Johnson must be allowed to attack
Tue Jun 23 12:23PM
Glen Johnson may well be the best English right-back around at the moment, but he's not worth the reported £17 million Liverpool are about to pay for him.
Having failed to make the grade at Chelsea, he cost Portsmouth £4m just two years ago.
And while he has undoubtedly come on as a player during his time at Fratton Park, it's difficult to justify how he is £13m better.
That said, Liverpool certainly needed to address that area of their team. Both their full-back positions proved to be serious weak spots for them throughout last season.
The signing of Johnson will help in that department, but only if Rafael Benitez allows him to play his own game.
Johnson's strength is his natural instinct to attack down the flank. He's pacy, comfortable with the ball at his feet and confident going forward.
Defensively, he is liable to the odd lapse, but it is rare these days to find a full-back who is as competent at the back as he is going forward.
Indeed, a full-back's role has changed enormously since my playing days. Back then, you were a defender first and foremost. If you could get forward occasionally, so much the better. But much more than that is expected from the modern-day full-back.
Johnson ticks most boxes - he even proved last season that he poses a real goal threat. His effort against Hull City, a dipping long-range volley that won Goal of the Season, was a real cracker. It was worthy of any of the best strikers in the league, especially as he struck it with his weaker left foot.
And that is why Johnson is so highly-rated - and valued. But to get the best out of him, Benitez will have to let him play his natural game, get forward and ask the question of the opposition full-back: are you brave enough to come forward yourself?
If so, Johnson can be a hit on Merseyside. But if not, if Benitez asks him to play a different style, we may not see the best of him.
He may also struggle if he does not play week in-week out - and not even Fernando Torres is guaranteed that at Liverpool. After all, we all know how Benitez loves to rotate his squad. But a player can only improve if he plays; sitting on the bench is of no use.
Another concern is that Johnson may yet prove to be a small-club player. The step up to one of the big four is a huge one, such are the massive expectations at that quartet. His price tag will do him no favours in that respect either.
He'll have to hit the ground running, and if he does, Liverpool may not be the only ones to benefit. To have a right-back playing regular Champions League football will be a huge boost for Fabio Capello's England.
Johnson is now in a great position to make that position his own. Gary Neville's international career is fading fast, Wes Brown has yet to prove his fitness and Johnson has the edge over Luke Young and Micah Richards.
And looking at the Under-21s, there are no youngsters likely to rival him any time soon, so it's time for Johnson to kick on, forget about his price tag and prove his real value.
First and foremost???
From gav_polyphobia on Tue Jun 23 12:35PMI am Manchester United fan and i am glad he signed for Liverpool instead of Chelsea if they wanted him they should of kept him. I think he will develop well at Liverpool rather than Chelsea who had put him on the bench.
I wish him the best of luck at Liverpool.
From jaytayo on Tue Jun 23 12:35PMWhta is?
From gav_polyphobia on Tue Jun 23 12:36PMseems like a very balanced assessment for Johnson - and this, from Parker who is supposed to be so much a blinders-on Man U fanatic. As a Red, I hope Glen does live up to his promise, but we can't know that for a few weeks - or months.
YNWAFrom monson.theknole on Tue Jun 23 12:41PManother season without winning the Premier League Title then. pmsl
From frank400a on Tue Jun 23 12:49PMwell looks like another potless season for Liverpool. hahahaha
From frank400a on Tue Jun 23 12:52PMno posting?
From frank400a on Tue Jun 23 12:53PM#3 jaytayo - what a refreshing comment from a rival fan - nice to see. Keep it up mate.
From m_kingswell on Tue Jun 23 12:55PMI think he is a big team player, and will step up to play in the so called big four, he just didn't get a chance at chelsea did he, also rafa does like to rotate, but not the back 4 or keeper, do you not know anything? Also your saying johnson is a 1 trick pony, and can only go forward and if rafa try's to use him in any other way they are doomed, get real, rafa is 1 of the best in the world, so think he'll know slighty more than u on how to get the best out of him, yahoo dont know how to get the best out of you do they lol
From postmanpatcan on Tue Jun 23 01:01PMjohnson is rubbish
From rikki_lewis on Tue Jun 23 01:03PMKEWLL, HESKY, CROUCH, BELLAMY,PENNENT, KEANE AND NOW JOHNSON! someone is in for a bargain at christmas time! Im putting a bet on!
From leesellen85 on Tue Jun 23 01:09PMObviously Parker never saw Johnson play under Ranieri so I forgive him for saying Johnson couldn't make the grade at Chelsea. Fact is Mourinho came to Chelsea with Paolo Ferreira and it was clear that Ferreira was not in the team on merit but on sentiments. And about the price tag, Parker has no point whatsoever. Is CRon worth £80m? You never know but if a club is willing to pay that much, I say he is worth every penny.
From nasimlaw on Tue Jun 23 01:11PMThe most over rated fullback since Ashley Cole..................
From libfutures on Tue Jun 23 01:11PMI think Liverpool are still owed money by Portsmouth for the sale of Crouchy so discard all that @#$% you read in the papers about a reported 18 million Parker and work on Facts only please and not @#$% you read in the Sun you joker.
From mrwindymiller on Tue Jun 23 01:11PMWhat is it with you English overrating your players? Johnson is NOT worth even half what Liverpool paid for him. This is insane money.
From clintheine on Tue Jun 23 01:14PMjohnson u are welcome 2 wear the glorious shirt of liverpol.
From ezygot on Tue Jun 23 01:15PM£17m... stop reading The Sun Paul Parker!
From who_are_ya_85 on Tue Jun 23 01:16PMi think man utd will finish 5th this year
From foeyp on Tue Jun 23 01:17PMjohnson is de best right back in the english premiership and am happy that he will play 4 liverpool
From ezygot on Tue Jun 23 01:17PMBenitez is not rotating that much the last season, this is a cliche remaining from two seasons ago.
Surprisingly, I kind of agree with the rest ... probably because he is just stating the obvious !
From radun5 on Tue Jun 23 01:18PMFirst Parker article I've read in a while that makes sense
From grahamdbrownett on Tue Jun 23 01:18PMWell done Parker, Johnson not worth the money!! errrm what about your rubbish team paying 30m for Berbatov???
From chrissollyuk on Tue Jun 23 01:21PMI am a Liverpool fan and honestly, I am pretty puzzled buy the buy let alone the price tag. 18 Million for Johnson certainly is ridiculous and that kind of money could have easily been used to to get cover in attack which is definitely a priority.. Arbeloa is nota all that bad anyway
From shaunthomas2590 on Tue Jun 23 01:23PMWhy are Man ure supporters more in love with liverpool fc than there own supporters.
There allways the first to comment on Liverpool fc ???????
WHY?????
I think you manc scum know the answer you fear Liverpool and you fear us bigtime.
From craig.bell007 on Tue Jun 23 01:29PMJohnson is not good enough for Chelsea and nor is he worth £18m. He did get his chances before and didn't take them. He made too many errors and his head dropped when things weren't going well. He also didn't really look fit. Having said that, he has improved and may make the grade at Liverpool, although his defensive play isn't good enough for a CL winning side. The extent to which a full back should attack depends on how the side is set up and who else is in it but I would rather a fullback who can at least stay in position and make a decent tackle from time to time.
From michelangeloindeed on Tue Jun 23 01:38PMJohnson is not good enough for Chelsea and nor is he worth £18m. He did get his chances before and didn't take them. He made too many errors and his head dropped when things weren't going well. He also didn't really look fit. Having said that, he has improved and may make the grade at Liverpool, although his defensive play isn't good enough for a CL winning side. The extent to which a full back should attack depends on how the side is set up and who else is in it but I would rather a fullback who can at least stay in position and make a decent tackle from time to time.
From michelangeloindeed on Tue Jun 23 01:45PMJohnson is not good enough for Chelsea and nor is he worth £18m. He did get his chances before and didn't take them. He made too many errors and his head dropped when things weren't going well. He also didn't really look fit. Having said that, he has improved and may make the grade at Liverpool, although his defensive play isn't good enough for a CL winning side. The extent to which a full back should attack depends on how the side is set up and who else is in it but I would rather a fullback who can at least stay in position and make a decent tackle from time to time.
From michelangeloindeed on Tue Jun 23 01:46PMThanks 8 kings-well not all fans are moronic and abusive. And to the idiot who said I am not a true Manchester United fan I have been a supporter since I was 7 and I am now 24 and have continued to support them through our high and our lows and will continue to do so. So get off your high horse. Not all football fans need to sprout abuse at opposing teams.
From jaytayo on Tue Jun 23 01:56PMnice article PP
i wish the idiots would leave him alone he gives a good anlysis of his playing style, and the way that could be curtailed if he is told to stop doing certain parts.
comment 23. i think PP has alot more knowledge about this game from playing professionaly then we could ever learn by sitting on the sidelines. ( moaning about his articles )
everything in football is common knowledge.
From cellanjones28 on Tue Jun 23 02:04PMjohnson shud just throw out his trophy case now, hes not goin to need it lol
From mrcrocodilemr01 on Tue Jun 23 02:06PM
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