A player who has come in for some unwarranted criticism in recent days who has already shown himself to be a good value Anfield signing.
There has been a lot said about Glen Johnson in the press and by pundits and supposed ‘experts’ in recent days and I have to say I am dumbfounded by anyone who believes that the former Chelsea and West Ham man is anything other than one of the best right backs in the World right now.
The Liverpool man has been a revelation in his short period at the club but has been on occasion the scapegoat for an occasional lapse of concentration when on more than one occasion he has been found guilty of another’s sloppiness.
His lack of concentration was blamed for Slovenia’s goal against England in the friendly on the weekend and I have watched the goal repeatedly looking to see if Johnson was at fault and to be honest I don’t think he was that much to blame. The oncoming attacker does very well to get past him to put in a cross but it’s not as though our right back isn’t trying his hardest to stop the ball coming in, in fact the real blame should be laid at the door of the two England defenders alongside the striker who scored, in particular Joleon Lescott, who do nothing to stop the goal.
Yes it’s true that Johnson is not a defensive rock but that is not his primary role when he takes the field of play. He is an ultra effective attacking option who is a pretty solid defender when needed. I would much rather have a player who can take the game to the opposition than one who simply stays back and adds nothing to the offensive push.
Take the Croatia game, Glen was immense, working fantastically well on the right with Aaron Lennon and he tried extra hard not to lose the ball when on defensive duty and did so with aplomb. I really do not see why some appear to have the knives out for the lad because he is an exciting player who should be cherished, especially when on international duty, which is where he has been most vociferously attacked.
The money handed to Portsmouth by Rafa seemed like an expensive extravagance at the time but I truly believe it is still very much a bargain.
YNWA
Related Posts:
Joe Cole To Return For Liverpool Against Spurs As Gerrard Replacement
Live Scores
