Michael Johnson

[Original Dub]

From reading Doug's training threads over the last few weeks I got the impression that Johnno was starting to impress and even excite him as he progressed. Of course, that gave me renewed confidence in the lad. I say renewed because I was one of the Johnson 'lovers' or one of the people who thought he could be the next midfield hero like Colin Bell.... not because I was searching for some kind of hero to cling to, but because he has a rare style to his play that I know most managers in the game absolutely crave. I guarantee Hughes had seen and heard all about him and that is why, although most were baffled at the time, he didn't sell an injured Johnson to Newcastle for £8m.

I did question at one stage, as I know most did, his commitment to the game in general. Why was he reportedly out on the lash when he was supposed to be recovering from this 'mystery illness'? Why was he piling on the weight? There was plenty of rumours at the time and maybe we won't ever find out what the truth actually was. But the cold hard facts are there - he said in the summer he felt like he can finally put it behind him. He said he would get in shape. He said he wanted to emulate what Stephen Ireland did last season. He said he couldn't wait for the feeling of producing a top performance in a premier league match and the feeling when you score a good goal.

He said all these things and I immediately put the rumours out of my head. I didn't care for the comments here and in papers that said there's no way he'll come back, he's way too fat. He doesn't care about football. He's saying all this because he's on a fat contract and has to say stuff like that etc etc...

Now I'm not saying that because of a goal against scunthorp that Michael Johnson is in a blaze of glory or has silenced all of his critics. Not for one second. But what I am saying is that he has given me a real buzz of late. A buzz to see him once again look like he's walking around the pitch and still pulling all the strings. A calmness that infects his team mates infuriates the opposition. In the short while he's been back I've seen him do everything without complication. Gareth Barry has a tendancy to do the same, but Johnson IMO is the complete midfielder.

He's not at his peak fitness by any means, but he is getting there and I feel like we've just signed a £30m player that will be at the club for years to come. On hearing of interest in Johnson from Liverpool, Sven once joked that Liverpool can have him, but it'll cost them Steven Gerrard and Anfield combined...

That's obviously a big exaggeration but that's how important Sven knew this lad could/would be to Manchester City.
I still think he can be.

If you're reading this Michael - well done lad. So young to have an infuriating illness that holds you back for as long as you've been. Keep the head down and you'll become one of the greates players in the premier league. I'll bet my house on that!

CTID

[Douglas Higginbottom]

A fair assessment I would say. Still on his way back yet for sure but the signs are good. If I have shown excitement lately it is in part that he is at training every session which means that he isn't getting the pain he had anymore BUT more importantly that his touch ,awareness and composure is still there. Make no mistake a few minutes against WHU and Scunthorpe is not the ultimate proof but I do think and hope it's just another reminder to Michael of waht he was able to do and still is able to do.

It's all about match fitness now. He isn't built the same as he was and he may never be quite the athlete he was but that talent is priceless and I for one want to see more of it.

Even today in the short session when they were playing that penalty area game his calmness and touch were excellent.

[Moonchesteri]

Good post OD.

Love the lad as a player and as he could have a fantastic future with City I really hope his problems are behind him now.
I'm still not fully confinced about that though

[craigmcfc]

Even from up in Level 3 last night, I could see that he's definitely slimmed down on those pre-season pics. He's still a lot bulkier than when in his prime a couple of season ago, but he's heading in the right direction without doubt. Wish him all the luck in the world as regards injuries cos God knows he deserves it

[Vhero]

He deserves a break and I hope he goes to the top with us.

[BmoreBlue]

Even from up in Level 3 last night, I could see that he's definitely slimmed down on those pre-season pics. He's still a lot bulkier than when in his prime a couple of season ago, but he's heading in the right direction without doubt. Wish him all the luck in the world as regards injuries cos God knows he deserves it

i noticed he looked slimmer in some of the pics from last night when compared to earlier in the season - no doubt he'll come good, and probably sooner rather than later.

[Wonderwall]

I cannot believe he didnt do a lap of coms after he scored last night. I know I would of after such a long layoff, even if it was a tap in, but a screamer!? Strange reaction IMO.

[10.Goater_Legend]

I really believe he has the ability to be one of the top midfielders in the prem which in turn will make him one of the bst in the world, watching him link up with Elano before his injurys was a joy to watch and just imagine what he will be able to do with the likes of Superman/ Gareth Barry if he breaks into the first team. He looked liked he'd never been away when he came on last night.

As Hughes said, like a new multi-million pound midfielder being signed.

Top class.

[john68]

I really believe he has the ability to be one of the top midfielders in the prem which in turn will make him one of the bst in the world, watching him link up with Elano before his injurys was a joy to watch and just imagine what he will be able to do with the likes of Superman/ Gareth Barry if he breaks into the first team. He looked liked he'd never been away when he came on last night.

As Hughes said, like a new multi-million pound midfielder being signed.

Top class.

With the likes of Weiss, Robbie, Bellamy and Ade in front of him....what a dream.

[Dazzacity]

Last night was so much more than just a win. Johnson got a run out and scored a goal which showed us he can still do the bizz. Lescott scored a genuine goal and that will hopefully give him loads of confidence,which I think is all he really needs.Benjani got a lill run out.Syvinho made his debut.Weiss got a good run out and sounded awesome on the radio! And we had a taste of what its lik to win a game again.

Im sure last night done us the world of good as a team..

[shawzy]

Big thanx to the German doc that sorted him out,,2yrs out and hes back at last...The most promising home grown talent in a blue shirt.Lets hope the injury is done and dusted now and he gets his place back in the squad and an international callup.

[Slim]

I just hope he can get back to where he was and hasn't lost too much in his development. When he came in he had all the potential in the world. I think I even said he could be England captain one day, but the last two years have even shaken the most adamant supporters I am sure.

[Rag_hater]

From reading Doug's training threads over the last few weeks I got the impression that Johnno was starting to impress and even excite him as he progressed. Of course, that gave me renewed confidence in the lad. I say renewed because I was one of the Johnson 'lovers' or one of the people who thought he could be the next midfield hero like Colin Bell.... not because I was searching for some kind of hero to cling to, but because he has a rare style to his play that I know most managers in the game absolutely crave. I guarantee Hughes had seen and heard all about him and that is why, although most were baffled at the time, he didn't sell an injured Johnson to Newcastle for £8m.

I did question at one stage, as I know most did, his commitment to the game in general. Why was he reportedly out on the lash when he was supposed to be recovering from this 'mystery illness'? Why was he piling on the weight? There was plenty of rumours at the time and maybe we won't ever find out what the truth actually was. But the cold hard facts are there - he said in the summer he felt like he can finally put it behind him. He said he would get in shape. He said he wanted to emulate what Stephen Ireland did last season. He said he couldn't wait for the feeling of producing a top performance in a premier league match and the feeling when you score a good goal.

He said all these things and I immediately put the rumours out of my head. I didn't care for the comments here and in papers that said there's no way he'll come back, he's way too fat. He doesn't care about football. He's saying all this because he's on a fat contract and has to say stuff like that etc etc...

Now I'm not saying that because of a goal against scunthorp that Michael Johnson is in a blaze of glory or has silenced all of his critics. Not for one second. But what I am saying is that he has given me a real buzz of late. A buzz to see him once again look like he's walking around the pitch and still pulling all the strings. A calmness that infects his team mates infuriates the opposition. In the short while he's been back I've seen him do everything without complication. Gareth Barry has a tendancy to do the same, but Johnson IMO is the complete midfielder.

He's not at his peak fitness by any means, but he is getting there and I feel like we've just signed a £30m player that will be at the club for years to come. On hearing of interest in Johnson from Liverpool, Sven once joked that Liverpool can have him, but it'll cost them Steven Gerrard and Anfield combined...

That's obviously a big exaggeration but that's how important Sven knew this lad could/would be to Manchester City.
I still think he can be.

If you're reading this Michael - well done lad. So young to have an infuriating illness that holds you back for as long as you've been. Keep the head down and you'll become one of the greates players in the premier league. I'll bet my house on that!

CTID

Like all the positive stuff you've said about him there.
For me whenever I've seen him play (which most of us will agree is nowhere near enough)he has not let me down.
Its always been a pleasure to watch him play.
As to giving up on him like Slim says dont think I have and his drinking and gambling exploits(apparently) dont bother me in the slightest.

[Dubciteh]

I must be the only one whos still sceptical, fair play he has lost a bit of weight and scored a good goal but hes long way off where he was before he got injured and even at that would the johnson of old be good enough for a team that wants to dominate the world? id love if he became the player we hope he is but im a betting man and i wouldnt bet on him doing it....

[Slim]

I must be the only one whos still sceptical, fair play he has lost a bit of weight and scored a good goal but hes long way off where he was before he got injured and even at that would the johnson of old be good enough for a team that wants to dominate the world? id love if he became the player we hope he is but im a betting man and i wouldnt bet on him doing it....

Would you bet on Stevie or Shaun or Nedum?

Personally I think we need the academy players who might not be the stars in the team, but are the ones who will run through a brick wall for the shirt in the 93rd minute and I think Johnson is one of those. I think his overall game has potential to be better than either of our two midfield academy stars as well, but for him right now it is just that, potential. He has got a first team start and it's the first step, but it's an important one. And as far as him being good enough, I think he is probably one of the most balanced footballers I have ever seen in a City shirt. Let's not compare him to Bell, but how can people overlook the comparisons to be drawn from him and Lake?

[Geo123]

Im all for giving a player confidence and congratulating him on playing his first game in ages but he has a long way to go to prove he is the player everyone thinks he is, lets face it it was a cup game against scunthorpe, not the champs league final.......I always slag rags for the way they think hargreaves will be back and be a great addition to there squad but these players have both been out a long time and we actulally dont know what theyve lost or what there capable.

That said im delighted he is on the way back. Loan spell at pompey or brum mightn do him any harm after christmas if they gaurantee him game time once match fit.

[Rag_hater]

I must be the only one whos still sceptical, fair play he has lost a bit of weight and scored a good goal but hes long way off where he was before he got injured and even at that would the johnson of old be good enough for a team that wants to dominate the world? id love if he became the player we hope he is but im a betting man and i wouldnt bet on him doing it....

From the compliments paid to him by Ade and the repoorts that DH has made regarding his training it sounds to me like he is on the way back to being the player that terrorized the prem early on in his career with Elano.
For me if he gets back to that standard and improves as he is only still a very young lad he will be world class.
It may only have been Scunthorpe this time but he has done the same thing against better teams already and the thought that he is still capable of such things is the thing that has a lot of us excited.
That wasn't the first game MJ excelled.

[Original Dub]

I must be the only one whos still sceptical, fair play he has lost a bit of weight and scored a good goal but hes long way off where he was before he got injured and even at that would the johnson of old be good enough for a team that wants to dominate the world? id love if he became the player we hope he is but im a betting man and i wouldnt bet on him doing it....

From the compliments paid to him by Ade and the repoorts that DH has made regarding his training it sounds to me like he is on the way back to being the player that terrorized the prem early on in his career with Elano.
For me if he gets back to that standard and improves as he is only still a very young lad he will be world class.
It may only have been Scunthorpe this time but he has done the same thing against better teams already and the thought that he is still capable of such things is the thing that has a lot of us excited.
That wasn't the first game MJ excelled.

Exactly. My post was based on what I saw of him when he was fully fit, what other players are saying about him, what Doug has reported on him, what Mark Hughes has said about him and what I've seen of him in his short while back.

He has the world at his feet, because his composure and decision making is that good. The rest is up to him.

[johnno]

yes! johnno will be the great player
I will always cheer for johhno!
go johnno~~~~

[ant london]

He's a proper player.

However as Geo123 says its early days...on two counts.

Firstly he's a young lad, his performances could go to shit (a la Micah) or dip from an amazing standard (a la SWP/Stevie) or secondly he could have an injury recurrence (a la Nedum).

Simple fact is, all of these lads are OUR City lads. They may not have all grown up as blues but they have a bond with the club (as well as patently one from us to them).


We are obviously all prone to overexcitement....and justifiably so. But these lads deserve our patience and understanding more than any new signings.

Even if we have to wait to see these lads get to the very top....well, I'm willing to do so