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I thought his best game for a while... And had a big part in the opening goal.

I also like the way he was switched several times from flank to flank, so credit to Bobby for that. In the past I've cried out for him to be played on the left but tonight he did look more effective coming in from the right.

Overall, 8.5 out of 10.

Oh, and Ashley Young can fuck off.

I agree, AJ had a great game. I hope he keeps this up.

Did anyone else read AJ plus cash for lennon? I sincerely hope I was having a nightmare and I never actually read it at all. I'm still not sure that RM really rates him.

BobbyDazzler wrote:Did anyone else read AJ plus cash for lennon? I sincerely hope I was having a nightmare and I never actually read it at all. I'm still not sure that RM really rates him.

I saw it about week back in some shitty tabloid but got to be just poor rumour. While Johnson still has lot to learn and I thought he looked bit out of shape yesterday fitnesswise, he is ten million times the player Aaron Lennon is. Lennon is speed merchant who can't cross or shoot and don't let Tottenham loving journos make you believe otherwise.

I thought AJ had a pretty average game last night. Didn't say so after the match as I wanted to watch the game again.
Having seen the game twice since, I haven't changed my mind - am probably in a minority though, I accept that..

Much better 2nd half and he had a major part to play in the 3 goals we scored whilst he was on the pitch. His choice of pass and distribution in the final third far more incisive in the 2nd half.

Kladze wrote:I thought AJ had a pretty average game last night. Didn't say so after the match as I wanted to watch the game again.
Having seen the game twice since, I haven't changed my mind - am probably in a minority though, I accept that..

I'm with you.
He did really well to set up the goal but spent long periods in shadows doing nothing. I checked the the areas where our attacks where coming from in half time and we barely played through right at all. Considering Micah had pretty fine game going forward, it kind of showed that Johnson wasn't getting the separation.

I'm not saying he was shit, he wasn't. But I did think he was pretty average. Also, like I said above, I thought his fitness level looked little bit worrying.

On seeing him on the teamsheet i thought straight away that he needed a good game, he was in the right places at the right time, made some intelligent runs. Had the goalkeeper not been so quick reflexed he may have got a goal. Good solid performance i thought and he could have been in the game more if Yaya had bothered to use him more.

Mancini is looking after AJ and imo doing the right things, he is young for his age and needs time to mature, Bob will help him turn into the finished article .. end of this season or during next he will be almost a different player.

AJ's only problem, in my humble opinion, is his attitude. My thinking is that he is more determined to beat and score than play/read football. Mancini is trying to teach him how to play/read football.

Kladze wrote:I thought AJ had a pretty average game last night. Didn't say so after the match as I wanted to watch the game again.
Having seen the game twice since, I haven't changed my mind - am probably in a minority though, I accept that..

I thought like that at the game but watching it on tv later did make me rethink a little. He was key on the first goal ,played a great perfectly weighted, early pass for Micah on the 2nd and was involved on the 3rd one with his back heel to Edin.That's a pretty good involvement in key areas for me.

If aj made as many blind alley runs and pathetic attempts at shooting as YAYA did he would be crucified on here

I know, YAYA is supposed to be god (ok so he's scored two vital goals at the backend of last season) but for the pricetag and reputed wages I honestly am struggling to see what the fuss is about alot of the time. Paul Dickov has legend status for the same reason, he was a rather average and goalshy player for most of the time he was with us .... still

Wonderwall wrote:If aj made as many blind alley runs and pathetic attempts at shooting as YAYA did he would be crucified on here

If AJ could make powerful runs that blow by 3 people at a time, I'd shower him in praise. AJ did try to make a Yaya like run a few times, but he couldn't get past the first defender (which is more pathetic if you ask me).

Yaya can make those runs all game - they setup a few goals and scare the shit out of defenders. His runs work the best when he beats 3 or 4 people with a few touches, then dishes to Silva/Aguero/Dzeko to keep the play alive. Having the threat of Yaya being able to get behind the defence from deep causes the defenders to either: 1. step up and stop Yaya, leaving space behind or 2. drop off to force Yaya to make a decision, leaving space in front. Having a player that can force the defense to react is invaluable.

To echo a comment above, AJ looked alright, but seemed to be too focused on taking 4 or 5 touches every time he gets the ball. Defenders know what he will try to do, so he needs to change it up a bit (because it wasn't working in the 1st half at all).

Wonderwall wrote:If aj made as many blind alley runs and pathetic attempts at shooting as YAYA did he would be crucified on here

I'm left wondering, yet again, as to whether I watched the same game as some of you.

Kladze wrote:

Wonderwall wrote:If aj made as many blind alley runs and pathetic attempts at shooting as YAYA did he would be crucified on here

I'm left wondering, yet again, as to whether I watched the same game as some of you.

to be fair tho...his point about TYY is valid. Those bull-like runs into the heart of defense give us all a boner, but realistically, about 1 in 10 comes off and if Jinky took 10 shots on goal from the wing and put 9 into the stands before putting one on target he'd have his head on a pike, no?

cheers

Wonderwall wrote:If aj made as many blind alley runs and pathetic attempts at shooting as YAYA did he would be crucified on here

If and when Yaya gets shooting properly again, he'd destroy teams. Even when he was having mixed results yesterday he still basically turned the tide and forced Swansea onto the back foot.

DoomMerchant wrote:

Kladze wrote:

Wonderwall wrote:If aj made as many blind alley runs and pathetic attempts at shooting as YAYA did he would be crucified on here

I'm left wondering, yet again, as to whether I watched the same game as some of you.

to be fair tho...his point about TYY is valid. Those bull-like runs into the heart of defense give us all a boner, but realistically, about 1 in 10 comes off and if Jinky took 10 shots on goal from the wing and put 9 into the stands before putting one on target he'd have his head on a pike, no?

cheers

It doesn't matter if only 1 in 10 come off. Towards the end of the game 3 Swansea players would surround Yaya every time he got the ball (even if he was just passing to a teammate). The threat of being able to cut through the defense makes the opposing teams scared of him, which gives more time and space to other City players. Plus I'd say about 50% of his runs work out to something (a corner, shooting opportunity, free kick...)

DoomMerchant wrote:

Kladze wrote:

Wonderwall wrote:If aj made as many blind alley runs and pathetic attempts at shooting as YAYA did he would be crucified on here

I'm left wondering, yet again, as to whether I watched the same game as some of you.

to be fair tho...his point about TYY is valid. Those bull-like runs into the heart of defense give us all a boner, but realistically, about 1 in 10 comes off and if Jinky took 10 shots on goal from the wing and put 9 into the stands before putting one on target he'd have his head on a pike, no?

cheers

1 in 10 ?

I'd say the number of times something significant occurs at the end of such runs (even if it's only a corner) is much higher than 1 in 10. And, as someone else has pointed out, the threat of such a run ties up several defenders and leaves space for our other forwards.

I'd much prefer my attacking midfielder be one of those who "makes things happen".

I thought AJ had his best performance since he came to the club. Rather than the occasional specatacular run, in between giving the ball away & running off the edge of the pitch, he was involved in the overall play & used the ball with skill & intelligence. Several times he made runs into the centre which could have resulted in goals had the passes from Silva & Co been a little better, several times he played similar passes himself which were only slightly out. He set up players on the edge of the box, for what would, on another day, be goals (this was a big change for me because he never usually sees these simple passes). His attempts at crossing with his right foot were decent & far better than last season. He got off several shots which wouild have hit the target if not blocked. His half volley pass which put Micah Richards behind the Swan's defence for the 2nd goal was fucking brilliant, as good as Silva could have played; if he'd waited one tenth of a second, Richards would have been offside. His cross shot created the 1st goal. He ran his balls off tracking back when he lost the ball.

In short, he did everything that I've been asking him to do & exactly what Ryan Giggs would have done if he'd been on our team. Absolutely excellent & a class above what I thought he was capable of as far as intelligence goes. Delighted with him.

YYT = 6ft 4 swp