Training Monday 27/12

[Slim]

Fucking Michael Johnson love again. It's everywhere.

I seriously have to doubt those that are desperate to see him back. Not only is there slim chance of him ever being fit for a fll season, but some lad that looked good in 06/07 next to the likes of Barton, Trabelsi and Dabo is not exactly nailed on to steal a spot from either Gaz Baz, De Jong or Yaya is he?

Theres probably more chance of him never making it into our current side than being a star. Yes I can undertsand people hoping that he makes it, but it's more like a blind faith on this board.

Slim says yes.

[Swales4ever]

Fucking Michael Johnson love again. It's everywhere.

I seriously have to doubt those that are desperate to see him back. Not only is there slim chance of him ever being fit for a fll season, but some lad that looked good in 06/07 next to the likes of Barton, Trabelsi and Dabo is not exactly nailed on to steal a spot from either Gaz Baz, De Jong or Yaya is he?

Theres probably more chance of him never making it into our current side than being a star. Yes I can undertsand people hoping that he makes it, but it's more like a blind faith on this board.

Fancy that - City fans wanting to see a City player do well. Fucking amazing. Who'd have thought it? I see no reason to criticise anyone who hopes an injured City player comes back from injury and does well other than that it appears to be a bit trendy round here to do so. For what little my opinion is worth, it's my belief that Johnson will look even better with better players. The only question mark for me is his fitness. And as for getting into the team, that is the manager's job to decide. But I am sure he will appreciate more options in midfield. Being able to rest one of the three you mention when required will help him.

Cheers once again, Doug. Always a pleasure to read.

Not only that. I myself - and supposedly many other people - saw enough of him to dream of him turning into a new Paddy V. I do acknowledge all the logical concerns about his full recovery to a longlasting fitness, but I like to be positive in life, and I really like to hope that a totally not-rushed recovery procedure along with the ultimate physio practice and a very hard and patient work the Lad undertook may get a final happy ending.
You know I'm Italian, living in Italy: without a big dose of positive thinking I should have already decided for suicide... :-)

Thanks again for Your attention, Douglas.

[Ted Hughes]

IF Boateng was marking Carroll it was shocking but he doesnt/wasnt marking Carroll. We play a zonal system and whilst I don't fully understand that system it sure as hell doesnt include man marking.Maybe just a flaw in the system as much as anything.


Re MJ I doubt if he will get to the bench before he plays in a reserve game or something. I still think a loan is most likely.

He wasn't marking a zone if you watch it Doug he was attracted forwards towards where he thought the ball was going as it sailed over his head to the unmarked Carroll he'd left to run behind him. If he'd been given a zone to mark, it would most likely have been the one Carroll scored in. It doesn't actually look like a zonal system to me anyhow as most of the City players are bunched together in the middle of the box. Perhaps half zonal, half markers. Either that or none of them were doing their jobs.

Terrible amateurish mess anyhow but he's like that several times per game & nowhere near being a PL centre half imo.

[Biamp]

Cheers Doug, great read as usual.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

IF Boateng was marking Carroll it was shocking but he doesnt/wasnt marking Carroll. We play a zonal system and whilst I don't fully understand that system it sure as hell doesnt include man marking.Maybe just a flaw in the system as much as anything.


Re MJ I doubt if he will get to the bench before he plays in a reserve game or something. I still think a loan is most likely.

He wasn't marking a zone if you watch it Doug he was attracted forwards towards where he thought the ball was going as it sailed over his head to the unmarked Carroll he'd left to run behind him. If he'd been given a zone to mark, it would most likely have been the one Carroll scored in. It doesn't actually look like a zonal system to me anyhow as most of the City players are bunched together in the middle of the box. Perhaps half zonal, half markers. Either that or none of them were doing their jobs.

Terrible amateurish mess anyhow but he's like that several times per game & nowhere near being a PL centre half imo.

Sadly I agree Ted ,I was just trying to make some sense of it and be kind to him.He is having a difficult time so far and he knows it from that interview he gave a week or so back.He does have talent but just seems ( Micahish) to fall asleep every so often in games.

[Wonderwall]

Surely the gaffer must look at our opposition and select the danger men in the air (Carroll and Cahill) and assign players to do a job on them, leaving the rest to do the zonal part?

If he doesnt target the obvious then he needs to start now as it was obvious to everyone else who has an ounce of football knowledge, who the danger men were and where their strengths lay in our last two games..... however, we failed miserably at stopping them

[gaudy]

Fucking Michael Johnson love again. It's everywhere.

I seriously have to doubt those that are desperate to see him back. Not only is there slim chance of him ever being fit for a fll season, but some lad that looked good in 06/07 next to the likes of Barton, Trabelsi and Dabo is not exactly nailed on to steal a spot from either Gaz Baz, De Jong or Yaya is he?

Theres probably more chance of him never making it into our current side than being a star. Yes I can undertsand people hoping that he makes it, but it's more like a blind faith on this board.

have to agree lee,this mj love is beyond a joke at this stage,
yes he's a GOOD player, but why city fans cream themselves over him i cannot fathom,have we a thing for injured players or players that dont play(bojonov (the ammount of times his f**kin v milan goal was posted here) and berti)?
get over it/him for god sake

[john@staustell]

Fucking Michael Johnson love again. It's everywhere.

I seriously have to doubt those that are desperate to see him back. Not only is there slim chance of him ever being fit for a fll season, but some lad that looked good in 06/07 next to the likes of Barton, Trabelsi and Dabo is not exactly nailed on to steal a spot from either Gaz Baz, De Jong or Yaya is he?

Theres probably more chance of him never making it into our current side than being a star. Yes I can undertsand people hoping that he makes it, but it's more like a blind faith on this board.

have to agree lee,this mj love is beyond a joke at this stage,
yes he's a GOOD player, but why city fans cream themselves over him i cannot fathom,have we a thing for injured players or players that dont play(bojonov (the ammount of times his f**kin v milan goal was posted here) and berti)?
get over it/him for god sake

I think a lot of it is irony tbh. "Any news on MJ Doug?"

[BadKompany]

More love i'm afraid...

He is the best academy graduate we have produced.I genuinely enjoyed his performances and,unashamedly,i crave more.
We don't have another player with Johnno's attrbutes and,subsequently,he could also potentially save us a small fortune while not affecting the new financal implications.

Plus the significant fact,everyone loves a local hero.......

[Ted Hughes]

IF Boateng was marking Carroll it was shocking but he doesnt/wasnt marking Carroll. We play a zonal system and whilst I don't fully understand that system it sure as hell doesnt include man marking.Maybe just a flaw in the system as much as anything.


Re MJ I doubt if he will get to the bench before he plays in a reserve game or something. I still think a loan is most likely.

He wasn't marking a zone if you watch it Doug he was attracted forwards towards where he thought the ball was going as it sailed over his head to the unmarked Carroll he'd left to run behind him. If he'd been given a zone to mark, it would most likely have been the one Carroll scored in. It doesn't actually look like a zonal system to me anyhow as most of the City players are bunched together in the middle of the box. Perhaps half zonal, half markers. Either that or none of them were doing their jobs.

Terrible amateurish mess anyhow but he's like that several times per game & nowhere near being a PL centre half imo.

Sadly I agree Ted ,I was just trying to make some sense of it and be kind to him.He is having a difficult time so far and he knows it from that interview he gave a week or so back.He does have talent but just seems ( Micahish) to fall asleep every so often in games.

It's strange to say but I actually found a couple of good points in his defending during that game (he was the bloke who got to the ball before Carroll to cause the corner) but imo he's just not ready to be playing big PL games. We should be treating him as a promising young player, along with Boyata, & not a fully fledged member of the defensive team imo. There are plenty of home games against mid & lower table non aerial teams, for him to play a part.