Danny Johnson

[Dan]

You could argue that DJ is starting to need more time on the pitch. Clear message here .

We need to get Akins Oates and DKD in the team up front imo. They were great yesterday and linked up well. Johnson is only gonna be used if there's a forced sub through injury or if we need a goal in the last 15 minutes

Yes those three looked very good. Johnson won't even get in the squad when players come back, he adds absolutely nothing.

DJ hasn’t impressed me in any game he’s played in. Doesn’t suit us at all.

I don't get what he was doing differently at Walsall.

Scoring goals!

[pemill]

If DJ had been afforded the same amount of game time as Akins then I'm sure he would have adjusted to our game plan and certainly bagged more goals for sure.

I get the impression it's something personal between Clough & Johnson, no matter how much PR they do to try and put a different spin on it.

[cassellswasmagic]

If DJ had been afforded the same amount of game time as Akins then I'm sure he would have adjusted to our game plan and certainly bagged more goals for sure.

I get the impression it's something personal between Clough & Johnson, no matter how much PR they do to try and put a different spin on it.

Maybe. Also worth noting, Akins has been playing in a few different positions, whereas DJ can’t really. Some players just suit some teams and not others!

[georgefostersbeard]

If DJ had been afforded the same amount of game time as Akins then I'm sure he would have adjusted to our game plan and certainly bagged more goals for sure.

I get the impression it's something personal between Clough & Johnson, no matter how much PR they do to try and put a different spin on it.

I would argue that there has not been any evidence from his play to back that up. It seems an argument based on hope rather than experience of his matches since he joined

[Sneag]

If DJ had been afforded the same amount of game time as Akins then I'm sure he would have adjusted to our game plan and certainly bagged more goals for sure.

I get the impression it's something personal between Clough & Johnson, no matter how much PR they do to try and put a different spin on it.

Maybe. Also worth noting, Akins has been playing in a few different positions, whereas DJ can’t really. Some players just suit some teams and not others!

Also even when Akins was struggling for form he was putting a shift in.

[cassellswasmagic]

If DJ had been afforded the same amount of game time as Akins then I'm sure he would have adjusted to our game plan and certainly bagged more goals for sure.

I get the impression it's something personal between Clough & Johnson, no matter how much PR they do to try and put a different spin on it.

Maybe. Also worth noting, Akins has been playing in a few different positions, whereas DJ can’t really. Some players just suit some teams and not others!

Also even when Akins was struggling for form he was putting a shift in.

He’s impressed recently.

[Marky Mark]

If DJ had been afforded the same amount of game time as Akins then I'm sure he would have adjusted to our game plan and certainly bagged more goals for sure.

I get the impression it's something personal between Clough & Johnson, no matter how much PR they do to try and put a different spin on it.

DJ plays a different game to how we play, that's why Clough let him go out on loan in the first place, and would have preferred to sell him - he's only playing because we're about 2 injuries away from putting some of the Under 15's in. Walsall play a game that suits him, we play a different game - Walsall have scored 40 goals all season, we've scored 59, we've had the 2nd most shots in the league, I'm going to go with our game and not Walsalls. He's been training with the first team for the best part of 3 months, the same length of time as Keillor Dunn who has popped 5 in and assisted 3, so he's had plenty of time to adjust if he was that type of player but he simply doesn't play the same game as we play - his strengths are in a team like Walsall, not in a team like ours. It doesn't make him a bad player, us a bad team or Clough a bad manager. I don't want to say that it's not rocket science, but it's not rocket science.

[Chrisuknottm]

If DJ had been afforded the same amount of game time as Akins then I'm sure he would have adjusted to our game plan and certainly bagged more goals for sure.

I get the impression it's something personal between Clough & Johnson, no matter how much PR they do to try and put a different spin on it.

DJ plays a different game to how we play, that's why Clough let him go out on loan in the first place, and would have preferred to sell him - he's only playing because we're about 2 injuries away from putting some of the Under 15's in. Walsall play a game that suits him, we play a different game - Walsall have scored 40 goals all season, we've scored 59, we've had the 2nd most shots in the league, I'm going to go with our game and not Walsalls. He's been training with the first team for the best part of 3 months, the same length of time as Keillor Dunn who has popped 5 in and assisted 3, so he's had plenty of time to adjust if he was that type of player but he simply doesn't play the same game as we play - his strengths are in a team like Walsall, not in a team like ours. It doesn't make him a bad player, us a bad team or Clough a bad manager. I don't want to say that it's not rocket science, but it's not rocket science.

I get all that Mark but my comment is , then why sign DJ in the first place if he's obviously so different to what NC wants from his players, and especially forwards? Did we just "do a Chelsea" and sign him because he was available or who made the decision that he was right for us and then, oooops, he wasn't?? Someone's judgement was wrong.

[gazza1988]

In my opinion Clough underestimated league 2. He thought it was still the classic target man and poacher combo was needed for promotion. That's why he signed Hawkins too. Clough had never managed in league 2 before he joined us. It's been either championship/league 1 or non-league. He left Burton 13 points clear at the top of the conference in January of the 08/09 season. Took over a side closer to the conference than league 1.

I'm of the opinion that had we not required Hawkins to play at the back we would have played DJ more and got better returns. Him and Hawks would have been plan B (or plan A against certain opposition) but it wasn't to be.

DJ would suit a counter attacking side or a direct side. We favour a pressing side. But there are times we've gone direct and/or counter attacked.

There are times where he's come on and we've settled for a point and tried to nick one on the counter. Issue is we've swapped to that with 10-15 minutes to go. Our tired and already "thin on numbers" defence can't always get the ball out to counter. It's unfortunate but happens.

[georgefostersbeard]

If DJ had been afforded the same amount of game time as Akins then I'm sure he would have adjusted to our game plan and certainly bagged more goals for sure.

I get the impression it's something personal between Clough & Johnson, no matter how much PR they do to try and put a different spin on it.

DJ plays a different game to how we play, that's why Clough let him go out on loan in the first place, and would have preferred to sell him - he's only playing because we're about 2 injuries away from putting some of the Under 15's in. Walsall play a game that suits him, we play a different game - Walsall have scored 40 goals all season, we've scored 59, we've had the 2nd most shots in the league, I'm going to go with our game and not Walsalls. He's been training with the first team for the best part of 3 months, the same length of time as Keillor Dunn who has popped 5 in and assisted 3, so he's had plenty of time to adjust if he was that type of player but he simply doesn't play the same game as we play - his strengths are in a team like Walsall, not in a team like ours. It doesn't make him a bad player, us a bad team or Clough a bad manager. I don't want to say that it's not rocket science, but it's not rocket science.

I get all that Mark but my comment is , then why sign DJ in the first place if he's obviously so different to what NC wants from his players, and especially forwards? Did we just "do a Chelsea" and sign him because he was available or who made the decision that he was right for us and then, oooops, he wasn't?? Someone's judgement was wrong.

Go through his permanent signings and judge whether they are a good fit and have gone into regular first team selections and then judge whether Johnson is an outlier or if this is a significant mistake which indicates a problem.
I would fear someone judging me in my work on one decision over two years without judging it against all of the others.

[The One]

If DJ had been afforded the same amount of game time as Akins then I'm sure he would have adjusted to our game plan and certainly bagged more goals for sure.

I get the impression it's something personal between Clough & Johnson, no matter how much PR they do to try and put a different spin on it.

DJ plays a different game to how we play, that's why Clough let him go out on loan in the first place, and would have preferred to sell him - he's only playing because we're about 2 injuries away from putting some of the Under 15's in. Walsall play a game that suits him, we play a different game - Walsall have scored 40 goals all season, we've scored 59, we've had the 2nd most shots in the league, I'm going to go with our game and not Walsalls. He's been training with the first team for the best part of 3 months, the same length of time as Keillor Dunn who has popped 5 in and assisted 3, so he's had plenty of time to adjust if he was that type of player but he simply doesn't play the same game as we play - his strengths are in a team like Walsall, not in a team like ours. It doesn't make him a bad player, us a bad team or Clough a bad manager. I don't want to say that it's not rocket science, but it's not rocket science.

If he does not fit here who scouted him and signed him?

[Marky Mark]

DJ was brought in to play off Hawkins with Oates or Lapslie behind, that’s how we started in his first game v Bristol Rovers and a couple after that. I can’t remember the exact chain of events but we started getting injuries, both DJ and in defence, so Clough moved Hawkins to defence and Oates further up front meaning we didn’t play with an out and out target man that DJs game suits to play off, and it never went back. Things change, the DJ situation obviously did, injuries didn’t help, and the move around meant ultimately that he became surplus to requirements because there were others that were better for the team in his position in a changed style. He would have been long gone, knocking in goals for a team that suits his style of play if Clough had his way. That he’s still here at all for us to debate to death isn’t of Clough’s choosing, I’m sure of that.

Oates wasn’t brought here as an out and out forward, but things have changed and now he is, that’s the other side of change.

[georgefostersbeard]

Oates was initially swapping with Lapslie and was not a big hit at first. Moving him up front and centre, even at the cost of Johnson, seems sensible

[Elkesley Stag]

DJ was brought in to play off Hawkins with Oates or Lapslie behind, that’s how we started in his first game v Bristol Rovers and a couple after that. I can’t remember the exact chain of events but we started getting injuries, both DJ and in defence, so Clough moved Hawkins to defence and Oates further up front meaning we didn’t play with an out and out target man that DJs game suits to play off, and it never went back. Things change, the DJ situation obviously did, injuries didn’t help, and the move around meant ultimately that he became surplus to requirements because there were others that were better for the team in his position in a changed style. He would have been long gone, knocking in goals for a team that suits his style of play if Clough had his way. That he’s still here at all for us to debate to death isn’t of Clough’s choosing, I’m sure of that.

Oates wasn’t brought here as an out and out forward, but things have changed and now he is, that’s the other side of change.

the season before Johnson signed he scored the most goals from the fewest chances created . We created loads of chances but scored nowhere near enough . Play him alongside a big target man ( Hawkins ) and in theory its a perfect solution. The options we had were , Oates runs defenders ragged and then Hawkins and Johnson offer something totally different against tired defenders or Hawkins and Johnson pull defenders all over the place before Oates races past shattered defenders .Choose your starting 11 based upon the oppositions weakness and in theory you have two equally good striking options that very seldom play past more than 65 or 70 minutes a game. When Hawkins moved to defence we played the same system , one up front. Oates was far more capable of playing the lone striker role .

[bellwhiff]

In my opinion Clough underestimated league 2. He thought it was still the classic target man and poacher combo was needed for promotion. That's why he signed Hawkins too. Clough had never managed in league 2 before he joined us. It's been either championship/league 1 or non-league. He left Burton 13 points clear at the top of the conference in January of the 08/09 season. Took over a side closer to the conference than league 1.

I'm of the opinion that had we not required Hawkins to play at the back we would have played DJ more and got better returns. Him and Hawks would have been plan B (or plan A against certain opposition) but it wasn't to be.

DJ would suit a counter attacking side or a direct side. We favour a pressing side. But there are times we've gone direct and/or counter attacked.

There are times where he's come on and we've settled for a point and tried to nick one on the counter. Issue is we've swapped to that with 10-15 minutes to go. Our tired and already "thin on numbers" defence can't always get the ball out to counter. It's unfortunate but happens.

Tha’s forrit nah.

[Costastag]

His dad signed justin fashanua and that went well everybody gets one wrong now and then look at fergie and gary birtles it happens

[ST4GS]

His dad signed justin fashanua and that went well everybody gets one wrong now and then look at fergie and gary birtles it happens

Fergie and Birtles? How are they connected?

[Dave Wayne]

His dad signed justin fashanua and that went well everybody gets one wrong now and then look at fergie and gary birtles it happens

Fergie and Birtles? How are they connected?

I think he meant Neil Webb.

[CassellsCap]

All this about Danny Johnson, just lay off the bloke . He’s a human being, a footballer with a short career and things might not of worked out but we have a manager who knows him, players who know and train with him everyday. He is most probably a nice bloke so good luck and all the best ..

[Costastag]

His dad signed justin fashanua and that went well everybody gets one wrong now and then look at fergie and gary birtles it happens

Fergie and Birtles? How are they connected?

I think he meant Neil Webb.

I thought fergie signed birtles but looking back im probably wrong there

[Dan]

Think it was Ron Atkinson?

[NEStag]

Dave Sexton signed Garry Birtles.

[Dave Wayne]

His dad signed justin fashanua and that went well everybody gets one wrong now and then look at fergie and gary birtles it happens

Fergie and Birtles? How are they connected?

I think he meant Neil Webb.

I thought fergie signed birtles but looking back im probably wrong there

Probably ? I don't think it's in doubt.