Adam Johnson

[abramovich]

How the hell did we miss out on that kid.

Don't know what City paid Middlesboro but it can't be much. He looks an outstanding talent already and is only 23.

[BlueBeard]

I seem to remember we were interested in him, which makes it even worse.

[Hutch]

if i remember rightly, City outbid us and offered higher wages.

[chelseabootboy]

thats right hutch outbid us and offered stupid wages...

[TheWestwayWonder]

Well, good to know we were at least in for him. If City were determined to get him, its not like we would outbid them.

When all the buzz about him started, I thought it was the second coming of Stewart Downing or David Bentley. A winger who looks great because theyre in a plodding, below average side.

Im sure once he becomes a valuable part of the England setup, he will want to leave City if he isnt regularly commanding a first team place (i.e. if their transfer habits have calmed down)

[Ruh Buh Juh]

I only saw him in a handful of games for Middlesborough, but every time he was the standout player and I was desperate for us to get him, was gutted we missed out.

I'm happy for him if anything, a rising English star who is actually a starter for City at the moment, he should be a regular for England too. Has the makings to be a cracking winger.

[bluevale2]

He's certainly a talented lad, and reminds me of me when I was younger. (Tongue firmly planted in cheek!)

[HazardsLeftPeg]

The frustrating thing is that City have now got a talented and also young English core which we haven't. Hope we start seeing some English youngsters coming through here

[wicksy]

As I recall we tried to sign him but couldn't match City's offer so that was that.

For me, Cappello's biggest mistake was not taking him to the world cup. He'd already shown his ability and he could have made the difference. But all water under the bridge now...

[bluemoon]

Thats right we outbid you to the tune of 100 million and are paying him 500k a week.

In actual fact we payed 6 million for him. Glad we had the balls to put our faith in him and our reaping the rewards. Absolute superstar in the making without the billy big bollocks attitude of most of the other english players, (ours included.) All Adam seems interested in is getting better and better and its what he is doing every time he steps out on the pitch. He absolutely tortures left backs now, so much so they are trying to double or treble up on him and yet he still finds a way through.

One of the few players that I genuinely believe wants to be at the club thanks to our belief in him and giving him the chance to shine.

[Nibs]

Thats right we outbid you to the tune of 100 million and are paying him 500k a week.

In actual fact we payed 6 million for him. Glad we had the balls to put our faith in him and our reaping the rewards. Absolute superstar in the making without the billy big bollocks attitude of most of the other english players, (ours included.) All Adam seems interested in is getting better and better and its what he is doing every time he steps out on the pitch. He absolutely tortures left backs now, so much so they are trying to double or treble up on him and yet he still finds a way through.

One of the few players that I genuinely believe wants to be at the club thanks to our belief in him and giving him the chance to shine.

That is refreshing in this day and age.

Really like the look of the lad and he does seem to have the right attitude, even if he did choose the wrong club!!

Also think Milner will be good for you lot. I honestly didn't want him at Chelsea, but the more I see of him, the more I like him. He gets fouled loads but never moans - just picks himself up and gets on with it.

What about Hart though? Great Keeper - without England's keeper for the next decade and some AS LONG AS he doesn't get too big for his boots. Of late, he looks like he thinks he is Billy Big Bollocks and needs taking down a peg or two. I know all top keepers need confidence and he certainly has an aura about him, but he seems to be getting carried away with his own publicity?

[Hutch]

Interesting interview with Danny Mills:

Danny Mills fears for Adam Johnson's Manchester City future after admitting he doesn't think Roberto Mancini likes him. The former Middlesbrough winger scored City's equaliser against Juventus in the Europa League on Wednesday night, but Mills is not convinced his manager believes in him.

The former England right-back told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: "Johnson’s a fantastic player and how he didn’t go to to the World Cup I’ll never know. He’s an impact player, he’s got a trick, he beats people.

"He's the only person in English football at the moment who’s a true winger, a dribbler. "My only worry is he’s not a Mancini type player. I’m not sure Mancini likes him because he will take the odd risk, he will give the ball away and I think he may struggle to get a regular start which would be a massive shame."

Although Mills has concerns about the Italian's possible treatment of the England wide man, he admits he has been impressed with the job he's done at Eastlands so far.

He added: "Mancini’s building a really promising side. Everyone expects them to be this flair, attacking team but Mancini has turned that around and he’s got a big, strong powerful side.

"Not everything is happy in the camp but Mancini will do things his way no matter what, and that’s upset one or two. But, on the flip side, if it’s going well nobody can complain.

"The only thing I think he still lacks - and admittedly we haven't seen much of Balotelli yet - is a 20-25 goal centre-forward."

Full article including audio here:

LINK

[mad_mac]

A good player, and avery promising talent, but I'm not 100% sure where he would have played in our team, whereas City could offer him a start, so no wonder he went there.

I'm glad we weren't held to ransom, and that we stuck with what we have. I'm sure had we signed him there would have been people complaining about "If I was a kid at Chelsea I'd leave, because all we seem to do is sign in other players rather than rely on our own!"

Scott

[HazardsLeftPeg]

A good player, and avery promising talent, but I'm not 100% sure where he would have played in our team, whereas City could offer him a start, so no wonder he went there.

I'm glad we weren't held to ransom, and that we stuck with what we have. I'm sure had we signed him there would have been people complaining about "If I was a kid at Chelsea I'd leave, because all we seem to do is sign in other players rather than rely on our own!"

Scott

Well its not like he'd have sat on our bench for ever. Whereas at City, despite his good form he has been benched in favour of Silva

I hope we dont have to look back later and regret not getting him

[Kev123]

There will always be the one that got away....look at Drogba and Arsenal and imagine how gutted they must be. Hindsight is always 20/20

[mad_mac]

Sure,

but where would he haved played had he come to Chelsea? Left of the starting 3? That would be very harsh on Malouda, and completley undeserved.

If he had came to Chelsea he'd have been on the bench making appearances as a sub, and that would have been unfair to him. It would also mean another expensive bench warmer for Chelsea. I think he is a good player, but we can't go about buying up every promosing young player just because they are for sale. I mean, we're not Man City

[HazardsLeftPeg]

Well, I'd play him ahead of Anelka but in anycase he'd be a starter in a seasons time max. Whereas at city, it was again obvious today that he's their best player bar Tevez, yet the 25+ million pound signings get picked ahead of him.

[mad_mac]

Well, I'd play him ahead of Anelka but in anycase he'd be a starter in a seasons time max. Whereas at city, it was again obvious today that he's their best player bar Tevez, yet the 25+ million pound signings get picked ahead of him.

Pretty harsh on Anelka. However, if Johnson were prepared to come and accept being a substitute for a year then replace Anelka I'd have been fine with that.

[yorkleyblue]

I think ther emight be a bit of over-the-top-ness going on here. We could have been (and probably were) saying the same or similar about any number of new, young, english wingers over the last few years. FFS, Pennant, Bentley, SWP, Lennon, Young, Scott Sinclair, Walcott just off the top of my head. There have been loads others though.

A few good matches, a high-profile transfer and these boys become the footballing equivalent of the secong coming of (insert the name of your invisible friend of choice here)

tell me more about it in a few years time when he is still performing devastatingly on the wing and is a mainstay of the England team.

[TheWestwayWonder]

Yeah, if he was here I would certainly think Malouda and Anelka would start over him. Thats not to say he isnt a great player though. His goal at the weekend looked really classy.

[HazardsLeftPeg]

I think ther emight be a bit of over-the-top-ness going on here. We could have been (and probably were) saying the same or similar about any number of new, young, english wingers over the last few years. FFS, Pennant, Bentley, SWP, Lennon, Young, Scott Sinclair, Walcott just off the top of my head. There have been loads others though.

A few good matches, a high-profile transfer and these boys become the footballing equivalent of the secong coming of (insert the name of your invisible friend of choice here)

tell me more about it in a few years time when he is still performing devastatingly on the wing and is a mainstay of the England team.

He could end up like some of those names you mentioned if he stays at City is what i'm saying. You cant deny his potential though, and i'd be very surprised if he isn't England's best winger in a few years if he isn't right now.

[yorkleyblue]

but that's exactly what was being said about Bentley and Pennant - bags of potential and "i'd be very surprised if he isn't England's best winger in a few years if he isn't right now. "

[HazardsLeftPeg]

You can't write him off just cause most of those players were unduly hyped and turned out to be crap. You have your opinion of course, but for me he is undoubted quality

Just like to add that it's a pity that sh*tty got him and i hope i'm proven wrong

Edited October 5, 2010 by footballoholic

[yorkleyblue]

I just hope that he isn't being "unduly hyped"

[HazardsLeftPeg]

I'm no England fan and have no reason to hype him up. And i hate admitting that an opposition player is actually good