Mikey Johnston

For me his ability has never really been in doubt (same can't be said for a lot of our current squad)

However, he can't handle playing for us.. visibly shrinks when things go against him.. the amount of injuries haven't helped him and has made the fans even more impatient.

 

Said it BILLION times... There's a player there.

I was actually hoping, with BRs reputation, a la MoR, he could get him going.

He's doing well for WB. Not blowing any skirts up, but playing as a counter attacking outlet and doing damage.

Obviously the play is more open down there, no backs to the wall defences, but I'll always stick by my opinion he could've been something, arguably more potential than James Forrest.

Hope he does well.

 

Conor Hazard is the Plymouth goal.

It was a good goal.

 

It's a cracking goal. Looks like a more open game but probably what you get when there aren't 11 players behind the ball constantly.

 

Some players mature later than others. As he gets older his mentality and composure have time to improve. He's very likely done here, but it's not impossible that he comes back in the summer, does well in preseason and makes a solid contribution next season.

 

Gonna say it.
I'd rather have MJ on the wing than Kuhn!

And I said MJ wasn't and probably still isn't good enough for Celtic.

Says a lot that tbh.

 

Fair play to him.. just think he could be an EPL player next year

 

Getting kicked up and down and body checked 50 times a game didn't suit him... Especially in * winter weather on barely cultivated potato fields and plastic pitches...

 

He's a coward who didn't do enough for a Celtic side. Had more chances than any other player I've ever known. Over 4 years without a goal for us. One good goal for West Brom doesn't change that. Even his goals against Dundee recently had a huge element of luck in both.

 

Problem we have created is that we sold Jota for a fortune and replaced him with 4 wingers who all look pretty mediocre. I don't think Mikey Johnston is any worse that what we have brought in at the moment but he isn't that good that he managed to become a mainstay in the team. We are just replacing average players with more average players hoping one becomes a big hit.

 

And there in one sentence is our transfer policy.

 

Well really, we replaced him with a guy who’s set up more goals than him in any of his seasons here, matched him goal for goal in the Champions League, who’s output is seriously impressive. Not as good but honestly did anyone expect us to be able to get as good a player as Jota? I didn’t really. Problem goes way beyond Jota’s replacement.

 

It does but it speaks to the lack of conviction we have in our transfer policy. We made a fortune from Jota and rather than spending even a third of that to bring in talent we waste 2m on tilio who we don't play, 3m on Palma, 2m on Yang, then 3m on Kuhn. Spending 2-3m on unproven players doesn't feel like any way to improve a squad that already had Johnston, Forrest, maeda and abada. We end up with a glut of average players, no real hierarchy or plan for them and inevitably we end up replacing like for like.
.

 

Don't wish him any harm but he's pish.

 

Which is part of the deeper issues I’m meaning. Issues run deeper than that as well.

 

Mikey Johnston says Brendan Rodgers didn't want him to leave Celtic on loan during the January window.

The Republic of Ireland international joined West Brom until the end of the season on deadline day.

Johnston struggled for regular game time at Parkhead this season with competition in the form of Daizen Maeda, Luis Palma and Yang Hyun-jun.

The January arrival of Nicolas Kuhn put the 24-year-old even further down pecking order which led to his loan move.

And Johnston is enjoying life in the English Championship.

He said: "I think [Rodgers] probably would have kept me if it was up to him. But I think we had nine wingers at the end so I think it would have been harsh had they made me stay.

"He was great with me to be honest with you and I think he wants the best for me so obviously coming here was that.

"I would have loved to be starting every week at Celtic but this is another massive club I have come to so it does not feel like a step down.

"I am obviously playing in a good league as well and it is important for my career.

“I am here now and I just want to make an impact and cross that bridge when I come to it. I want to make an impact and help the team get to the play-offs.

 

Interesting comments lawwell strikes again...

 

I'd have loved him to make it here but his times up.

 

It was Mikey himself who forced the move ya * doughball