Before I even started writing this article, it seemed to be controversial. The mere mention of this analysis on Twitter prompted opinion and even fury from some Johnsonites and Anti-Glen Faction fans. So firstly, calm down. Deep breath. Doesn’t that feel better?
This analysis isn’t to say Glen Johnson is the best/worst right back in the league. It is to analyse Glen Johnson’s role in the Liverpool team, his statistics in that role and comparisons to other right backs in the Premier League. For these comparisons, I have chosen; Kyle Walker (Spurs), Rafael (Manchester United) and Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) for reasons which I will explain soon.
The role of the modern full back is very different to the old fashioned full-back of the early days, it is even different to the role of the full back from before 2000 I would argue. In my honest opinion, discounting that I am also a full back, I do believe it is one of the most important positions on the pitch in the ‘modern’ game. Once upon a time, you could really play anyone in the fullback role if you were short of a recognized right or left back and they could ‘do a job’, but the workload of the modern fullback is very different and this is why, it is now a specialized role.
The modern fullback is expected to contribute to the attacking areas of the team just as much as the defensive side now. They are in fact seen by some as a ‘second winger’ or to phrase it in Brendan Rodgers talk; a 7 and a half. They are required to overlap and provide balance on the wings for many sides, as modern wingers look to come inside more and more as crossing is seen as an outdated and rather fruitless method of getting the ball into the back of the net. This doesn’t mean crossing is dead but in the generation of possession football, lumping the ball into the box isn’t seen as fit and proper.
So I hear you ask, why are we looking at the curious case of Glen Johnson? Well, Glen is a curious creature for those fullbackologists amongst us. Notably, myself as I’ve just created the profession. Do feel free to join me though in this study of the full back in their natural habitat.
Glen Johnson last season won 81% of his tackles (90) and won the ball tracking back (including tackles) 122 times in the final defensive third. Compared to last season, when he suffered with injuries, his tackle success was 74% and he won the ball tracking back 90 times in the final defensive third. Statistically, he only made three defensive errors (one in 2012/2013 and two in 2011/2012). Although, I would like to state that I disagree with that statistic as I am unaware if the OPTA statistics count failing to track your man, loss of concentration or erroneous positioning as a defensive error or if they merely count loss of possession leading to a goal.
It is here that I shall explain why I have chosen Walker, Rafael and Zabaleta to compare to Johnson. Walker is seen as a similar full back to Glen Johnson, he performs a similar role in Spurs’ team by providing overlapping runs for Aaron Lennon and adding an attacking threat. Rafael and Zabaleta on the other hand, do come forward with the ball but are not seen as ‘attacking’ full backs as such, but more as supporting full backs. Rafael is possibly in the middle between attacking and supporting, but his statistics do not suggest he is an attacking utility in Manchester United’s team.
Defensively, Johnson is better than Walker. Winning more tackles and making fewer defensive errors (five in 2012/2013 and two in 2011/2012) but he makes fewer tackles in the final defensive third than Walker (106 and 146 in the last two seasons). Obviously, this can be seen as Glen tracking back more than Walker or Walker being out of position more than Glen. A note on both Glen Johnson and Kyle Walker, from watching both of these full backs, there is a similarity in their strengths but also their weaknesses. Both have poor concentration at times and can damage the right hand side of their defensive unit with poor positioning, slow reactions to danger or over zealous attacking and negating their defensive duties by not tracking their men. The modern full back must attack and defend, but the commitment to one must not over rule the other, something that both Glen and Kyle suffer from at times.
Johnson compared to the supporting full backs also shows an accruement of defensive success and certainly contributes much more towards goals and chances than Rafael and Zabaleta. Johnson made a chance every 69 minutes last season compared to 97 minutes for Rafael and 147 for Zabaleta, although Walker made a chance every 59 minutes and created seven more chances all season compared to Glen (47-54).
The passing abilities of all of these full backs are extremely similar, with all around the 80% mark for pass completion. Their dribbling abilities are clearly at different levels though; Glen Johnson made 61/117 dribbles this season (52%) and 32/71 (45%) the season before, compared to Kyle Walker’s 25/57 (43%) and 30/59 (51%) the season before that. Rafael and Zabaleta both average between 40%-60% but with far fewer dribbles compared to Walker and Johnson, possibly contributing to their lower ‘Total Chances Created’ statistics.
Statistically speaking, Glen Johnson is a very good full back. He offers width, speed and strength from the right full back position, and he adds flexibility to the squad with his ability to fill in at left back. He is needed to offer Liverpool the width on the right, especially as Stewart Downing will naturally look to come inside, and Johnson also offers a goal threat from a defensive position, something that is always a positive. For all of these strengths, his defensive frailties do stand out.
Glen’s positioning has long been an area of concern for Liverpool fans and much like his fullback partner Jose Enrique, it seems that the presence of something shiny in the crowd can distract his attention for long enough to allow an opposing player to get ahead of him or for him to be out of position momentarily and for Liverpool to be punished. An observation, sadly with no statistical backing, I don’t remember many crosses coming in from the right hand side of our defensive unit but I seem to always notice when we concede at the back post from crosses from the left. Perhaps that is just something I notice.
The curious case of Glen Johnson will remain. The full back who statistically performs his defensive duties well but who will forever remain a defensive pariah for Liverpool fans; would Kelly perform the attacking duties as well as Glen does? I believe he’d offer more defensive stability but wouldn’t be the provider further up. The question is; what’s more important? Attacking repertoire or defensive duties when it comes to the modern fullback? Is Glen Johnson the best right back for Liverpool?
The stats in this article come from EPLindex.com.
