Johnson leaves for City as busy transfer window closes for Boro
By Shaun • Feb 1st, 2010 • Category: Featured ArticlesAdam Johnson has completed his move to Manchester City today for an undisclosed fee as Boro were one of the busier teams on transfer deadline day. Johnson picks up the number 11 shirt, vacated by Robinho, and will once again attempt to cement himself in a Premier League first eleven.
Johnson has been in great goalscoring form for Boro this season, but criticism over his performances at the Riverside stadium have led to doubts over whether he is ready to play at a higher level. On his day he is an exceptional talent, a game winning player, but he must improve his consistency and final ball if he is to succeed at the highest level. He stepped out of the shadow of Stewart Downing this season to become our most creative player and I would like to wish him all the best at City, I really hope he progresses to establish himself as a first team regular for both club and country.
Also going through the exit door, to every Boro fan's relief, is Mido. The Egyptian waster has agreed to join West Ham, I wonder how long it is before he is causing problems for the hammers?
On to Boro's future, Boro have added three players on transfer deadline day to add to Willo Flood, Barry Robson, Stephen McManus and Chris Killen. Strachan once again raided his former club for striker Scott McDonald, a player who's goalscoring record is a massive encouragement and a signing that has ignited a little optimism in this Boro fan. Another striker, Lee Miller, has arrived from Aberdeen. Miller, who won his second Scotland cap in November, has hit double figures for Aberdeen for the past two seasons. The signings of Miller, McDonald and Killen really give us options up front as well as much more of a physical presence which we were severly lacking under Gareth Southgate.
England Under-21 full back Kyle Naughton has joined on loan from Tottenham, a product of Sheffield United's academy Naughton will no doubt go straight into contention at full back, probably left back.
I have to say I am fairlu happy with the way Strachan has used the transfer window to shape his side and I feel a lot more confident of moving forward with this team. It is a blow to lose Johnson for sure but he was going at the end of the season anyway so it makes good business sense to sell now before we risk the judgement of the tribunal. I would have liked us to bring in a goalkeeper but i'm not so sure there were that many available that would have made a difference.
What do you think, good window or bad window?
Are you angry to see Johnson go or do you think it was inevitable and good luck to him?
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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Gutted to see Johnson go but he really did fade in and out of games and at home he was a complete waste. Excited to see McDonald up front for us and the lad Naughton is an exciting prospect.
After the initial bitterness, shock, huffing and puffing of Johnson leaving for so little (compared to the inflated fee paid for the number 11 he replaces) I think it’s refreshing to see a Boro manager act so swiftly to change the team.
Forget building and nuturing and side dominated by academy players, the short term needs of the game would never allow it, not matter how romantic - Gordon has gone for drastic surgery here.
Are these players better than what we have already? Time will tell, but what they have been brought up and learnt their trade on is playing tough games where even the Champions (Celtic) aren’t guaranteed a win at the weakest teams, and that’s what I think Gordon wanted - mentally strong, players that are prepared to dig deep, battle for the 50:50 balls and all those cliches.
GS2 has swiftly removed the traces of Southgates line up for the season and in doing so will have raised a question in some of our longer serving players as to whether they have a future. Poggy, McMahon, Jones etc that can only be a good thing.
The flip side is that you can’t drop 7 new players into a team and expect it to gel - more time will be needed - and the fans are already restless, from what I understand (12,500 mile away).
There’s no doubt the sale of Johnson will have more than paid for the 7 incoming players, and so we owe Adam a huge thanks for a great couple of years - he’s still a kid, and I hope he goes onto great things - but not so great that he scores for Man City against us in the not too distant future!
So who was better, Downing or Johnson?
Downing was and is the better player in my book. Johnson has bags of potential but has a long way to go before he is at Downing’s level. Just my opinion of course and i’m sure there are plenty who disagree.