Men's International Matches March-April 2023 ( senior and U21)

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This discussion was created from comments split from: AEK LARNACA (H) THURS MARCH 16th 8PM ...PART 2.

Comments

  • IronHerbIronHerb
    https://www.whufc.com/news/johnson-named-england-u21-squad-euro-warm-ups

    Johnson called up to the England U21's. 👏
  • HamstewHamstew
    edited March 17
    I'm shocked by that
  • SlackerSlacker
    One bad game doesn’t make a bad player.
  • MrsGreyMrsGrey
    https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Mar/17/england-mens-under-21s-squad-named-to-play-france-croatia-leicester-fulham-20231603

    He's fairly well established as a PL player, so imo is playing at a higher standard than many of the others. Even if he's not setting the PL alight.
  • HamstewHamstew
    edited March 17
    He's not bad and it hasn't been one game. Imo he isnt Prem quality.
  • OutcastLondonerOutcastLondoner
    He's going through a rough patch but when we speak about prem quality, I'm not sure I see loads of good right backs in the league. Pretty much all of them have deficiencies in either attack or defence, even those among the best like Trent. I don't know how many I can look at in the league and say I definitely want them over Johnson (or Coufal). So what is prem quality?
  • buffybegoodbuffybegood
    Until the last couple of games I thought he had the making of an ok RB for us, maybe not an automatic first choice unless he upped his game going forward, but a more than adequate squad player given his versatility.

    Obviously he had an absolute shocker against Brighton, but I wonder if something has gone on behind the scenes at the tail end of last year as he'd not really been seen for quite a while. He got caught out once or twice last night but obviously had an easier time once they were reduced to 10 men. Must admit I'm still disappointed we couldn't keep Ashby here though.
  • HamstewHamstew
    edited March 17
    Yeah maybe I'm being harsh. But for me he lacks too many qualities for his position. He's very slow and has no final ball in him. But even if he's having a poor run of form he shouldn't be called up to the international squad, unless it is because of experience or injuries.
    But then looking at Gareth's squad I'm not surprised.
  • OldCastleSwiftOldCastleSwift
    Hamstew said:

    Yeah maybe I'm being harsh. But for me he lacks too many qualities for his position. He's very slow and has no final ball in him. But even if he's having a poor run of form he shouldn't be called up to the international squad, unless it is because of experience or injuries.
    But then looking at Gareth's squad I'm not surprised.

    I don't think you're being harsh. He has been a good defensive full back for us; his deficiencies up until recently have been in the final third, but that's such an important part of a modern fullback's game. I see Alexander-Arnold mentioned; he's a terrible defender at this level, but does at least offer a threat further forward.

    The problem with Johnson is that this season he's been defensively poor too, IMO. To be fair, he has been played at RB, LB, CB and WB in a struggling team, so he's never had a consistent run in one position, which I think is something that has affected Kehrer's form too.

    I like him, but I don't think he has enough in his locker to be a long term solution in a team that says it's aspiring to be challenging the top six more regularly. Obviously a good option to have in the squad, but I'd be disappointed if we weren't looking to upgrade in the summer.
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