That about sums it up, if he'd been more dedicated to his football, he'd still be playing for England, under Mancini he was expected to be able to defend from the front, and that was his downfall for me, he couldn't, and James Milner could. Certainly more skilful than Milner, but not as bright, and nowhere near as hard working, and when you are at the very top, you need to do the hard work too.Tim of the Oak said:It is a shame AJ really didn't make it with us (although he had plenty of good games or spells as sub). He clearly has a lot more ability than Milner but without Milner's commitment and discipline.
LoveCity said:Johnson never had a good full 90 minute performance for City from my recollection. His place as an impact sub was fully justified because that was the best way to use him. He's not been very good at Sunderland either except one purple patch when the idea of an England call-up was mooted before he went back to being ordinary.
cleavers said:That about sums it up, if he'd been more dedicated to his football, he'd still be playing for England, under Mancini he was expected to be able to defend from the front, and that was his downfall for me, he couldn't, and James Milner could. Certainly more skilful than Milner, but not as bright, and nowhere near as hard working, and when you are at the very top, you need to do the hard work too.Tim of the Oak said:It is a shame AJ really didn't make it with us (although he had plenty of good games or spells as sub). He clearly has a lot more ability than Milner but without Milner's commitment and discipline.
Not read through the thread so it may have been said, but my first game was on the kippax when we beat Rochdale 4_0 in the league cup 1972.Didsbury Dave said:As I always post in these threads, anyone who doesn't want the shittest club possible at home is misguided.
But I will make an exception for this one because id love us to draw Rochdale away. I'm not even sure we've played them in a competitive game before.
And well before him Keegan did tooHenkeman said:cleavers said:That about sums it up, if he'd been more dedicated to his football, he'd still be playing for England, under Mancini he was expected to be able to defend from the front, and that was his downfall for me, he couldn't, and James Milner could. Certainly more skilful than Milner, but not as bright, and nowhere near as hard working, and when you are at the very top, you need to do the hard work too.Tim of the Oak said:It is a shame AJ really didn't make it with us (although he had plenty of good games or spells as sub). He clearly has a lot more ability than Milner but without Milner's commitment and discipline.
In most sports its not the most skilful who make it to the top, it's the most dedicated who also have a fair bit of skill to begin with, but not necessarily the most. I know he's hardly the most popular here, but Beckham worked his bollocks off to get to where he did, and reaped the rewards for that.
Since leaving City he's disappeared off the football map and even lost his place in Sunderland's team last season.Boro4life said:By giong to man city i think he destroyed his potential he needed to either stay at boro or go elsewhere where hed get played week in week out and not just from the bench so that he go and fulfil his potential when boro fans watched him in the later premiership years and early championship he was fantastic to watch and enjoying his football when he played regularly better than downing in fact.
squirtyflower said:And well before him Keegan did tooHenkeman said:cleavers said:That about sums it up, if he'd been more dedicated to his football, he'd still be playing for England, under Mancini he was expected to be able to defend from the front, and that was his downfall for me, he couldn't, and James Milner could. Certainly more skilful than Milner, but not as bright, and nowhere near as hard working, and when you are at the very top, you need to do the hard work too.
In most sports its not the most skilful who make it to the top, it's the most dedicated who also have a fair bit of skill to begin with, but not necessarily the most. I know he's hardly the most popular here, but Beckham worked his bollocks off to get to where he did, and reaped the rewards for that.