Once again Andy Johnson comes under scrutiny ! There is nothing wrong with Andy Johnson but there is something severely wrong with the service he is receiving. Time after time we hoof the ball up to him expecting him to outjump much larger defenders. And time after time he fails to do so. Hardly surprising !
I feel confident that as soon as Andy Johnson is given the correct service, along the ground, to feet, and not towards the corner flag, then the goals will come.
I also suspect that he may be getting fed up running his blood to water every game with not so much as a sniff of the goal mouth where he would undoubtedly score a few.
Lay off Andy Johnson !

Although AJ isn’t my favourite player I"ve always admired his effort and determination to keep running into impossible situations. What he lacks in subtlety he makes up with perserverence. Two recent incidents in the Premier League sum this up perfectly - the miss against Reading and the goal against Wigan.

But there is no place for sentimentality in football at this level (at least there shouldn’t be at Everton Football Club). Initially his signing gave us the mobility the previous record signing did not. And that was fine at the time but we are a different proposition now.

Yakubu is unlike anything I’ve seen in a Blue shirt, and Vic and Vaughn are developing well. Although we have a way to go yet (and the unavailability of certain players and corresponding diminished level of play recently shows us just how far), our style of play has significantly evolved thanks to an increase in the quality of recent acquisitions.

Having said that, I think it would be unwise to off-load AJ at the moment because he still has something to offer. If Yakubu is injured or otherwise unavailable, I doubt that Vic or Vaughn are quite at the level to thankless ly lead the line consistently week in week out (or even mid-week in mid-week out).

If AJ is offloaded we cannot replace like quality with like quality. We seem to be heading in the right direction. Yakubu is better than AJ who is better than Beattie. Pienaar and Fernandes add to Cahill, Arteta and Osman’s abilities. Lescott, Jagielka and Baines (when fit) have improved the high standard required at the back.

Sure Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea currently have greater depth and overall quality, but I can’t accept that they have a divine right to dominate the League. And if parting with AJ is another step towards bridging that gap, then I’m all for it.

Whilst Andy has a woeful first touch, given the correct service he is capable of scoring a good number of goals in the premier league. The problem Andy has, is that players like Cahill and Osman, our so called ’attacking midfielders’ are unable to supply him the ammunition. I can only recall Manny’s pass against Spurs, along the floor, defence splitting and to his feet, as the type of ball you can expect him to do something with. On that occasion he didnt, but as John indicates, I think the finger of scrutiny needs to be pointed at whats going on behind him and sadly the answer to that, is not a lot.

WHATS HIS GOAL TO GAME RATIO 20 in 60 odd roughly 1 in 3 or so sounds about right to me.

So why are we slating him is it because hes lazy?? maybes hes not quick enough?? maybe he dosent take all the chances created for him by his team mates?? FFS this is boring now change the subject shit thread move on !!!

But while we are on the subject phil Mcavoy who do you suggest we buy instead with all the millions we have i appreciate a thread when theres a topic to discuss but to write oooh look everyone look at this article it explains everything about why johnson is not good enough ffs piss off !!

I feel sorry for Johnson, as when we had that purple patch of everyone playing well and passing the ball beautifully, he was out injured. He comes back and we start hoofing the ball to a five foot none target man!!!!

Give him time and a chance to play in a full strength side with the Yak and he will score again and I hope often. The word will always pop up when talking of Johnson this season.....service, or unfortunately the lack of it at the moment.

Give him time, I doubt he will disappoint (Well the majority will not be disappointed but some are never happy).

I think that AJ definitely has a part to play in the squad - but shouldn’t necessarily be first choice. My preference up front (if we’re playing 4-4-2) would be Yakubu and Vaughan. I think those two guys bring you enough weapons to take the game to the opposition. If that doesn’t work? Bring on either AJ for pace, or Anichebe for power.

Philip I do see your point and it is frustrating for me that Andy Johnson isnt hitting the net as much as his price tag would suggest he should.

But John is right on this one and I have been saying this everytime Johnson has played this season.

Here is where I think the problem is, we have 3 other strikers who are good in the air and can hold the ball up from a long ball from our defenders. It seems to me that Moyes is building the team around the Yak / Vic type player up front allowing the skillful midfeilders to come into the game. We dont have that player who splits the defence open with a killer pass through the middle (even though i think Arteta is good enough to do this, he doesnt) .

So its almost as if our team is programmed to ’get it up there’. My concern is that Johnson isnt this type of player so why dont the team change its approach. Johnson is a very good striker and I am glad we have him rather than anyone else, I just think Moyes needs to use him more effectivly.

John Andrews, you are spot on pal.

It’s starting to get on my tits all this "we’ve out-grown AJ" bollocks. The service that has been on offer to him of late, particularly with little Stevie P away on duty, has been nothing short of awful. Playing Tottenham, we hoofed the ball forward in the air and asked the little mite to win headers against the colossal Honey Monster, Tom Huddlestone.

Granted he should have scored against Spurs and Reading, but to claim that we have progressed beyond a player of his quality is ludicrous in my opinion. If you play the ball to his feet, if we get him playing on the shoulder and utilising his boundless energy and sharp pace, then and only then will you see the Andy Johnson who led the line single-handedly and scored 12-15 goals for an otherwise poor Palace team a couple of years back.

As comparable evidence, in a 4-4-2 Cahill is limited and in all honesty is largely ineffectual. However, play to his strengths in a 4-5-1 and on his day there isn’t a squad in the land who wouldn’t include him.

Johnson is very much a confidence player in the mould of Owen, and as such when he gets 1 or 2 the likelihood is that he will go on to score 6 in 8 or 9 in 12. Give a lad who gives his all week in week out for th team a bit of credit and more importantly the opportunity and time to rediscover his instinct.

I’m getting more than a bit fed up with these "lazy" mailings. Half the story to support a dubious point. You hear it all the time down the Pub, but I expect a bit better on TW.

The blog referred to as "saying it all" says nothing of the sort. In fact it was pure snobbery. "We’ve outgrown Johnson". Get over yourself ! Everton have done nothing yet. Steady progress under Moyes has seen us become a top six side and that’s it so far. I might take the point the first time we win the Prem League.

AJ has led the line selflessly for this Club over the last few years. Delighted that Moyes took a risk on him whilst others dithered he has repaid us in spades with passion, commitment and not least goals. He signed a new 5 year deal which was as much about his love for the Club (and it’s supporters by the way) as it was about money.

I think AJ has been excellent this season. He’s played with an ankle injury for at least two months then had an op and then did extra training; paying for a coach out of his own pocket to get his pace back. It worked and he has defenders ragged again.

The lad has none of the usual avenues open to forwards for releasing the pressure on himself; players are allowed to foul him now with impunity as refs have fallen for the propaganda surrrounding his "diving" (Bollocks !)

In addition, the service to AJ is quite often appalling and he spends whole games chasing balls into the corner flag or trying to bring a ball down with his back to goal. He gets maybe one or two chances in a game if he’s lucky and usually it’s the players around him who get the goals generated from space he creates. How many assists ? Osman’s goal in Norway was a team effort par excellence with AJ playing a full part. Much as it was a great run from Vic for his goal, it was on the back of AJ having run defenders into the ground for the previous 80 minutes. Whilst he’s on the pitch defenders are scared witless by his pace and that alone means they commit less players forward which can give Everton an edge.

Do you see him hide in games ? No. Do you see him give less than 100% ? No. Does he score goals ? Yes. 1 in 3 is not bad and given the right service it will get better.

Football is a about having a strong squad these days. Each member of that squad brings something different to the table. Some are better than others of course. However, to say AJ is somehow past his sell by date is both arrogant and naive in equal measure. If the team continue to perform in the top six at worst and the top 4 at best over the next few seasons then AJ will have played his part in no small measure.

Spot on Steve Guy.

The amount of times the clueless have accused AJ of"running around like a headless chicken"....????

The guy pulls defenders all over the place with his selfless workrate and creates space between the centre backs for others...
This in turn tires defenders..mentally as well as physically..and allows impact players such as Vaughn and Anicibe to look good...Hence the reason Victor and James look average when they start games..but world beaters when given 45, 20 or 15 mins...

He also compliments Yakubu?s more"languid" approach...

Yes we have definately progressed under DM, but we havent yet reached a level were we are too good for Andrew Johnson.

Andy Johnson is a fucking key player for us..He was last season and he is this season..I am sorry for the language but sometimes people make you swear..For Gods sake you try playing for a quarter of the season with a troubled ankle and then have an operation in October and see how you feel..AJ has not played at 100% for much of this season and thats not through his own fault, even last season he scored 12 goals and played less than 35 games..Are these the same people who were desperate to sign Nugent and Alan Smith in the summer?. I would rather have AJ than most English strikers on show at the moment and until something genuinly better does come up most likey from abroad unless you want to pay 7 million for Leroy Lita or 12 million for Peter Crouch then I will be more than pleased to have AJ at Everton..Support the players.

He missed sitters against Spurs and Reading that were ’along the ground’ and ’played infront of him’.

He’s scared of shooting, has a weak shot when he does shoot, and gets muscled off the ball far too easily. His blistering pace which used to worry defenders only seems to come into use now when he’s running back to tackle...he doesn’t take players on anymore. Deffo a confidence thing, but how much longer is it gonna go on for and when will we see the AJ of the 3-0 derby win and the spurs away win before it?

Johnson is still a useful player, he lacks confidence at the moment and needs goals badly and the more games he plays the more likely he is to get the first few goals that can raise his confidence and end product. Admittedly he has missed some very good chances this season, gets pushed off the ball too easily and his first touch often lets him down, but I firmly believe he is much more effective away from home where there is space in behind to use his pace (e.g. Wigan) and he can play on the last man whereas at home teams defend much deeper and he sometimes struggles to get in the game as he can’t hold the ball up like Yakubu, Anichebe or Vaughan. Even though he often played alone upfront when we done well last season, I feel he needs physical support up there with him to win the headers and hold the ball up and then he can feed off this kind of target man gettin onto the second ball. I hope he starts scoring agen, but we shud get the Yak back in there too.

AJ is a really good player for us. He works hard and never lets his head go down if he’s not banging the goals in. He has his limitations, but all players do unless you can afford to buy Henry. He can score goals, given the right situation. He bagged 12 or so last season with a couple of injuries to contend with

Up front on his own, he WILL NEVER get many goals. I have said it before on here and I will keep repeating it, in a 2 man strike-force, I feel confident that AJ will shine for us.

I see him as the perfect foil for Yakubu, the little runner alongside the big man who can make the ball stick. His mobility will also create space for the Yak to work his magic.

Once we get Pienaar and Arteta back it’ll be interesting to see whether Moyes will give 4-4-2 a serious go.

Just watched the highlights on EvertonTV and I thought that AJ did bloody well for us last night. He created the first chance for Osman and forced the opening for the first goal. He constantly gave Brann something to think about and it just reinforced my view that the combination of AJ and Yak up front, with their different strengths would be a really good partnership.

I’m as frustrated as anyone about AJ, but I honestly think he is only a ’hair’s-breadth’ away from getting back to his best. He’s quick and tireless in his work-rate and I think his first touch reflects a slight lack of anxiety and confidence than a fundamental lack of ball skills. I also think he has been personally hurt by the slights over his penalty box tumbles (anyone see what rubbish a Daily Mail poll is currently highlighting!)

Even at this time he is an invaluable squad player and I don’t see us getting anyone better in exchange for the transfer fee he would probably command. At his best I think he is a good striker who enhances our first team.

As has already been mentioned, the key to AJ is the service he gets. If he gets hoof balls to chase into the corners or towards the flanks or speculative lobs into the box (against tall defenders) we are just not using him correctly. Steve McClaren did the same when he gave AJ an England run (as I recall David Moyes criticised the way McClaren used him then as well).

In a 4-5-1 formation you can’t use him (as shown by the Chelsea game) unless we have our full 1st team midfield (Our ’Tater and Peanuts included) and we work the ball forward steadily (which is how to use a 5-man midfield). If it’s hoofball time, then a) AJ can’t hold up a ball as well as Yak or Victor, b) He won’t win any headers anyway, and c) The attacking midfield isn’t close enough, i.e. Tiny Tim.

In a 4-4-2 I honesty think that Yak and AJ could form a ’Big-Small’ pairing that can open up defences, given active midfield and wing-back support.

Perhaps what I’m not sure about is whether 4-4-2 with AJ but not Tiny, is more effective in attack than 4-5-1 with Yak and Tiny in close support. Perhaps the next few games may clarify that issue.

In my opinion we got rid of the correct ’spare’ striker with Faddy last month. We now have 4 good strikers and while it must be frustrating on Victor and Vaughny not to be used as much as they would like, I think that gives us variety and injury cover and future potential.

The two young lads have great potential, but I’m still not convinced they have yet proved they can be first team regulars quite yet. Victor’s impact work (as a UEFA sub) has been superb, but in games he has started he still has some way to go - but it’ll happen soon enough (it is encouraging to hear Yak’s recent training ground comments on his progress). Vaughn has looked useful, but again I think a bit more experience and full appearances are needed to confirm for me he’s the future (and hopefully not a Jeffers). I also worry about how prone he’s been to injuries.

Add to all this the possibility (hopefully not the case) that Yak looks elsewhere this summer after recent AWOL events (is he hurting inside? What if Chelsea or Man U come knocking?) - I really think talk of AJ being moved on is way premature!

I can’t wait to see a fully fit first team out in the next few weeks, which has the skill to provide a decent service to the likes of AJ. At that stage I’ll decide if the club has outgrown him or not. However, as we haven’t won anything yet (including a UEFA or CL spot for next year) let’s not even talk like that. COYBs

We haven’t done anything yet to suggest we have out grown AJ or any other player. There is still a lot of work to be done and I don’t think we should be getting ahead of ourselves. Certainly my preferred set up is five in midfield and Yak up top. But AJ is a valuable member of the squad and with the right service can still score plenty of goals for us.

AJ has the following attributes:

1) Speed - he is one of the fastest in the division.

2) Workrate - tireless.

3) Finishing Ability - not a piss take he is a good finisher not great but good. His goals to games ratio is 1 in 3.

4) Wins free kicks (noit pens as the reffs are biased against him)

5) Can pass to a teamate - by no means Arteta but certainly no Phil Neville!

What he doesn't have:

1) CONFIDENCE - the boy is trying to hard, he is missing the easy stuff and his confidence is very low at the moment. He has been in and out of the side, had injuries and is putting himself under to much pressure.

What he needs is a couple of scoring games and a run in the side and he will be back to normal.

He is still a quality player just need the rub of the green so to say.

He’s a decent striker, I’m not sure he’s ’quality’ though. He gets knocked off the ball so easily time after time, his shot is pretty weak and his first tough isn’t great (none of which have anything to do with tactics or confidence).

If he was good enough to help a team qualify for the Champions League and score goals in that competition, he’d be linked with far better teams than West ’am.

Whilst I’d be in no rush for us to get rid, if there was a decent offer on the table I’d take it. That’s why it’s time to see if Vaughan is as good as we all think he is, just in case that bid does come in the summer.

Andy Johnson scores roughly as often as Yakubu given the number of appearances and time on the pitch. The problem is Johnson is too often used as a lone striker and too often plays wide. We need a balanced pair in front and personally I think Johnson and Yakubu together - on the rare occasions they are played as a duo - are OK for now but are not good enough to take us where we want to go in the future.

Johnson isn’t fully fit to my eyes. I’ve followed him since he was at Palace. His great attribute was the push and run over 5 yards that turned defenders and panicked them into clumsy contacts and penalties.
He has lost the explosive burst of pace that strikers like Lineker used so well. He’s a good but not great player and needs specifically to work in training to get the pace back.l

You know what I’d really like to see from Johnson?

I’d like him to give the lazy wasters that hoof the balls into no-mans land for him some verbal. Just like tim howard does with the defence sometimes.

Johnsons problem is twofold. He is low on confidence and he’s gettin shit service. He needs to stand up for himself more. Makes me sick every time he gets some awful ball into the channel and he turns round and applauds.

With manny in the team now we have someone capable of getting decent balls to him, and when pienaar returns we will have someone on the wings with the energy, vision and ability to properly support our strikers.

Good strikers dont become shit overnight. He has missed some decent chances, but which strikers haven’t.....you could probably dig out loads that henry or any other world class striker have missed.

It wouldnt be out of the question if AJ scored another five goals this season and that would put him on a total of 11 again..Not bad for a player who has been given a rough unlucky ride with injuries..As for all that outgrown him shit..People seem to forget that while we have had a good season we have still won absoloutly nothing yet and we havent even reached the Champions League..Until we do acheive something concrete dont talk rubbish is my advice.

Tony Williams summed up perfectly what I was thinking about AJ. Right place at the wrong time. The Yak probably is a bit more composed in front of goal. But most of his came when we had a full complement of players on top form. If AJ had been playing during the purple patch, I’ve no doubt he would have scored a fair amount. By the same token, if Yak had been playing during the last month after recovering from injury, we’d be hearing the ’what a waste of money’ rants. Coz he certainly wouldn’t be chasing all those balls down to the corner flag.

While there can be no doubting AJ’s willingness to run and work hard for the team and the link said have we not become better than that, has Yakubu not proven what that extra bit of class can do, for me this is the perfect time to get rid of Johnson, though before any abuse arrives my way, only get rid if we can get suitable money for him. I think the last time rumors where going around about Johnson were concerning West Ham and a price of 10 mil. Though at the time we didn’t have Yakubu so it was not an option.

For me though he does not score enough chances that he gets, the chance against Reading as one example. Yes the balls to him have been unsuited to his play i feel that even so we may be ale to step up from Johnson and have someone with the class of Yakubu.

Yak, AJ, JV and is Vic there? Not a bad bunch of strikers, given that Tim, Joleon and co chip in a few themselves. I don’t know what this costs in wages, but what would it cost to replace any of them? What would the sale of AJ raise? Would we be able to buy any better? I doubt it.

Andy Johnson runs defenders ragged, and very importantly keeps them defending deep, giving our midfield room to move forward. A valuable player on the pitch.

Are you completely mad; he is the fastest and most lively player in our squad.

He hasn’t had a decent ball to run on to since he cam to the clud. Playing the BIG HOOF to him is shite.

With Pinky and Perky in midfield now joined by Snopp Doggy Dogg, do you think he will ever get a pass.

Shut ya din.

The reason why AJ is not doing the bizz? Simple, it’s the role Moyes has him playing for us. I think for him career wise, he would be better off at a club(even though it would be a shame ) who will play to his strength’s.

Can’t get rid just at the moment because of his speed and tireless efforts and just being a good team player but either he improves his control, learns to shoot with his left and generally becomes more clinical or he will be on the available list in a season or two’s time.

Can’t move onto the next level with what I would consider to be a good Championshio / lower PL player.

Shame, seems a really genuine bloke but probably out of his depth at the top level.

Hope I’m wrong.

What is it with certain ?Evertonians?? Some people are never happy if they are not downing one player or another. AJ is well worth his place in Everton's squad. I agree that he doesn?t get the service that suits his game, but maybe gone are the days when a team will change its whole pattern of play to suit one player (remember what happened when we signe Lineker). I am a season ticket holder in the Upper Bullens and i?m just about sick of certain people around me constantly having a go at one player or another. It?s not as if we?re having a bad season so why do people need to single out a scapegoat? For gods sake let?s support the lads who wear the shirt and let Moysey decide who gets a game.

It’s a squad game.Top teams don’t sell good players unless the player wants to go. I’m getting fed up with this Championship Manager crap which moves around from player to player. Give the guy a break, he works his balls off, especially away fom home and gets no breaks from refs. And while we’re at it please lay off suggestions of selling other players (Cahill, Howard and Jags have all had it fairly recently). When Jags had had a poor game in midfield before Christmas some tosser on here suggested selling him back to Sheffield Utd in the window. They all go through patches but we need a good SQUAD and even if the first eleven were absolute world beaters we would still need a few good honest players to fill in regularly and to keep the bench warm. That’s what the top teams do. Our squad is definitely not too good for Andy Johnson. Moyes is building an ever improving squad with some top players, some decent ones and a good bunch of kids putting pressure on the main men. That’s how it should be. Otherwise you might as well be the Spanish Waiter buying anything with two legs with a vowel at the end of his name.

Andy Johnson, does more than most of strikers in the League, who plays a similar role, the lad dosnt stop working, and he does score goals, if we got the ball to him with a bit more quality so that he had an equal start to the defender, instead of fucking hoofing it up, quality ball and Johnson will beat most strikers over 5 yards. I can see Johnson, only if Moyes can play 4-4-2 more often, ending this season with a bang, he is due a bit of luck and it will change, so fucking lay off him and get behind him, and give me all that shit about opinions, the lad is playing well end of.

Well I reckon the people maoning about AJ all the time preffered ot when we had the dynamic strikers of recent years such as Marcus Bent( who wasnt that bad compared to some) or the rat in the box Francis Jeffers (or was it fox?) A washed up Ferguson whom we held on to for four years too long..Look at the struggles Everton had in the late 90s for striking options? Cadamarteri? Bakayoko?. Mikael Madar?. Micheal Branch?. I mean these people moan about AJ a player who we had been crying out for as we had lacked any pace right throughout our whole team and now they still complain..Dont you remember the lack of pace in Evertons team a few years ago? We were like dads army. Ok I am not saying AJ is a world beater but I think when he plays regular football without injury he can get 12-15 goals a season..I would swap that for any other English striker who we could possibly afford, I would even go as far as say I would rather have AJ than mercenary see you one a year Michael Owen.. Now Owen would really struggle in Evertons team chasing the balls Johnson does.. There are no affordable better English strikers around than AJ at this moment, and people may talk about Defoe but how long before Defoe started sulking about missing London and wanting a move to West Ham or somebody?. Again wouldnt do Johnsons running..Its sometimes difficult to even find a bargain striker from abroad though easier than England but look at Samaras at City? and Corradi?. Bianci? all flopped, granted Benjani looks a good signing but is 29 yrs old. I am still sure that AJ will end up in double figures for this season and I am sure Yakubu will take his total tally to 20 also as sooner or later we are bound to have a run of form like we hit before Xmas..

Sorry to continue the AJ debate but, having recently seen Defoe go to Portsmouth for a similar or slightly lesser fee than we paid for AJ, I wondered who is the better striker? I personally like AJ's commitment and selfless attitude above Defoe but there is no doubt in my mind that Defoe is a far better finisher. As a number of articles have auded to recently, a player better than AJ in his position is needed for us to reach the next level... who knows, maybe it is James Vaughan?