Michael Johnson - 24 Today

[ashton287]

He did score one of my favourite City goals ever (the first one in this youtube clip):

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pFBhDczIAE">YouTube Link</a>

He got injured too soon for us to know whether or not he had what it takes to be a top footballer. I doubt he would be at West Ham today if he'd stayed fit, though. He was quite clearly good enough for the prem at 19-20, and I'm certain he would hva kept on developing if fit.

And a side note: We had a really young and exciting team under Sven - Richards, Onouha, Johnson, Ireland. Could have been the coe of City for many years to come had things developed differently.

I remember that first goal. Good goal but the oppo fell asleep.

Out of the names you list only Richards could and does do it at the top level though. Onouha, the fabled MJ and Ireland just weren't up to it. If they had been they would be in our team today. Micah has been struck by a shit load of injuries but he has come back better because great players aren't just great on the good days. If MJ was good enough he would still be here today along side Micah but he isn't because he isn't good enough.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

See I'm one of the loudest that jump up against this Johnno madness and these posts ate why.

People saying he'd fit perfectly into today's midfield answer this. Was his purple patch anywhere near as impressive as Ireland's?

Does Ireland fit perfectly into today's midfield?

[Green & Blue]

Had huge hopes for him an undoubted talent.At the time when he was coming through at city he was twice the player Ireland was.he just had it naturally i was convinced he was the next gerrard he wasn't just getting praise from city fans he was looking like a great prospect coming through for England.Would love to see him have the chance to play regularly.

[Nigels Tackle]

presumably he's at home tonight celebrating quietly?

[Tokyo Blue]

I am interested to learn why it bothers some City fans so much that some other City fans think Johnno was a good player. It is not that big a deal, is it?

[Pretty Boy Lee]

I am interested to learn why it bothers some City fans so much that some other City fans think Johnno was a good player. It is not that big a deal, is it?

Would you read post after post saying the world was flat and agree for the sake of it?

It's not that I don't think he was any good either, just a million times over hyped and overrated. Does my head in when I see stupid comments like he could be running our midfield based on 5 good games under Sven. We have world class players right now and people think a glimpse of potential 5 years ago matches that.

[Tokyo Blue]

I am interested to learn why it bothers some City fans so much that some other City fans think Johnno was a good player. It is not that big a deal, is it?

Would you read post after post saying the world was flat and agree for the sake of it?

It's not that I don't think he was any good either, just a million times over hyped and overrated. Does my head in when I see stupid comments like he could be running our midfield based on 5 good games under Sven. We have world class players right now and people think a glimpse of potential 5 years ago matches that.

Where have I asked you to agree?

[Swales4ever]

I'd also pick him before I'd pick tevez.

I would pick my nan before tevez!

Johno was a talent, mystery abdominal problem that the doctors couldnt find. He seemed to go off the rails a little and disrespect his body and his responsibilities.

I think a poditive fit michael johnson would have been a huge player for us sadly it will never be.

I just cant get my head around that thinking.You would rather play somebody who would weaken the side and risk losing a game than somebody who would strengthen the side and maybe win a game? Taking it to the ultimate you would rather not win the league than play Tevez!

I understand the feelings about him but I wouldnt go that far.

I just cant get my head around the surprise of a wise man.
we have been leading the pack for 2/3 of the season with no break in continuity, without a tool into the irani pocket and we are gonna win the league without it (him?) as well.
while the whole history of football has plenty of sample of wasted/missed talents because of either phisycal frailties and/or minds weaker than feet, there are very few doubts in my humble opinion that a fit MJ would had fit Mancini's idea of football as Yaya does (up to a certain extent taking into account the difference of athletic powerhorses). MJ had the potential to become the real box to box mid that even England is missing to get top internatlional prizes.

Still I acknowledge that if If my grandmother had the wheels would have been a wheelbarrow.

[BobbyJ1956]

He had class. I saw him score that goal v. Derby, it wasn't just the way he took the ball and hit it with the outside of his boot, the pass from Elano that played him in made me think City had a great partnership in the making. It's mean spirited to call him shite, here's a lad who had a talent and was looking at a successful career, what's happened to him is a bloody shame. With better luck he'd be the best English player City have had in years (Joe Hart excepted.) Happy Birthday, Michael, and many happy returns in more ways than one.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Where have I asked you to agree?

Well what are you asking?

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

Yeah he had class, for two games.

Fact is he couldn't be arsed to put the work in - we shouldn't reward him with this kind of exposure. Michael Johnson is a waster, and should always be viewed as such.

[Swales4ever]

I am interested to learn why it bothers some City fans so much that some other City fans think Johnno was a good player. It is not that big a deal, is it?

Would you read post after post saying the world was flat and agree for the sake of it?

It's not that I don't think he was any good either, just a million times over hyped and overrated. Does my head in when [highlight]I see stupid comments like he could be running our midfield based on 5 good games under Sven[/highlight]. We have world class players right now and people think a glimpse of potential 5 years ago matches that.

well I saw 2 years of comments and gigabytes of threads crying Steven Ireland would have been the ultimate blend of Lampard and Gerrard and would have lead Arse or Chelsky or even Rags to success if sold...
so what?

[Pretty Boy Lee]

well I saw 2 years of comments and gigabytes of threads crying Steven Ireland would have been the ultimate blend of Lampard and Gerrard and would have lead Arse or Chelsky or even Rags to success if sold...
so what?

Mj has been gone 5 years and this thread is still going TODAY numpty.

[halnone]

MJ never goes away...

[mr_nool]

He did score one of my favourite City goals ever (the first one in this youtube clip):

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pFBhDczIAE">YouTube Link</a>

He got injured too soon for us to know whether or not he had what it takes to be a top footballer. I doubt he would be at West Ham today if he'd stayed fit, though. He was quite clearly good enough for the prem at 19-20, and I'm certain he would hva kept on developing if fit.

And a side note: We had a really young and exciting team under Sven - Richards, Onouha, Johnson, Ireland. Could have been the coe of City for many years to come had things developed differently.

I remember that first goal. Good goal but the oppo fell asleep.

Out of the names you list only Richards could and does do it at the top level though. Onouha, the fabled MJ and Ireland just weren't up to it. If they had been they would be in our team today. Micah has been struck by a shit load of injuries but he has come back better because great players aren't just great on the good days. If MJ was good enough he would still be here today along side Micah but he isn't because he isn't good enough.

With "if things had developed differently" I was more thinking of the take over not happening and City having to keep relying on the same core of youngsters. I think they could all have been an important part of a mid table City side.

[Ted Hughes]

See I'm one of the loudest that jump up against this Johnno madness and these posts ate why.

People saying he'd fit perfectly into today's midfield answer this. Was his purple patch anywhere near as impressive as Ireland's?

Does Ireland fit perfectly into today's midfield?

If Ireland was the 'Superman' player we saw for one season, he is the absolute dream player we would need to complete our midfield, so a resounding 'yes' to that. Both he & Johnson, at their best, were quality. Ireland continued further before going to shit wheras Johnson burned out earlier, but at one stage, Johnson was rated as a much better prospect than Ireland.

When Elano was at his best, he was world class. At that time, Johnson's game went up 100% because he had quality to work with. Both of them, in that period, would get in our present squad. 3 months later, both were a waste of space.

[Swales4ever]

See I'm one of the loudest that jump up against this Johnno madness and these posts ate why.

People saying he'd fit perfectly into today's midfield answer this. Was his purple patch anywhere near as impressive as Ireland's?

Does Ireland fit perfectly into today's midfield?

If Ireland was the 'Superman' player we saw for one season, he is the absolute dream player we would need to complete our midfield, so a resounding 'yes' to that. Both he & Johnson, at their best, were quality. Ireland continued further before going to shit wheras Johnson burned out earlier, but at one stage, Johnson was rated as a much better prospect than Ireland.

When Elano was at his best, he was world class. At that time, Johnson's game went up 100% because he had quality to work with. Both of them, in that period, would get in our present squad. 3 months later, both were a waste of space.

Not so sure a phisicaly fit Johnson would be waste of space alongside Silva or Pizarro. Sure as hell You can see parallelisms to Your indisputable argument.
I can also see where You come from with "waste of space"... I reckon even the pragmatic approach of Bob, would have taken a completely fit MJ into serious account.

[guv111]

At least Stephen Ireland had a good half a season: the same can't be said for MJ.

Waste of space. I have no idea why he's still a City player. He ought to do the decent thing and retire.

[Spurge]

well I saw 2 years of comments and gigabytes of threads crying Steven Ireland would have been the ultimate blend of Lampard and Gerrard and would have lead Arse or Chelsky or even Rags to success if sold...
so what?

Mj has been gone 5 years and this thread is still going TODAY numpty.

Which in itself may say something about his ability.

The bottom line is that things went wrong, great talent but as things went wrong so soon most of it was unfulfilled potential rather than ability alone.

The mix of injury and perceived lack of effort/self discipline in dealing with stuff is an interesting one. A lot of people are quick to say he pissed it away etc. I suspect for a young lad who had broken into the first team in the way he did , receiving all the plaudits he did when so young and then see the opportunity beginning to falter is a difficult one to deal with psychologically. Did he get the support required, was he suffering depression etc etc.

Who really knows, the on'y thing we do know is the opportunity which presented itself has well and truly gone. To get so worked up about it is also quite strange unless you are MJ of course.

We still talk of Colin Bell and Richard Edghill after 'all this time' - does that bother you as well?

[Socrates]

well I saw 2 years of comments and gigabytes of threads crying Steven Ireland would have been the ultimate blend of Lampard and Gerrard and would have lead Arse or Chelsky or even Rags to success if sold...
so what?

Mj has been gone 5 years and this thread is still going TODAY numpty.

Which in itself may say something about his ability.

The bottom line is that things went wrong, great talent but as things went wrong so soon most of it was unfulfilled potential rather than ability alone.

The mix of injury and perceived lack of effort/self discipline in dealing with stuff is an interesting one. A lot of people are quick to say he pissed it away etc. I suspect for a young lad who had broken into the first team in the way he did , receiving all the plaudits he did when so young and then see the opportunity beginning to falter is a difficult one to deal with psychologically. Did he get the support required, was he suffering depression etc etc.

Who really knows, the on'y thing we do know is the opportunity which presented itself has well and truly gone. To get so worked up about it is also quite strange unless you are MJ of course.

We still talk of Colin Bell and Richard Edghill after 'all this time' - does that bother you as well?

Well said Spurge, do we really need to see such vitriol every time MJ's name is mentioned?