Michael Johnson successfully completing a back-pass from the penalty spot against FC Midgetland.
Astonishingly, Michael Johnson has managed to complete an entire interview (and a half of football) without picking up another season-ending injury, playing forty-five minutes in the Elite Squad's 4-0 win over Rochdale.
The 22 stone year-old midfielder has not started a game for the club since a 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light back in September 2008 — lining-up along side world-class talents such as a Tal Ben Haim and Gelson Fernandes.
"It was good to be out there. It has been too long as it has been over a year since my last game."
"I felt good, although a bit rusty at times. Fitness-wise, I am there or thereabouts," he added, before skolling his pint to get one more in before the teams came out for the second half.
What happens next is anybody's guess. The kid has ability, but is he good enough to get us where we're going, even on the off-chance he regains full fitness?
The tub-thumping, Rag-hating, "Adam Johnson should start every game" faction will continue to compare him to the great Colin Bell based on a couple of goals three seasons ago — some have even gone so far as suggest he's adequate cover for David Silva. But with the several gazillion pounds of talent the bench this season, he'll be doing well to make more appearances than Stuart Taylor.
A loan to a team in the 'Lekkie Leagues, such as Preston or Leicester, would be ideal for all parties.
On a not completely unrelated theme, Roque Santa Cruz is going to have to scoot up a bit on the treatment table to make room for Mario Balotelli, who is set to miss yet another month of football with knee-ouch. So that'll be another month of having his picture taken with some tandoori-basted, fake-norked floozy before doing one back to Milan, then.
And people wonder why the kid doesn't smile?
dry humour to say the least
ReplyDeleteWow, such unbridled negativity disguising some otherwise reasonable points. I don't think it's humourless to say that I'm not entirely sure of the point of this article.
ReplyDeleteYou're a bit of a 'cock' really mate.
ReplyDeleteMichael Johnson stacked on the weight when on a course of steroid treatment for his hip problem. I actually watch the Academy and the EDS and have done so for years. it's entertaining football and good to see the boys coming through and trying to spot the winners and losers. I spotted Nedum, Ireland, Shuan and Micah early and was right. Spotted Sturridge, Nimely and Weiss early and the jury's still out on them. I spotted Flood, Evans and Croft and was wrong; I decided early that Boyata would never make a pro footballer and 12 months later had to eat my words and never rated Joey Barton and was proved wrong there too. The point of this is that I don't claim perfect 20/20 hindsight and am not always right, but I watch these players and watched them develop and in my opinion Michael Johnson was the finest prospect that I have seen come through the Academy. He has had a great deal of misfortune and he has fought back every time and I for one admire that and wish him all the best. I do not appreciate smug and sneering comments such as those you made in this article.
Are you a red in disguise.
ReplyDeleteMany players would have given up in MJs place and think he deserves a lot of support for battling through to get back where he is now.