DontLookBackInAnger said:
Johnson's biggest issue is that Mancini wants him to play as a wrong sided winger, while in that role he does chip in with more than the odd goal(for mins played), his overall play at times can be disappointing. Indeed the thoery behind the whole is they provide more goals less crosses, something that is very much true in this case.
Long term the whole thing is something of a problem, because while Johnson is "only" a squad player, he is also our only winger and when teams set up like QPR did last game of the season(simply defending the top side of the 18 yard box)we often struggle to break them down. We are crying out for a player that has pace to burn(something Johnson lacks)and can handle playing wrong sided(something Mancini favours).
As a result of the above I really don't see him here much longer, it's not that I don't think he can "make it" I simply don't think he can make it with us, unless we change the whole way we play and given our success over the last two seasons, that seems unlikely.
While on the subject, for my money I have always felt if your going to play that wrong footed role, you are much better served using a fast striker anyway(something right now we also lack), wingers tend to be very one footed when it comes to crossing and as Johnson proves the amount of "good" right footed crosses he puts in through the course of one season can be counted on one hand.
Theory is that playing on the same flank as your feet means that you must be a pacy, fast winger, eg. Bale, Valencia, Walcott, Lennon...
Whereas playing on the opposite flank of your foot, means that you are a tricky, clever winger, eg. Robben, Ribery, Messi, Nani, Ronaldo...
Johnson's not the fastest winger, but at his last best, he was a clever, dangerous winger cutting in between defenders, and getting the occassional goal.
Also, the reason Mancini employs opposite foot wingers was to keep the midfield narrow, while the full backs provide width.
While I agree that we need wide wingers like Bale, I don't, and never will concur with the statement that AJ performs better on the left. The reason AJ has been getting the slate was because he has lost his ability to beat defenders, which is what he based his football around.
AJ has NEVER been a crossing winger. There are CROSSING wingers out there - Bale, Valencia, etc who build their play around beating a man and crossing.
As much as I hate to say it, AJ's mould is much more similar to Messi, albeit without the tremendous technical ability, but AJ's more about beating a man and getting into those dangerous areas, opening spaces and worrying defenders.
