1/21 Jemal Johnson/Yelldell- Blackburn reserves vs. Newcastle reserves [R]

Is mostly good news....I ain't worried about our "depth" at goalkeeper...

 

True 'dat!

The two goal effort appears to be Johnson’s best outing since cracking the reserves in October. I don’t know if he’s still also playing with the U19 team, but through mid-November, he had scored six goals and drawn a PK in 14 U19 games.

If the B’burn site is correct and has listed all the games, he has three goals in 11 games (9 starts) for the reserves.

Here are the games JJ has played with the reserves, according to the team’s site.

10/1/03 Aston Villa 59 minutes
10/6/03 Newcastle 90 minutes
10/13/03 Man. City 90 minutes Hit crossbar, but no goals
10/22/03 Liverpool 90 minutes
10/30/03 Everton 45 minutes Second half sub
11/5/03 Bolton 20 minutes Second half sub
11/11/03 Wolverhampton 90 minutes 1 goal
11/19/03 Sunderland 90 minutes Hit crossbar, but no goals
11/25/03 Leeds 60 minutes
12/10/03 West Brom 70 minutes MLS assist - rebound of JJ shot leads to goal
1/21/04 Newcastle 87 minutes 2 goals

In the Blackburn-Liverpool game, Johnson went up against Zak Whitbread. ‘Pool shutout Rovers.

Incidentally, here are the stats for David Yelldell, who played this week for the reserves for the first time since late October, according to the site.

8/13/03 Birmingham 90 minutes Clean sheet
8/20/03 Man. United 90 minutes Clean sheet
9/3/03 Leeds 90 minutes 2 goals allowed
9/10/03 Sunderland 90 minutes 3 goals allowed
10/30/03 Everton 90 minutes 1 goal allowed, a PK
10/6/03 Newcastle 90 minutes 4 goals allowed
10/13/03 Man. City 90 minutes 3 goals allowed, 1 a PK, credited with “nice saves”
10/22/03 Liverpool 90 minutes 2 goals allowed, credited with “several fine saves”
1/21/04 Newcastle 90 minutes 6 goals allowed

The team is 2-6-1 (US style standings) with Yelldell starting. That six-pack he gave up raised his g.a.a. to 2.33! Judging by the way Blackburn’s first team plays, I’d like to think a lot of this is a reflection of the defense!

 

Played in the last three U-19 games as well, articles linked:

1/17/2004 Man United 1-1
1/10/2004 Everton 2-1 scored game winner.
12/14/2003 Wolverhampton 1-0


What is the status of each of the Johnson's in terms of US status and passports?

 

Jemal Johnson was born in New Jersey and moved to England as a kid. So, he holds a US passport.

Will Johnson was born in England but moved to the US as a kid. Last I heard, he was not a US citizen but his parents were close to getting citizenship and if they do it before he turns 18, he becomes a US citizen then.

Eddie, David and Paul Johnson were all born in the US, grew up in the US and hold US passports! Eddie (Dallas) and David (Willem II) are cap-tied to the US and played for the U20 team in the World Youth Championship last month. They also played in the U17 World Championship in 2001 along with Paul Johnson (now at Virginia).

That's all the Johnsons I know about in US Soccer though I have run into - figuratively! - a few dicks.

 

Has Jemal ever been called into a US camp at any level?

 

I think he has surfaced one or two times. Mostly talking about how Brad Friedel should talk to him and get im to play for the US.

As far as Yelldell is concerned...he is news to me. New kids keep popping up all the time! Not that this is a bad thing!

 

He popped up last summer. He is age eligable for the Olympic team and Brad said he would help him get in with the USSF.

 

He's been on the bench in EPL matches backing up Brad on at least 8 occasions this season.

 

I saw Yeldell play for Rovers against DC United last year, and he didn't impress me at all. I just don't think he'll make it. Of course he's young, but I've seen 20 American keepers of the same age better than him. Based on that one half I saw, anyway.