Is Adam Johnson the best player in the Championship?
By Shaun • Sep 18th, 2009 • Category: Featured ArticlesIt's a question I have seen crop up a lot on various message boards over the last few weeks, so is Boro's Adam Johnson the best player in the Championship?
There is no doubting that Johnson has had a superb start to the campaign, 5 league goals and 1 in the Carling Cup for a wide player is a superb return. He seems to have stepped out of the shadow of Stewart Downing and is relishing the responsibility of being Boro's most creative outlet, signified by the fact the he has taken on the responsibility of Boro's penalty kicks.
He is far from the finished article right now and has a long way to go before he can be considered in Downing's class, showing this sort of form regularly against Premier League opposition is required before he can be talked about in the same breath as Downing, but he has all the raw ability and potential to be as good, if not better, than the former Boro winger.
Whether or not he is the best player in this league is open for debate, football afterall is full of differing opinions depending on your allegiances, whoever you support though Adam Johnson would definately factor into consideration. Certainly I have not seen a player from an opposition team that has looked as dangerous, talented or able to win a game with a moment of magic as Adam Johnson.
Granted there are a lot of teams we have yet to play and i'm sure the Geordies or the Baggies will have players that they would consider better than AJ. It's obviously way too early to be talking about Player of the Year but if Johnson can continue on in the same vein of form there will be few players, if any, in this league who will have a better season that Boro's new left wing star.
A more pertinent question for me is whether Johnson has progressed this year or whether the Championship has been, so far, such a poor league that he is able to shine more. Would Johnson, if given more of an opportunity last season, have helped save Boro from relegation? In the few appearances he did get he struggled to have any impact on the game. Personally I put it down to the fact that he was never given a proper run in the side in his preferred position, constantly wallowing in the shadow of Downing.
I certainly accept that the standard of football in the Championship is nowhere near the Premier League and that fact alone is partly responsible for Adam Johnson's great form but I also believe that he is finally getting the chance to show what he can do and is revelling in the pressure of being one of Boro's most important players, a role he could never find himself in whilst Downing remained.
Just to get an opposition view here are a few choice quotes from a Sheffield Wednesday message board on Adam Johnson, after Boro's 3-1 win at Hillsborough:
I've watched Wednesday at this level since we were relegated for all but the 2 seasons we spent in League One. I genuinely can't think of ever seeing a better player, or a better individual performance for or against us anywhere than Johnson last night in this division.
Best in league, players who dribble that quick belong a division above .
He's a class act, you can see why Boro sold Downing with Johnson ready to come in. Can see him getting in the England team in years to come
The only worrying thing is his current contract situation and all boro fans must be hoping and praying that a deal can be reached before the January transfer window opens.
So is he the best player in the league? If not, who is better?
Shaun is A Boro fan and owner of BoroMania.com. Born and brought up in the North East. Favourite players are Juninho, Slaven and David Wheater.
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He’s not a patch on Chris Brunt like!
Johnson is a good player but other than Shef Utd who have Boro played?
Johnno has been different class this season no doubt, but there is a long way to go yet. Agree though that there has been no player we have come up against that comes close to being as good as Johnson.
Who else is as good? Koren at WBA? Guttierez at Newcastle?
Dunno mate - never seen him play but no doubt will when we play you or when you’re on the Tellybox…..
Here’s to United and Boro both getting back where we belong at the first attempt
The best player I have seen this season is Alan Smith from Newcastle, I believe his performances this season, are the reason behind Newcastle’s excellent start, he didn’t play against Blackpool, and what happened, they lost.
Newcastle fan here. From what I’ve seen so far he’s head and shoulders above anyone else in this league, and he’s going to be a big player for Boro this season. You need to keep him fit and happy, as the big boys will be sniffing aroung come January
I have been surprised by a few comments from my Geordie friends about how well Smith has played this season. He is playing a deeper midfield role too from what I hear.
London Mag, we need to get Johnson signed up to a new contract asap!
Smithy has been great this season, and long may it continue. He’s strolling through games, but Johnson is a match winner. If Boro can keep hold of him they will be in the shake up at the end of the season. Hopefully we’ll be there as well.
Agree with London Mag, match winners are few and far between in this league, which to be fair is a pretty poor standard. Jonas has the ability to do it for us but has nowhere near the end product. Johnson is probably the best attacking player in this league, but does that say more about the standard of the league? A league which we were lead to believe was going to be a real struggle