SurbsEagle
Member
- Country
England
I would say that Mateta won his place back, especially with a manager who already likes him and in a team that know his movement and know how he plays football.I'd say JSL did lose his place to Mateta. He had a run at the position without competition and apart from JSL's first game he didn't look that effective and the difference that Mateta made when he returned was clear despite him not being amazing or fully fit. Therefore JSL lost his place to him.
I don't think anyone was expecting JSL or Johnson to set the world alight but in 6 months they've shown very little and when they've played the team look noticeably weaker. That's not exactly what you fork 90m out for.
Do I want them to do well and justify their price tags? Absolutely.
Do I feel confident of this after witnessing their performances so far? Absolutely not.
When you join a new team, you have to learn every individuals movement on the football pitch. For example, Ismaila Sarr made very specific runs at very specific times under Glasner. Mateta, Munoz and Wharton knew exactly where he would be when he made those runs. Johnson however doesn't make those runs and therefore you see where possession gets slowed down more when he plays in comparison to Sarr, because we're not able to progress the ball as quickly yet. That comes with time when the players learn each other better. They can't do that over the course of 6 months and handful of appearances.
I would argue that JSL put himself about a lot, tired out defenders and showed promising signs with the chances he was given. When he is the main man is when we can truly judge him, same for Johnson.
