Do you know this player? If he doesn't look familiar do not be alarmed. It has been a while since you would have noticed him.
That player is Eddie Johnson and the U.S. national team striker finally gave American soccer fans a reason for optimism about his career after putting in an outstanding performance for Cardiff City in its 3-0 win vs. Barnsley on Tuesday. Johnson got a rare start, playing 90 minutes on Tuesday, and he delivered an assist during an active and encouraging performance that has brought him back in the good graces of Cardiff fans who had grown tired of his lack of production.
Here is an excerpt from the above story:
"It may be the fact that the on-loan Fulham-striker is like the Forrest Gump of Championship football – hapless, but so willing and eager you can’t help liking him."
Listen to this interview with Cardiff City manager (and John Carver sound-alike) Dave Jones praising Johnson's performance.
What do you think of this development? Could Eddie Johnson be coming around? Could his struggles at Cardiff be helping him mature and grow into the player his physical gifts have always suggested he could be? Will you reserve judgment until he actually scores a goal?
Share your thoughts on Johnson's performance in the comments section below.
EJ has hit rock bottom. who knows, there’s no where else to go but up.
MVK
West Ham is my favorite team. He was playing right mid in a diamond formation midfield.
Looks like Jack Collison will move to the right, and maybe Savio (January signing) will play on the left.
Mark Noble has played on the right a few times but he has been dreadful (in my opinion).
So unfortunately that is not a postive from that huge negative (Behrami hustled his AZZ off)
Can someone tell me where Behrami was playing for West Ham? Will his injury help get Spector time?
Comfort,
So you can offer an opinion on EJ (Enigmatic) but I can’t?
Thats logical.
He was more productive than Ching yesterday… Not that I think EJ deserves a cap soon, more that Ching doesnt…
Danny,
Which championship team do you skipper again? I’m curious to see your judge of talent.
Anywhoo, EJ is the definition of enigmatic.
I am happy he did well in a game. I am always happy when US internationals do well.
But Eddie has a long long way to go before getting back into the National Team picture. Frankly, I doubt he ever will.
Eddie Johnson has been disappointing no doubt.
Let’s see if this confidence can extend into more games.
Then, you can pass judgement. One game does not make a player.
I love ya Ives bit I wouldn’t characterize this as a “development.”
EJ is a forward and needs to start, then score – consistently – in any league -before we get all excited about a comeback. I just pray Bradley doesn’t call him back into camp because of one better than average game in an average league.
Eddie has to put a number of these performances together, score some goals and see if he can get his confidence back. Hopefully he can build on this but he has a long way to go.
Wake me up when/if he ever scores a goal in Europe. Watching him play a few games with Fulham was painful.
I don’t know that Eddie Johnson can do anything to restore any faith I once had in him.
Sorry but that’s how I honestly feel about the guy.
that article was one of the most entertaining I’ve read in a long time. That writer is very “cheeky”.
Make it happen Eddie!
Lets see what happens over 5 games. While I believe he can still have a decent Euro career in second tier leagues (where he can bank some good cash) I think he ultimately will return to the MLS. His game is speed but with less technical skill or understanding of the game then Beasley. EJ’s time on the natl team has passed him by. He had more then a fair chance to establish himself and the more he played the worst he looked. Donovan and Ching are established with Jozy clearly the immediate future. Cooper deserves some time and Davies has barely had a chance yet. And there are younger players in MLS who will surely develop. So I do not even see EJ on the B squad.
Danny,
That may have come across more acusatory towards you than I meant, however it’s an article about an American player being named MOTM. I’ll read those stories all day with a smile on my face… I just wish there were more of them.
i’m not going to read too much into this, as eddie needs to show some consistency and quality to be considered for the US. At this point, with the current crop of players, he would not help the US, the US needs thoroughbreds in the squad not another hardworking donkey.
And also….being a “cult hero” doesnt exactly hurt your chances of playing….but, as the Forrest Gump comparison shows, having that title doesnt necessarily mean they think your a quality player that should start.
But best wishes for him to do even better in his next (hopefully) start.
We’ll see if he actually does anything the rest of the season (which, unfortunately, is unlikely)….then I say we bring him back to MLS, or Scandinavia as some have suggested here.
BFBS EJ was rated very highly by Cardiff fans yesterday. They said he did very well. The message boards of Cardiff fans were very supportive of him.
A question for those that have actually watched some of EJ’s first team and/or reserve matches for Cardiff: what is your impression? Especially, does he ever dribble past people? Do anything else that’s clever with the ball? What we are used here in the US is Eddie making decent runs and taking advantage of far too much space where the finish is a relatively simple one. But we are also used to him dishing the ball off to the nearest teammate immediately after receiving it, even in the box, where other forwards would go for goal.
It was 1 game!!! talk to me when he actually starts scoring!
Don’t get your hopes up…Cardiff have 3 quality strikers who are all injured or have picked up knocks recently (RMc, Chopra, Booth) that all regulary…what’s the word I’m looking for…oh, right…SCORE.
EJ has one more starting opportunity this Saturday and unless he scores a hat trick it’s back to the reserves.
Alex,
I guess this is what makes soccer so unique. I just spit out my water at the idea that Theo Walcott & EJ are in the same sentence, let alone compared. People see the game differently I guess…VERY differently.
Congrats Eddie. Glad to have ya back!
I thought it was the apocalypse when I saw he got the start… phew… now, if he would’ve scored a goal.. thats when I start buying up the bottled water.
Honestly, I think he has the skill but he was either lacking the confidence and/or his ego got in the way. I remember watching him last WC and was pretty impressed by him. I thought he had a lot of potential, but he rarely played.
I think he still has the ability to become a great player, but he has to get over the mental aspects of the game. To me, he was like Donovan in that respect–plays well against “easier” competition, but when it’s an important game, he disappears like he doesn’t want the ball. Hopefully this is a new start for EJ…I’d like to root for him again.
Who would you rather have on your team, EJ or Theo walcott? Next question Marvelle wynne or ashley cole? The reason I ask is because Im pretty sure the majority will take the english players and i for the life of me don’t know why. Theo is all speed no skill he can’t cross the ball and is as frail as DMB but no one calls for him to leave the epl or thinks its too rough for him even though he gets hurt more than anyone I know. Ashley Cole has no skill is often caught out of position its ridiculous, and has modest skill the only thing going for him is that he plays for chelsea.
Brandon,
I’m not interested in reading things bashing him, I’m simply not interested in him at all.
I’ve never seen these “skills” and “gifts” that people talk about. He runs fast and thinks he’s better than he is. Thats about it…dime a dozen type player.
Yeah, I disagree with the statement that he has all the tools except the mentality. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him dribble the ball without looking at his feet.
I wish well for him, and am happy he finally performed well for Cardiff, but I seriously doubt he’ll do enough to earn his way back to NT duty, though with BB you never know.
You’re right Danny, why even post a story about an American player who apperently had a nice game? I find it nice to read any news that casts an American player in a positive light, if only just for one game.
If you want to read posts or article blasting Eddie Johnson, just go to ol’ google.com. There are plenty of them. Occasionally I like to mix in some positive with the negative though.
What “gifts”? He runs fast. He has next to zero skill and atrocious finishing ability.
Other than being fast, I am so tired of hearing about this fool.
I enjoyed this excerpt even more:
“Only one thing was missing to make everyone’s night complete – a goal for you know who. Altogether now: ‘USA! USA! USA!'”
Disparaging, but funny nonetheless.
All he needs is the motivation and the confidence. He’s got the skills, the speed, the finishing ability. all he’s missing is the mentality.
From the club’s official website:
“Following the dismissal, Cardiff dominated the last twenty-five minutes with man of the match Eddie Johnson impressing in attack”
http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10335~44786,00.html
It’s fun to compare the story of “praise” for Eddie with the story on Edu a couple days ago. Two stories about Americans who don’t get much playing time, who ended up getting playing time, and who ended up playing well.
Edu’s write-up is about hope and anticipation. Eddie’s write-up is a farce.
EJ will end up in Norway next, then eventually back in MLS. My guess is LA Galaxy by 2011.
Eddie is also tied for Cardiff Reserves top goal scorer with 2. He scored in 2 consecutive games. The first one being after he spent over a week in Florida.
Great game for Eddie. I’m sure he can keep up the intensity.
EJ is also tied for Cardiff Reserves top goal scorer.
What do you think of this development?
Indifferent
Could Eddie Johnson be coming around?
No.
He may actually be becoming a Grown Ass Man now…
My favorite EJ memory was him missing a one-on-one breakaway against Argentina at Giants Stadium. Only EJ can take a perfect pass and royaly screw it up.
The first person ever to be a cult hero in Kansas City and Cardiff…wow…
Grown Ass Gump?
Once he’s putting in this kind of performance on a weekly basis, then maybe he should be back on Bob Bradley’s radar screen. But for now it’s too soon.
it’s one game, give it time and he won’t dissappoint to dissappoint you! 😉
EJ was also named Man of the Match.
Wow…that’s probably the most backhanded compliment I’ve ever heard.
Eddie was everything yesterday that he has never been before…he chased down every ball even the near hopeless ones. He held the play up and brought the midfield into the gam, was willing to take players own which drew him about 7-8 fouls. Did not lose a header all day and his flick ons actaully went to his team too. His only flaw yesterday was that he missed a header on the backpost that I have seen him slot home…
If he keeps this up there may be hope for him yet.
Eddie Johnson with an assist? Did someone get on the end of an errant shot?
EJ did well, I think something finally clicked with him. He was very unlucky not to score. He worked hard, held the ball up well, and got an assist. I hope more is to come.
If he doesn’t stay in England there is always Malmo who were interested earlier. His agent went to talk to him. I haven’t heard anything else but it is always a possibility as Roy used to manage there.