If you’re a football fan, you are definitely a fan of Glen Johnson. That is, if you’re a fan of a team that rivals Liverpool. If you don’t know what Liverpool fans think about Glen Johnson, this little write-up should help you grasp the love (or lack there-of) they have for him.
To quickly summarize Liverpool fans absolute disdain for Johnson, he simply is good at nothing. He cheaply loses possession in key areas of the pitch, and then casually jogs back in a fashion that tries to fool the audience into thinking somebody else had lost the ball. While losing the ball is one problem, Johnson also lacks the basic ability to defend. All in all? No defending and no attack is what you get from him. If you want a greater explanation, read my earlier piece about him.
To the happiness of everyone at Merseyside, times are changing. The signing of Alberto Moreno from Sevilla signifies the beginning of the end for Glen Johnson. With youngsters Javier Manquillo, Jon Flanagan, the experienced Jose Enrique, as well as the earlier mentioned Moreno already onboard, Johnson’s dull performances are set to leave him on the bench soon enough.
Javier Manquillo was fantastic against Southampton where he was tasked with the job of covering the slippery Dusan Tadic. When Tadic was not successful against Manquillo, he switched wings where he came face to face with Johnson. Tadic definitely won that battle as Southampton leveled the game through his pass. Manquillo was still left off the line up against Manchester City, as Brendan Rodgers may have wanted experience amongst his fullbacks instead of playing two inexperienced fullbacks (in Moreno and Manquillo).
The supremely talented and quick left-back, Moreno, was a long time target for Liverpool. At the tender age of 22, Moreno was an integral part of the Sevilla team that won the Europa League. After being signed by Liverpool, it only took him a few days to enter the starting eleven. While he was maybe at fault for a goal against the defending champions, he looked good in his first start for Liverpool against top opposition.
Jon Flanagan was a revealation for Liverpool last season when he stepped into the left-back role when Enrique went down with injury. Playing against top oppositions, Flanagan looked at home. He even capped off his wonderful season with a stunning volley against Tottenham Hotspurs. At just age 21, time is on his side as he attempts to cement his place in the Reds’ first team.
With age and skill on their side, Javier Manquillo, Jon Flanagan, and Alberto Moreno are poised to snatch the first choice fullback positions from Enrique and Johnson. Glen Johnson’s tricky contract situation may also be solved due to his absolutely woeful play and the emergence of these young players.
What is for sure is that Merseysiders will not have to continue to watch Glen Johnson. His lack of heart and desire will be a trait that everyone in Liverpool will love to see on the bench. I would personally prefer to see him in the director’s suite.
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