Signing Johnson fills 1 of the 2 weak spots at Anfield

By Matt Ladson On · 34 Comments · In Opinion

The potential arrival of England full back Glen Johnson is a great move by Rafa Benitez.

As we all sat and reviewed last season and argued about where and how we didn’t win the league after losing just two games, I think 99% of us would have agreed our two weakest positions in the starting 11 are right back and left midfield/attack.

The goalkeeper, centre backs, holding midfielders and front two pick themselves in our strongest 11. I personally value Kuyt’s place on the right hand side and am more than happy to have Aurelio and Insua fight it out at left back.

I’m not suggesting Arbeloa is a weak player, but he is one of the weakest in our best 11. Clearly if we are to win the league these two positions are what need addressing this summer. The capture of Johnson addresses one and I hope to see the attacking left midfield berth next on Rafa’s list.

Much speculation has revolved around a new forward and how we must sign a top class player to play alongside Torres. I completely disagree with this train of thought. We have the best front two combination in World football in Torres and Gerrard. They link up perfectly, compliment each other and provide goals in abundance, why would we break that up? I said the same last summer when we signed Robbie Keane and that completely upset the balance of the team, why would we do that again?

I no longer see Gerrard as a midfielder, and with Alonso and Mascherano why would we need him in there?

Maybe we do need a forward as back-up to Torres, and that forward may indeed play a large percentage of games, but by no means should a forward be signed to be first choice alongside Torres. We currently have Kuyt as back-up, Ngog is maturing, Nemeth could break through if he has a good pre-season and another signing of good quality would add depth but is not crucial.

What is crucial is that we add a player to improve the wide left spot. For me, Babel can leave as of the current squad he is the only player who we can get good money for and I wouldn’t be overly upset to see go. That would leave only Riera and Benayoun as left side options. Both are good enough to be in our squad but neither are good enough to be first choice in a title winning side. Hopefully we can add somebody of real quality who can compliment the other attacking trio of Torres, Gerrard and Kuyt. Somebody who can offer something different, a creative spark.

Obvious candidates are Valencia’s David’s Silva and Villa. I’m not sure Villa would come to play on the left but Silva, who can easily interchange with Gerrard and Kuyt might be just the perfect foil. He would offer something different and be somewhat of a Luis Garcia type player with added quality and creativity.

At the end of the season I earmarked Johnson and Silva as my two most wanted players, both would hugely improve both our squad overall and our starting 11. Both won’t come cheap but it’s nice to finally see us competing and not losing out on targets to clubs with extra financial muscle.

If we offload Arbeloa, Dossena, Babel and Voronin we would have around £25m. Add the supposed summer budget of £25m and you have £50m. Easy enough to fund Silva and Johnson and add two more squad players to improve us.

If Arbeloa does leave obviously that leaves us still with little cover at right back. If Micah Richards is available for around £5m he’d be worth a gamble and can provide that cover and also be the fourth choice centre back we need after Sami’s departure.

I’d also take a punt on Tuncay from Middlesbrough.

So, my summer wishlist looks a bit like this;

In:
Johnson, Silva, Richards, Tuncay, back-up forward

Out:
Arbeloa, Dossena, Babel, Voronin (and Pennant)

Something similar to that wouldn’t cost the earth and be within budget but still improve our starting 11 and squad immensely.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.

  • About the author

    Matt Ladson

    Matt is the co-editor of This Is Anfield. He grew up on a diet of Roy Evans football and yearns for the glory days to return to Anfield. Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattladson.

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Newer Comments →
  • Ste1712

    This is all exactly what I have been thinking, the few areas we are weaker in need to be addressed. Johnson will be perfect for RB and him and Kuyt both will get back and help as well as go forward. Aurelio is good at LB with Insua keeping him on his toes and pushing for a starting XI place. Richards would be good cover for either CB or RB. Silva is a great winger that could fill in behind the frontman as well if need be. Not sure about Tuncay, would prefer to see someone like Lavezzi or Negredo as our back-up Striker but he would still do I suppose. Pretty sure Pennant is a free agent now aswel.

  • Ste1712

    This is all exactly what I have been thinking, the few areas we are weaker in need to be addressed. Johnson will be perfect for RB and him and Kuyt both will get back and help as well as go forward. Aurelio is good at LB with Insua keeping him on his toes and pushing for a starting XI place. Richards would be good cover for either CB or RB. Silva is a great winger that could fill in behind the frontman as well if need be. Not sure about Tuncay, would prefer to see someone like Lavezzi or Negredo as our back-up Striker but he would still do I suppose. Pretty sure Pennant is a free agent now aswel.

  • media man

    Based on Rafa’s previous flirtations, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t buy both Javier Saviola and Gabriel Heinze from Real Madrid — especially at the cut-rate prices they’ll sell for in 2009.

    Based on Rafa’s public comments recently, I also doubt he’s going to sell Babel now. Dossena and Voronin and minor sales will add another 14-15 million pounds to his transfer kitty. If you accept that Johnson will cost a net of 10-million pounds, then Rafa’s looking at 24-25-million pounds left to spend on David Silva, Carlos Tevez or Javi Martinez.

  • media man

    Based on Rafa’s previous flirtations, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t buy both Javier Saviola and Gabriel Heinze from Real Madrid — especially at the cut-rate prices they’ll sell for in 2009.

    Based on Rafa’s public comments recently, I also doubt he’s going to sell Babel now. Dossena and Voronin and minor sales will add another 14-15 million pounds to his transfer kitty. If you accept that Johnson will cost a net of 10-million pounds, then Rafa’s looking at 24-25-million pounds left to spend on David Silva, Carlos Tevez or Javi Martinez.

  • expat

    Couldn’t agree more. People clamour for Rafa to give kids like Nemeth a chance and, at the same time, want us to blow our budget on a forward to the detriment of other areas that are far more in need of improvement. Johnson will certainly provide an attacking threat in those ‘park the bus’ home games that lost us the league last season, and I’m sure he’ll improve defensively under Rafa. If the stories are true that we were still owed money for crouch and Arbeloa and Dossena are on their way then it won’t be a significant outlay. If Gerard and Torres can stay fit, wingers are the priority signing.

  • expat

    Couldn’t agree more. People clamour for Rafa to give kids like Nemeth a chance and, at the same time, want us to blow our budget on a forward to the detriment of other areas that are far more in need of improvement. Johnson will certainly provide an attacking threat in those ‘park the bus’ home games that lost us the league last season, and I’m sure he’ll improve defensively under Rafa. If the stories are true that we were still owed money for crouch and Arbeloa and Dossena are on their way then it won’t be a significant outlay. If Gerard and Torres can stay fit, wingers are the priority signing.

  • mr freeze

    Not sure abt GJ. Hope he’s not another Phil Babb. To me GJ is quite vulnerable..not strong in his tackling and seems to lose his focus during games. Just like Arbeloa. So to me it’s a waste of money. Remains to be seen if he can cement his place in right-back. Hope he can prove me wrong. Maybe because he’s English that’s why. Agree with you we need to strengthen left-back instead of a forward. Not many in the market, so yes, David Silva is a great option.

  • mr freeze

    Not sure abt GJ. Hope he’s not another Phil Babb. To me GJ is quite vulnerable..not strong in his tackling and seems to lose his focus during games. Just like Arbeloa. So to me it’s a waste of money. Remains to be seen if he can cement his place in right-back. Hope he can prove me wrong. Maybe because he’s English that’s why. Agree with you we need to strengthen left-back instead of a forward. Not many in the market, so yes, David Silva is a great option.

  • ashboy

    My list would be
    In: Johnson,Silva, Lennon and Owen as a backup forward.
    Out: Pennant, Voronin.
    Moreover I think Rafa should give the chance to youngsters like Darby, Spearing, Nemeth.

  • ashboy

    My list would be
    In: Johnson,Silva, Lennon and Owen as a backup forward.
    Out: Pennant, Voronin.
    Moreover I think Rafa should give the chance to youngsters like Darby, Spearing, Nemeth.

  • Ant1987

    I think Johnson will be a quality signing…although be it for a large amount of dollar! We didnt have to much trouble at the back last year…especially at home. We tended to struggle more going forward and creating things. Johnson i think will provide alot more support and would be ideal to play on the same flank as Kuyt. The whole transfer seems to have gone a little quiet though…which makes me think maybe there are some complications?
    I agree with the above..Saviola would be a steel at 4-5 million…class player. Why not have a look at Real Madrids bench too…plenty of decent players there you could get on the cheap i.e Van Der Vaart, Robben, Drenthe, Sneijder….rather than us being linked with troublesome players like Lavezzi who no one knows much about..yet reports say we were willing to cash out 20 million on??
    Benitez needs to get his smart cap on and do some decent work in the window!

  • Ant1987

    I think Johnson will be a quality signing…although be it for a large amount of dollar! We didnt have to much trouble at the back last year…especially at home. We tended to struggle more going forward and creating things. Johnson i think will provide alot more support and would be ideal to play on the same flank as Kuyt. The whole transfer seems to have gone a little quiet though…which makes me think maybe there are some complications?
    I agree with the above..Saviola would be a steel at 4-5 million…class player. Why not have a look at Real Madrids bench too…plenty of decent players there you could get on the cheap i.e Van Der Vaart, Robben, Drenthe, Sneijder….rather than us being linked with troublesome players like Lavezzi who no one knows much about..yet reports say we were willing to cash out 20 million on??
    Benitez needs to get his smart cap on and do some decent work in the window!

  • torres9

    I totally agree with the right back situation but i believe we have an ok left midfield and maybe david silva may be costing rafa too much with as real madrid will pay anything for players these days i think rafa should buy ashley young. He’s young got great pace and can score amazing goals. The money rafa pays for young will be a better purchase than buying silva.

    I watched the confederations cup aswel the other day when spain beat new zealand and when david silva came on he did not show any real glimpses of flair and pace. But i can only really judge him once i watch a few more matches so that is what i shall do :)

  • torres9

    I totally agree with the right back situation but i believe we have an ok left midfield and maybe david silva may be costing rafa too much with as real madrid will pay anything for players these days i think rafa should buy ashley young. He’s young got great pace and can score amazing goals. The money rafa pays for young will be a better purchase than buying silva.

    I watched the confederations cup aswel the other day when spain beat new zealand and when david silva came on he did not show any real glimpses of flair and pace. But i can only really judge him once i watch a few more matches so that is what i shall do :)

  • torres9

    In:
    Johnson, richards, young and owen as a backup forward i feel sorry for him and he really needs to come home and i feel that if mascherano leaves which i really dont want him to we should buy sneider or van der vaart from madrid they’ll be bargain buys and alonso can sit where masherano worked :D

    Outs:
    Arbeloa, dossena, babel, voronin (Defo plz), pennant

    All i want to no is why did rafa get voronin in the first place?

  • torres9

    In:
    Johnson, richards, young and owen as a backup forward i feel sorry for him and he really needs to come home and i feel that if mascherano leaves which i really dont want him to we should buy sneider or van der vaart from madrid they’ll be bargain buys and alonso can sit where masherano worked :D

    Outs:
    Arbeloa, dossena, babel, voronin (Defo plz), pennant

    All i want to no is why did rafa get voronin in the first place?

  • Aiyic

    Pavlyuchenko anyone?

    • http://www.thisisanfield.com Matt Ladson

      No thanks!

  • Aiyic

    Pavlyuchenko anyone?

    • http://www.thisisanfield.com Matt Ladson

      No thanks!

  • Dj Andyh

    Doesnt it make a change to read (albeit in the sun) that players of the quality of Villa will only come to the Premiership if they can sign for us.. It would be amazing to see an international pairing like Torres & Villa up front wearing the red.. I totally agree about the balance of the team but what a strike force with Stevey G etc behind.. bring it on.. u score 3 we score 4!!

  • Dj Andyh

    Doesnt it make a change to read (albeit in the sun) that players of the quality of Villa will only come to the Premiership if they can sign for us.. It would be amazing to see an international pairing like Torres & Villa up front wearing the red.. I totally agree about the balance of the team but what a strike force with Stevey G etc behind.. bring it on.. u score 3 we score 4!!

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