Would Liverpool be better off with Johnson on the wing?

This is just an idea and one i pondered over earlier in the season during our defensive issues.

Does anyone else think the idea of Johnson and Riera as wingers would terrify defences with their dribbling ability? l

This is just an idea and one I pondered over earlier in the season during our defensive issues.

Does anyone else think the idea of Johnson and Riera as a wingers would terrify defences with their his dribbling ability?

Fixed that for you.

I do yes.

I think when Riera is on form he can take a man on sufficiently enough. Just wish we had the money to buy him a right foot.

And Johnson would be a frightening prospect on that wing. Take away the defensive responsibilities and let him loose and defences will be rightly sh*tting themselves.

Fixed that for you.

I do yes.

I think when Riera is on form he can take a man on sufficiently enough. Just wish we had the money to buy him a right foot.

And Johnson would be a frightening prospect on that wing. Take away the defensive responsibilities and let him loose and defences will be rightly sh*tting themselves.

Fixed?

Did i do something wrong? If it's spelling mistakes, oops. I'm absolutely shattered and been working long hours.

EDIT*  

Just seen the edit, definitely need an early night.  

Not overly sure myself - think he's good at what he does at the moment.

He offers something different and an element of surprise at times when getting forward but I'm not sure he would be able to do that throughout a whole match. Might run out of ideas?

It would be fun to try Johnson and Benayoun as the wingers for a game and see how that works, with dropping Gerrard back and putting Aquilani in Gerrard's position.

No is the answer to that, full back and wide right are completely different positions, at no stage in his career has he played this position. Johnson reminds me of Dani Alves.

 Alves started as a right midfielder but didn't excelled till he was pushed back to full back. There is a misconception among people that attacking full backs can play wide midfield they can't, Maicon, Alves, Evra they have nevered played wide midfield in there lives.

The reason for this is when a full back recieves the ball 90% he is facing the opposition he is not been marked he has space to drive onto he can use pace and power when a player plays right midfield he gets the ball a lot of the time facing his own goal with an opposition player on his back, he doesn't have the space to bomb into. He needs skill and savy to create the space.

 I'll guarantee anyone here Johnson would be completely ineffective at right midfield especially with a full back like Carragher who does not overlap. Sorry for getting technical but I'm just sick of our players been played out of position.

It would be fun to try Johnson and Benayoun as the wingers for a game and see how that works, with dropping Gerrard back and putting Aquilani in Gerrard's position.

I think with the Riera and Johnson as wingers we could leave Gerrard in the hole and still use Lucas and Masch as holding midfielders. Our problem is our wingers at present either don't have good enough dribbling ability to go past players. Or if they do, ie Babel and Benayoun, they tend to come inside a lot, making them predictable. Johnson and Riera can hug the line, go past players and deliver crosses with good accuracy. This leaves getting numbers in the box, which has also been an issue all season.

I'm interested to see what Benitez does, given our defensive stability. Skrtel and Agger are putting in some good performances. Carra's delivery from the right back position is awful. But, he does give us that stability and experience at the back.

Will Benitez risk going back to Johnson or try him on the wing? Being as cautious as he appears, it's going to be interesting to see his move on this.  

Sorry for getting technical but I'm just sick of our players been played out of position.
 

No bother, i wondered why he hasn't been used there. Given that Degen has been played here, I'm curious to see if he trys johnson there too. Thanks for the post. Always wondered he isn't used there more often.

......... either don't have good enough dribbling ability to go past players. Or if they do, I.e. Babel and .........

i.e. Babel?

Dribbling ability?

 I'll guarantee anyone here Johnson would be completely ineffective at right midfield especially with a full back like Carragher who does not overlap. Sorry for getting technical but I'm just sick of our players been played out of position.

You really think he would be completley ineffective?

I understand what you are saying. He has never been a winger but he has urgency about him, can dribble and beat a man. As well as being able to put in a quality cross. All attributes in which we are crying out for on the wing at times.

I would give it a shot. Defo, mayaswell?

No is the answer to that, full back and wide right are completely different positions, at no stage in his career has he played this position. Johnson reminds me of Dani Alves.

 Alves started as a right midfielder but didn't excelled till he was pushed back to full back. There is a misconception among people that attacking full backs can play wide midfield they can't, Maicon, Alves, Evra they have nevered played wide midfield in there lives.

The reason for this is when a full back recieves the ball 90% he is facing the opposition he is not been marked he has space to drive onto he can use pace and power when a player plays right midfield he gets the ball a lot of the time facing his own goal with an opposition player on his back, he doesn't have the space to bomb into. He needs skill and savy to create the space.

Agree totally with that, although i wouldn't bet he won't succeed there at all. Has a good game style for it, but right back is where he should be in my opinion.

Keep him at right back! Did anyone see bilic on MOTD2? He brought up a great point of us needing full backs like man ure, where evra and rafael bomb forward! Once johnsons back we have that on the right but not on the left, insua definately doesnt do it enough!

If Johnson played wide he would completely lose that surprise factor he has when he defends for all he is worth and then before you can blink he's in the opposite penalty area sending a cross in or testing the goalie himself,
He can judge when is the opportune time to wander upfield or take up a strategic less advanced role,either way it is a talent that would be missed if he took up a wingers position.

I think the only reason this has even come up is the fact that we haven't found a proper right winger yet.
Kuyt is a workhorse and that's about it. Yossi is class but not a winger, in my opinion. Maxi hasn't done anything significant yet.
Put Johnson on the wing and he'll be picked up by the opposing fullback / defensive midfielders. Play Johnson as right back and a proper winger in front of him, the opposition have a problem. Ok so he is often criticised for leaving a hole at the back but we play every game with 2 defensive midfielders, we don't need everyone defending all of the time.

No is the answer to that, full back and wide right are completely different positions, at no stage in his career has he played this position. Johnson reminds me of Dani Alves.

 Alves started as a right midfielder but didn't excelled till he was pushed back to full back. There is a misconception among people that attacking full backs can play wide midfield they can't, Maicon, Alves, Evra they have nevered played wide midfield in there lives.

The reason for this is when a full back recieves the ball 90% he is facing the opposition he is not been marked he has space to drive onto he can use pace and power when a player plays right midfield he gets the ball a lot of the time facing his own goal with an opposition player on his back, he doesn't have the space to bomb into. He needs skill and savy to create the space.

 I'll guarantee anyone here Johnson would be completely ineffective at right midfield especially with a full back like Carragher who does not overlap. Sorry for getting technical but I'm just sick of our players been played out of position.

Absolutely spot on corbally. Agree with you mate. I too think it would be a mistake playing johnson right mid for the reasons you've already mentioned. 1. Hes never played there. 2. No overlapping full back.

Reply to the first thread: Riera is about as consistent as Babel. He will have one great game then the very next week he will be absolutely awful. Personally i don't think hes good enough due to his poor consistency and although he isn't a out an out winger, id much rather have Yossi there any day of the week.

Johnson is a good player. It's just a matter of 'for the good of the team', isn't it?

He may have shown abilities of a winger but he's done that at Right back. I'd say stick him right back. I wouldn't say he won't excel as a winger but RB is where he's at.

Well there's a good chance he'll get to play on Sunday so let's see how that tumbles.
Who knows the boss might try him wide,can't see it meself but there you go.
Be great to have Glen back we've missed his input but I wonder how Jamie will slot in?

I'd prefer him to stay at right back. I think this is similiar to people wanting Agger at left back.

Attacking from defence is alot different to attacking from midfield.

I think the title of this thread narrows the topic a little.

How about: Would Liverpool be better with Johnson on the wing?

Our defence has been solid the last few games give or take a single mistake against Arsenal . Glen Johnson gets forward alot and leaves gaps at the bacl IMO, put him on the wing and his passing and crossing ability could be a blessing especially with Nando back !

Lucky for us Rafa will never play him on the wing. Johnson is a right back plain and simple, maybe if you want to change the formation and play wing backs I'd say Johnson would be capable of playing wing back.

I'll guarantee anyone here Johnson would be completely ineffective at right midfield especially with a full back like Carragher who does not overlap. Sorry for getting technical but I'm just sick of our players been played out of position.

Did very well for Portsmouth when played in that position, and it probably would work if you had someone like Martin Kelly behind him at right-back.

99% of the time Portsmouth played him at right back, the reason he was on the Premiership team of the season in that position, it wouldn't work but then I'm confident you won't see Rafa playing him there and as Bilic rightly pointed out the other night if Rafa is going to continue playing 2 defensive midfielders he needs attacking full backs and Johnson is as good as anyone in the Premiership in this position.

I wouldn't mind seeing him play a game as a winger, just to see him show the other wingers how it should be done. But he was playing really well in right back before he got injured, so i think that's his best position.

Johnson is and always has been a full back. His ability to get forward and back is one the factors that stand him out from most other full backs. Like Cole or Alves, he is good on the ball, has pace and skill. He can also run like a hare and get back into position. Full backs do not need to be the best at tackling or heading as long as they do not shirk that responsibility.

In todays games full backs are part of an attacking tactic therefore I would play him as a full back every week. If only our left back could do it!!!!!

99% of the time Portsmouth played him at right back, the reason he was on the Premiership team of the season in that position, it wouldn't work but then I'm confident you won't see Rafa playing him there and as Bilic rightly pointed out the other night if Rafa is going to continue playing 2 defensive midfielders he needs attacking full backs and Johnson is as good as anyone in the Premiership in this position.

Remember seeing him playing there a few times, can't remember the Premiership team and don't give a monkeys about it to be honest, I just think it would be a change from seeing soft-arse Derek Kuyt jumping about trying to control a ball on the right-side.

I'd prefer not to see a striker playing there as well but then I don't want a full back playing there either.

Gerrard is the best right midfielder at the club but if Rafa is intent on playing him behind the front man, he should play Maxi there that is Maxis position he has played there nearly 40 times with Argentina. For some strange reason Rafa seems to play him as well out of position on the left.

i.e. Babel?

Dribbling ability?

He can and does go past people. He might look like your aunt Bethel dancing to aggadoo when he does it. But, he can go past players, a quality many of our players lack.

Better than kuyt yes, but I'd prefer to have a proper winger there. Benayoun right, babel left?

I think Johnston could become a winger, but it would take time to mould him into that position.

I'd prefer not to see a striker playing there as well but then I don't want a full back playing there either.

Gerrard is the best right midfielder at the club but if Rafa is intent on playing him behind the front man, he should play Maxi there that is Maxis position he has played there nearly 40 times with Argentina. For some strange reason Rafa seems to play him as well out of position on the left.

Not strange at all Maxi is on the left. Kuyt's on the right. No one is taking his spot in the team until he retires!

With due respect to Glen, I honestly believe he's more of a winger than a defender, not much faults in him being a defender except that he tends to be rather a bit soft at times and tend to to be slow to track back compared to Skrytel, Carra and Agger. Since our defence is doing reasoanbly well of late, no need to reshuffle things at the back while we don't have a natural right winger, why not try him out as a winger till the end of the season. Put Kuyt inside the box, he's no winger and he excels inside the box while there aren't many players in the team that dare to take on the opposing defender one on one.

Id rather see Johnson on the wing than Kuyt to be honest. Kuyt in behind Torres with Gerrard at RM and Benayoun out wide left.
Back line has been our strongest part in the last two months and would rather came in as a winger until his full match sharpness comes back.
That way if he makes a mistake hes further up the pitch and not at our goal mouth.....

Id rather see Johnson on the wing than Kuyt to be honest. Kuyt in behind Torres with Gerrard at RM and Benayoun out wide left.
Back line has been our strongest part in the last two months and would rather came in as a winger until his full match sharpness comes back.
That way if he makes a mistake hes further up the pitch and not at our goal mouth.....

Which wing would you like to see Johnson on if your playing Stevie right and Yossi left?/

I think Johnston could become a winger, but it would take time to mould him into that position.

Johnson would be good to!

Would love to see glen on the wing he looks sensational when bombing forward with very good control and a good shot him .

And if memory serves me right(might be wrong on this)we dont seem to be shipping to many goals since he,s been out,so why not?are current wingers arnt realy setting the world alight .Wenger turned a average winger into a top striker why not rafa turn johnson into a top winger???you never know .....ynwa.

Which wing would you like to see Johnson on if your playing Stevie right and Yossi left?/


Johnson would be good to!

I said Gerrard RM not RWM
Obviously Johnson would be RWM

Johnson Gerrard Mascherano Benayoun

I said Gerrard RM not RWM
Obviously Johnson would be RWM

Johnson Gerrard Mascherano Benayoun

Thats Centre midfield where I come from!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4196830.stm

Thats Centre midfield where I come from!

Well strictly speaking in Rafas formation we have two CDMs but now were being picky

Yes, but I also think we could go to 3 at the back. play 3-5-2 !

Yes, but I also think we could go to 3 at the back. play 3-5-2 !

Crikey not so sure about that mate , we have just started to get it right at the back a change this far into the season could be a disaster.

Ive always thought that Johnson would be more suited to playing on the wing,as defensively he still has room for improvement,the same can be said for Insua!!Then invest in some new FB'S or give the likes of Kelly and Darby a chance to shine.

lets face it, we would all love johnson on the wing, but who would we put at right back??? im just not sure young, inexperienced guys would do any good, but maybe im wrong.....

Part of Johnson's ability as an offensive threat is that he builds up pace coming from the back and on overlaps, and that often times he is beating Midfielders off of the dribble instead of Left Backs. His greatness as an attacking Right Back would be negated as a possibly above-average winger. This would work in a video game, but I'm not so sure about on the pitch.

agreed

Really only one way to find out!!!!!

Rafa, it' over to you!