I doubt that I am the only Liverpool fan worried about Reds boss Kenny Dalglish picking Glen Johnson at left back. I think many of us were glad when Paul Konchesky was put out of his misery when Kenny opted to pick Fabio Aurelio ahead of him for the FA Cup third round tie against Manchester United, but it was surprising to see Johnson take the place of the Brazilian in the following matches against Blackpool and Everton.
Certainly, there was a case to be made that Aurelio couldn’t play three games inside a week after all his injury problems in recent years, but against Everton, I felt the 31 year old would be the best choice and the most natural to play in the position. As I have mentioned in an article yesterday, Martin Kelly’s recent form means the young defender deserves his place in the team, but would it have been a wiser move, perhaps to play Kelly at left back against Blackpool and then replace him with Aurelio for the Merseyside Derby, if you wanted to keep Johnson in the team at all?
With Martin Kelly being praised by Kenny Dalglish after the Everton match, and suggesting that Johnson was “happy” to play left back, it suggests it will be an arrangement that will be in place for the immediate future. So does Glen have the ability to fulfil the role with aplomb?
Continue Reading on Page 2 . . .
Its live fantasy football! Become part of Liverpool v Wolves and play Picklive for FREE. A Free Trial for every reader here
This week it is Liverpool fan Caroline Wozniacki!
————–
CLICK ON THE IMAGE OR HERE TO GET TO THE GALLERY
–
Johnson isnt a left-back, he’s not even a right. I think we should rather play him on the right wing and buy a new left back. Liverpool have agree a fee for Babel to go to Hoffenhein so there will be room for new additions
Kenny should put Johnson out of his misery. The camera got johnson several times shaking his head most expecially after he attempted to cross with his left foot and failed.
Babel on his way out, we wait to c what happens in 2 wks.
Glen Johnson is a very good player, no doubt about that but he cannot defend. Swtiching him from right back to left back won’t improve matters. In fact, his defensive frailties may be further exploited by opposition wingers. For the time being, Aurelio should start at left back until we bring a quality left back such as Taiwo or Coentrao. Martin Kelly should continue at right back and Dalglish should consider playing Johnson further up field on the right of midfield where I believe he will be more effective with his pace, skills and crosses.
I was surprised too. Glen is not that much of a defender, but he’s much faster than Martin. He is also much better in offense than Martin, of course when playing RB. I don’t think Glen played good offensively in last few matches. So many bad passes, I didn’t even see him shoot. Not even once.
So I think, that Kenny should play Glen on the right, Aurelio on the left and when Fabio is not fit (or during the game), substitute him with Kelly (so Kelly would play as a LB)