brighton was one of the most complete performances for many years. The team operated as a unit and controlled the game for extremely long periods. Wingers are a luxury for an excellent team. Average teams need solid units. Pearsons championship era was a good example of this. An average team but very solid. Dyer drifted in and out of the side, Gradel was sold and N'guessen was not pursued with. Sometimes the team has to be greater than the sum of all its parts. Sven may have looked at the squad and thought that adding 3 wingers would have basically tipped us over the edge in regards to personel. Especially with the 7 sub rule being scrapped.