West Ham musings by Pete May, author of Massive, Goodbye to Boleyn, Hammers in the Heart and Irons in the Soul.
Tuesday, January 7
Jolly Roger
West Ham have signed Wolves' Roger Johnson on loan for the rest of the season. Something of a gamble but we need another body in defence. Johnson looked very impressive when he was in partnership with Scott Danns at Birmingham and had a great game when they won 1-0 at West Ham (but then everyone always has a great game against us). He also played in City's League Cup-winning side. But his career has gone off the rails since joining Wolves for £4.5m. He was fined and apologised for turning up 'drunk' at training after Wolves' 5-1 defeat by WBA and was made available by Wolves after relegation to League 1. Most recently he's been on loan at Sheffield Wednesday. Could be a decent player again if he still has the hunger and Allardyce can install some discipline in him.
My feelings veer between stunned! Completely underwhelmed to extremely disappointed! With ginge and tonks due back shortly (court case allowing!), the only reason I can see for signing the drunken Jonah is to provide cover at centre half against city away! Maybe a little harsh but that's all the positives I can find!
ReplyDeleteHe was quite good once but agree a risk! Though we only have to pay his salary for half a season and we're desperate… The owners should know about his character from his Birmingham days so must think he can be redeemed as a PL player and not a bad character. We shall see.
ReplyDeleteRoger Johnson has the turning circle of the titanic, very slow, clumsy challanges and is poor in the air. 3 relegations in a row say it all.
DeleteOh dear - doesn't sound too promising… in the days of Hart, Danns and Johnson at Birmingham they looked a solid defence. Though that was a long time ago now. Can he be worse than playing full-backs in the middle? Let's see how he does tonight.
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