Ben Johnson

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London Fields Hammer
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by London Fields Hammer »

I haven't checked the stats but his distribution was very basic yesterday. A lot of straight punts. But that might well be as much about the lack of options and the incredible pressing of City. Not sure anyone else was much better, but we desperately need to work on creating the triangles that allow us to play out from the back. His mobility was impressive.
Mod Life Crisis
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by Mod Life Crisis »

Was impressed with Johnson yesterday and thought he did well. He hit 3 lovely cross field passes (all right to left), although some other passes need working on.

His potential problem in the future is that he becomes a Jack-of-all-trades, meaning that he never ties down one position at the Club. Would still be a very versatile and reliable member of the match day squad.
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Hammerted
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by Hammerted »

I get the feeling that Moyes trusts him to do a job wherever required.
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Billydinho
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by Billydinho »

Thought he was exceptional yesterday all things considered.

Question mark over whether the second was his or Zouma’s fault. For me it looked like the latter got caught ball watching.
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by Crouchend_Hammer »

The only player from the starting eleven to come out with any credit IMHO (excl Fab)
Was better than Zouma
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Dieter Eckstein
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by Dieter Eckstein »

Billydinho wrote: Mon Aug 08, 2022 1:18 pm Thought he was exceptional yesterday all things considered.

Question mark over whether the second was his or Zouma’s fault. For me it looked like the latter got caught ball watching.
He was excellent. If he stays fit I could see him making 38 appearances across 4/5 different defensive positions this season.

Regarding the second goal, it didn't look great, but I think we're going to see Haaland doing that to an awful lot of teams this season. He's got a touch of the original Ronaldos to him in terms of getting himself one on one and no one really being able to do anything about it, particularly if you're chasing the game.
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kitthehammer
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by kitthehammer »

maybe i'm watching a different game but i'm not convinced by johnson at all in any position yet.
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by Colours never run »

From Transfer Thread...
Aztec Hammer wrote: Wed Aug 17, 2022 9:53 pm Ben is a right back and the sooner we can get to a place where he can focus almost solely on playing and developing as one, the better for us and him.

He's impressed me just as much on our left as he has done on our right of defence. There's a reason why he was trusted to make his debut for the Club starting at Left Back and when he did away to Manchester City, he excelled. And it's not been an anomaly either as he's done it time and again putting in decent performances when asked to play Left Back again. Then when I witness him being played ahead of Leicesters rated specialist Left Back for the U21s this year, again performing very well for Enlgand, all the signs suggest to me he has to be seriously considered to be played there on a regular basis.

I may be alone in the thinking, but if say we really couldn't buy a decent Left Back this summer and had to bide our time till next year, then I'd trust Johnson to do a decent consistent job at Left Back.
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Aztec Hammer
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by Aztec Hammer »

For what it's worth, it's direct knowledge that he considers himself a RB. As does the club. It could be considered a bit of an indictment on the club that he's had to play in other positions a lot, but that's only my opinion. He's always willing to do anything for the team anyway, but I do hope the signing of Kehrer is a good step forward for getting him more exclusively at RB.
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by Colours never run »

Aztec Hammer wrote: Wed Aug 17, 2022 10:14 pm For what it's worth, it's direct knowledge that he considers himself a RB. As does the club. It could be considered a bit of an indictment on the club that he's had to play in other positions a lot, but that's only my opinion. He's always willing to do anything for the team anyway, but I do hope the signing of Kehrer is a good step forward for getting him more exclusively at RB.
That's how I understood it also, that he's prepared to play where he's asked and should he be asked to play Left Back regularly, I think he'd rise to the challenge and embrace it, much as he did all the other times he's been asked to play there. Regardless of if his preferred position is at Right Back if he so happens to flourish in another - Antonio's preferred position was always Left Wing as an example - "My favourite position is playing on the wing. I prefer to play left wing, that's my favourite role," said Antonio. Sometimes you just gravitate towards a different path if it makes sense to do so and works out well.

Under the premise we cannot find a top quality Left Back, then I'd want us to go with Johnson in that position to see if he really could make it his own and a permanent starting place in the Team. Safe in the know that should he not be convincing long term in that position, then we still have a very handy Cresswell to always rely on waiting in the wings to take over should it not work out. All the while, whilst searching for another long term Left Back anyway, knowing Cresswell will have to be phased out at some point if only as a decent back up. All unanswered questions but I feel it's time to start asking those questions about whether he could cope long term there.
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stu1
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by stu1 »

Johnson is a perfect squad player and an ideal back up for the right back position.

If we want to push the top 8/6 then I don’t think he’s good enough to be first choice due to being quite limited on the ball (although strangely quite two footed). However he’s a solid enough back up that can cover a number of position which is valuable.
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hammer1975
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by hammer1975 »

If we’re moving to 3/5 at the back he’ll get overtaken by Ashby for RWB within 12 months imo

Right of 3 centre backs still feels Johnson’s long term home for me
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stu1
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by stu1 »

Lots of people seem very sure on Ashby, why so?

I thought he was ok in the couple of games he played last season but realistically the bar is set very low for youth players in their first appearances. As long as they don’t look completely out of their depth then their reviews will be very promising.

I hope Ashby will push on for obvious reasons but also because I think our options at full back are rather week.
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by Colours never run »

stu1 wrote: Wed Aug 17, 2022 11:13 pm Lots of people seem very sure on Ashby, why so?
Same. I've seen nothing to date that impresses me. Not saying he'll be **** either, just that I haven't seen anything yet that impresses.
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by Colours never run »

I think it's now time to give Ben Johnson a good go at Right Back, should he return from the 2 weeks break from injury.

He hardly ever let's us down defensively and he's earned his chance to make the 1st Team Right Bacl spot his own now.
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by goa127 »

Colours never run wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 12:25 am I think it's now time to give Ben Johnson a good go at Right Back, should he return from the 2 weeks break from injury.

He hardly ever let's us down defensively and he's earned his chance to make the 1st Team Right Bacl spot his own now.
Ben Johnson is not the answer to a lack of creativity
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by El brooko79 »

goa127 wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 8:00 pm Ben Johnson is not the answer to a lack of creativity
Certainly better defensively that Coufal.
Maybe being more assured with our back line will allow us more creativity in midfield.
Soucek can't receive the ball under pressure so our right back has limited options to pass to.

Johnson with Kehrer to his left, Paqueta in CM and Bowen/Cornet in front will give him more options. He doesn't have to do anything special.
YorksHammer
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by YorksHammer »

Somehow I feel like faith might be placed in the 20 cap German International right back might be favoured over Johnson. Just a hunch.
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Bubbles Fortuna
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by Bubbles Fortuna »

YorksHammer wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 8:33 pm Somehow I feel like faith might be placed in the 20 cap German International right back might be favoured over Johnson. Just a hunch.
Doesn't Kehrer play in a back three for Germany?
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Re: Ben Johnson

Post by El brooko79 »

Bubbles Fortuna wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 8:57 pm Doesn't Kehrer play in a back three for Germany?
Mainly RB or LB it seems. Some CB some RWB
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