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Roberto Mancini clearly decided to see how he would play for 20 minutes today when City were being tested, and he failed.

Even when he scores he has a face like a wet weekend.

He really doesn't get it. Taken from Middlesbrough to play in perhaps the best team in Britain, and he still has an attitude.

We had miserable egocentrics like AJ a few years ago, but we put up with them because they were the best we could hope for, and even then we sacked them off.

I can't see any future for Johnson at City unless Mancini struggles bring in a couple of proper professional, motivated midfielders in the summer - which is unlikely.

Played shit today. Way premature to talk about selling him though. Also he seems to be pretty popular - even silva considers him a mate. Might upset a fair few to dump him from the squad.

Not that I agree, but I'm inclined to think it's looking that way. Hopefully Bob will get through to him but I can see him ruining his own career here.

I thought he was brought on so we could push a man back as QPR were fighting for all their worth, I agree he didnt step up to the mark, but I do not believe it was any kind of test, Mancini knows everything he needs to know about Johnson now, he's managed him for long enough and his comments on him last week are spot on for me.

I do not feel he is good enough for our first team anyway, odd fantastic glimpses in odd games is not enough for me, I think there are too many games and spells in games where he does nothing constructive, I do not feel positive or even confident when he comes on, I do not even like seeing him on the bench, I believe he is often our weakest player of the whole 25.

Seen a bit of similar opinion in the Thanks Joey thread but im happy enough with him.Has done really well so far this season.He has only started 4 games and come on a few times as a sub but has still scored 3 goals.I think he contributes to the team and is a great squad player although i feel thats not enough for him he wants to play football and thats where the problem lies.

Johnson is a good player, just not a great player and only time will tell if he can become that, but he needs to listen to Bob et al & start doing what others in and around the side do much better - I wouldn't say ditch him, but I trust Bob to let him go when we have someone else who can do johnson's role much better

The lad is his own worst enemy. Mancini has clearly identified holes in Johnson's game but the lad clearly can't be arsed putting in the extra effort and addressing them. A shame really cos parts of his game are spot on.

I think AJ is an old fashioned winger and very good at his job. Bobby likes one touch players who can keep the shape, AJ doesn't fit. But like so many of last season nearly but not quites, Barry, lescott, Milner, etc etc he will arrive

The rumours when he was at the boro was that he was part of the drinking culture, but thankfully those stories don't seem to be around at the moment - we bought him at a bargain price & if he adds to our home grown quota then unless there is someone in the reserves who can fill his role we may just have to put up with fantastic goals & little effort at times

Thought it was a bad move from Mancini to be honest. It was clear that QPR were running riot on that side and with Micah being given licence to move forward AJ was not the man to cover on that side. Furthermore, I thought the whole of that side was diappointing today and I'd more point at Savic than anyone else. He's a young lad who got caught out to many time.

So, for me, Johno wasn't at fault, it was the boss. But not to complain too much, we won, we got 3 points and we're flying high at the top of the league. Savic isn't ready yet, and that's why he's usually on the bench.

We can't blame Adam he is only one of eleven on the pitch. He scores important goals from the bench and has time to grow as a player he is a part of the long term plan for me. That said we all get on yaya hightower toure back and what does he do score important goals.....

Bollocks!

Great managers turn around these type of players, Johnson will come good.

Although we were heavily linked with Cerci was it in the summer? Sounded like an AJ type player but Italian. Hope Mancini can whip him into shape he could be a very good player

Wonderwall wrote:Bollocks!

Great managers turn around these type of players, Johnson will come good.

I hope you're right Bob.....he's the one who disappoints me the most. Has so much but produces so little way too often

Wonderwall wrote:Bollocks!

Great managers turn around these type of players, Johnson will come good.

I agree with you.

Also, it seemed as though Mancini gave him the job of clinging to the touchline and giving us more width. He'd have found this job easier on his natural side.

That said, he does need to switch on when the opposition have the ball. He offers no cover for the full-back.

I like Johnson, in small doses, and believe he can improve.

But today I was hard pressed to see a single positive contribution he made with - or without - the ball.

Beefymcfc wrote:Thought it was a bad move from Mancini to be honest. It was clear that QPR were running riot on that side and with Micah being given licence to move forward AJ was not the man to cover on that side. Furthermore, I thought the whole of that side was diappointing today and I'd more point at Savic than anyone else. He's a young lad who got caught out to many time.

So, for me, Johno wasn't at fault, it was the boss. But not to complain too much, we won, we got 3 points and we're flying high at the top of the league. Savic isn't ready yet, and that's why he's usually on the bench.

Sort of agree with this. I wondered about the role he would play when he came on and I hoped it would be forward thinking.I am still unsure now but when I saw him right side of a 5 man defence I was concerned.

Was the OP suggesting that he was brought on to play that wide defensive role in a game when we were being really tested? Surely not as we know and I am sure Mancini knows he isnt good at that role.And there was a much better option on the bench. Ah well all's well that ends well and that's a fantastic result for us.

As for AJ's future I hope its with City. Maybe not an automatic starter in most games but a great squad player and we can hope his game improves so that he forces his way into more games. Still capable of matchwinning moments.

Poor today but all players go through a tough phase at sometime in their careers. How many times have we seen players that had a bad spell only for the crowd to turn on him who then goes on to play to their potential at another club. Sometimes the opposite happens an we encourage a player and the player does their all. I think he's worth sticking with at least until the summer at earliest. AJ must be gutted if he reads some of this and twitter at the mo. ... imo

Chinners wrote:Poor today but all players go through a tough phase at sometime in their careers. How many times have we seen players that had a bad spell only for the crowd to turn on him who then goes on to play to their potential at another club. Sometimes the opposite happens an we encourage a player and the player does their all. I think he's worth sticking with at least until the summer at earliest. AJ must be gutted if he reads some of this and twitter at the mo. ... imo

I hope he is not gutted. He should ignore the worst of it but take in the general consensus, same as if he had won a game and was being lauded.

Anyway he will get there in the end. He might well be in the middle of the dip in form that players get when trying to learn stuff and rework their game. We know he needs to improve his all round game - give him time.. let's say all this season and half of next minimum, then start getting worried.

A nonsense thread. What a waste of time