Manchester City didn’t face any problems crushing Sunderland 3-0 at home on Saturday. It was a frustrating day for the visitors and especially for Adam Johnson. The former City winger was shown the door this summer and he had few points to prove. The Black Cats failed and he failed miserably too.
Prior to the match, he made some comments which leave little food for thought for everyone. He has vented his frustration on his former club which apparently gives an impression of a bold statement but on thinking deep, you get a different picture that doesn’t vindicate his claims.
“As you can see, it has turned out that way as well with recent signings. It is difficult. It is excellent when a club like City come for you and you’re going to play for the champions, but you don’t actually play for the champions. You’re a squad member, it’s totally different. Now, if I was a young lad, I probably wouldn’t go to City,” said Johnson as quoted in the Telegraph.
He was one of the highly talented youngsters in the country when City bought him for £7m and everyone expected him to become one of the key players for England in future. English players usually lack technical skills but same allegations cannot be raised against him. He came at the Etihad with lots of promise but somehow things didn’t go right for him.
Chances
Talking about chances, it was clear that at City, Mancini will rotate his players as he possesses an extensive squad. Here, you will have to take your chances. He was given enough chances too. He made 26 league appearances last season and 31 the season before. The former Boro player played in more number of matches than Mario Balotelli last season, but what sets them apart is the Italian made the best use of his chances while he didn’t. The much maligned striker went on to play for Italy in the Euros while Johnson was seen no where near the vicinity of England camp in the summer.
Hard Working
He is a fascinating player to watch when on song. The Englishman is supremely talented and probably after Silva and Nasri, the best creative player in the side. But, he was never a hard worker. David Silva or Samir Nasri not only help the side with their creativity but overall their involvement in terms of work rate is admirable. And that’s why James Milner, a guy with less creative talent used to get the nod ahead of him regularly, especially against big teams.
Blame
The player said “It’s not that you’re not good enough, it’s just that the likes of Yaya Toure are going to play ahead of you no matter what you do.”
This is really hilarious. For a moment, forget about Yaya’s talent. Forget that he is the pillar of strength and backbone of this team. But, what has that guy got to do with Johnson in terms of getting regular matches? He is a central midfielder and the Englishman is a winger. How on earth the former Barcelona man can take his position is beyond me!
Erratic
The most frustrating thing about Johnson is he was never a regular performer for City. When Nasri was failing miserably in the first half of the season, he should have stepped up to the plate and cemented his position in the side. But consistency was the demon that prevented him from becoming a top class player. In fact, he never gave Mancini the chance to hand him a proper run of games.
Having said all this, I really do feel City could have stuck with him like what they are doing with Balotelli now. But once you get the tag of an ‘impact sub’, the way up the ladder is hard to reach. In this case, he is responsible for his own downfall.
Sunderland have profited from Man Citys lack of enthusiasm over Johnson. When his name was first mooted I was not so excited because he is not known for his work rate (critical in Martin O Neil sides) and to me, he was a bit inconsistent. However, now with Fletcher firing on all cylinders , I am excited about Johnson supplying him and also getting the odd goal. Only one thing: the last few matches we have failed to get him in the game. No service. We have to find a way at all costs of getting him (and Sessegeon) into the game where he can influence it.
sometimes the system just does not suit the player.. Johnson is quality.. just not Italian style
Good article, I liked Adam but am disappointed in his recent comments. City brought him from the obscurity of the championship when he was 22. If he had been as good as he thinks he it surely he would have already been in the Premier league.
In his time with City he became an England international and won honours. He should have the respect to keep his mouth shut. If you are good enough to play for City you will. It is a challenge he wasn’t able to fulfill and i sense his bitterness about it.
I wish him good luck at Sunderland as they are a good side with long suffering supporters but this guys head needs popping.
City couldn’t stick with him because Johnson himself asked for a move to a club that would just hand him the starters role. If Johnson some day shows the same commitment to growing as a player as he does for drinking and getting laid he may yet realize his potential. Hard to give your all in training and impress the manager when you’re hungover from clubbing all night!
Johnson’s troubles can all be found at the bottom of a glass. He likes the lush more than the work. If he had worked as hard at his game as he did at enjoying the nightlife he could have been a contender.
“The former Boro player played in more number of matches than Mario Balotelli last season, but what sets them apart is the Italian made the best use of his chances while he didn’t.”.
I find your conclusion that Balotelli made the most of his chances interesting, considering that this resulted in his paying less games!
It would appear that your belief is that when players play well they can expect to be selected on fewer occasions.
Weird!
Couldn’t agree less. Its all about opinions. You have given your long winded one now here’s mine, short and sweet. People who know about football will tell you that large squads don’t work. Players of every position, but especially forwards, need a run of games in the team. The more they play, the better they get. Adam Johnson was an example of this. He couldn’t be switched on and off like a light. In order t6o shine bright, he needed toi be switched on and left on.
Young players like Rodwell will be lost until the penny drops and they get out.
Heart the size of a peanut with a massive ego.
This makes me laugh. People are under the delusion that City somehow took AJ’s career backwards. They took a promising Championship player, turned him into a Premiership performer that was capable of playing for England and surrounded him with world class players. He didn’t have enough (either talent or professionalism) to hold down a regular place. And City get criticised…
A fair minded article with conclusions that it is hard to deny.
Adam was admired for his skill and his occasional gret goals at the Etihad but despite many opportunities he never grasped them and made himself really important at City. Mind you, his replacement doesn’t look likely to cut the mustard either!!
The word around is that Adam Johnson drinks too much that’s why Mancini didn’t play him.