Johnson said last night that after the Rochdale game (In which no player gained any credit) he sat down with Wilkinson and explained what performances he had given so far were not good enough. His body language was worrying. He asked Wilkinson if he would like his loan terminating so he could return to Bolton. Conor Refused. He wants to stay and prove his worth to BFC and the fans. Johnson says he is a top top player. In training he is different class. But out on the pitch, he feels he doesnt want the fans to think he is trying. Everything must come naturally to him. (Bizarre!!) Johnson insits that given time he will come good and his confidence will return. Also Johnson added that the Board wanted to sign him on a Permanent contract but it was He (Johnson) who insisted on it being a loan. He admits that some fans simply cannot take to Wilkinson and he splits opinion....... So he thought a loan with a view to make permanent was the best thing. It sounded to me like a deal is in place and we can convert the loan to a permanent at any given time. We will see if Wilkinson will react i suppose. Lets be honest - He cant get much worse!!!
If he is selected and delivers the goods then I like the rest of us will be happy! On current performances apart from the nice finish at Chesterfield, he has been more of a hinderence than help to the team. No room for Carp in our team but having said that most of them were Carp at Rochdale!
I think this is a bit harsh. Regardless of his efforts/performances so far, the skills he appears to have are not suited to a lone striker role with little support from the midfield. Did Johnson offer any insight or admittance that playing a player not suited to a role might hinder his ability to perform? He linked up well with Winnall in that first half at Chesterfield, scored a good goal, had a hand in a couple of good moves, and when Winnall had the chance to put us 2-0 up it was down to having two men up front that created the space for that opportunity to arise. I believe there's a good footballer in there, but I don't think we'll ever see it playing one up front regardless of if his attitude changes. If Johnson has his heart set on the current system, then he should cancel his loan for the benefit of the player.
He's not been very good but Hill told Vaz Te to find another club a few weeks before the Leeds game , so you never know
Thats a fair point, imagine if this was the first weve seen of sam winall. Doubt many people would be giving him much credit so far this season. But at least you can see winall putting the effort in.
Agree with all this with nobs on. Although, in fairness to Johnson, there also appeared to be a lack of effort from Wilkinson at Rochdale.
The first rule of Fight Clu.....sorry, Barnsley FC, is just put a bloody shift in. We're not bothered how good you are, when that red shirt goes on, just give it a right good go. That's what LJ should be telling him.
I was there too last night - he basically said that Wilkinson's body language lets him down as he looks disinterested. He made a number of good points about players, their agents and our shape...specifically related to Hourihane...who got the full backing of his manager.
Worrying to hear that. We've tolerated too many players in the recent past who seem to think natural ability is enough to get them by, and that physical energy is the trademark of a lesser player, the job of the cloggers in the team. I'd hoped we had moved onto signing hungry players rather than the Mellis and Frimpongs of the world. But at least it seems that Johnson won't take it, and Wilkinson won't be selected if the effort's not there. I do sometimes wonder whether he (LJ) is too open in his interviews, saying things that could disrupt players and which should be kept in-house, but it's good to hear that he isn't going to entertain poor attitude. I've actually heard him say that there is a real problem with young players being told by academy coaches from an early age that they are God's gift, giving rise to an attitude which sees them thinking they've 'made it' as footballing superstars, and twitter celebrities, before they've achieved anything, and become unresponsive to any criticism which could improve their game. It's an attitude that leads to the apathy of the ball boys we saw last year (my little bug bear but something which seems to have been remedied over the summer!!), sat ****ing about on their phones, chatting to each other, ignoring the game, and lolloping over without any urgency to collect a ball, as though it's a chore to them and they're beneath it. Credit to Johnson for the bravery to admit he made the wrong decision if it doesn't work out with Wilkinson.
It wasn't actually booked under my name - I was on the front right table. Thought it was a good night, I've never been to one before but thought it was well worth the money. I'm confident that he knows what he's doing...particularly liked what he said about drawing up a list of responsible agents to recommend to the academy lads. Funny what he had to say about Crowley too...obsessed with football and won't stop texting him. Sounds like a committed footballer.
