Stefan Johansen

Johansen is sensational.

 

Agreed.

 

Wouldn't say he oozes class, I'd leave that for the likes of Iniesta, Pirlo etc but for sheer endeavour and determination to make things happen he has been top drawer in recent months. Today his decision making when charging at goal was excellent and some of the balls he played through were delightful and deserved better finishes. I think when he was struggling as one of the sitting midfielders early in the season a lot of us on this forum said he should be pushed into the attacking midfield role instead of Commons as his energy was what we required in this high pressing strategy. So far that has been the case. The team now takes their lead of his pressing play and it allows us to get higher up the pitch.

 

I like him a lot and he's definitely playing better further up than he was playing deeper earlier in the season. That said, he doesn't have the qualities we need in a 'No.10'.

 

Which are what exactly?

 

The vision and passing quality to split defences and the poise and dribbling ability on the ball to take players on.

 

Are we talking about the same player here?

 

Surely you must be taking the *?

 

He's not exactly playing the number 10 position though, he's just pushed furthest forward out of our three men in the middle. That suits him best.

 

Not at all. His advance passing ability is better than anyone else in our midfield but it's really not that great. As I said he is a pretty good player but he's being dangerously overrated by some, we still need a genuine playmaker and have done for a long time.

 

His skill and weight of pass isn't his whole game, it's his work rate that separates him and makes Ronnie favour him. We've seen already that Ronnie isn't satisfied with just skill in his dropping of Commons, all this talk of a no.10 is pointless, the way Johansen plays is far more suited to our style.

 

Player of the season other than Guidetti for me so far

 

I'd have him ahead of Guidetti so far.

Been vital in Europe for us.

 

His energy is brilliant and I'd have him over Commons (who again imo doesn't have the qualities we need in that role, he's a finisher) in the team every day of the week.

I still don't think he has the guile and vision we need in a playmaker.

 

Aye, that's kind of my point: I don't think a playmaker fits into Ronnie's style. He likes to play a fast tempo, high pressing style and a typical playmaker slows the game down too much. I think Johansen's style is far more suited to us than a usual no. 10's.

 

Absolutely sensational today. Wow

 

As far as I'm concerned, every team needs a player who can put his foot on the ball, dictate the game and create. Our lack of that sort of player has cost us massively in Europe in the last few years.

Things have definitely picked up recently but I'm still not putting too much faith in Ronny's 'style'.

 

Love reading this thread now after being one of the few to be defending him earlier this season.

Guy is a class act, what a player, never stops.

Hope he is a mainstay in our team for years.

 

Immense today