Did anybody watch the football last night?

My husband is a Crystal Palace supporter and that makes me one too. I think its fantastic Andy got into the England Team, but why on earth did Sven play him in a different position and only for such a short time! I think its ridiculous! It was a bit of a kick in the face, and for what reason? When questioned about it he replied "I think he was happy to play", I thought that was a bit snyde.

If he had played him as Striker, at least we would know what he was capable of on the England Team. What is Sven thinking, and should he stay in? Do you think he's a good England Manager?

Anybody have any thoughts on the matter?

My husband is a Crystal Palace supporter and that makes me one too.


Why? :shocking:

Did anybody watch the football last night?

I think its great Andy got into the England Team, but why on earth did Sven play him in a different position and only for such a short time! I think its ridiculous!

If he had played him as Striker, at least we would know what he was capable of on the England Team. What is Sven thinking, and should he stay in? Do you think he's a good England Manager?

Anybody have any thoughts on the matter?
Yes, I have thoughts on the matter.

In the first place he's not good enough to play for England. He's an important striker for Palace, but he simply will not keep his place in the set-up. International level is a huge step up even from Premiership standards and often perfectly capable players like Johnson come into the fray but we never see much of them again. Chris Powell of Charlton was another example - great performances in the Premiership yet looked ordinary and out of his depth in Internationals.

I can understand your frustration with Sven. There are a lot of us out there sharing those sentiments. He's unable to get the best out of what is a very capable team of players. Terry Venables could do it, Bobby Robson could do it, others have failed also to be fair, but I would now like to see a new introduction to take us into next years World Cup. Sven would get us there with no trouble, it's just that once we are there it'll be the same old same old.

The same old same old
Game one - England draw, not a great performance
Game two - England win 1-0 against International part-timers
Game three - England win 2-0, improved performance. Beckham pulls up trees.

2nd round - England win 4-2, Beckham hits two rockets and Gerrard looks like the Worlds greatest midfielder. Media react positively and the entire nation believes this is the one...

Q-Finals - England go out on penalties to either Germany or Argentina. Beckham goes missing, and Gerrard looks knackered.

And it just so happens that Mr.Venables and Mr Robson are out of activity right this moment in time.

I never knew a thing about football or cared for that matter. My hubby loves them and after hearing everything about Crystal Palace and having the game drummed into my head, I've grown to genuinely like and support them.

I love Ian Dowie!! :wub: My husband doesn't even mind as he thinks he's hideous!! :bye:

was replying to ILS post here... will reply to woodies now..

I completely disagree with you about Andy Johnson not being good enough for International football and believe that given the chance, he will prove himself. Unfortunately he wasn't given the chance last night.

He is an excellent footballer, and scores goals against top premiership teams (which in my opinion counts for a lot!).

Andy all the way!!

I have to agree with Woodstock here, just because a player looks good in the premiership doesn't make them good enough to play international football as it has been proved time and time over. But I haven't seen enough of Andy Johnson to say if I think he is good enough or not.

As for sven get rid now, it is the same old, same old rubbish, this was a friendly so why not try a few of the new players out...... imo - he is like the ones before him, they just haven't got the bottle.....

A couple of things to do with last nights footie and stuff:

1) Sven should stay manager.
2) Rooney looks like elephant boy.
3) It was nice to see England players running around and trying to win the ball....I get so fed up with the normal lethagy they have shown of late....yes it wasn't pretty, no there wasn't any goals but the work rate of a majority of players was up ten fold compared to what I have seen in the past.
4) Owen Hargreaves is a waste of space.
5) Gary Neville still couldn't pass water...how he gets picked for every game I do not know...he loses the ball more often than all the other players put together!
6) The Dutch team have some extreme totty!

Andy doesn't just score goals and play good football, he is the TOP ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP GOAL SCORER! Now your average Joe doesn't just get to be the TOP ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP GOAL SCORER for being an alright player.

He's brilliant, a lot of experts recognise that.

And another thing.... what does the England Team consist of?

Premiership Players...

Ooh, another Palace supporter here, Claire. My family were dead pleased to see Andy on the pitch last night. Shame he wasn't able to show his full potential.

On another, slightly boastful note, my son made the front cover of one of Palace's match programmes last season. :cool:

Thats great (your son!)

Glad to see another Eagles supporter!! I don't feel so alone!!

And another thing.... what does the England Team consist of?

Premiership Players... Claire, you're slightly missing my point - just because 99.9% of all English Internationals are selected from the Premiership , there is still a gulf in class between certain individuals who make the England set-up.

I've followed football for over 20 years, and there have been better players than Andy, who have found the International call-up difficult. They're not up against inadequate defences any longer. They're up against quality - and this is when they get found out and made to look more ordinary than they actually are.

If anyone remembers Steve Bull, then I think he is my case in point - he scored 50 goals in one season for Wolves, then was selected on this merit. He only made a handful of appearances, and he even scored a few goals in those appearances, but he was forgotton about very quickly because when he came up against quality, he was made to look quite normal. The coaching staff do not fail to notice such things and are always looking for that one player who can instead make a quality opposition defence look ordinary.

Clive Allen is another - scored 49 goals in a single season - in the Premiership (old Division One) and he also failed to impress.

It's not just about the goals you score - if it was, then my old Sunday League team-mate Trevor would have been selected for every International match.....

I would like to point out that Andy Johnson's cousin lives at the end of my road......thank you

I am not the slightest bit impressed with this news, but I thought someone might be. :huh:

Now you've gone and started something - and no, I'm not impressed! (we'll make that the title of a new thread??)

I hope nobody is impressed that I was once a college friend of the older brother of West Ham goalkeeper Stephen Bywater. And not only that, I was in the same Graphic Design group (also in the room pretty much directly below me in the H.O.R. at uni) as the cousin of Marc Edworthy (former Crystal Palace and now so obscure that I have no idea whom he plays for.....hope you're far from impressed......

I'm not impressed as most professional footballers have very, very large ego's and I can't stand people with large ego's....

Disclaimer *It doesn't stop me enjoying watching them play football or lusting after their bodies though *

I'm not impressed as most professional footballers have very, very large ego's and I can't stand people with large ego's....

Disclaimer *It doesn't stop me enjoying watching them play football or lusting after their bodies though *
nice disclaimer there. (nothing like duplicity, I always say...) I'm so glad you're not impressed.....it was beginning to concern me that it was far too impressive a connection to reveal to the forum....

Claire, you're slightly missing my point - just because 99.9% of all English Internationals are selected from the Premiership , there is still a gulf in class between certain individuals who make the England set-up.

Woody, look at the other English strikers around at the moment:

Michael Owen - hardly played a game all season, but we have seen what he can do.

Wayne Rooney - not a prolific scorer but is a great partner for a prolific goal scorer, but again we know what he is capable of.

Jermaine Defore - scored less than AJ this season, and has a better service from a midfield that is better than Palace's. Again we've seen him before.

James Beattie - hasn't been prolific for quite a while, and never really cut it at International level.

Alan Smith - not at all prolific, not in Man Utd's first team, but does offer something different - again we've seen that he too is not exactly emphatic at International level.

Then there is Darius Vassell, and a few others that are there or there abouts, but either injured or not scoring anymore.

AJ on the other hand is a man in form, he is the top English striker, even though he plays in a team that give him at most 2 chances a game.

He has never played International football before so to say he can't cut it is outrageous, how can you tell? You made the point about Steve Bull and co, but you would never have known they weren't capable unless given the chance. Why should AJ not get the chance??

Do the goals not mean anything? If Beattie, Vassell, Cole, Heskey all had chances, then at the moment AJ definitely deserves a go. Sven has yet to give him this.

I think judge Andy if and when he gets his chance for England. Sven should have taken Owen off and put Johnson ahead of Rooney. Knowing Palace as well as I do, I know that AJ has a superb attitude, he works his socks off more than any other play I have seen, and can score in the air, in the box or outside the box. He can dribble, he has pace and is a great finisher. He is also extremely fit (athletically).

AJ has the credentials to be a great English centre forward, and I ask you why you think (based on what you have seen of him), he is in the Steve Bull, Matt Le Tissier group of should've beens.

Makes me think that possibly your view of Crystal Palace leads you to have a lower opinion of the best out and out striker England have (at the moment). Which is most unfair.

Look at Ian Wright, Nigel Martyn, Gareth Southgate, Ashley Cole, John Salako (pre-injury), Stan Collymore - all learned their trade or gained valuable experience whilst at Palace.

I believe AJ will out-do them all.

Why not?

Woody, look at the other English strikers around at the moment:

Michael Owen - hardly played a game all season, but we have seen what he can do. I failed to mentioned that I think Michael Owen is also not worth a place. (I think AJ is worthy of a call-up. I just don't think he will be pulling up trees once he does get an opportunity. I'd loved to be proved wrong. But when all is said and done, that is what England require - someone in the Lineker/Shearer mould. Johnson is not.

Wayne Rooney - not a prolific scorer but is a great partner for a prolific goal scorer, but again we know what he is capable of. Rooney is a prolific goalscorer for England - have another look at his record. He is able to make quality defences look normal. He is the reason alone that we never beat Portugal. Look how we played following his departure.

Jermaine Defoe - scored less than AJ this season, and has a better service from a midfield that is better than Palace's. Again we've seen him before.
I rate this fella very highly and wouldn't mind seeing him at Old Trafford. I always knew he'd be something special when he was loaned out to Bournemouth while at West Ham. I'm afraid to say that between Defoe and Johnson - there is that gulf I was talking about earlier Claire.

James Beattie - hasn't been prolific for quite a while, and never really cut it at International level. True, but he's a horses-for-courses type player. Nobody better with regards aerial ability. He's useful, but not what I would ever consider a starter.

Alan Smith - not at all prolific, not in Man Utd's first team, but does offer something different - again we've seen that he too is not exactly emphatic at International level. Yep, and Smithy has never been prolific. Ferguson brought him to Old Trafford with that realization in mind. This guy is true grit, a pure 100 per-center, and I love him. Scored a delight of a diving header a year or so ago in an International friendly, but again, he's one of those who has that reputation but not fulifilled it with England.

Then there is Darius Vassell, and a few others that are there or there abouts, but either injured or not scoring anymore. Say no more - When Rooney went off, this chap came on in his stead. Never got a sniff. Too small, and for me he makes up one too many in a string of attacking diddymen. Don't rate him and I think Defoe is his natural replacement.

AJ on the other hand is a man in form, he is the top English striker, even though he plays in a team that give him at most 2 chances a game. Claire, he's not a bad player. Like you say, he is top scorer in the premiership (partly because van Nistelrooy has been out for most of the season, and Henry has been going through a barren spell for the first time in many seasons) If Johnson won himself a move to Liverpool, and scored goals in the way Rushy and Aldridge did then maybe he'll get the exposure he needs. I know it doesn't make sense, because he's scoring even in a struggling set-up but it make perfect sense. It'll be a true test of whether he can cut it in the same company as other class players. (not that the scousers have many of those!)
If he can, then he's liable to be able to also repeat that at International level - but only then...

He has never played International football before so to say he can't cut it is outrageous, how can you tell? You made the point about Steve Bull and co, but you would never have known they weren't capable unless given the chance. Why should AJ not get the chance?? Because he's doing fine as he is at the moment. If he fails at International level, it may have a negative effect on not just himself, but also Crystal Palace....(refer to previous).

Do the goals not mean anything? If Beattie, Vassell, Cole, Heskey all had chances, then at the moment AJ definitely deserves a go. Sven has yet to give him this. Goals against teams like Portugal, France, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Germany.....mean something. Do you think Andy Johnson can make those defences look inadequate? (we could all score hat-tricks agianst the San Marino's and Faeroe Islands of this world, but it matters not a jot because it's not those teams who you come up against in Quarter and Semi finals Claire.

I think judge Andy if and when he gets his chance for England. Sven should have taken Owen off and put Johnson ahead of Rooney. Knowing Palace as well as I do, I know that AJ has a superb attitude, he works his socks off more than any other play I have seen, and can score in the air, in the box or outside the box. He can dribble, he has pace and is a great finisher. He is also extremely fit (athletically). It's only not about being a great athlete, and it's not just about attitude when it comes to International football. The greats such as Maradona had attitudes that could be questioned. But you need to be two yards quicker, two seconds faster in your thinking and reactions, and at times spontaneously brilliant at the very top level to help your team reach the ultimate stages of these competitions. As an England fan I want to see players in that squad who can scare the opposition just by them looking over at the personnel warming the bench. Andy Johnson would not frighten people in this way. It's the Defoes and Rooneys who have the reputations to do that. I'd love to see him given the opportunity, but against the likes of Brazil or Germany. That will be the true acid test for him....and then we'll see...

Makes me think that possibly your view of Crystal Palace leads you to have a lower opinion of the best out and out striker England have (at the moment). Which is most unfair. I don't particularly have a view of Crystal Palace one way or the other (below the belt and quite a weak point in your argument)
I'm just wondering if any top team has yet tabled a lucrative offer for this fella. For the past two transfer windows, the top teams seem to have bypassed the opportunity to add him to their own squads. And even Liverpool (who are most definitely missing strikers at the moment) have not showed any major interest. Is he all that good?
I rate Chris Sutton of Celtic much more highly, and was upset at his omission at the expense of Vassell in the Euro's last year.

Look at Ian Wright, Nigel Martyn, Gareth Southgate, Ashley Cole, John Salako (pre-injury), Stan Collymore - all learned their trade or gained valuable experience whilst at Palace. ....And the flip side of the coin is that they also gave us Geoff Thomas. I rest my case.

I believe AJ will out-do them all. Hope so too (although the possibiltiy of out-doing Wrighty is taking your obsession with this fella slightly too far) Even Ian Wright struggled for England so there you go....and he WAS class!

Why not?

Liverpool were planning to offer money for him but Palace said they wouldn't accept a £20million bid for him so that put Benitez off.

Now Newcastle are the latest club supposed to be interested.

Seeing as he has just signed a 5 year deal at Palace and considering Palace said they'd turn down £20m is it surprising there has been no offer?

Sorry I don't see how that is at all relevant.

Andy Johnson has scored against defences which I would argue are better than Portugal and Germany already.

How about Man Utd (with Rio Ferdinand) and Liverpool to name a couple?

You mentioned pace and quick thinking for International football, but Andy Johnson certainly doesn't lack either of these attributes.

You have yet to say why you think this, except by looking at the performances of completely different players?

How much have you actually seen of AJ? He is one of the quickest in the Premiership, he holds the ball up much better than Defoe or Owen, he is better in the air than Owen, Rooney or Defoe. He can score goals from anywhere on the pitch, and works harder than all these players put together.

As far as I can see Woody you have not given any real reasons why AJ can't cope in International, just because Steve Bull didn't is no reason AJ can't.

Please give me some real reasons, because your point is beginning to lose credibility.

As an England fan I want to see players in that squad who can scare the opposition just by them looking over at the personnel warming the bench. Andy Johnson would not frighten people in this way. It's the Defoes and Rooneys who have the reputations to do that.

Well this is just ridiculous, why do Rooney and Defoe have that reputation? Not that Defoe does! But because they have been given their opportunities whereas AJ hasn't.

Are you saying only players with reputations at international level should be given international chances? What a load of nonsense! Last year Defoe was in the 1st Division and scored less than AJ, and AJ has again proven more prolific this year.

Sorry but these points don't hold at all, they prove that you are blinded by your bias.

Defoe is a skillful player but I don't see how he would score oppositions anymore than AJ would. Every team we play against says that they are going to focus their defence on Johnson, all the media have been calling him a threat up front all year.

You just seem to be ignoring one simple thing, THE TRUTH!

All I can say is get Green in goal http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/18/18_15_6.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYAXGB) :wink2:

Claire, don't let him become an obsession with you - he's NOT......THAT......GOOD!

I've made my points and I'm not repeating myself.

Liverpool were planning to offer money for him but Palace said they wouldn't accept a £20million bid for him so that put Benitez off.
Ronaldinho didn't cost that much!! - lol....(I'd value AJ at aroung £6m - and even that's an ambitious price tag.....

Now Newcastle are the latest club supposed to be interested.
Newcastle are interested in anybody better than Shola Ameobi Claire....

Seeing as he has just signed a 5 year deal at Palace and considering Palace said they'd turn down £20m is it surprising there has been no offer?
I'd love to know exactly which club bid £20m - are you sure you haven't been reading too many tabloid back pages....?

Sorry I don't see how that is at all relevant.

Andy Johnson has scored against defences which I would argue are better than Portugal and Germany already.
There aren't too many defences better than those Claire....:wacko:

How about Man Utd (with Rio Ferdinand) and Liverpool to name a couple?
Every Tom, Dick, and Harry were scoring against us at the start of the season - he wouldn't get so much as a sniff at our goal now though. We are in full stride, and back to our best. So what if he scored against us? Is that an instant England call-up for him??

You mentioned pace and quick thinking for International football, but Andy Johnson certainly doesn't lack either of these attributes.
No, not in the premiership - again you missed my point.

You have yet to say why you think this, except by looking at the performances of completely different players?

How much have you actually seen of AJ? He is one of the quickest in the Premiership, he holds the ball up much better than Defoe or Owen, he is better in the air than Owen, Rooney or Defoe. He can score goals from anywhere on the pitch, and works harder than all these players put together.
I've seen plenty of AJ - I know he was the best out and out goalscorer in the First Division by some distance, and he seems to be repeating that form in the Premiership, however - he's never going to get a reasonable opportunity in the England set-up - I just know this Claire. And if he does, do you honestly think he'll be setting the world alight. Sorry, but more the fool you if you think so.


As far as I can see Woody you have not given any real reasons why AJ can't cope in International, just because Steve Bull didn't is no reason AJ can't.
No you're right........I've only given about 20+ valid reasons....:wallbash:

Please give me some real reasons, because your point is beginning to lose credibility.Only one of us is losing credibility here sweetheart, and I'm so glad, enjoying it in fact - that you're not able to see which one of two it is......

Anyway, our friend Mr.Johnson is at Highbury in front of the cameras on Monday. Looking forward to seeing him parading his many many talents against a top notch defence.......should be interesting....

:whistling his cousin still lives at the end of the road

:whistling his cousin still lives at the end of the road
lol......oh, sorry Buzz - "wow! Buzz, does he really?? - that's amazing....." (there...):)

lol......oh, sorry Buzz - "wow! Buzz, does he really?? - that's amazing....." (there...):)


No I said before I am not impressed with this. I state is as a simple fact and to deflect the subject away from you and claire arguing over it...thats all. :kid:

I'm actually enjoying the debate between Claire & Woodstock http://www.msnemoticons4u.com/sports/014.gif :ninja:

I'd love to know exactly which club bid £20m - are you sure you haven't been reading too many tabloid back pages....?

Did I say that a club bid £20 mill for Johnson?

No I said that clubs had been put off bidding for him because Palace said they'd refuse a bid as high as £20m.

Read what I write before criticising me, please!

There aren't too many defences better than those Claire....

Except that Heskey even scored against Germany when England beat them 5 - 1.

Germany has one of the worst defences I've seen, you picked them as an example not I!

Every Tom, Dick, and Harry were scoring against us at the start of the season - he wouldn't get so much as a sniff at our goal now though. We are in full stride, and back to our best. So what if he scored against us? Is that an instant England call-up for him??

Not since Rio returned from his ban though, and I clearly wrote (with Rio) so please again I ask you to read what I write. It's simple I even put the words in the right order, so it should be easy!


I've seen plenty of AJ - I know he was the best out and out goalscorer in the First Division by some distance, and he seems to be repeating that form in the Premiership, however - he's never going to get a reasonable opportunity in the England set-up

Again if you read what I write, my argument wasn't that he will get a chance, but simply that HE DESERVES ONE! and not on the right wing!

No you're right........I've only given about 20+ valid reasons....

Explaining that Ian Wright and Steve Bull failed therefore so will AJ, is not a reason, and completely illogical. Sorry you may believe you have given 20 reasons, but infact you haven't, you have just said why others who are completely different players to AJ have failed.

GIVE THE GUY A CHANCE, LET HIM PROVE HIMSELF AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL BEFORE YOU TELL ME HE CAN'T DO IT AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL!

You don't know!

Darius Vassell is useless for Villa but brilliant for England!

Work that out, you won't know if he can play International until he's given a chance, saying you know because Steve Bull failed is utter BULL!

Did I say that a club bid £20 mill for Johnson?
No, you didn't - as if you had revealed which club was bidding £20m I wouldn't have said "I'd like to know which club has bid £20m" - as for the back pages of the tabloids mentioning that kind of fee - well, either Iain Dowie needs to awaken from his stupor or the press should make the transfer fee even higher for entertainments sake!

No I said that clubs had been put off bidding for him because Palace said they'd refuse a bid as high as £20m.

Read what I write before criticising me, please!



Except that Heskey even scored against Germany when England beat them 5 - 1. - ohhh, when was that now.....2001??....

Germany has one of the worst defences I've seen, you picked them as an example not I! I'd like to see you try and breach them....
They're actuall a rather well-organised team now under Klinsmann and Bierhoff.....know who these are without consulting hubby??



Not since Rio returned from his ban though, and I clearly wrote (with Rio) so please again I ask you to read what I write. It's simple I even put the words in the right order, so it should be easy!

Well that just reinforces my argument then - He could score against our defence in the absence of Rio. let's see him make Rio look ordinary when he's up against someone who is class.....you'll find Andy Johnson will seldom score when up against quality - that's when players like him get found out unfortunately.




Again if you read what I write, my argument wasn't that he will get a chance, but simply that HE DESERVES ONE! and not on the right wing!

I don't disagree with you. Let's see if he's as good as you're making him out to be. I've no complaints if he can grab the all-important goals to take us into the World Cup final - what I'm saying is - it won't happen. There are players with more talent ahead of him in the queue. You need to realize this.



Explaining that Ian Wright and Steve Bull failed therefore so will AJ, is not a reason, and completely illogical. Sorry you may believe you have given 20 reasons, but infact you haven't, you have just said why others who are completely different players to AJ have failed.
No, I've given plenty enough reason why he won't maintain a place in the set-up.

GIVE THE GUY A CHANCE, LET HIM PROVE HIMSELF AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL BEFORE YOU TELL ME HE CAN'T DO IT AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL!
It's not my place to give him a chance. But if I was England manager, he'd have a long wait.

You don't know!

Darius Vassell is useless for Villa but brilliant for England!
Brilliant as in "Portugese defence were smiling when he came on type brilliant?" and laughing when they got back in the dressing room after the final whistle....


Work that out, you won't know if he can play International until he's given a chance, saying you know because Steve Bull failed is utter BULL!
He's in the Steve Bull mould - therefore I'm drawing the parallel. I know a little more about football than the basics that you are feeding me Claire. Trust me on this.

I can recommend the Rothmans Football Yearbook if you want to learn more about the game....reasonably priced and can be found at all good book shops...
I can recommend the Rothmans Football Yearbook if you want to learn more about the game....reasonably priced and can be found at all good book shops...

Glory hunting Man Ure fan with isolated view that England may only pick from the "TOP 3".

You're wasting my time, you have given much proof that you no little about football.

Bye

Glory hunting Man Ure fan with isolated view that England may only pick from the "TOP 3".

You're wasting my time, you have given much proof that you no little about football.

Bye
....took the words right out of my mouth husband-consulting novice. And your hubby too...novices..

Enjoy life in Division One next season, and I hope you enjoy watching Andy Johnson still trying his heart out to win himself a place in the England Squad with someone like Portsmouth - i'm sure they'd take him on.....

Glory hunting Man Ure fan with isolated view that England may only pick from the "TOP 3".

You're wasting my time, you have given much proof that you no little about football.


Well he might be a Man Utd fan - which is not good in my book but Woodstock does know his football Claire!

AJ has not proved himself yet at international level and until he has I don't think your arguement stands up!

.....no offence Coastie.....(none taken...).....ok that's fine then.....:)

Another Palace fan here

I dont understand the arguement about AJ not being good enough to deserve a proper chance, he's 23 years old and the top English goalscorer, every week he plays against international defenders and without hardly any support scores loads of goals, if he was playing for a top club he'd be ahead of Henry by now easilly.

At the moment Andy Johnson is the best English goalscorer in the premiership, that cant be argued as he's scored more goals than anyone else, if defoe and others are so much better than him why havent they scored more and they play in better teams!

The fact is that nobody knows id he will be any good at international level but on current form he certainly deserves a chance, micheal owen was awfull last week, Defoe i rate highly although when Palace played Spurs AJ looked far superior

Another Palace fan here

I dont understand the arguement about AJ not being good enough to deserve a proper chance, he's 23 years old and the top English goalscorer, every week he plays against international defenders and without hardly any support scores loads of goals, if he was playing for a top club he'd be ahead of Henry by now easilly.
He deserves a chance on merit of his goalscoring exploits. I am saying myself that once he gets that chance, nothing much will come of it. He would be ahead of Henry by now, but then Henry would still be ahead of him regardless if he hadn't hit a poor streak of form (his first in years)
If Henry was English, you and others would probably be calling for him to be axed in favour of our friend AJ.

If Johnson ends up at Liverpool, as I suspect he may (or possibly Newcastle) then perhaps he'll have the confidence to go on and play for England. At the moment he's very much the main influence in Palace's points-gathering, and he's not in a situation where he's around equally and in some cases better company where he'd have to get used to not grabbing all the headlines as much. Picture this - are you an Andy Johnson fan, or a Crystal Palace fan? Let's assume he gets a fair crack at the whip. And then when he does he goes 2,3, even 4 games without scoring and all the press start to get on both his and Erikssons' case. He reads the headlines, his confidence begins to ebb, and when he takes to the pitch for your beloved Crystal Palace, he looks a pale imitation of what he was when he was firing in all the goals that may just have kept you up. (who else will score them for you.....Wayne Routledge??) So, he's now on the pitch, confidence at rock-bottom because he now believes he has let his country down, and he starts snapping at shots, firing them into Row-Z, hitting ball-boys, or going as wide as the "Kick racism out of football" hoarding near to the corner flag. Now what? - Palace have lost their main threat, they can't score goals, therefore they can't win games. And your team has dropped back into league obscurity, and with that, lost out on massive injections of cash from Sky TV rights etc also.

You saw Jermaine Defoe yesterday, and you saw what Wayne Rooney did against Boro in the Cup. These two are diamonds in a field full of diamonds, yet they're still prominent and noticeable. They excel and ooze confidence in the best of company. They produce class in the presence of class. Andy Johnson, once he moves to Liverpool will leave nobody on the coaching staff of England with any excuse not to select him as a starter if he can achieve the same. But, and I don't wish to offend your team here, at the moment he is but an emerald in a muddy patch. He is rather good I concede (gladly) but something somewhere has to give. I hope you'll be as supportive of him when he deserts your team for greater glories, and will not feel so betrayed when you find your team (minus Johnson) once again striving for the Premiership with the likes of Burnley and Preston.

At the moment Andy Johnson is the best English goalscorer in the premiership, that cant be argued as he's scored more goals than anyone else, if defoe and others are so much better than him why havent they scored more and they play in better teams!
Simple to answer. Jermaine Defoe has good company and massive competition in the likes of Robbie Keane, Kanoute, and now the wonderfully gifted "Mido". Same goes for "others" Wayne Rooney still shines in the presence of van Nistelrooy, Alan Smith, Louis Saha.... These two fella's have great competition yet are thriving amongst it. I want to see Andy Johnson doing the same. Then we can judge whether he is a shrinking violet or if he too will thrive in the presence of great individuals. Because let's face facts - someone has to score the goals for Palace - were it not for him, who would that task fall to?? (it's far easier for a senior pupil to be kicking a football around with the infants in the schoolyard. The acid test comes when he plays in the company of the big boys. Will he shine so much. Will he stand out? Hopefully we'll see.

The fact is that nobody knows id he will be any good at international level but on current form he certainly deserves a chance, micheal owen was awfull last week, Defoe i rate highly although when Palace played Spurs AJ looked far superior
I don't rate Michael Owen and I would sooner Andy Johnson be given his chance ahead of the wee fella. Owen is a flash player. He can look like a disaster for 89 minutes (he does this well too) and then in a moment he has the ball in the back of the net. Obviously this doesn't happen every time so often he just looks like a total disaster. His control is woeful, and his confidence is easily breached. By all means give Johnson the nod ahead of him, but I think you'll find the future of the England National team lies in Rooney and Defoe....
PS: .....have you been recruited by a certain Claire.......??:unsure:

Having read this thread I feel that the whole context of Andy Johnson playing for England has gone a bit adrift.

The reason that he did not show the full extent of his caperbilities is because he was just NOT given the chance! By being played in the wrong position as where several other players.

Andy Johnson HAS shown his playing abilities in the Premiership and I do NOT believe the ones of you on here that say he is not good enough for the England sqaud. He has taken on players in other Premiership teams that play for their own countries and has beaten them to score not only once but SIXTEEN TIMES. He is a part of the England team future and given the chance WILL show you non believers that has the quality, confidence guts and determination to succeed even while he is STILL playing for Crystal Palace.

I tend to think that several of you on here are jealous of the fact that a player from one of the lower Premiership teams got his half chance to play for his country even though he played way out of position.

As an added point, Wayne Rooney had a dissmal game as well........REASON..........WRONG position again!!! I tend to feel that Sven plays his "Favourites" in every game which is NOT good enough. He HAS to try out the younger players who would love to play for their country given the chance.

UNLIKE a certian Woodstock I am not trying to imply that I am a football brain BUT I HAVE been a football fan for well over fifty five years and DO know a little bit about the game.....................just a little bit.......You only have to listen to the press, the pundits, the football top managers etc and you will see they agree with me, and also Claire who comes up with a some excellent points. We always see bantering on forums but it always seems like Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle fans think EVERYONE else is wrong....I WONDER IF ANY OF YOU CAN TELL ME WHY ????????????
Surely EVERY fan is entitled to put his view across without being slagged off all the time. Surely opinions should be aired and given without hassle all the time.

BOTTOM LINE............I THINK ANDY JOHNSON IS GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY FOR HIS COUNTRY GIVEN THE PROPER CHANCE AND WILL SHOW HE DOES HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO DO WELL AT ALL LEVELS!!!!!

Having read this thread I feel that the whole context of Andy Johnson playing for England has gone a bit adrift.

The reason that he did not show the full extent of his caperbilities is because he was just NOT given the chance! By being played in the wrong position as where several other players.
Bla bla....the point has been touched and re-touched upon already......nobody disputes this. The fact is, when he finally gets asked to perform in his normal position - he will not deliver the goods.

Andy Johnson HAS shown his playing abilities in the Premiership and I do NOT believe the ones of you on here that say he is not good enough for the England sqaud. He has taken on players in other Premiership teams that play for their own countries and has beaten them to score not only once but SIXTEEN TIMES. He is a part of the England team future and given the chance WILL show you non believers that has the quality, confidence guts and determination to succeed even while he is STILL playing for Crystal Palace.
Bla bla...same as above - been touched upon. Again nobody is disputing he can't hack it in the Premiership. The test for him will be the pressure-cooker environment of International football - a whole different ball game Barbie..

I tend to think that several of you on here are jealous of the fact that a player from one of the lower Premiership teams got his half chance to play for his country even though he played way out of position.
I want to see a decent England team and for me it's irrelevant which teams the players are picked from. I just want to see evidence that they can live with the big boys of the International game, or whether we have to tolerate the inadequacies of the likes of Dariusz Vassell, Chris Powell, Danny Mills, and the list goes on....

If AJ gets his chance, takes it well, and delivers, then whether he plays for Crystal Palace or Buckingham Palace is neither here nor there. My point is that I know from the look of a player whether he will make it, and have seldom been wrong on this. I don't think Andy Johnson has the look or stature of someone who will set the International arena alight with his "dazzling" footballing abilities. Sorry.

As an added point, Wayne Rooney had a dissmal game as well........REASON..........WRONG position again!!! I tend to feel that Sven plays his "Favourites" in every game which is NOT good enough. He HAS to try out the younger players who would love to play for their country given the chance.
Sven does not have a clue - this realization has dawned on most of us. It's time for a fresh approach and a new manner of thinking. I would like to see El Tel back in the hot seat as I think we played the right brand of football for our national side under his tenure. (the 4-1 defeat of Holland in Euro 96 immediately impresses on my mind) It is a complete waste of what is a valuable 90+ minutes whereupon you can determine which players can repeat their club form at this level, and which ones will struggle. Nothing is ever learnt from playing anybody out of his position. I do not trust this man with the running of our national team. Pay him off, get rid, and get someone in there who gives players a fair crack of the whip - that way, disputes like this over individual players would not linger - we'd soon know who can hack it and who cannot. And more importantly we'd have a set of players who we can once again, have some faith in, knowing that if they underperform, (regardless of whether youre name rhymes with Peckham, and regardless of whether you're a completely overrated chap from Merseyside who every 15-20 games or so has the the press drooling in the false hopes that he has re-ignited his golden touch) then they simply will not be picked for a starting role.
UNLIKE a certian Woodstock I am not trying to imply that I am a football brain BUT I HAVE been a football fan for well over fifty five years and DO know a little bit about the game.....................just a little bit.......You only have to listen to the press, the pundits, the football top managers etc and you will see they agree with me, and also Claire who comes up with a some excellent points. We always see bantering on forums but it always seems like Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle fans think EVERYONE else is wrong....I WONDER IF ANY OF YOU CAN TELL ME WHY ????????????
Surely EVERY fan is entitled to put his view across without being slagged off all the time. Surely opinions should be aired and given without hassle all the time.
Well, I do have a football brain - I make no bones about it. I know a lot about the game, built up over 20 years of dedicating my life to watching, playing, and reading about it. And when I see a player come along who everyone is building up to be the next big superstar, I tend to know if it is a false-dawn or not. I know that I will be right about Andy Johnson. But I hope I will be wrong and that we have the new Alan Shearer in our midst. But he's not, and we don't. It appears you have an inferiority complex my friend. I do wish to point out that I've been following and giving my opinions on my team since the latter days of Ron Atkinson's reign at Old Trafford, so I have experienced the gloomy days of not being part of the elite myself, and have never felt myself, or my views, as a footballing fan, superior in any way.

I also want to point out that Claire invited opinion. I gave mine in a well thought out, well-constructed, and offence-free manner. In your eyes I'm slagging someone off and causing hassle. Youre a peculiar little man if I can take the time to say so. Go back to the dictionary and look under opinion, and debate - You've obviously lived your life for far too long in the company of those that tread on eggshells fella - too much time revelling in the company of yes-men. There are quite a lot of your type up and down the nation unfortunately, and it's your type of outlook that brings this country down in many regards. (NOW I've slagged somebody off....)
BOTTOM LINE............I THINK ANDY JOHNSON IS GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY FOR HIS COUNTRY GIVEN THE PROPER CHANCE AND WILL SHOW HE DOES HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO DO WELL AT ALL LEVELS!!!!!
well, let's start by scrutinizing his capabilities at Highbury on Monday......

Do you think he will be playing for England on the 26th March, cos I am going and I can let you all know then if he is any good or not!!!

actually thats a lie cos I know nowt about football really!! but I am going to Old Trafford to watch England :thumbsup:

Crikey all the Palace fans are coming out of the woodwork now! :wacko:


I didn't realise that Palace had that many fans in the first place! :ninja:


*Seagulls*

Crikey all the Palace fans are coming out of the woodwork now!


I'm not a Palace fan...please dont think that......please........I'm not........

I don't follow any football unless you count the under 9's team my son plays for.

But I do live in a house full of West Ham supporters.......... :bag:

I'm not a Palace fan...please dont think that......please........I'm not........

I don't follow any football unless you count the under 9's team my son plays for.

But I do live in a house full of West Ham supporters.......... :bag:

I didn't mean you Buzz :laugh:

Although I'm not sure I would be admitting to living with West Ham supporters if I was you :ninja: :laugh:

I didn't mean you Buzz :laugh:

Although I'm not sure I would be admitting to living with West Ham supporters if I was you :ninja: :laugh:


oh ok :blush:

No thats why i put the bag on my head. :bag:

Pitty about the Man U score last night Woody :naughty:

...shaddup!...:(

.....at least you never mentioned the weekend result....:)

.....at least you never mentioned the weekend result....:)

You don't mean the 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace do you Woodstock? :wink2: :laugh:

You don't mean the 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace do you Woodstock? :wink2: :laugh:


I forgot about that ILS... thanks :wink2:

Man U has seen better days... and we are on our way up!! :angel_not

I forgot about that ILS... thanks :wink2:

Man U has seen better days... and we are on our way up!! :angel_not

i'm in hiding from this thread.....:blush::shutup: (http://www.survivor-online.co.uk/forums/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=0&forumid=8#)

i'm in hiding from this thread.....:blush::shutup: (http://www.survivor-online.co.uk/forums/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=0&forumid=8#)

You sound like my son - he always hides when Utd get a hiding :laugh:

*I don't know you Man U fan's need to learn to lose/draw gracefully*

You sound like my son - he always hides when Utd get a hiding :laugh:

*I don't know you Man U fan's need to learn to lose/draw gracefully*

.....well i am a little embarrassed, especially after Wednesday's showing - it was men against boys. I hate to say that about my beloved Reds.

...and we had about fifty-two chances against Palace....

.....well i am a little embarrassed, especially after Wednesday's showing - it was men against boys. I hate to say that about my beloved Reds.

...and we had about fifty-two chances against Palace....

The game is about how many times you put the ball in the back of the net though, not how many chances you had! :laugh:

...and we had about fifty-two chances against Palace....


But you didn't score

Didn't score

Didn't score

Didn't score

Didn't score

Didn't score

:pimp: