I spent a lot of time last season defending Stefan Johansen. His goals, goals created and interceptions stats were incredible. He needed defending because apart from when he was scoring or creating goals, lots of his work was done off the ball. Those who take note of off the ball work, his direct opponents, voted him Player of the Year (those who follow the ball, or action on TV, miss lots).
This season’s been different, none of the markers he put down a year earlier have been met. I don’t have enough information to explain why this is, so I’m not going to absolve the player from responsibility, but what we got from him on his return to Norway on international duty was the talking part of a good game:
“I am dissatisfied with the way I was playing”
“But in recent months I have felt my rhythm is better and that my body is good”
Perhaps more importantly:
“We are going to get those two trophies [league and Scottish Cup]. We have decided to do that.”
You very occasionally hear players talk in those terms – “deciding” to win. I remember writing up that Fraser Forster “decided” to make the England World Cup squad. He made his mind up, put the vagaries of form and fortune out of his head.
The commitment from Fraser in the year-or-so before the 2014 World Cup was enormous. He worked harder than any Celtic player. Enormously harder than some. That’s how you decide something which isn’t actually your decision.
Stefan has a lot of work to do to get back to where he was a year ago. Only he can decide if the time for talking off the park is over.
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Master Of Finance 14:50 @ Kempton Park.
Morning all,VENDOR 3.45 Haydock for me.Good luck hh
3.45 Haydock – Serenity Now
Good morning folks!
Lady Shipman @ 2.10 Meydan
16:45 @ Cork – Papa’s Way – NAP!
Good luck everybody.
Haydock310 No Duffer
Good luck everyone
Dutch Uncle. 2.50 Kempton.
Be lucky chaps. HH
14:35 Haydock
Billy Dutton
HH.
Sykes 2.35 Haydock
Good luck everyone.
Alzammaar 2:35 Haydock,good luck everyone.
Chupalla in Kempton’s 1.40
Meydan 3.45 Very Special
Haydock 2.00
Ballybolley
Eagle Valley in the Cork 2:25 for me
Good luck to all
Hail Hail.
Goldream in the 2:10 Meydan.
T4
Five in a row 2:00 Haydock
Western sunrise 2-05 Newton abbot
Gl
SWORD FIGHTER
5:20 CORK.
Good luck to everyone .
Left click – sorry mate, PF has asked me to put his nap up again and it’s Five In A Row at Haydock!
For once he’s working, rather than getting fu…
T4
BODEGA 3:10 Haydock…
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
Baku bay in the 310 at haydock please HH
Another winning nap for Twisty! Well done mate.
T4
COSYCORNERBHOY 225 Cork
Marionella
EL BEAU 345 Haydock
Haydock 3:45 TEO VIVO
Heath hunter 1545
Apologies… in Sydney… travelling home today
Naps on here !
California Chrome Meydan
fleagle1888
Midtech star 4.35 kemp