Eddie Johnson To Reading

[dmike]

this guy is a basket case! His lack of maturity will be detrimental to Reading. They would of been better of with signing Carlos Ruiz (fc dallas) who plays in the MLS and has a better Strike Rate, work ethic, Expierence at the INTL' and club level' and he has scored 74 goals and 4 seasons and 14 in playoff competition. This guy is itching for Premier Ship soccer

while on the other hand

Eddie Johnson has been slacking, only 7 goals in 2 seasons( 5 in 2005 and 2 in 2006) and has only accumalated 26 goals in 5 season career


Carlos Ruiz had his moments but he is not premiership material. Neither is EJ at the moment but scouters look beyond stats. They obviously see something in EJ that has attracted a possibility of a transfer . Same curiosity that Benfica had a couple years ago.

[prvev]

Thought the latest was Dempsey is going to Charleton? (and Gooch?)

It is, but both were at times connected to possibly coming to Reading.

[K:theCore]

Bad attitude...Bad Idea....

Love the physical tools this guy brings to the table though.


Perhaps a couple of "Hows your mother?" in the up front and personal way that only the Premiership can offer can bring this guy's ego down and humble him up...hopefully.

[T_Rock]

Interesting article in which Hahnemann talks about how Johnson would fit in with Reading. The article also talks about the relationship between Reading and the MLS. Good article, but still nothing concrete. As a fan of Reading and the MLS, it is good to hear that a positive relationship is in place.

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/readingfc/2005/2005558/fast_eddie_would_be_just_the_job_says_marcus

[mschofield]

Anyone in Reading be able to sneak by and watch a training session, tell us how he looks?

[LetsGoYanks]

I've got to disagree in the strongest of terms with those who are labelling Eddie Johnson as having a bad attitude or being some sort of "bad apple."

The kid has a supremely good heart. He has grown up in town environs, and definitely shows his immaturity at times, but keeping in mind his young age and knowing how much the average child goes through in those years, I give more credence to his good heart than work-rate or attitude problems of the past.

I think he's someone that needs to be challenged. He has undoubtedly been coasting in MLS the past couple seasons. I know that's not acceptable, but I'm still willing to bet on the kid. :)

[mschofield]

I've got to disagree in the strongest of terms with those who are labelling Eddie Johnson as having a bad attitude or being some sort of "bad apple."

The kid has a supremely good heart. He has grown up in town environs, and definitely shows his immaturity at times, but keeping in mind his young age and knowing how much the average child goes through in those years, I give more credence to his good heart than work-rate or attitude problems of the past.

I think he's someone that needs to be challenged. He has undoubtedly been coasting in MLS the past couple seasons. I know that's not acceptable, but I'm still willing to bet on the kid. :)
The point is how much, though, isn't it? If he's relatively inexpensive, then yes. If MLS want star money for him, it's a much tougher call.

[prvev]

I think MLS will be willing to part with him relatively cheaply, and pretty happy just to get his salary off the books. An unhappy Johnson playing crappy isn't worth much to MLS.

I've liked everything Johnson has said this week. Don't know if its an act trying to get what he wants, but I think he'll be able to fit in if he keeps the attitude he has now. He's worth it if MLS will sell him for what I think they will.

I do wonder how he's doing in training, though. I know he had a bit of a knock, but does anyone know anything other than that?

[mschofield]

...
I've liked everything Johnson has said this week. Don't know if its an act trying to get what he wants, but I think he'll be able to fit in if he keeps the attitude he has now. He's worth it if MLS will sell him for what I think they will.

I do wonder how he's doing in training, though. I know he had a bit of a knock, but does anyone know anything other than that?I agree, he sounds like a solid young pro. Reading look for youth with unrealized talent, a chip on their shoulder and, importantly, a strong desire to play for Reading, not just find a club in the prem.
Thus far, he looks solid.

[Honore de Ballsac]

Johnson's 23, not 19, btw.

As far as what to expect, I'd say he has more skill than Convey, but more of an ego, too. When he's fit and in the right frame of mind he can do some things.

I think Convey has loads more ball skill, game sense and versatility. No question Johnson seems to have a less attractive psychology - but at least he'd be escaping his posse by going to England.

I worry about Convey's 'tude: always seemed an issue at DCU - where he never lit up the league. When he went to England he bombed for a year, while missing his cushy home and starting spot one might infer. When Reading was on their roll he was flying high. This year I see him throwing his hands up and petulantly demanding the ball for both US and Reading, regardless of his lack of success with the thing in these particular games. The Premiere League is obviously a tougher slog for Reading, but they grind out some points and he says he's finally fully fit for the first time in the season. Then they hit a tough patch in the schedule, start losing, and he disappears? Stevie Hunt is showing what it takes.

For the record, I worry about Dempsey's ability to really succeed in the grind of the Premier League too. But the guy everybody's missed the boat on is MASTROENI. It's just sad.

Carlos Bocanegra is playing d-mid in the EPL for crying aloud.

[Pablo Chicago]

I worry about Convey's 'tude: always seemed an issue at DCU - where he never lit up the league. When he went to England he bombed for a year, while missing his cushy home and starting spot one might infer.
One might also infer that Reading took a chance on a kid with some raw talent and he worked his ass off (and with some proper training) he earned a starting spot in '05/'06.

When Reading was on their roll he was flying high. This year I see him throwing his hands up and petulantly demanding the ball for both US and Reading, regardless of his lack of success with the thing in these particular games.
Petulantly demanding? I don't recall Bruce Arena or Steve Coppell using that expression when asked about Convey. However, I do recall hearing both of them praise him for his work ethic.

The Premiere League is obviously a tougher slog for Reading, but they grind out some points and he says he's finally fully fit for the first time in the season. Then they hit a tough patch in the schedule, start losing, and he disappears? Stevie Hunt is showing what it takes.
He's been out with a knee injury, and Coppell's more concerned with his health than his 'tude.

[mschofield]

I can't agree or disagree about Convey's attitude in DC, but at Reading it's been almost 100 percent positive. After a full year on the bench (often not even on the bench) he said a couple snarky things, but nothing outrageous. Since then, his attitude has been inspirational, very hard working player.
Right now, he's trying to overcome a knee injury. he thought he was better, he wasn't, and he went back to square one.
I think Hunt and Convey actually have in common that they make the most of what they have.
As for petulance with the US, I watched him throwing his hands in the air and stomping against CR this summer. In hi s defense, he was finding acres of space on the left, while on the right LD and DMB were playing an odd little game of "we were stars last time" to no great effect.

[skippy]

Ballsace lives up to his kicker line. He hasn't been watching the same Reading or the same Convey I've been watching this year. If Convey was throwing up his hands in exasperation against CR, he certainly wasn't the only American doing that.

The fact that he thinks Convey "disappeared" shows how little he knows.

On and to keep the thread on topic, any new news on the EJ trial. I think he'd be a good addition. A move to the EPL would spur the attitude adjustment he needs. Like Convey before him he believes he's "outgrown" MLS.

[Honore de Ballsac]

The fact that he thinks Convey "disappeared" shows how little he knows.
C'mon. How normal is it to just go home for a month with a niggling injury?

[mschofield]

C'mon. How normal is it to just go home for a month with a niggling injury?
He went back to the states to rehab. It didn't work, he had surgery.
He wasn't throwing a fit, he was starting when available, but in his words, he wasn't all there. Reading fans are not agreeing with your suspiscions.

As for Johnson, Coppell won't let the bid leak until it's made. he won't talk about it then, either, but agents might.

[LetsGoYanks]

Hmm... well I always played with a competitive spirit and was well-liked by my teammates and I don't blame Bobby one bit if he did throw up his hands versus the Czechs b/c I'd have likely done the exact same thing were I in his boots.

Amazing how a manager so totally and completely lost the plot...

[Honore de Ballsac]

Reading fans are not agreeing with your suspiscions.
Great to hear it. More of a worry than a suspicion - a worry that some of our guys aren't real tough, are a little diva-esque.

[mschofield]

Interesting post in YA forum from someone's friend who saw him train. Basically said EJ was impressively fast, and large enough, to get into good positions and look dangerous, but not skillfull enough to do anything that actually was dangerous from those positions.

[Pablo Chicago]

Interesting post in YA forum from someone's friend who saw him train. Basically said EJ was impressively fast, and large enough, to get into good positions and look dangerous, but not skillfull enough to do anything that actually was dangerous from those positions.
My 4 year old could've told them that. :D

[rms5555]

Johnson is not comming to Reading. (http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0275readingfc/0100news/tm_headline=club-dismiss-move-for-egyptian&method=full&objectid=18224802&siteid=50102-name_page.html) The article talks about Ahmed Fathi not comming, but at the bottom it talks about the Johnson trail with the final quote from Nicky Hammond saying "It was interesting for both parties for us to have a look at Eddie but he will not be coming back."