Michael Johnson

[paulmclaren]

A little known fact for you all. Michael J was a poster on here. He went under the name Vhero.

Ok, whatever Trevor.

[ronk]

It's not actually that rare for young players to miss a season through unusual injuries, I think it's actually more likely for young ones. There are guys like Sturridge who went through long spells on the sidelines but grew out of it. Other players have gone through similar.

Michael Johnson is a 22 year old player with 36 league starts. That's really not bad in the scheme of things. He's been desperately unlucky with his situation but there's every reason to think that he'll hold together. He's never actually been a brittle player, and that will stand to him. There are some players who can barely get through 90 minutes and can't play 3 games a week. Johnson did that sort of stuff, no problem. He played 90 minutes on his debut and hasn't tended to appear off the bench. He made 10 appearances, his first season and was never substituted. His first time being subbed was well into the following season when he picked up a first half knock but was back starting for the next game. He's basically had 2 injuries his entire career. Knees are difficult, with an injury like that you have to take time and wait for it to be 100%.

Down through the years, we've had similar concerns about others: Sturridge, Richards and Onuoha, in particular. Both of them have settled down that situation. Boj is playing away in Italy, we'll always remember him as perpetually broken but it's not a tag that's followed him elsewhere. Other guys have rarely stayed fit for long their entire careers, but still been successful in their own ways. Mills, Reyna, RSC, Bellamy, King, Dyer these are guys who for a mix of reasons haven't been around that often. Sometimes it's structural problems with a particular joint that's never right, sometimes it's just a body that can't hack the pace.

[BobbyJ1956]

There's a young kid with the Washington Nationals baseball team, Stephen Strasburg, who came into the major leagues this season as the best prospect for 20 years. He got injured and the surgery plus recovery time will keep him out for 12 months. But he has time on his side, so does Michael Johnson.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

I'm not saying he won't be any good or I don't like him. Just hate people talking him up when he's done nothing. Expect nothing and be pleasantly suprised. He has been injured for two years.

[kinkylola]

some people prefer to be positive and have hope, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Besides, In the end, if we don't have hope ... what have we got?

[ant london]

I'm not saying he won't be any good or I don't like him. Just hate people talking him up when he's done nothing. Expect nothing and be pleasantly suprised. He has been injured for two years.

In this latest lay off, and even before he came back and played last against Scunny I honestly don't think there has been too much in the way of anyone talking him up. I think even those who have the highest hopes for him are tempering those hopes against the fact that he may just not be up to the job fitness/mobility-wise.

When we were really still desperately lacking quality there was an element of desperation amongst City fans (me included) that Michael Johnson could be the answer to all our prayers.

As I've said before recently, we simply do not need to count on MJ to solve any problems for us. He can be an additional asset to the squad if all goes well. As someone said further up the thread, I'm equally positive that Svennis will have certainly tipped Mancio off as to Michael's qualities. We don't need to rush him and we don't need to take any risks with him.

Michael Johnson has as good a chance as any professional footballer to get back to fitness and form. If he does so, I have no doubt whatsoever that he has a place in the PL and at Manchester City.

I can understand the fact that some people grew frustrated with many of the tales that came out during his layoff under Hughes but bollocks to slagging off our own players. Especially one as potentially valuable as a fit Michael Johnson would be.

[kinkylola]

little bit off topic but that is a quality sig you have there mate ...

I agree with your points as well

[ant london]

little bit off topic but that is a quality sig you have there mate ...

All the work of Mark (Blue Army).....he did a top job didn't he!

[kinkylola]

little bit off topic but that is a quality sig you have there mate ...

All the work of Mark (Blue Army).....he did a top job didn't he!

definitely top work, it's impressive

[Martinez]

It's hard for any player to get in our 1st team now and it's not going to get any easier, for a 22-yearold who's been out injured for about two years it must be a daunting task, perhaps even unrealistic.
It would just be so cool IF he could do it. I guess we're choosing between being a cynic or a romantic in this thread, I'm going for romantic, I think he can do it, why not

[Dubaimancityfan]

The only person who's seen anything of MJ lately is Doug and he has not commented on this thread (unless I missed it).
Doug , are you out there ?

As for whether MJ will ever be back to his form pre injury and fullfil the potential that he had shown, well I don't think anyone can say for sure.
Many potentially brilliant careers were cut short by injuries and this can happen to Michael also. However from the brief glimpse we got of him when he came back early last season and the typical goal he scored, I could see that he still had it and who knows he might still.
The other question is, if he comes back, will he be good enough for the New City with all the talent we have now ? Probably not although I hope I'm wrong as I've always liked MJ and wish him well.

[Alioune DVToure]

What we need to do the minute he's fit is ship him out to a top Championship side for six months. Not necessarily one at the top of the table but a good club like Forest or Derby. If he shines then bring him back into the fold. If he blends in, let him rebuild his career elsewhere if he still has the heart ot do so.

NQDP - He really didn't spend most of his time wandering about the pitch. He was the heartbeat of that Sven team that was still 3rd going into January, sandwiched in between Elano and Hamann. Don't know how or why you've come to that conclusion.

Ashton - He definitely wasn't shit. Pretty idiotic rant.

[Kladze]

What we need to do the minute he's fit is ship him out to a top Championship side for six months. Not necessarily one at the top of the table but a good club like Forest or Derby. If he shines then bring him back into the fold. If he blends in, let him rebuild his career elsewhere if he still has the heart ot do so.

NQDP - He really didn't spend most of his time wandering about the pitch. He was the heartbeat of that Sven team that was still 3rd going into January, sandwiched in between Elano and Hamann. Don't know how or why you've come to that conclusion.

Ashton - He definitely wasn't shit. Pretty idiotic rant.

Don't mention snow though - I did once but I think I got away with it.

[eastlands-lostboy]

Looks like a future Villa signing (MCFC CAST OFF CLUB)

[HeyMark]

Looks like a future Villa signing (MCFC CAST OFF CLUB)

By the same token who will be our next villa acquisition?

That boy albrighton looks like some player

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

What we need to do the minute he's fit is ship him out to a top Championship side for six months. Not necessarily one at the top of the table but a good club like Forest or Derby. If he shines then bring him back into the fold. If he blends in, let him rebuild his career elsewhere if he still has the heart ot do so.

NQDP - He really didn't spend most of his time wandering about the pitch. He was the heartbeat of that Sven team that was still 3rd going into January, sandwiched in between Elano and Hamann. Don't know how or why you've come to that conclusion.
Ashton - He definitely wasn't shit. Pretty idiotic rant.

By watching him.

Moments of brilliance followed by long periods completely out of the game. I never said he was shit. Just that he had bad tendency to drift in and out of the games. Meaning that he was million miles from finished product and needed lot of training and match experience to get there even before his injuries. In fact, I'd say it's debatable whether he would be anywhere near our first team even if everything had gone according to plan.

And some people have compared him to Paul Lake. Laughable. Paul Lake was the real deal who would've been England regular for next decade. And at Michael Johnsons age he had over 100 first team games for us.

[john@staustell]

Bit of a mystery wrapped up in an enigma etc is old MJ.

As NQDP says he didn't dominate games but he has a certain amount of class about him and Bobby seems to think he's worth persevering with, if only to give it a go.

Previously of course he was playing in a pretty poor side, and having Elano next to you is like being a man short. Hamann was good at times, but well past his best.

It will be interesting to see MJ in amongst today's superstars, where he will either thrive or sink!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Michael Johnson was a very talented footballer who seemed to have a very good engine , a great touch , good awareness , could see and make a pass and had an eye for goal. That would be my observation from the brief time he spent playing in the first team. He had not done anything over a long period and it was by no means certain that he would be anything like a superstar.

His first injury was a massive blow and not only did it take a long time to come back from it but also he did let himself go a little which made his comeback even more difficult. I do know from talking to Mark Bowen however that they were very impressed by the talent he showed when coming back and how he seemed to be able to find time to play in the middle of the park. Sadly they never got to find out how this translated into matches before he got injured again.

Now we are close to a return again and this time he does look in much better shape coming back compared to last time.Plus he will be coming back into a fantastic squad.Will he succeed with City I really don't know. The question will only be answered when he starts playing games and starting in the reserves.I watched him in the reserves last time on his comeback and he was miles away from prem standard.That was mostly due to overall fitness though more than anything else. He struggled to get up and down but I am hopeful that it will be different this time.

I don't like to put pressure on him by suggesting that he is/was/will be a world beater but I just hope he gets the chance with a long period free of injury. Going on loan somewhere might be the right move for him but my bet would be that won't happen.He will either show in the reserves that he has the quality or not.

Interesting thought however is that as a player I would expect him to be of more value on the pitch than Patrick Vieira.

[Ted Hughes]

It's true what people are saying; that he drifted in & out of games. It's also true that comparing him to players such as Lake & Bell was laughable as he has few of their attributes, even when fully fit. Imo though, his drifting out of games was likely due to his nagging injury; it got more noticable as the season went on & imo he was quite poor & not the same player towards the end of Sven's period in charge. I was very critical at the time but I now think that was down to fitness.

Doug's comments about him 'getting up & down the pitch' is the key. If he can get that ability, we have a really talented player, if he can't he's got no chance. We shall see.

[sandman]

Interesting thought however is that as a player I would expect him to be of more value on the pitch than Patrick Vieira.

I have just got dirty looks from everyone around me in my office as I spat my drink all over my desk laughing at that.

I really want to see Vieira come good as he obviously weants to carry on playing at a top level but find it a little sad that he just doesnt have the tools for it anymore.