ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Controversy did for Johnson

As a long-term Crystal Palace supporter, I have always had a soft spot Andrew Johnson and have continued to follow his career since he moved to Goodison. At the time of his transfer I wrote to you to say that you could expect to be frustrated by his tendancy to score in five games on the trot and then go a dozen without finding the net. I also said that Andrew thrived on a service which saw the ball played along the ground about five yards in front of him.

Sadly my first prediction has come true but his cause has not been helped by team tactics which often see high balls aimed at him at a great rate of knots and his increasing tendancy to take up wide positions. However, I am convinced that the major cause of him `losing the knack` is the Wenger-inspired allegations of diving which blew up into a national storm before Keith Hackett`s intervention to disprove them.

I watch all Everton games on Sky re-play (you think your football`s bad, you should see what we endure!) and, since midway through last season, Andrew has displayed a strange reluctance to get in the box but when there has seemed intent on staying up-right rather than `doing what comes naturally`. Now this may be commendable to some but on many occasions he has virtually defied gravity to stay on his feet ? as if to prove he`s a totally genuine player, which we all know anyway!

I have no knowledge of the interaction between Andrew and his manager but if I was Moyes I would be screaming at him to get back to his old syle of getting into the box as often as possible and taking on all comers. If he gets clattered ? as he so often will ? then so be it, it`s up to the ref to decide if the challenge was legal or otherwise and not the player`s responsibility to ride it just to prove `he`s clean`.

From what I know of the man, Johnson is a sensitive soul and a model professional but the time has come for your manager to `get him back to basics`.
Glen Turner, Croydon Posted 28/09/2007 at 09:00:12

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Michael Kenrick

Food for thought there, Glen. Thanks for that insight.

John Holmes
1 Posted 28/09/2007 at 14:49:06

Have to say I completely agree with you Glen. Johnson has never been the same player since those hypocritical allegations from Wenger, a man who, judging by the fact all his players do it, coaches people to trip themselves, or kick defenders as they run past them to win penalties.

Johnson’s strength was direct running into the penalty area and committing players to tackles, sometimes he got through, often he was tackled but most often he was knocked down, fairly or unfairly. He needs to get back to that. I never thought he was a diver, he went down easily at times but there’s a big difference between that and the kind of deliberate cheating you see from Ronaldo, Ashley Cole, Gerrard, Diouf etc. Especially when we’re talking about a fairly lightweight, quick player.

Nick Entwistle
2 Posted 28/09/2007 at 15:14:05

"It’s up to the ref to decide if the challenge was legal or otherwise and not the player’s responsibility to ride it just to prove ’he’s clean’.

Fuck sake, if he can ’ride it’ it is a clean challenge. And the ref’s decision shouldn’t be swayed by Andy’s ability to fall over.

It annoys me even more when former pros say (about players in general) things like ’he could have gone down there and get a penalty, but he was too honest’

Ben Thorley
3 Posted 28/09/2007 at 16:16:35

Whilst I share your perception of AJ’s demise as a goalscorer,it is not borne out by hard facts.Whilst he certainly got more penalties awarded before the Wenger allegations,he has only ever scored ten goals for Everton (inc 2 pens)-five before the bust up and five afterwards.
I am beginning to think that defenders are encouraged to push him out wide where his control and crossing weaknesses mean he causes little damage.

Neil
4 Posted 28/09/2007 at 17:17:06

I feel sorry for AJ but the immediate future for Everton up front appears to be the Yak and Mac.