Adam Johnson terrorises Jamie Carragher

[Im_Spartacus]

[Ted Hughes]

[brite blu sky]

i think it is too early to say what the longer term use of AJ will be by Mancini.. i realise the evidence so far is that he seems to want him stuck on the right.. and that collaborates with Bob being continental and following the fashion, but Bob might have had other reasons for that ultimately. Mancini will have studied videos of him before and after we brought AJ to City, so he will know what he is capable of on the left im sure.
We will have to wait and see what happens when he has got more of the players he wants and sets things up as he wants. My own feeling is he will swap the wingers about during games and campaigns, reading between the lines of both Mancini's comments, together with what appears to be a trend in the modern game for versatility all over the pitch.. but particularly the front 6 players. Trying to get Milner is another indication of this approach in my view.

[BobKowalski]

[the_georgian_genius]

Robben, Messi, Ronaldo, Duff, Ribery, Bellamy, Henry, Arshavin, Ronaldinho - all players who have played/play on the opposite side to their prefered foot.

It's dead simple init - Get Johnson on the left, run to the byeline, cross it in, header, goal? If only it was.

[Fish111]

Horses for courses, square pegs in square holes an all that. Imo a right footed winger should play on the right wing, once he's past his marker you are guarenteed to get the best delivery from his favoured foot. Every left-back will show a right footed winger, playing on the left, the byeline to ensure his weaker foot is providing the cross.

[Im_Spartacus]

[Goataldo]

I've no probelm with switching wingers to their 'wrong' side they're on form and it works, it just gets annoying when we persist with it and it isn't working. Nowt wrong with giving defenders twice as much to think about, as long as the wingers have the nous to cope with it too. All too often they looked pissed off and out of position. Bellamy can play on teh left but he's a quality centre forward and with him there and AJ on the right, it just doesn't balance nice like.

I reckon Johnson could be great in the World Cup playing on the left, seems to take things in his stride. Hope so.

[Blueboylewis]

Would be great to see him get a call up for England and if he impresses in training which he has been doing apprently then he must have a good chance as long as he can be consitant and keep it up!

[Dameerto]

I think he's been on the right to teach him some versatility - all our wide men have played on their 'unnatural' sides at some point. I think this will be a big feature of our formation for the coming season, players who can adapt to a switched/changed formation when the Don calls it.

[aaron bond]

I would be absolutely over the moon if Johnson made the final squad.

I was delighted just when I heard how brilliant he was in the first training session. He really has a natural talent that England have been crying out for.

If he was with since last summer he definitely would be in the squad. Capello should take a chance on him.

[brite blu sky]

[blootoof]

ADAM JOHNSON began the season staring at trips to places like Doncaster, Plymouth and Watford.
The way he has lit up the England training camp at the foot of the Austrian Alps, he will end it in Rustenburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

For the Manchester City winger has been THE shining light of this week's sessions as Fabio Capello puts the finishing touches to his World Cup preparations.

The tiny village of Irdning may be among the most picturesque this country can offer, and life certainly goes by at a much slower pace than back home.

But not in Johnson's world it doesn't. Or, indeed, that of the other hopefuls fighting to make Capello's final 23-man squad, named on Tuesday.

Yet while the likes of Theo Walcott and Joe Cole have toiled at times over the past two days at the ATV Arena where England have set up camp, former Middlesbrough ace Johnson has been outstanding.

The end-of-session 11-a-side game on Thursday was not exactly played at breakneck pace, but that did not stop Johnson from producing some delightful touches.

And when it came to the penalty practice - Johnson was out of this world, burying three kicks right in the corner which left David James without a prayer.

Yesterday's lighter, hour-long workout was largely based around finishing, with players peppering all three keepers with shots from the edge of the box and beyond.

Once again Johnson took the breath away with his first two finishes, whipped into the corner.

[BlueMoonAwoken]

Its hard to make the papers by just doing well in training so he must really be shining!

[Chad]

Can't understand why he isn't starting tomorrow, especially since Lennon or Walcott will be playing on the left.

[blootoof]

I think it was Matt Le Tissier that said - he reckons Johnson's on the plane, and the reason he aint gettin much time is that Capello wants him as a surprise package? He obviously knows what he's capable of if these trainin reports are true.

EDIT: (that said - he reckons) <-- does that make sense?

[carl_feedthegoat]

[blues-clues]

Not one of the papers I read today thinks that Johnson has made it. If he was fringe I cannot understand why he didnt make the squad at all against Japan. Just for instance I dont understand giving SWP a chance but not AJ never mind some of those other crocks.... I mean AJ is not a forward but why waste a trial space on Heskey FFS?

Capello was quoted (in the Times today I think) as saying he has the same 23 in mind as he has had for some time (22 plus Barry if fit enough anyway). That would seem to suggest AJ is not going. Its a shame if it is the case because he can certainly add a dimension that otherwise might be lacking. If Joe Cole plays at his best then probably he is a better option than AJ but Cole has been so patchy this season I think I would be tempted to go with our man.

Answers tomorrow I guess.

[edge275]

I think it would be absolutely criminal not to take Johnson. If I was Capello I'd have him in the first team no danger.

To be honest I also think it would be a joke not to take Darren Bent. The guy scored 24 goals in the league alone last season for a fairly poor team. What more does he have to do?