Michael Johnson

[Bridge'srightfoot]

<null>

... The same Didi Hamman who called YaYa a "liability" - suggests at best that he's a bit prone to exaggeration!

He said he's a liability when asked to do a defensive job and track runners. Which he is.

[Lev Bronstein]

I can see him challenging Rodwell for a place..
















..on the teatment table

[Bridge'srightfoot]

The kid definitely had 'that something'. You can always tell a good young midfielder by how much of the ball they see. He was the one under Pearce in early 2007 who got us playing football again. He was our best player that calendar year by far.

He was a joy to watch. Always available to receive the ball, decisive and incisive in possession of it. He was a real footballer, the kid, not just someone who played football. That's what makes his self-destruction so hard to fathom.

We'll never know what he could've been so it's pointless to speculate. He was definitely our best homegrown midfielder since Garry Flitcroft when he emerged, though. Sounds like a shit accolade but Flitcroft was another one who brought some light to a previously drab (although much more effective) team.

Agreed. I remember seeing him against Villa pick the ball up on the half way line, play a quick one two with Elano, ride a couple of challenges and slot in.
It was very Gerrard/Lampard like.
This kid had a real engine and a real footballing brain and it's such a shame.
He really could have been a star.

[Slim]

Can't say I agree with that, Ted. I thought he had more technical ability and potential than all of those former city youngsters, easily.

I agree with you. Didi Hamann stated that Johnson was better than Gerrard was at the same age and as he played in midfield with both I would listen to him.

Tbh that's ridiculous.

Gerrard was lightyears better than Johnson at absolutely everything, & is the only player I've seen who did look a genuine possibility to reach Bell's level.

Did Hamman must have been pissed.

Truth is, he was little more than potential when it all went to shit for him. We'll never really know how good he could have been.

[mcfc1632]

<null>

... The same Didi Hamman who called YaYa a "liability" - suggests at best that he's a bit prone to exaggeration!

And of course Didi has his own experience of blowing it so he will have a level of empathy

[lets all have a disco]

I wonder if he is on the piss tonight?


I know i know

[patrickblue]

In fairness to him, I think the Colin Bell comparison got a bit out of hand, and probably went to his head. People were saying he reminded them of a young Colin Bell, not because of his footballing ability, but because of his appearance and body language on the field. Of course that got changed to "as good as" and the "new Colin Bell" in short order by the media.
I'd agree with Slim, he had potential, but it all went pear shaped far to early to hazard a guess of how or if that potential would be realised.
I do think he was a talented lad though, and still remember that half season with great affection.

[Ted Hughes]

Can't say I agree with that, Ted. I thought he had more technical ability and potential than all of those former city youngsters, easily.

I agree with you. Didi Hamann stated that Johnson was better than Gerrard was at the same age and as he played in midfield with both I would listen to him.

Tbh that's ridiculous.

Gerrard was lightyears better than Johnson at absolutely everything, & is the only player I've seen who did look a genuine possibility to reach Bell's level.

Did Hamman must have been pissed.

Truth is, he was little more than potential when it all went to shit for him. We'll never really know how good he could have been.

I think you can tell how good they 'won't' be though. He was a nice footballer, but people have given him superhuman talents he never had. At the time, I thought he would make it, but wasn't sure quite how far he would go, other than that he wasn't an 'A' list prospect. A 'B' or A minus list prospect who could pass the ball, was like a gift from heaven in those days & people lapped it up.

If Gerrard had moved abroad, I think he would have become the world's best player for a period.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Can't say I agree with that, Ted. I thought he had more technical ability and potential than all of those former city youngsters, easily.

I agree with you. Didi Hamann stated that Johnson was better than Gerrard was at the same age and as he played in midfield with both I would listen to him.

Tbh that's ridiculous.

Gerrard was lightyears better than Johnson at absolutely everything, & is the only player I've seen who did look a genuine possibility to reach Bell's level.

Did Hamman must have been pissed.

Truth is, he was little more than potential when it all went to shit for him. We'll never really know how good he could have been.

I think you can tell how good they 'won't' be though. He was a nice footballer, but people have given him superhuman talents he never had. At the time, I thought he would make it, but wasn't sure quite how far he would go, other than that he wasn't an 'A' list prospect. A 'B' or A minus list prospect who could pass the ball, was like a gift from heaven in those days & people lapped it up.

If Gerrard had moved abroad, I think he would have become the world's best player for a period.

Tbf though when he broke through he was playing in a relegation threatened side and the season after a top ten side. In terms of that level of ability he probably would have made it and helped our development. Maybe he wouldn't still be here now but he certainly could have contributed to our rise.
He never looked the same player after the injury.

[Nigels Tackle]

I wonder if he is on the piss tonight?


I know i know

he'll be smashed by now and is probably on the hunt for a kebab

[nottsblue]

The best performer in a very poor City outfit for 18 months. At 18. Maybe without the injury he'd be a top player now. Certainly the lads he'd be playing with now are on another planet and as a player you can only learn from them. The truly sad aspect is we will never know

[dazby]

Sigh. Such a shame. Not a unique story but a sad one.