It was a busy day for Sunderland in the transfer market last Friday. Having only just announced the capture of Steven Fletcher from Wolves, Martin O’Neill continued to bolster his first-team by signing Adam Johnson from Manchester City on a four-year deal:
With his side struggling for goals over pre-season, the Black Cats boss has moved to dramatically increase the potency of his faltering attack ahead of the closure of the summer transfer window. After completing the deal that sees the winger move to the Stadium of Light for an undisclosed fee, O’Neill was clearly thrilled to finally land his man:
Adding quality players to the squad has been our main aim this summer and Adam certainly fits that bill. He has terrific ability, great delivery and I’m sure he is a player who will excite our fans. I couldn’t be more delighted to have him at the football club.
The Statistics
Snapped up by Middlesbrough’s youth academy as a 12-year old, Johnson made his debut for Boro just five years later in the UEFA Cup. His first five seasons at the club saw him struggle for starts, though; with Stewart Downing the preferred option on the left flank, most of Johnson’s 70 league appearances came as a sub and, with game time limited, he returned just two goals. Loan spells at Leeds and Watford brought five goals from 17 games but Downing’s departure to Aston Villa in 2009-10 afforded him a chance to finally cement a regular role on Teeside.
Plying his trade in the Championship, Johnson’s superb form caught the eye of many suitors. With 11 goals and nine assists in 26 matches, Sunderland were keen on acquiring his services but it was Manchester City who snapped him up on the final day of the January transfer window. Unable to nail down a starting berth, Johnson’s form dipped at the Etihad and his first half-season produced just a single goal from 16 league appearances. With cash to splash, Roberto Mancini bolstered his first-team squad and Johnson, once again, reverted to the role of impact sub, with the Italian critical of his lack of defensive contribution.
Over the past two seasons, the winger has racked up a respectable 10 goals and 13 assists in 57 appearances for City and further analysis of his FPL stats hint at Johnson’s potential. Over 1147 minutes last term, he accrued 101 points – bearing in mind David Silva picked up 184 points from 2801 minutes, a regular role at Sunderland could well supply Fantasy managers with a viable candidate for our five-man midfields for the season ahead.
The Prospects
Johnson made an immediate impact on his Black Cats debut earlier this week. Installed on the right flank with Seb Larsson moving into central midfield, his trickery proved the undoing of Capital One Cup opponents Morecombe as he provided assists for both James McClean’s goals in the 2-0 win. His manager, understandably, was quick to praise the new boy’s performance:
Adam is an exceptional talent, there’s absolutely no question about that. I want him to go and attack players like he did tonight and get the crowd on their feet, which he is capable of doing. He excites the crowd and is a really terrific footballer with great ability. He will be a big asset for us. Adam is capable of doing anything and he goes past players like they don’t exist. I was delighted with his performance.
It seems likely, then, that Johnson and McClean will be handed the wing roles for the campaign ahead as O’Neill looks to provide service for new striker Steven Fletcher. O’Neill admitted earlier this summer that the latter could switch flanks during games, moving from left to right, and with Johnson also predominantly left-footed, either of the pair could be utilised as an inverted winger on the right, drifting inside onto their favoured foot.
Larsson now appears to be favoured for a central role – a move that perhaps dents his Fantasy appeal. The Swede’s constant supply of crosses from the right flank, such a strong feature of his game, now looks set to be diminished considerably, though he is still expected to retain a large share of set-pieces.
Priced at 7.0 in FPL and just 5.9 in the Sky Sports game, Johnson offers managers a real alternative to Larsson, McClean and the far costlier Sessegnon across the Fantasy games. In the short-term, a trip to Swansea and home clash with Liverpool could prove tricky but Sunderland then square up to West Ham and Wigan – games which could both prove prosperous for the Black Cats.
With doubts no longer lingering over Johnson’s game time, a regular role should afford his talents the platform to finally flourish as a genuine Premier League force, with O’Neill giving the winger plenty time to establish himself as a key player for the Black Cats over the season ahead.
