Bradley Johnson: I belong at United

[clippedgull]

oh well, can't blame him I guess

Bradley Johnson resumed training with Leeds United for the first time in two months today, insistent that his return to Elland Road will be a permanent arrangement.
The 21-year-old has been called back to Yorkshire by Simon Grayson at the end of his loan with Brighton and Hove Albion, and Johnson plans to inform United's new manager that he has no interest in cutting short his career with Leeds.

Johnson's position at Elland Road grew increasingly unclear towards the end of Gary McAllister's tenure as Leeds manager, but McAllister's sacking and the subsequent appointment of Grayson appears to have given him a second chance at Elland Road.

The midfielder's loan with Brighton officially ended on Saturday – he was prevented from making an 11th and final appearance after Albion's match against Northampton Town was postponed – and he reported back to United's Thorp Arch training complex this morning.

There is little prospect of Johnson walking straight into Grayson's team with a number of other midfielders already established in United's starting line-up, but he admitted his relief at receiving an opportunity which was not certain to come while McAllister, pictured right, remained in charge.

Johnson said: "I didn't seem to have a place in Gary's plans and my future was up in the air until a couple of weeks ago.

"I haven't spoken to the new manager but when I do, the first thing I'll say to him is that I definitely want to stay at Leeds.

"I've got two-and-a-half years on my contract and I'll tell him that I want to reach the end of it.

"This feels like a clean slate for me and that's what I needed.

"I don't expect to go back to Leeds and start playing straight away because football doesn't work like that, but I've held a place in the team before and I'm confident that I can do it again.

"I've never doubted my own ability and I believe in myself as a player but when you're not involved with the first team – and when it's pretty obvious that you're not going to be involved in the first team – there isn't much you can do.

"My time at Brighton's been good for me, but I was really pleased when I got the call to say I was going back to Leeds and the manager wanted to have a look at me. It's what I wanted to hear."

Johnson was a favoured player under McAllister last season, appearing in every one of the 20 matches between the Scot's appointment and the League One play-off final at Wembley, but his career with Leeds ground to a sudden halt this term.

A back injury sustained in United's pre-season schedule curtailed his involvement in the opening month of the campaign, and a 66-minute outing against Bristol Rovers in August has been his only contribution to the club's League One season.

McAllister explained the midfielder's continuing absence by claiming that other players in his squad were making stronger claims for a first-team place, and Johnson moved to Brighton on loan at the end of October.

It is probable that, with McAllister in charge, Leeds would have listened seriously to any January offers for Johnson, who was signed from Northampton for around £200,000 12 months ago, and the doubts about his future developed further after United resisted the opportunity to activate a 24-hour recall clause in his loan deal with Brighton as results under McAllister took a turn for the worse.

Johnson exited the Withdean Stadium on Saturday with 10 appearances and five goals to his name, making him technically the third highest league goalscorer in United's squad, level with Fabian Delph and behind Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio.

"Going to Brighton was the best move for me," Johnson said.

"I'm coming back to Leeds with a decent amount of football under my belt and that gives me the best chance of proving myself.

"If I'd spent the last two months sitting around and playing a few reserve games, I wouldn't be in a good position to impress the new manager.

"It did surprise me that I wasn't involved more under Gary McAllister, and I kept asking questions about why I wasn't playing.

"I didn't get the answers I was looking for, so I asked if I could go out on loan. It seemed like the right thing to do.

"To be honest, I didn't expect a change of manager at Leeds and I thought Gary would be here until the end of the season at least.

"It's been a surprise to see him go but things change quickly in football, as I've found out.

"Last season I was playing in every game, and this season I couldn't get near the first team.

"I've played regularly for Leeds before and I hope that I will again, but I'll have to prove myself first."

Though coincidental, United's results have deteriorated badly during Johnson's exile to the south coast, and a club who were second in League One on the afternoon of his transfer are now fighting to stay in touch with the division's play-off positions.

Grayson stated last week that Johnson was returning to Leeds to allow the club to "have a look at him before we make any decisions", and the midfielder remains under pressure to convince United's new manager that he deserves a permanent place in his squad.

Johnson said: "I'm match fit and I've been scoring a few goals, and (Brighton manager) Micky Adams seemed happy with the job I did for him.

"I've watched Leeds' results while I've been away and they're in false position in the league but the squad is very strong and I'm going to have to fight for a place.

"(My future) is in the hands of the new manager but I'll try to influence his thinking. I'm feeling really upbeat and after two months in a hotel room it's nice to be going back to my flat in Leeds.

"I love the city and I love the club, and playing in front of the crowd at Elland Road last season was amazing.

"It's where I want to be."

 

[Spider]

I don't think he can be blamed for anything in that article! In fact, he seems like quite a sensible and level-headed bloke. Shame to see him go though as I do believe he was a decent player, who, if he'd managed to recapture his early form for us, was perhaps our best player.

 

[Whitterz]

Shame.

If sitting on the bench at Leeds United is where he sees his career going, then thats upto him. If he makes the starting 11, then fair play to him. But from where I see it, Gary Mac did not not want him in the squad for a reason. I would have liked to have seen him at the Withdean for a longer spell, as he was a decent player. Leeds United are a big club in the wrong league IMO, and he will be hard pushed to keep his place, especially if they make big surge for play off's/promotion. Players will be fighting like mad to keep thier places, and he will have to prove to Grayson that he is worthy of a starting position.

Good luck to him.

 

[Djmiles]

Fair play to him, looked like a decent player and I'm sure he'll do well given the chance.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

He's STILL being falsely creditted with FIVE goals, I see.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Leeds would be mad not to play him at the moment, they need players that can win em games and get stuck in.

Bradley might be in love with Leeds but if another club offers Bates a bit of cash for him, Bates aint that loyal. Just wish we had some cash...

 

[Easy 10]

Can see why he was going through the motions with us for his last few games then. All he wanted was to get back up the M1 as quickly as possible.
He STANK against Colchester, really looked like he could not give a flying.

 

[The Large One]

He's STILL being falsely creditted with FIVE goals, I see.

One against MK Dons (should be Fleetwod). Any more...?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Good luck to the lad

 

[Pavilionaire]

There are loan players who come to you looking for a move, and then there are loan players who are coming for a bit of football to force them back in the reckoning at their original club.

Johnson is in the latter camp. That's the way it is. No big deal.

 

[Dave the OAP]

There are loan players who come to you looking for a move, and then there are loan players who are coming for a bit of football to force them back in the reckoning at their original club.

Johnson is in the latter camp. That's the way it is. No big deal.

|I think that is correct.

we seem to have got ourselves into this mindset that everyone who comes down here on loan thinks its so wonderful that they want to stay and sign for us.

Apart from a select few, that has not happened.

maybe we ought to see loanees as just that, ie not ours and therefore dont get upset when they go back.

 

[Easy 10]

I'm not upset at him going back, quite the opposite in fact. I don't expect loan players to fall in love with it down here, but a modicum of effort beyond the first couple of games wouldn't have gone amiss. Or perhaps he just went down with our "shitness" virus after a while, it seems to affect most players at the Albion who make a bright start with us. Inabilty can clearly be contagious.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Leeds would be mad not to play him at the moment, they need players that can win em games and get stuck in.

...

If they need players who will 'get stuck in', then based on his time here, I'm struggling to think of ANY who would be a WORSE option than Bradley Johnson.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

He really didnt give a toss and thought he was the dogs bollocks. Clearly he's got talent, I just don't think he's the sort of player who will consistently peform for us. Unless he bucks up his attitude.

 

[Easy 10]

And the thing is, when Adams is consistantly picks loan players who are strolling around the park doing absolutely f*** all to justify their place in the team, its not exactly condusive to harbouring a happy, motivated squad of players when others are making way for charlatans like Johnson.

I'd rather have seen one of the kids given a chance than persist with someone who quite clearly couldn't give a toss.

 

[Storer68]

Slightly different slat given on Saturday. (That;s what happens when you talk to a different local rag)

Brad could be back at Albion
11:20am Saturday 3rd January 2009

Comments (16) Have your say »

By Andy Naylor »

Bradley Johnson is not ruling out a return to Albion.

The on-loan midfielder has revealed he could re-sign for the Seagulls if he does not force his way back into the first team reckoning at Leeds.

Johnson faces an uncertain future at Elland Road after today’s clash against his old club Northampton.

He fell out of favour with Gary McAllister, the manager who bought him from Northampton for £250,000 a year ago, and McAllister has now been replaced by ex-Blackpool boss Simon Grayson.

Other clubs have been linked with a swoop for Johnson during the January transfer window, including Hull, although that has been rubbished by the Premier League club’s assistant manager and former Albion legend Brian Horton.

Johnson sat down with Seagulls chief Micky Adams yesterday to discuss his options.

He revealed: “I said to him if it doesn’t work out for me at Leeds and I am stuck in the same position that I was at the beginning of the season then I would always come back here.

“I know I would be playing games – he said that to me – so we will just have to wait and see what happens. I am not ruling out a return.

“I haven’t spoken to Leeds. My agent has been in contact with them and as far as I know I am going back there on Monday for training as normal.

“Hopefully I am going to try and get into the team. I am aware of all the speculation but it is all talk until something happens.

“At this moment in time all I know is I am going back to Leeds on Monday and I am a Leeds player.”

Northampton are poignant opponents for Johnson’s Albion farewell. The 21-year-old Londoner spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Cobblers before his big move to Leeds.

“I enjoyed my time at Northampton,” he said. “It was the club where I started playing my football.

“Stuart Gray gave me my chance there and he helped me develop as a player, so my thanks go to him.

“He was behind me all the way when I moved to Leeds. He was telling me it was a chance to go and develop myself as a better player and I could always come back if things didn't work out.

“Leeds was not much of a hard decision. They were second in the League when I signed and looked like they were going to go up. Unfortunately they didn’t but it is still a massive club to be at.”

Johnson is likely to find himself in the unusual position today of being appreciated by both sets of supporters.

He has already been back to Northampton with Leeds in a 1-1 draw at Sixfields last season.

“Everyone thought I would get booed but the fans gave me a good reception,” he said.

Johnson can also expect a warm ovation from the Albion faithful for his efforts after four goals in ten games, all of them at Withdean, including a debut double against Leicester.

He added: “I don’t like to set targets – I concentrate more on my performance than goals – but it’s always nice to get a few. I’ve scored four and I’m happy with that.

“Brighton have a good team and the league position is not what it should be. I haven’t been in a game here where we have been beaten fair and square.

“Every game we have lost I think we have been the better side and have just lost to mistakes.

“The League position is false and we are coming together and gelling as a team now, so it’s unfortunate that it is my last game. Hopefully we can end on a win.

“My aim in coming out on loan was to get fit and also help Brighton get back to winning ways.

“I did that in my first game (Leicester) and in my second game against Millwall but unfortunately we then suffered a dip in form. Hopefully they will get out of the trouble they are in now.”

 

[Starry]

Can see why he was going through the motions with us for his last few games then. All he wanted was to get back up the M1 as quickly as possible.
He STANK against Colchester, really looked like he could not give a flying.

as soon as he knew gary mac was gone he wanted back, had gary mac stayed he was more than happy to discuss leaving. you get one strike and you are out with gary mac, bradley and the phone fiasco was his chance (as with westy/heath and the drinking games) and gary mac no matter what was not going to play him again. bradley was always happy at leeds and now that the phone fiasco is solved he wants to fight back in.

if delph goes he will be first choice i should think but he will never get on the pitch in front of delph so i guess he is happy to warm the bench or is delusional enough to think he is better than the boy that started it all.

 

[The Oldman]

And the thing is, when Adams is consistantly picks loan players who are strolling around the park doing absolutely f*** all to justify their place in the team, its not exactly condusive to harbouring a happy, motivated squad of players when others are making way for charlatans like Johnson.

I'd rather have seen one of the kids given a chance than persist with someone who quite clearly couldn't give a toss.

This man speaks sense. I'm convinced that loan players under Adams have not been good for the team. Must be lovely to have a few weeks in Brighton, doing the nightspots, a little bit of training "can't do too much as I'm coming back from an injury", a few games at Withdean. Thanks Micky. You're a mate!
Meanwhile OUR players watch and wonder.

 

[Don Quixote]

good he was a load of crap anyway.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Good strike, bugger all else - we're well rid of him. Need players in the middle of the park who can actually CONTRIBUTE.