Johnson's final ball

[Ted Hughes]

I find I keep alluding to this as part of different topics so I just thought I'd start this, seeing as Johnson is playing so brilliantly in most aspects of the game & is the source of many of our best moments.

His final ball is mostly crap. Mainly from wide to be fair as he puts some decent passes through but it undermines the quality of what comes before.

It applies to most of City's other players too (as I recon we're the worst at crosses diagonals etc in the league) but Johnson imo isn't just most players, he's a potential world class attacking player. I think it's important that Mancini, Plunty, Kiddo, whoever, get a hold of him & make him aware of having an end product which isn't just a hopeful shot.

He has the skill imo to perfect the kind of wicked crosses, passes etc that Beckham used to produce but because he's so much better on the ball, he doesn't concentrate on it like Beckham did. Imo he should. Beckham was a one trick pony, AJ could do that & so much more, at pace, & be so much better.

He did find Tevez with areally nice Beckham-like pass over the top, on Saturday & did similar for SWP for England also finding DeFoe with a lovely little cut back on his right foot. Mostly though, he charges & doesn't see the opportunities.

He should also learn to be comfortable going past fullbacks on the left & crossing with quality.

I don't know what you lot think but I recon he could become something very very special but ONLY if he gets a reliable final ball. The alternative is that he ends up another SWP & watches others take his spot for City & England. Thoughts?

[bluej]

There was a couple of occasions where he did try a shot at the near post which stands a very small chance of beating the keeper. If you contrast this with that goal last season at home against Villa where he waited and waited on the ball for Ade to make the right move then I think he does have the ability to pick the right ball, perhaps he's just running on a bit of added confidence from scoring for england a couple of times.

I imagine that Mancini, Kidd etc will speak to him about it though because the ball across the 6 yard box is what was needed on saturday.

[MaineRoadMemories]

His crossing could improve but the other side to this story is for most part since Johnson has been at the club we only have one player in the box for him to cross to. This makes his error for getting it wrong so much higher. A lot of convert crosses actually miss the intended target and drop for someone else just behind.

I can't remember many occassions when we get more than 2 men into the box when a winger has the ball out wide. Normally, Tevez will be somewhere around 30 yards from goal, Adebayor will be under the feet of said winger and the midfielders will be deep too - with the exception of Barry who does sometimes try a late burst into the box.

Back to Johnson though - if you could give him Bentley's crossing ability he would be the best winger in the league.

[brite blu sky]

imo he can do it.. and very well. I think it may be a combo of a couple of things recently, one that he may have been asked by Mancini to go for goal more. Secondly as pointed out, on Sat he may well have though he could carry on where he left off for England and bag a goal or two for City. he had shot from both sides on Sat, on target and well saved if not so difficult for blobby.

Maybe a couple of times he could have held up and looked for a pass/cross, but imo they were not so clear cut.
I think you have to take into account he is still learning at this level and for this team, so we might see some swings and round-a-bouts some weeks a lot of crosses some weeks a lot of shots instead. He will get there im sure, and he has plenty of time to develop into a Beckham as his game develops.

Bobby said after the game that when Aj gets chances like the early ones he has to bury them, so he may well have told him to try and go for it early doors and turn the game for us before it has hardly got going... and perhaps after going so close early on he got obsessed and felt he could get one.

[Ted Hughes]

I think a lot of the stuff Bobby says is a bit abstract. I think when he talked about scoring he may have meant 'we' must score rather than 'he' must score. They were hardly clear cut scoring chances from a direct shot.

As regards getting players in the box it's true we don't get enough in there but Tevez & SWP were already there & if we compare when Tevez got the ball in the same position 2nd half, he just waited for Vieira to arrive & slotted it through to him. Another option AJ misses time & again for City & England is just playing the ball back or square to the edge of the box for someone arriving late. If he gets that right, he'll be awesome but imo the time to work on it & sort it is now, when he's on top form, rather than waiting & worrying about it in the middle of a bad spell.

[brite blu sky]

I think a lot of the stuff Bobby says is a bit abstract. I think when he talked about scoring he may have meant 'we' must score rather than 'he' must score. They were hardly clear cut scoring chances from a direct shot.

As regards getting players in the box it's true we don't get enough in there but Tevez & SWP were already there & if we compare when Tevez got the ball in the same position 2nd half, he just waited for Vieira to arrive & slotted it through to him. Another option AJ misses time & again for City & England is just playing the ball back or square to the edge of the box for someone arriving late. If he gets that right, he'll be awesome but imo the time to work on it & sort it is now, when he's on top form, rather than waiting & worrying about it in the middle of a bad spell.

Very much agree on working on his weaknesses while on top form.. tbh i would imagine thats what most managers and trainers do anyways, i hope so anyway!

I trust Aj to learn his game though, dont know why, he seems aware of the need and takes his football seriously.

[Dronny]

I think a lot of the stuff Bobby says is a bit abstract. I think when he talked about scoring he may have meant 'we' must score rather than 'he' must score. They were hardly clear cut scoring chances from a direct shot.

As regards getting players in the box it's true we don't get enough in there but Tevez & SWP were already there & if we compare when Tevez got the ball in the same position 2nd half, he just waited for Vieira to arrive & slotted it through to him. Another option AJ misses time & again for City & England is just playing the ball back or square to the edge of the box for someone arriving late. If he gets that right, he'll be awesome but imo the time to work on it & sort it is now, when he's on top form, rather than waiting & worrying about it in the middle of a bad spell.

Very much agree on working on his weaknesses while on top form.. tbh i would imagine thats what most managers and trainers do anyways, i hope so anyway!

I trust Aj to learn his game though, dont know why, he seems aware of the need and takes his football seriously.

I have to say it annoys the bejasus out of me when wide men continually knock the ball back or square (not saying that you said "continually", Ted), for me I'd much rather see the width kept in the attack and the man try to beat his defender. Prime example was Lennon in the WC when everytime he either cut it back or played inside without once trying to exploit his main strength and take the fullback on the outside. Having said that, he should be aware if there is a better option on the inside!

[Ted Hughes]

I think a lot of the stuff Bobby says is a bit abstract. I think when he talked about scoring he may have meant 'we' must score rather than 'he' must score. They were hardly clear cut scoring chances from a direct shot.

As regards getting players in the box it's true we don't get enough in there but Tevez & SWP were already there & if we compare when Tevez got the ball in the same position 2nd half, he just waited for Vieira to arrive & slotted it through to him. Another option AJ misses time & again for City & England is just playing the ball back or square to the edge of the box for someone arriving late. If he gets that right, he'll be awesome but imo the time to work on it & sort it is now, when he's on top form, rather than waiting & worrying about it in the middle of a bad spell.

Very much agree on working on his weaknesses while on top form.. tbh i would imagine thats what most managers and trainers do anyways, i hope so anyway!

I trust Aj to learn his game though, dont know why, he seems aware of the need and takes his football seriously.

I have to say it annoys the bejasus out of me when wide men continually knock the ball back or square (not saying that you said "continually", Ted), for me I'd much rather see the width kept in the attack and the man try to beat his defender. Prime example was Lennon in the WC when everytime he either cut it back or played inside without once trying to exploit his main strength and take the fullback on the outside. Having said that, he should be aware if there is a better option on the inside!

Lennon is a headless chicken who gets almost every decision wrong unless he's playing us.

Johnson going on the outside will be on his weaker foot though, as he's always on the right, so his natural instict is almost always to come inside. Usually he shoots when he gets there & so far, rarely scores. Often there are people arriving just to his left who may have an unobstructed shot on goal. Ironically his best bit of play this season imo, was when he did go past his man on the outside & THEN pulled the ball back to DeFoe. That showed he does have the vision to do it.

[Dronny]

I think a lot of the stuff Bobby says is a bit abstract. I think when he talked about scoring he may have meant 'we' must score rather than 'he' must score. They were hardly clear cut scoring chances from a direct shot.

As regards getting players in the box it's true we don't get enough in there but Tevez & SWP were already there & if we compare when Tevez got the ball in the same position 2nd half, he just waited for Vieira to arrive & slotted it through to him. Another option AJ misses time & again for City & England is just playing the ball back or square to the edge of the box for someone arriving late. If he gets that right, he'll be awesome but imo the time to work on it & sort it is now, when he's on top form, rather than waiting & worrying about it in the middle of a bad spell.

Very much agree on working on his weaknesses while on top form.. tbh i would imagine thats what most managers and trainers do anyways, i hope so anyway!

I trust Aj to learn his game though, dont know why, he seems aware of the need and takes his football seriously.

I have to say it annoys the bejasus out of me when wide men continually knock the ball back or square (not saying that you said "continually", Ted), for me I'd much rather see the width kept in the attack and the man try to beat his defender. Prime example was Lennon in the WC when everytime he either cut it back or played inside without once trying to exploit his main strength and take the fullback on the outside. Having said that, he should be aware if there is a better option on the inside!

Lennon is a headless chicken who gets almost every decision wrong unless he's playing us.

Johnson going on the outside will be on his weaker foot though, as he's always on the right, so his natural instict is almost always to come inside. Usually he shoots when he gets there & so far, rarely scores. Often there are people arriving just to his left who may have an unobstructed shot on goal. Ironically his best bit of play this season imo, was when he did go past his man on the outside & THEN pulled the ball back to DeFoe. That showed he does have the vision to do it.

Yep, I agree. I suppose another reason why he cuts inside - apart from doing so on his stronger foot - is the lack of players in the middle and the fact that he will then have taken himself further away from the lonesome Tevez. Perhaps that's why Mancini gets him to do that??

[Ted Hughes]

I think a lot of the stuff Bobby says is a bit abstract. I think when he talked about scoring he may have meant 'we' must score rather than 'he' must score. They were hardly clear cut scoring chances from a direct shot.

As regards getting players in the box it's true we don't get enough in there but Tevez & SWP were already there & if we compare when Tevez got the ball in the same position 2nd half, he just waited for Vieira to arrive & slotted it through to him. Another option AJ misses time & again for City & England is just playing the ball back or square to the edge of the box for someone arriving late. If he gets that right, he'll be awesome but imo the time to work on it & sort it is now, when he's on top form, rather than waiting & worrying about it in the middle of a bad spell.

Very much agree on working on his weaknesses while on top form.. tbh i would imagine thats what most managers and trainers do anyways, i hope so anyway!

I trust Aj to learn his game though, dont know why, he seems aware of the need and takes his football seriously.

I have to say it annoys the bejasus out of me when wide men continually knock the ball back or square (not saying that you said "continually", Ted), for me I'd much rather see the width kept in the attack and the man try to beat his defender. Prime example was Lennon in the WC when everytime he either cut it back or played inside without once trying to exploit his main strength and take the fullback on the outside. Having said that, he should be aware if there is a better option on the inside!

Lennon is a headless chicken who gets almost every decision wrong unless he's playing us.

Johnson going on the outside will be on his weaker foot though, as he's always on the right, so his natural instict is almost always to come inside. Usually he shoots when he gets there & so far, rarely scores. Often there are people arriving just to his left who may have an unobstructed shot on goal. Ironically his best bit of play this season imo, was when he did go past his man on the outside & THEN pulled the ball back to DeFoe. That showed he does have the vision to do it.

Yep, I agree. I suppose another reason why he cuts inside - apart from doing so on his stronger foot - is the lack of players in the middle and the fact that he will then have taken himself further away from the lonesome Tevez. Perhaps that's why Mancini gets him to do that??

Tbh I don't fully understand why we always have the wide players the wrong way round. I could understand it in the case of Bellamy because he's a goalscorer, so could cut in & score & he can cross with his left anyway, but AJ. SWP & Milner are hardly prolific. I don't understand why we don't see them swap over more often. It only seems to happen on rare occasions yet it would give the oppo a different set of problems to think about.

[getdressedmctavish]

Just two points. 1, its only a year since he was a weedy little noboddy so he's made fantastic progress. 2, agreed he has to sort out his final ball but mainly his shot. If you look at the two best wrong sided wingers in recent years they were Henry and Pires. Both were adept at bending it inside the far post. For the most part Jonno aint getting enough curve on the ball. That's what he needs to work on and when he gets it he will be a world beater.

[brite blu sky]

Just two points. 1, its only a year since he was a weedy little noboddy so he's made fantastic progress. 2, agreed he has to sort out his final ball but mainly his shot. If you look at the two best wrong sided wingers in recent years they were Henry and Pires. Both were adept at bending it inside the far post. For the most part Jonno aint getting enough curve on the ball. That's what he needs to work on and when he gets it he will be a world beater.

AJ has the composure imo and also the attitude to learn his game. If he given instructions then he has to follow them to a large extent but can play around with what he feels is possible or appropriate given the situation. He is 23 i think so he is at the right age to start setting his stall out. He seems to have a decent amount of humility but then is also confident, so for me he seems like he would comply with what he is asked to do but will also attempt things he has been working on to develop his game.

Part of the problem for an old school winger is everyone knows what they are going to try and do and so it is easier to prepare how to deal with it. AJ's advantage is that he has a lot of options and oppo managers and players dont know what he may try at any given time.

However for AJ to become a great player he is going to have to continue to develop all those options. Outside to the line and cross, cut in and inswing it, cut in and shoot, cut in and pass into the area or indeed run straight into the box. That is a lot to work on and despite what he is asked to do i really think AJ is the type of player that looks at the great players in his position and sees stuff he wants to be able to achieve. He has got time on his side and I have a lot of patience to wait and see what he adds to his game as he goes on and as City truly develop into a team.

The idea of an Henry type player though is an interesting one and as he hones his abilities in placing crosses and placing curved shots round the keeper (which he is trying) he may eventually get that extra bit of composure that comes from the confidence of knowing if the defender shows the slightest indecision he only needs 1/4 yd to do something devastating to the oppo. Thats how the fear factor for defences starts to kick in and imo it is important for him to carry on honing all his options at the same time and bit by bit he will gain the time to have more awareness of what to do when depending on who is around.

I also think that top managers have a vision for how they would like players to develop..

[steveo_88]

I agree Beckh*m was a one trick pony but he was a bloody good one to have in their side especially when you had the ability to balance out the wings playing that Welsh guy on the left (when he was half decent!).

But if you follow closely you can pick out OUR problem straight away, lack of a nataural lefty on the left and natural righty on the right. AJ can use both feet but still prefers his left. His crosses with the right aren't as good with the left so regardless of who you have in the middle the final ball will not be as good so long as he plays on the right.

I believe moving Bellamy on has probably helped the team morale but I can't help thinking Mancini has made our side weaker without restrengthening. If David Silva is such a good buy then play AJ on the left in his natural position (he'll still beat anyone) and David Silva on the right. This doesn't immediately solve the lack of height/numbers in the box but your original point was about the quality of deliveries! Yaya, Barry and Milner can all challenge in the air so encourage the centre mids to push on and score. If Mancini continues to play one up front the midfield is going to have to povide goals consistently [Yaya, Barry, Milner and De Jong battling for centre mid neatly pushes Vieira out, fingers crossed :o)].

[Ted Hughes]

The problem with basing Johnson on the left as his main job is that we don't play anything even remotely resembling a conventional striker. Until we do, even if he does put great crosses in they'll be wasted. He should be swappeed over there in parts of games imo though, to create a different problem & so he learns how to play there as well as on the right.

I think Johnson has the potential to plat right, left & centre midfield but the final ball is key. He definitely has the talent to play quality passes but his record so far on actually doing it isn't great. Boro fans would say the same & he was the same for England U21's every time I saw him. He can do it but I was expecting him to be doing it consistently by now, playing at the top level.


Right now is the time to sort it out imo. This is a big season for him & could decide his future.