Michael Johnson - Setting the record straight

[Im_Spartacus]

Had a very interesting conversation this morning with a client who knows both Michael and his family very well. According to some on here over the last 12 months, it has been suggested that MJ was on the piss, damaging his prospects for recovery and in particular taking the piss out of the club having been given a nice big new contract.

The specific point that my customer made was that his dad has been bailing him out financially over the last year, as his reported £38k/week contract is not quite what the media would have you believe, and the vast majority of the contract is pay as you play.

Kind of shows you that the club are not quite as naive as some would have you believe when it comes to contracts.

[Fidel Castro]

Bailing him out? Even if the majority is pay as you play, I'm sure it will be very difficult to get into financial trouble on his salary

[Im_Spartacus]

Bailing him out? Even if the majority is pay as you play, I'm sure it will be very difficult to get into financial trouble on his salary

Depends what sort of financial commitments you take on when you get your big contract though doesnt it? As an 18 year old lad, he first thing I would do on getting a tasty contract would be to get mortgaged upto my eyeballs and have several very nice motors lying around the gravel driveway. Footballers do use credit - especially the younger ones.

[Burt]

I wasn't aware that his dad had a few quid. What does he do for a living?

[Im_Spartacus]

I wasn't aware that his dad had a few quid. What does he do for a living?

Car sales

[Crossie]

Should have sold his fucking mansion and cars then shouldnt he?

Sorry but I have 0 sympathy. Yea yea he had terrible injuries and a year + of hell. But wouldnt any normal person , think "mmmmmm my contract is mostly pay as a play -------- WHAT IF I GET INJURED!??!?!!?!?!"

Come on ffs we are talking 30k-40 A WEEK, not a month, not a year, a week when playing.

VERY ROUGHLY, 37 games on 30k a week (total guess at average wage plus some apps not on newer contract.) We are talking about £1,000,000.

What kind of person can throw away A MILLION POUNDS in 12 months ???????????? KNOWING THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE PLAYING FOR A LONG LONG TIME.

[Wonderwall]

Should have sold his fucking mansion and cars then shouldnt he?

Sorry but I have 0 sympathy. Yea yea he had terrible injuries and a year + of hell. But wouldnt any normal person , think "mmmmmm my contract is mostly pay as a play -------- WHAT IF I GET INJURED!??!?!!?!?!"

Come on ffs we are talking 30k-40 A WEEK, not a month, not a year, a week when playing.

VERY ROUGHLY, 37 games on 30k a week (total guess at average wage plus some apps not on newer contract.) We are talking about £1,000,000.

What kind of person can throw away A MILLION POUNDS in 12 months ???????????? KNOWING THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE PLAYING FOR A LONG LONG TIME.

That amount of money will certainly buy a lot of beer. I wonder how he hides his binge drinking from everyone?

[stockportblue]

I wasn't aware that his dad had a few quid. What does he do for a living?

Car sales

Isnt he also a part-time Coerver coach?I know a few years back he worke dpart-time for City.

[kinkylola]

Should have sold his fucking mansion and cars then shouldnt he?

Sorry but I have 0 sympathy. Yea yea he had terrible injuries and a year + of hell. But wouldnt any normal person , think "mmmmmm my contract is mostly pay as a play -------- WHAT IF I GET INJURED!??!?!!?!?!"

Come on ffs we are talking 30k-40 A WEEK, not a month, not a year, a week when playing.

VERY ROUGHLY, 37 games on 30k a week (total guess at average wage plus some apps not on newer contract.) We are talking about £1,000,000.

What kind of person can throw away A MILLION POUNDS in 12 months ???????????? KNOWING THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE PLAYING FOR A LONG LONG TIME.

I think the OP was talking about how at the time alot of fans were upset that MJ was given a new contract despite him being injured and people being very doubtful about his ability to overcome said injuries. He was stating that the club have actually gotten a good deal and moved MJ onto more of an as you play deal that could be worth up to 30k p/w if he's doing everything right. I think it's good for the club and for MJ, as he needs supoprt form the club medically and emotionally if he's to overcome this, which I hope he does. That's how I read it atleast.

But as for your lack of sympathy ... it's petty and small. He's a human being, just happens to be that he has the talent to earn such a huge wage. Maybe he's been irresponsible with it, but I think we are seeing the beginning of a new, mroe respsonible MJ, and that's good for the club and for him. So cheer up.

[saulman]

I have a mate at work who say he regularly sees MJ not just pissed but absolutely slaughtered on a regular basis.

[rick1894citizen]

Can't see his dad bailing him out as they lived on the whimpy estate so can't see him having a few 100 grand lying around, but either way i really hope Johno stays fit and does well for us as he's fucking immense imo.