Sam Johnstone Speaks

[baggieal]

Sam says he wants to play in the Premier League. I did too when I was in my twenty's but not good enough to grace a non league side. Before Sam makes comments like this perhaps he should look at his last two league games and say to himself - I was an embarrassment which of course he was! There have been other games!

Unlike Ramsdale, nobody wanted Johnstone for a reason and still don't think there will be much interest unless it's a free warming the bench.

There's no doubting that Johnstone is a very good shot stopper but:

Commanding his area
Catching
Kicking Out
Running up the pitch like a demented cretin so missing 3 games

Perhaps a huge improvement in the four areas above could help him to be in the same class as Ben Foster but at the moment sadly - he's nowhere near him!

[wba13]

Leave it out Johnstone has been great for us.
Why some love to have a go at some of our own players is beyond me he’s an excellent keeper who will be in the premier league next season and just so you know we turned down two offers for Sam and the offers were woeful, the only reason certain clubs didn’t make a bid is because they know they will get him for nothing come the summer.

[baggieal]

Leave it out Johnstone has been great for us.
Why some love to have a go at some of our own players is beyond me he’s an excellent keeper who will be in the premier league next season and just so you know we turned down two offers for Sam and the offers were woeful, the only reason certain clubs didn’t make a bid is because they know they will get him for nothing come the summer.

That’s your view but you can’t tell me Johnstone is on the same class as what Ben Foster was! The goal against Derby was comical and Johnstone was frustrated at the end of the Cardiff match as he was woeful!

Arsenal paid top dollar for Ramsdale for a reason which is obvious to see!

The sending off was embarrassing and not what you would expect of a professional! I hope he goes and we reinvest the money is a decent midfielder to service Dike!

[kettering_baggie]

Johnstone has been good for us, yes, he has made a few mistakes but not as many as some of our outfield players. I agree that he’s not as good as Ben Foster but few ‘keepers are; we were lucky to have has Foster for as long as we did.

[WBA1955]

It's amazing how Osborne and Hoult never had a sniff of an England cap but Carson and Johnstone have been called.
It shows how poor the national side has become, especially when Livermore has been capped as well.

[Leicesterbaggie]

Johnstone was excellent for us last season and at the time I had to 'eat my words' regarding his abilities. However, prior to last season and to date, this season, he has been very ordinary. As many say, he does not command his area and his decision making is also poor. His distribution is not good. How many times do we see him kick the ball directly into touch? Yes, he is a good shot stopper but aren't most goalkeepers! He is a decent enough but not England class. There has to be a reason why Arsenal paid the money they did for Ramsdale as is being proved. In summary I think that if we could get money for him this window then we should take it and use it to strengthen other areas. Button looks OK, plus we have Palmer and Griffiths in the background. I am not anti Johnstone, just my considered opinion.

[baggieal]

Johnstone was excellent for us last season and at the time I had to 'eat my words' regarding his abilities. However, prior to last season and to date, this season, he has been very ordinary. As many say, he does not command his area and his decision making is also poor. His distribution is not good. How many times do we see him kick the ball directly into touch? Yes, he is a good shot stopper but aren't most goalkeepers! He is a decent enough but not England class. There has to be a reason why Arsenal paid the money they did for Ramsdale as is being proved. In summary I think that if we could get money for him this window then we should take it and use it to strengthen other areas. Button looks OK, plus we have Palmer and Griffiths in the background. I am not anti Johnstone, just my considered opinion.

Good post and yes very average! As a good shot stopper most keepers in the Premier league would stand out if they had save after save to make due to so many opponent chances.

If Livermore and Johnstone are England class then there’s hope too for Mick to get his boots out again!

Get rid and use the cash to finance a decent midfielder like Okay. Clubs don’t want to pay good money for a reason!

[wba13]

Agreed Foster is the better keeper, but remember villa park. As for playing for England it’s fully deserved and the match against Romania some punters were saying it was one of the best debuts for England they had seen. Agreed on Carson, but I’m sorry we will have to disagree on Johnstone. Another thing I can’t understand how come some punters never see the good players do but they make a mistake and they jump down the players throat.

[Leicesterbaggie]

Agreed Foster is the better keeper, but remember villa park. As for playing for England it’s fully deserved and the match against Romania some punters were saying it was one of the best debuts for England they had seen. Agreed on Carson, but I’m sorry we will have to disagree on Johnstone. Another thing I can’t understand how come some punters never see the good players do but they make a mistake and they jump down the players throat.

I don't think that it's quite fair to say that some of us only make comment on the mistakes that players make. I feel that my opinion on Johnstone was quite a reasoned arguement. I wasn' lambasting him but pointing out deficiencies which to my mind don't make him an international class 'keeper.

[Omegstrat6]

Don't think that there is much disagreement as to his strengths (shot stopping) or weaknesses (distribution/positioning) but personally I think that overall he has been a good gk for the club. Is he international class? He has had his moments to be fair but over all I don't think so. As good as Foster?, again no. The problem now is that we are not going to get the money for him we once could have as that ship has long sailed so hopes of his sale funding much seem a bit over optimistic.