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Michael Johnson could play 20 - 30 mins tomorrow according to Bobby

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... up_preview

Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson could make his long-awaited first team return for the Blues against Aston Villa in the FA Cup fifth round clash on Wednesday.

Injury-jinxed Johnson has had his City progress wrecked by a succession of fitness problems over the last two years, but the 23-year-old is close to a comeback.

Boss Roberto Mancini said: "He has played two or three games for the reserves and, although he is not ready for a full game, he could play maybe 20 minutes or half an hour."

Interesting.

What do you recon Doug? Can he get away with it?

Just being on the bench,soaking up the enviroment,is progress and,if needed,will give him that extra impetus to get back.

Ted Hughes wrote:Interesting.

What do you recon Doug? Can he get away with it?

He will be on the bench. The thing he probably won't have ( assuming it was there before) is pace but he has control,passing ability and good awareness of what's going on around him. Add to that the ability to nick a goal and I think I have described Vieira as well. Vieira gets away with it so MJ can for sure.

Thanks Doug. To be honest it's such a long time since we've seen MJ for an extended period that I'm having trouble remembering how much pace he had. I have visions of a dynamic central midfielder with a great shot ( I remember a belter with the outside of his right foot under Sven) but maybe my memory is rose tinted. Interesting that Mancini sees him as readier than GA who may be the better bet long term. Still fitness assessments are very scientific these days and the staff must consider that he needs another game or two in the EDS before he can train with the full squad.

Cheers Doug.

From my memory, Johnson never had great pace but wasn't slow either, he was more like DeJong speed; kind of medium pace imo. His attributes were very much his technique & his quick brain. He was willing to put a foot in too. Other similarities with Colin Bell were in people's wild imagination!

Probably on my own here but,although he plays a little deeper,i always considered him to have a similar style to Matt le Tissier.

I have many memories of him vanishing from games for 80 minutes. With a couple of lovely goals thrown in. But, those 10 minutes you noticed him, he was a Rolls Royce.

i would be thrilled if he went on to have a city career. it would be just brilliant. he's had such a hard time of it. would love to see him get twenty minutes tomorrow (as long as we're 4-0 up haha)

Ted Hughes wrote:Cheers Doug.

From my memory, Johnson never had great pace but wasn't slow either, he was more like DeJong speed; kind of medium pace imo. His attributes were very much his technique & his quick brain. He was willing to put a foot in too. Other similarities with Colin Bell were in people's wild imagination!

Colin Bell comparisons were daft, absolutely. MJ was a huge prospect though, one of our brightest ever; not quite lake-esque (who was incredible), but up there certainly. I really hope the lad gets another chance, he could still be superb for us. And, I think we all need a lift at the moment, perhaps he could be it. A bit wishful, maybe.

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[youtube]VujQvQk21Wo[/youtube]

Not exactly pacy, but as someone said before, Rolls Royce

Maybe we should bring elano back for him?

HeyMark wrote:[youtube]VujQvQk21Wo[/youtube]

Not exactly pacy, but as someone said before, Rolls Royce

One of my favourite City goals from the last few years!

mr_nool wrote:

HeyMark wrote:[youtube]VujQvQk21Wo[/youtube]

Not exactly pacy, but as someone said before, Rolls Royce

One of my favourite City goals from the last few years!

Dito, fucking love that goal.

Great news. Hope he will get run in tomorrow.

The goal against Derby is really similar to Parker's against Liverpool the other day. Both great.