Poll: Bradley Johnson was our Norwich City Man of the Match against Arsenal. Who was yours?
Bradley Johnson keeps a close watch on Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey. Picture: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images
Paddy Davitt
Monday, October 22, 2012
11:42 AM
Professional football is a ruthless business. Which is why Bradley Johnson’s marauding display against the club that rejected him offered something of a sentimental sub-plot to the hurclean collective efforts of Chris Hughton’s squad.
It’s perhaps churlish to state, but no less truthful, that City’s precious three points will have meant more to Johnson than most. The 25-year-old has spoken in the past about how he was almost lost to the game after Arsenal decided to cut him adrift as a teenager. Johnson recalled once how he broke down in tears after being told by his father he was not wanted by the Gunners.
He had plenty of rivals for top billing here. The likes of Sebastien Bassong, Alex Tettey, Wes Hoolahan and Grant Holt all had equal claims, but there was a zealousness to Johnson’s all-round game, borne you suspect of personal heartache, that typfied Norwich’s resolve on the day. Much of his break-up play will have gone largely unnoticed, but the fleeting threats from players like Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski owed much to the lack of service emanating from Arsenal’s central midfield.
Johnson also had the energy to break forward sporadically. Podolski halted one burst but Hoolahan’s quickly-taken free kick was a rare aberration; so too Johnson’s wild second half strike from Hoolahan’s reverse pass.
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10 comments
All worthy candidates but for me Russell Martin should also be in the frame - he stiffled out cross coming in from that side of the field.
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Singapore Canary
Monday, October 22, 2012
i thought bassong just shaded it.
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bluelight
Monday, October 22, 2012
Why do the postings take SO LONG to get thro`??
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Mad Brewer
Monday, October 22, 2012
Why do the postings take SO LONG to get thro`??
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Mad Brewer
Monday, October 22, 2012
I think Bradley ran them both close, RW, but the fans have not really warmed to BJ yet, seemingly. Have you read the item on Trapattoni\Wes?
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Mad Brewer
Monday, October 22, 2012
Well looks like someone is on the wrong wave length? Wes seems to be the choice along with Alex Tettey? By a bit of a country mile? Anyway roll on next match, hopefully an unchanged side to the one that started on Saturday and more points!
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RoadWarrior
Monday, October 22, 2012
Fans have not warmed to Bradley yet? I think they will.
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Mad Brewer
Monday, October 22, 2012
Another (different) attempt ethered. I`ll have to be nice to Paddy another day........
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Mad Brewer
Monday, October 22, 2012
Double ethering. Said complimentary things about Paddy, too. There`s a first! ;-)
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Mad Brewer
Monday, October 22, 2012
That`s odd, I voted for Tettey but was in two minds whether to opt for Bradley. But he has only 3% so far. Is he a player who has yet to win the affection of the fans? He loves to perform against the "top" players; shows no "subservience" (thanks for that word, Paddy Davitt). He has a point to prove vs Arsenal, too......
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Mad Brewer
Monday, October 22, 2012