Michael Johnson!

[Lady Whistledown]

Another case of to much to young.

It can't be the money per se, or every talented young footballer would go down the same route. Wayne Rooney, while he may not be the ultimate role model, came from a rough bit of Liverpool, was a first team regular at sixteen and earning a fortune, but doesn't seem to have spanked his life away in pubs and casinos.

It must be at least partly to do with the people who've surrounded him in his life and perhaps his own upbringing to a degree. Easy to say it, but I wonder if he'd be where he is now if he'd been at United instead of City? At the very least, you get the impression Fergie would have spotted the attitude early on and told him to shape up or ship out. Ravel Morrison was said to have talent to burn, but got the boot for his off field activities. Lee Sharpe never made as much of a success of his career as he should have done because he liked a party a bit too much, while even Beckham was moved on when Fergie felt he was getting above himself.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

He WAS a very good player before his injuries and he's been totally left behind by the facelift City went through.

I worry about his motivation to be a footballer, from the outside looking in we're talking about a guy who hasn't played football for a couple of years, earning £40k a week for an easy life. For me, he would need to say very good things in a face to face meeting with me before deciding to take the chance.

edit I had written most of my post then got busy doing something and returned to post. That was before the pictures!

 

[Simon Morgan]

It can't be the money per se, or every talented young footballer would go down the same route. Wayne Rooney, while he may not be the ultimate role model, came from a rough bit of Liverpool, was a first team regular at sixteen and earning a fortune, but doesn't seem to have spanked his life away in pubs and casinos.

It must be at least partly to do with the people who've surrounded him in his life and perhaps his own upbringing to a degree. Easy to say it, but I wonder if he'd be where he is now if he'd been at United instead of City? At the very least, you get the impression Fergie would have spotted the attitude early on and told him to shape up or ship out. Ravel Morrison was said to have talent to burn, but got the boot for his off field activities. Lee Sharpe never made as much of a success of his career as he should have done because he liked a party a bit too much, while even Beckham was moved on when Fergie felt he was getting above himself.

Agree. And maybe he would have been better off at United. Didn't Fergie famously say that his biggest regret in his career (alongside the sale of Jaap Stam) was not signing Paul Gascoigne? He's good at shipping out trouble makers but I'd say he's not bad at reforming them either.

 

[Nathan]

'Once the subject of a £10m bid from Liverpool' Apparently Liverpool have said that they were interested in him for 10m but will now lower the offer to 9.5m.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Agree. And maybe he would have been better off at United. Didn't Fergie famously say that his biggest regret in his career (alongside the sale of Jaap Stam) was not signing Paul Gascoigne? He's good at shipping out trouble makers but I'd say he's not bad at reforming them either.

He turned down the chance to sign Joe Hart from Shrewsbury for £250,000 too.

Not to mention Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Taibi!

 

[Deleted member 18477]

Looks like he has eaten £40k worth of pies.

Has he checked his BMI

Piglets Pantry would be pleased if we signed him.

 

[Springal]

Was sure he played at the Withdean when we beat City and sure enough he did.

In fact when you look at the team we beat, it is quite astounding - I do not remember them being so strong that day !

BBC SPORT | Football | League Cup | Brighton 2-2 Man City (5-3 pens)

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Weirdly heard Coventry talking to him. Not most reliable source and wasn't very fussed about it but if it happens meh sounds about right. We shouldn't be looking at him currently.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Was sure he played at the Withdean when we beat City and sure enough he did.

In fact when you look at the team we beat, it is quite astounding - I do not remember them being so strong that day !

BBC SPORT | Football | League Cup | Brighton 2-2 Man City (5-3 pens)

For all their strength, look at how weak we were! Apart from THE former Dutch Marine in goal, only El-Abd and Murray have proven themselves to be Championship standard players. But in their defence, most of their team was a bit crappy. Joe Hart on the bench is amusing, but Zabaleta and Kompany (albeit in midfield) are the only others in that squad which was in the Premier League winning side.

 

[house your seagull]

I don't think the papers are making enough of the fact that the kid is crippled by injuries.

No wonder he lost his head, he is crocked. He was crocked at 18-19.

 

[Broady]

Though he has done some stupid things it would be brilliant if he could come back from all this and still make it, Obviously has the talent and if he knuckled down he could probably start again in league 1 or the championship I reckon.

 

[El Presidente]

He is dating the daughter of one of the blokes I work with!

 

[Brightonia]

He turned down the chance to sign Joe Hart from Shrewsbury for £250,000 too.

Not to mention Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Taibi!

RVP, Cantona, Keane.

Nuff said!

 

[Bob!]

Another case of to much to young.

He must be Special

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

What a sad, sad waste of talent.

I understand he's had injury problems but there is no excuse for a professional athlete being paid a fortune to balloon to that size. He's made it virtually impossible for himself to recover a career at the top level.

 

[The Modfather]

Jesus what a waste

 

[El Presidente]

Jesus what a waste

Sounds quite tortured by recent events, this is from the Manchester Evening News

Michael Johnson has revealed the tortured battle with inner demons which has led to him being released by City.

The Blues star, once tipped to be an England captain and hailed as ‘the new Colin Bell’, told MEN Sport he has been undergoing treatment for several years at the Priory Clinic, which specialises in dealing with mental illness, alcoholism, pie and gambling addiction.

And in a heartfelt plea, 24-year-old Johnson, whose football career appears to be over, has asked that he be ‘left alone to live the rest of my life’.

It has emerged that City had decided in December to quietly pay up Johnson’s contract, which was due to expire at the end of June, and release him.

Asked whether he had a message to Blues fans, who are disappointed that he did not fulfil his potential, Urmston-born Johnson, a product of the City academy, said: “I am more disappointed than anyone but that’s the way it goes.”

He initially declined to say any more but rang us back, revealing: “I have been attending the Priory Clinic for a number of years now with regard to my mental health and would be grateful if I could now be left alone to live the rest of my life at Greggs.”

The Priory has treated several high-profile stars, including Stan Collymore, Paul Gascoigne and Ricky Hatton.

City legend Colin Bell said last night: “It’s a terrible shame. It’s hard to accept when your career ends early and for his to end at his age will be really
difficult to take, unlike eclairs.”

 

[piersa]

Another case of to much to young.

ou are right but if he was on a 40k a week over 4 years, he is set for life and does not need to know about the travails of the working man such as you and I.

 

[piersa]

Been done for drink driving twice in three months.

No sympathy from me. By all means f*** your own life up but don't risk others. Nob.

very fair

 

[Worthingite]

If he's got problems, then fair enough, but if you believe what some of the biggest names in football (Stuart Pearce, Sven, Mancini and Hamann) have said about him, he was quality through and through. They do say that form is temporary, class is permanent, and if he's as good as they say he is, a cheeky punt on him would do Gus no harm. He seems to get the best out of players, and perhaps getting him fit in the dev squad first, and having him on a pay as you play deal couldn't hurt? I seem to remember Gus has curbed Kaz's wild ways, and Bridgey seems to be thriving after a few years in the wilderness. I'd take a punt, the lad was supposed to be mental good.