Glen Johnson – I’m not bitter… NOT!
I had to share this! Glen Johnson the dearly departed Liverpool defender is quoted in the Liverpool Echo today as saying the current Reds squad is “… No better than last season…”
His rant came ahead of tomorrow’s game at the Britannia Stadium for the opening fixture between the two. Whisky at the same time declaring he has no hard feelings toward the club he left after six years’ service.
Johnson in his wisdom, claims the new recruits to the Liverpool squad “… Are not ones that will walk straight into the squad”. One has to question if these words are based on fact or as is more likely from sour grapes. The 30 year-old ex-England international goes on to say how he refused a contract offer from the Reds. Presumably in preference to play for Stoke!
The fact is as has been well publicised is that Liverpool were only prepared to give him a year long contract on account of his age and evident decline from the player they signed from Portsmouth for a reported £17m. Compare him to Nathaniel Clyne – a player who will walk straight into the squad contrary to Johnson’s assertion – who is a current international and arguably the best English right back currently plying his trade. And we don’t stop there.
We presume Johnson has just returned from a holiday on Mars and not seen that the club has signed Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke as well as James Milner. All established international players of repute. Players who in his eyes the club has spent £60m on simply to sit on the bench. Yes Glen, of course. Perhaps your watch is running a year late. Like his defending.
These comments are in all reality more of a publicity play than any attempt at footballing logic. Just pub talk. What it undoubtedly does though, is make for a good laugh. Johnson was only in the team when fit due to the absence of anyone better. This is clear enough for a blind man to see.
I don’t think Brendan Rodgers needs to give a team talk tomorrow. Simply some newspaper cutting of the reports following last seasons match, and some pictures of their opponents’ right back pinned onto the dressing room wall.
Come this time tomorrow, I like all Liverpool supporters hope we will be able to have a laugh with the team having firmly rammed Johnson’s words where the sun dares not shine.
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