Bradley Johnson

[morty 0]

[quote user="lincoln canary"][quote user="morty"][quote user="Tim Dawson"]I think i owe Bradley an apology having been a bit over critical of him this season, delighted to be proved wrong....[/quote]Well done, as there were plenty who gave him endless grief, and are probably keeping quiet now.[/quote]

Perhaps you can repeat the feat with regard to Hoolahan. Whilst BJ has had a great season, Wes had done far more, and at a higher level, for this club.

Makes me chuckle.[/quote]Yeah, you''re actually Wes, aren''t you?You going to follow me round every thread by the way, or do you want to save a bit of legwork, and stick to one?

[lake district canary 4,531]

[quote user="hogesar"][quote user="Mr Jenkins"]LDC"

" Johnson seems to have found a good role elsewhere in the team where he can express himself without getting caught out of position, which had been happening in the last regime."

Wow, wasn''t it the "last regime" that started playing him on left mid field?[/quote]

In fact, i''d say the only time Johnson could really be classed as being caught out of position more than any other midfielder was last season under Hughton and was mostly down to him being quite aggressive in his forward runs and more frequent too - and that was down to us having one of the most painfully static midfields and someone had to take the responsibility of doing something.

[/quote]

Yes, Johnson started his left midfield position under NA, but the damage had already been done in previous games in that regime, with poor positional and gung ho tactics, with little apparent regard for defending.  I keep going back to the Bolton game where he came on for O''Neill and proceeded to rip up the field with scant regard for defending.  The midfield all but disappeared when he came on and Bolton suddenly had the space they needed and very nearly got back in the game.  Against Brentford in central midfield under AN this time, again - too far forward (actually practically on the penalty spot) when Whittaker needed support - and a goal ensued at the other end. Whittaker''s mistake, but a lack of awareness/common sense from Johnson - imo.  So there are questions about his ability and role in the team.  But on the left he has been a revelation.  Likes to get forward, obviously and has been effective there.  Great to see a player find his real confidence and make the most of his strengths in a position that suits him.  Credit to him, I never imagined he would be our best option on the left with players like Lafferty, Murphy and Hoolahan (who had bizarrely featured on the left in some games under Adams) in the squad.   But then all the players seem to be more at home in the present environment.  Long may it continue.

[nutty nigel 7,509]

Another point about yesterday''s game is that 58% possession came about in part because we won the ball back more often than lost it. So where as Tettey made 74 passes with am 86% accuracy, BJ made 6 tackles and 9 interceptions. Which is a lot more than the rest of the midfield put together. The midfield unit complimented each other perfectly. I thought Howson had a good game too and the whole midfield attacked and defended very well. In fact I was thinking of starting a thread about Howson....

 

 

 

[Mr Jenkins 0]

Look To be honest you are talking out of your bottom here.

You have already said you didn''t see the game on Saturday so what you probably don''t realise is that he was popping up all over the place and in fact was not playing a disciplined positional game on the left.

There were times he was on the right,, he dropped in besides Tettey and also came narrow pulling in the right back to allow a free run for MA.

This is part of the problem with you LDC, you don''t see the games so how can you make these observations.

[Brighton Yellow 0]

Hogsear, I don''t know you so I won''t retaliate to your taunts in a manner typical of this board and offer a different opinion to some of the posters posting within this thread.

Johnson clearly is playing very well, his effort is obvious but it is not without flaws! I am not looking so much as pass completion stats when thinking of his poor passing (although not great, in fact the worst of all our midfielders) more so the times he attempts chipped through balls into the corners. This trait appears to be something in his game for his whole career.

Now this is the key point with my opinion on Johnson, I want him to play more within his ability. Realise his own limitations at times and keep things simple! Tackle a player, complete a simple pass and press forward. He does this well on occasion, first goal at Charlton is evade de of this.

Charlton however is another issue I have with him at times, a common football problem, he is a bit thick at times. After a nasty clash with 3 Charlton defenders near the corner (he let out the loudest scream I''ve heard since Mulryne''s leg was horribly snapped) he then lost his head big time charging into every Charlton player possible, picking up a booking in the process. thankfully he''d calmed down enough during half time to not be a risk in the second half.

So to sum up my opinion, decent player, tries hard, needs to think a bit more and keep things simple to be someone really worthy of being POTS.

Oh and his goals are lovely, however he could have had a hat trick before halftime on Tuesday night if he was as good a finisher as he appears to be.

[nutty nigel 7,509]

Well that''s a nice hatchett job Brighton. Shall we look at Tettey and Howson''s weaknesses now?

 

 

[Brighton Yellow 0]

It''s not intended to be a hatchet job, it''s merely my opinion that some fans get carried away with effort and miss other elements of players games. Johnson is the classic type of player who appears to try his hardest, be fully committed etc that fans fall for whether they are brilliant or not.

[hogesar 9,615]

[quote user="Brighton Yellow"]It''s not intended to be a hatchet job, it''s merely my opinion that some fans get carried away with effort and miss other elements of players games. Johnson is the classic type of player who appears to try his hardest, be fully committed etc that fans fall for whether they are brilliant or not.[/quote]

Eh? But it''s YOU with the one dimensional simplistic view of Johnson here!

His hard work and commitment / desire is just ONE aspect of his play. You''re focusing on that being his only positive where in fact you could include:

- His interceptions.

- His aerial ability

- His vision (the only midfielder who plays balls over the top of opposition full backs which have created several opportunities for Redmond and overlapping Olsson this season)

- His Goals.

It''s also a bit disrespectful to suggest that you''re this superior fan who can see past a hard-working player where other Norwich fan''s cant. Andy Hughes was never significantly praised, was he? Simon Lappin was liked by fans but we all accepted his limitations meant he''d never be a regular for us once we became a better team.

Sometimes fella you just have to accept you''re wrong.

[nutty nigel 7,509]

But that''s where other fans get carried away by trying to compare the attributes of players alongside their own blueprint of what that player should do. For me it''s not about individuals. Because football is a team game and a players worth can only really be measured to their value to the team. Sometimes the best player can''t even get in the team. Yesterday Tettey and Johnson put in top performances. But different performances which complimented each other and enhanced the team performance. Johnson 6 tackles 9 interceptions. Tettey 1 tackle 3 interceptions. Tettey 74 passes 86%. Johnson 53 passes 68%. Both integral in our 58/42% possession.

 

I''m glad Bradley puts himself about and gets stuck in. It''s not a fault. Someone has to do it even if the theoretical purists don''t like it.

 

 

[lappinitup 629]

[quote user="nutty nigel"]Someone has to do it even if the theoretical purists don''t like it.[/quote]My goodness, I''d forgotten about the "Purists"........WHERE DID THEY ALL GO? [:^)][;)]

 

 

[Brighton Yellow 0]

How on earth am I saying that I consider myself a superior fan? I have not yet mentioned that I have only missed 8 of Johnson''s appearances for Norwich have I?

Bradley Johnson does everything you would expect of a decent midfielde such as tackling and heading but I really think some get carried away as he appears to be the hardest trying player on the park.

His goals have been mostly very good this year as well, although he does miss more than he puts away, you cannot deny this!

Vs Wolves I think Tettey was MOTM based upon his control of the midfield and intelligent use of the ball, with Grabban second based upon his running with and without the ball, link up play and sheer effort over a full 90 minutes for the first time in a long time.

[kirsty 0]

He''s a good player to have in the Championship but isn''t good enough to start regularly in the premiership.

[Brighton Yellow 0]

Can''t argue with that!

[lappinitup 629]

[quote user="kirsty"]He''s a good player to have in the Championship but isn''t good enough to start regularly in the premiership.[/quote]David McNally told several of us that BJ attracted more interest from Premier League clubs last summer than any other player at the club. Just proves those Prem managers don''t know what they''re talking about.

[Shyster 0]

I''ve been watching Johnson for several seasons now, even before he joined us, and he''s a much better player without the beard - I''m surprised that no manager until the ''novice'' has realised that he''s our very own ''Neymar'', who himself sports a beard, but not nearly as drastic.

[kirsty 0]

[quote user="lappinitup"][quote user="kirsty"]He''s a good player to have in the Championship but isn''t good enough to start regularly in the premiership.[/quote]David McNally told several of us that BJ attracted more interest from Premier League clubs last summer than any other player at the club. Just proves those Prem managers don''t know what they''re talking about.[/quote]I don''t doubt that one or two of the lesser sides like eg Leicester have made enquiries, but McNally probably just tells fans what they want to hear.

[Dubai Mark 0]

This.....

"Jonno has been almost criminally underrated by the fans since he signed for us.

If every player shared his attitude, we''d have never got relegated last season."

[Brighton Yellow 0]

This.....

"Jonno has been almost criminally underrated by the fans since he signed

for us.

If every player shared his attitude, we''d have never got relegated last

season."

 

 

I’m not sure that’s the case,

he has been touted for England at least twice in seasons gone by, even making

the standby list at one point. Perhaps if he had more goals in the Premier

League then he would have been POTS instead of Snodgrass.

 

Okay, we know he has a good

attitude, if a little hot headed at times. I’m pretty sure Johnny Howson and

Alex Tettey have attitudes to match, as do other players at times. Pretty sure

Russell Martin only ever tries his hardest. My point is that for some reason,

perhaps his sweaty head and grimaced face, Johnson appears to be trying harder

than others. I simply don’t buy this. I think he is our fourth best midfielder

behind Howson, Tettey and O’Neil. That’s not to say I don’t think he is doing

well by playing him on the left wing is not exactly ideal!

I don’t dispute that he tries his very hardest etc, what I do see that others

choose to miss is the things he consistently does wrong. His passing is my

biggest gripe. If he keeps things simple then he is totally fine by me, however

every game he consistently gives the ball away needlessly by chipping hopeless

balls into the corner, please someone tell me they have eyes and have witnesses

this during the past 4 seasons? Anyway, here’s a little table to illustrate my

point. Of course stats don’t tell the whole picture, but they certainly can

help!

 

Apologies for only using a link and thanks to @BethnalYG for sourcing the chart.

 

Link here pic.twitter.com/kX3banYo3H

[morty 0]

[quote user="Brighton Yellow"]

This.....

"Jonno has been almost criminally underrated by the fans since he signed

for us.

If every player shared his attitude, we''d have never got relegated last

season."

 

 

I’m not sure that’s the case,

he has been touted for England at least twice in seasons gone by, even making

the standby list at one point. Perhaps if he had more goals in the Premier

League then he would have been POTS instead of Snodgrass.

 

Okay, we know he has a good

attitude, if a little hot headed at times. I’m pretty sure Johnny Howson and

Alex Tettey have attitudes to match, as do other players at times. Pretty sure

Russell Martin only ever tries his hardest. My point is that for some reason,

perhaps his sweaty head and grimaced face, Johnson appears to be trying harder

than others. I simply don’t buy this. I think he is our fourth best midfielder

behind Howson, Tettey and O’Neil. That’s not to say I don’t think he is doing

well by playing him on the left wing is not exactly ideal!

I don’t dispute that he tries his very hardest etc, what I do see that others

choose to miss is the things he consistently does wrong. His passing is my

biggest gripe. If he keeps things simple then he is totally fine by me, however

every game he consistently gives the ball away needlessly by chipping hopeless

balls into the corner, please someone tell me they have eyes and have witnesses

this during the past 4 seasons? Anyway, here’s a little table to illustrate my

point. Of course stats don’t tell the whole picture, but they certainly can

help!

 

Apologies for only using a link and thanks to @BethnalYG for sourcing the chart.

 

Link here pic.twitter.com/kX3banYo3H

[/quote]Can you provide any stats that compare a badger to a stoat?The point I am making, is that Howson, Tettey, Johnson and Oneil are all different kinds of players, with differing roles to play within the team.It feels a little like you just don''t want to give Bradley any credit, however begrudging.

[Buh 0]

The chart has gone to some impressive lengths to illustrate pretty much nothing scientific at all

Sick to death of these statto types analysing spurious statistics, 9 times out of 10 just looking for a stick to beat the club with..

[morty 0]

[quote user="Buh"]The chart has gone to some impressive lengths to illustrate pretty much nothing scientific at all

Sick to death of these statto types analysing spurious statistics, 9 times out of 10 just looking for a stick to beat the club with..[/quote]What is your source for this stat?

[Buh 0]

"Oi knoo sumwun at d cluub"

[Brighton Yellow 0]

I

don’t read too much into stats, I merely was showing that there are some that

exist that potentially illustrate my point.

 

Again,

I must stress that I applaud his obvious qualities, it’s that I think some

people get carried away because of the apparent effort that he exerts compared

to others.

 

Forgetting

stats etc, what I can say for definite is that I find myself in nearly every

game he plays in feeling frustrated at the number of times we concede

possession as a result of a hopeful Johnson chipped ball into the corner.

 

Here’s

a question I am not sure I have an answer to myself, purely hypothetical, who

would we rather playing on the left of midfield in this team – Johnson or

Snodgrass? Point being, is Johnson better than a specialist left sided player

who has the skill to go past players?

[nutty nigel 7,509]

I don''t get this Brighton. It seems to me you value Tetteys strengths more than Johnsons. In fact in an earlier post you seem to suggest that one of Johnsons strengths is actually a weakness? The only way that would really work would be if each team took turns with the ball having 50% possession each. Then Tetteys superior passing stats would put Johnson in the shade. But like it or not football is as much about winning the ball as keeping it. So Johnsons superiority in tackling and intercepting are of great value to the team too. Its a bit of a chicken and egg conundrum trying to work out which player was more important to the team yesterday. But for me Johnsons goal wins it for him. One thing is for sure though. If Tettey also had Johnsons strengths or vice versa neither would be playing for Norwich.

[star_manic 0]

[quote user="Buh"]"Oi knoo sumwun at d cluub"[/quote]

Do they sumwun knoo summit en?

[Brighton Yellow 0]

I think Tettey is better at

winning the ball from opposition, as is his ability to retain the ball when

under pressure. I know it is not his role at present but one of Johnson''s big

failings over the years is his ability to ably protect the back for from

runners, goals have been far too easily conceded where opposition midfielders

simply run in a straight line past Johnson at the back four. Tettey is far

better at this role. Again, my point is that Johnson has the appearance of

someone trying harder than others when i simply think that is not the case and

covers his weaknesses.

[Buh 0]

Ay shink dey doo knuw summat buut dey rekun eyema rummun su wunt tell me bout tettley

[nutty nigel 7,509]

Another hatchet job on Johnson. I can remember a goal against Chelsea when Tettey fell on the floor and watched them score...

Surely who was MOM yesterday should hinge on yesterdays game.

[Brighton Yellow 0]

Not a hatchet

job! Just stating my opinion… I think he is doing very well at the moment but

there are still limitations to his game which frustrate me in every match.

 

Not sure why

you are bringing in a game from over a year ago? Tettey made a mistake, as has

every player. How about the time Johnson let Gareth McCleary run straight past

him when playing Reading two seasons ago resulting in a goal?

 

I’m guessing

you mean the MOTM VS Wolves should be based solely on Saturday? In which case

for me MOTM VS Wolves is this; Tettey; Grabban; Johnson.

 

Anyone bought

today’s EDP yet to see who they gave their MOTM to?

[Buh 0]

Johnson was definitely matm Saturday