Mikey Johnston

I'm absolutely BAFFLED by the attitude of some on here.
Never seen such a "get him punted" attitude for a guy in my life.

Is he * Messi, no of course not. But we've a 24 year old doing well in the Portuguese top flight, who is committed to improving all aspects of his game, and who wants to prove doubters wrong.

Ironically, he has/ had the same issues as James Forrest; playing football like a * 12 year old.

JF used to boil my * * with his play. Head down, run into players, sit on his * looking at the ref for a free. If he didn't run into someone looking the free, then he smashed it looking for a worldie.
No manager ever beat that * out of him (BR maybe gave it a go) , and he didn't get half the stick MJ gets. For some bizarre reason folk were all too ready to lick his pole, possibly because he scored some really important, high profile goals, but he was and still is, a * infuriating player. As well as a bit of a ned (* wagging in a bar FFS).
We were told year after year that such and such a club wanted him. Harry Rednapp loves him, he's going to spurs blah blah blah. No * EVER took a punt on him, because he's a one dimensional player who never tackled the deficiencies in his game.

And here we have MJ. A player literally making headlines in Portugal because of his play, and busting his * to improve... "Get him punted".

I'll wait for Ange to tell us he can't make it here, before I listen to * nonsense that gets spewed about this kid over and over.

Not good enough for Celtic, not good enough for Scotland, no end product, sick note, * me. You'd think he was a Hun.

 

Not sure how wee Jamesy has got dragged into this. You want to stand up for MJ by showing the same * poor attitude to another player who has also had his share of unjust stick from the fans?

 

Talks in the Portuguese media that despite being refused an option to buy Vitoria are determined to keep Mikey and with European money secured are prepating a bid.

 

You can hear it in Mikey Johnston's voice. He's far more relaxed than he ever was at Celtic. He sounds content, comfortable - and happy.

And no wonder. Because as the sun splits the sky in Guimaraes, his outlook suddenly looks a lot brighter. When he left Celtic last summer, the future appeared bleak. Injuries and a lack of game time meant there was a dark cloud hanging over him when he arrived in Portugal. But not now.



It’s clear that Johnston is a different person - and player - to the one Ange Postecoglou sent on his way. Gone are the stresses of Glasgow and everything that’s part of the Old Firm gig. At Vitoria Guimaraes, he’s been given space to breathe. Space to develop his undoubted talent. Space to enhance his tactical understanding. And space to get fit. Properly fit. This season, Johnston has played 31 games in all competitions - more than he’s ever managed at Parkhead.



When Postecoglou sanctioned the loan move, he said: “There's definitely a talented footballer there. But sometimes you just need a different environment to help that happen.”




Guimaraes has provided that for Johnston. And he’s now flourishing as a result. He has never doubted his ability since breaking in at Celtic as a teenager six years ago.

But trusting his body has been far more difficult. He missed a year of football with medial ligament damage to his knee. Groin and ankle problems also curtailed him at his boyhood club.


He needed a fresh start, different surroundings, a new focus - to get himself going again. And it now looks like the winger is ready to motor again.


As well as being a key player in Vitoria’s charge up the table into the Europa League spots, he’s now an international with adopted country, Republic of Ireland. His career will hit a crossroads this summer.

He is determined to go back to Celtic and prove to Postecoglou that he can be relied upon. But at the same time, his experience in Portugal has been career-changing.




In an exclusive interview with Mailsport,Johnston said: “The lifestyle is good here and there’s a bit less stress, if I’m being honest. I’m enjoying it.

“And obviously, the football is great, a really high standard. This is the best run of games I’ve had in my career so far




the start of a season in Scotland - and I found this sometimes at Celtic - you play Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday. And my body couldn’t handle it when I was younger. When I first came into the squad, I was just a kid.

“I wasn’t developed enough yet, I just had talent. But this move is what I’ve needed for a few years.

“I could have gone to the Championship in England or other clubs in Scotland. But I didn’t want that. I wanted a fresh start and a chance to build my name up again.

“Thankfully, it seems to have worked. I’ve even tried to learn a bit of Portuguese! I felt I had to get away and spread my wings a bit




If I’d have gone somewhere in Scotland and had a bad game, people would have said I wasn’t good enough. But if I had a good game, their reaction would be: ‘Well, he should be doing well, he’s come from Celtic’.

“Out here, I’m playing in a bigger league and doing well. So hopefully that means a bit more.”




A word that you hear often from players and coaches is rhythm. And in Johnston’s case, it might just be the single most important thing he’s achieved while in Portugal.

At Celtic, he’d get thrown in for a big game - Postecoglou started him in the 2021 League Cup Final victory over Hibs - and perform well. You’d expect him to kick on, take his game to the next level.

But then an injury, a poor display or a change in the line-up would set him back. It feels like that’s been his Celtic story so far.

But he’s convinced that he’s never been in a better position to change that narrative now. Johnston said: “I’ve worked so hard over here with the sports scientists. I’m determined to have my body right for next season.

“This is the fittest I’ve ever felt in my career so far. My running stats are really good, which I know they haven’t been in the past.

“I wasn’t 100 percent fit when I arrived but I now feel really good. I trust my body now and know I’ll be alright.

“I’ve improved as a player here. As well as confidence in my own body, just confidence itself has increased.

“Knowing I can do it has been key. I’ve played against some big teams here. Sporting, Benfica, Porto, Champions League clubs. And I’ve done well.

“So I know I can handle a high level. That has given me confidence. It’s just about rhythm with me. I’ve got into a rhythm this season.

“There have always been spells at Celtic where I’ve played a few games but then something has stopped me from kicking on. This year, I’ve had rhythm. I’ve played 90 percent of the games since I’ve been here and everything feels good.”






If Johnston had been plying his trade for a Portuguese side scratching around the bottom half of the table, he might not have been able to showcase his true talent.

But Guimaraes are currently tucked in behind the league’s big boys as they bid for a European berth. To help them get there, he’s had to adapt and show different sides to his game.

And if he can contribute to securing that top six finish it would be the tangible success he hoped the move would yield. He said: It’s one of the best leagues in Europe and it’s very tactical.

“I’ve learned a lot here so far. This is a big club I’m at. Only a few years ago, they drew with Arsenal in the Europa League


A lot of players have earned huge transfers off the back of their performances at Vitoria Guimaraes. Edson Tapsoba went to Bayer Leverkusen for £17 million, Marcus Edwards to Sporting Lisbon for £7 million.

“So a lot of clubs look at this club for players. More boys are now going abroad from Scotland, like Aaron Hickey, Lewis Ferguson and others.


But it’s tougher than you think to do it. It’s easy to go to a foreign country and fail. Clubs usually want to play their own players, from their own country.

“Not everything in your career will be a straight line. But I’ve realised, it’s up to me to make my career in the game, no-one else.

“It doesn’t matter what other people think. But it’s always nice when you’ve got a point to prove.”

 

Good to hear him saying he wants to get back into the team. There are players who would have chucked it after going out on loan, but he seems to have knuckled down, and be all accounts seems to have done very well in a more than decent league.

 

Bring him back and have a look..

People keep banging on about the homegrown quota and he'd probably more use to us than Forrest of now..

 

That's great!

 

This. I doubt Mikey will make it here tbh but at this stage of his career he must be a better option than Forrest.

 

If he can stay fit and has matured I'd have him in the squad ahead of haksabanovic.. there is most defo a player there..

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Has to be..

People will say that Mikey can't stay fit....but Forrest has been out practically all season with some sort of injury and likely on a much bigger wage, getting on and a lot slower..

Mikey when fit and on form can go by a man, use quick and can produce. Can play either side as well. A game like yesterday he would've at least committed some of them..

 

I’ve never quite rated him, but several of the posts above make valid points.

Judging by reports, he has had a proper football season at long last.

I would have him over Forrest and Haksabanovic.
I think Jamesie is done and Haksabanovic can flatter to deceive in games. Any crucial chances or performances in big games pass him by.

If Mikey has ironed out his previous dreadful decision making and fitness then Ange will have a decision to make.

 

Happy to give him a chance next season even I think he'll do a better job than Maeda if he was playing yesterday.

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Never liked him. Hopefully he just goes.

 

I'd just trust Ange's judgement in pre season and if he does or doesn't think he's up to it....I'll be fine with..

This is coming from someone who massively rated him coming through as well..

 

I'm on same boat as you mate.

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For me the only issue is can he stay fit long term. If he can his the ability and talent is there IMHO to be a significant player for us and his play when he is at his best would fit very well into Ange's system in terms of how he wants his wingers to play. Plus at his best he is a joy to watch with his ability to beat players and pick a forward pass.

 

Is he making headlines in Portugal or is that hyperbole?

He got two assists a couple of weeks ago, which seems to be what people are getting excited about. Prior to that, he hadn't scored or assisted in the league since October.

It's a fairly miserable return for a winger who is apparently tearing it up over there.

 

much harder league than ours in terms of quality but I do get your point in terms of output

 

Keep him as far away from Pakhead as possible. We have got enough passengers as it is.

 

Football isn't just about goals or assists. He created 4 chances for teamates today, them not putting those chances away doesn't mean Mikey wasn't doing his job or not influencing the game. If you were to just look at G and A stats for last season you would probably think Rogic had middling season when in fact he was one of our most important players.

Thankfully for Mikey Ange will be looking at things in a bit more depth than just "how many goals and how many assists?"