There was a major furore and a public outcry when Roy Hodgson did not pick Rio Ferdinand for his Euro Squad. It understandably became louder when Cahill’s vacant spot was given to Martin Kelly, and not the Man United defender with 81 caps for England. In this entire hullabaloo, another name went quietly unnoticed.
Adam Johnson, arguably one of the finest English talents we’ve seen in the recent past, was also among those overlooked. Except this time, Hodgson was in the clear. How could he give a position to a player who had only managed 10 appearances for his side in the entire season?
Trending
Last season would have been the best time for Johnson to make the brave decision of changing clubs. Brave because, leaving a club like Manchester City means letting go of a big fat pay package: 50,000 quid a week. Had Johnson taken the plunge though, he would almost certainly have found a place in the English squad. The most unfair bit was that Johnson did play well when he did. 6 goals and 2 assists in 10 appearances are definitely impressive stats. Sadly, even this wasn’t enough to cement a starting berth.
Better late than never, they say. With the player finally voicing his discontent, it looks like we’re going to see Adam Johnson in a different kit. And more importantly, we’re probably going to see him more often. But which team though?
Is there place for one more?
Manchester United: Traditionally, a rather unlikely transfer. Given the derby rivalry and the wrath of the fans that he will have to endure, Johnson would be better off at a different club. But putting this aside, do Man United really need another winger? Nani, Young and Valencia have a healthy rivalry as far as team selection goes. Another player vying for the same position could well disrupt this harmony and unsettle the current team. Then again, with talk of Nani moving on, Adam Johnson seems to be a pretty good replacement, even more so at just £ 10 million.
Arsenal: Podolski and Giroud have already been signed. Add to that RVP, Walcott, Gervinho, Rosicky and the Ox, and you have an Arsenal attacking force that sounds pretty scary. And rather full. With Arsenal’s more pressing concerns being their defence, Johnson would probably be surplus to requirements here too. On the other hand, he could probably give stiff competition to Gervinho and Walcott, and if he is to outperform them and form some sort of an understanding with RVP, he could well become an important part of Arsene Wenger’s plans.
‘Whoa, Adam Johnson too, you said?’
Tottenham: They definitely need wingers. Bale and Lennon are pretty much the wing department of Tottenham FC. With 23 appearances and only 3 goals and 7 assists in them, Lennon couldn’t even find a spot in the Euro squad. Adam Johnson might just be what this team needs to take it to that next level.
Newcastle: What a season they had! Alan Pardew and his brilliant acquisitions (Demba Ba and Cisse) led them to an impressive fifth place finish. With Ben Arfa among their numbers, Johnson would be a good fit. He has the potential to replace Obertan, but Gutierrez, who racked up the highest number of appearances (after Tim Krul), will be a bit of a challenge. It’s certainly lesser than that at City though.
Money’s not a problem.
Chelsea: Champions League Winners. A rich owner is a good thing. A very happy and rich owner is much more than one could hope for. Chelsea are at a very important stage right now. With the impending departures of Bosingwa and Kalou, they are trying to rebuild their squad. With big money come big names. Krasic, Hulk and Cavani are the biggest names that always crop up when Chelsea and transfers are discussed. Although Johnson would undoubtedly be a cheaper signing with more than affordable wages, this move somehow seems unlikely. Given the chance though, Johnson should be able to rise to the challenge.
Everton: In spite of always being given a rather limited budget, David Moyes has admirers in fans and pundits alike. Shrewd sales, and thoughtful and well scouted purchases have kept Everton somewhere up there, but they haven’t really been a top 4 team. Given the funds, one would say Moyes should definitely go for it. Two major problems will be other interested clubs and wage demands.
Liverpool: The last couple of seasons showed Liverpool buying English players by the dozen. In fact, they had the highest number of players in the England squad. Carroll, Henderson, and Downing arrived at the club for hefty amounts of fees paid, but with no real ROI. Rumours are that they are planning to make a £ 16 million bid for Johnson. Will he be able to make the immediate impact that Downing could not?
Other Clubs: Sunderland apparently want Johnson on loan. They seem to be getting rather good at this. Welbeck, Bendtner and now Johnson. Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa would probably not be as attractive a proposition as the other clubs mentioned. But on a good day, Marc Albrighton (assuming he betters his performances) and Adam Johnson can be pretty impressive.
Will Adam Johnson make the move? We can only wait and hope.
