Alistair Johnston

[Cozzie]

Not sure I want to see plan B

Why? He's a half decent rapper I reckon.

[TheRam]

Not sure I want to see plan B

When you’re at V festival in 2008.

[Cantoffee]

I think he's probably better than quite a few are giving him credit for.

Baz from Toffee TV says we're still in talks with a few different right backs, and Johnstone is just one of the options. Nothing has progressed beyond initial inquiries.

Again, way too much Johnston slander in this thread.

He has always played up to whatever level he or the game is being played at. Consistently done better than people have expected of him in his career. An incredibly determined player who, like many Canadian players, has had to fight his way through a challenging path to even get to the professional level.

Again, I dont know if he's who I would sign but people saying he is worse than what we've endured the last 4 or 5 seasons are wrong, Im sure of that.

[brap2]

Yeah he sounds boss lads

Anyway, why do we think the club is treading water? Just getting to the end of Moyes before doing anything meaningful? Will anything particularly change in regards to our ability to spend if we drag our arsed over the line into 15th this year?

Don’t know man. Not great signs atm for me.

[cassius]

When you’re at V festival in 2008.

Well I actually did see Plan B at V, in 2007.

I also saw Kanye that year, which tells you more about me than it does about how good Alistair Johnston is.

[kramer]

He does have an extremely North American career path.

The academy system in the US and Canada is extremely underdeveloped so a lot of players have no other path than playing in college, showing enough there to get noticed by an MLS club, then showing enough there to catch the eyes of a European club (and usually a smaller one at that).

Basically, if you don’t catch on with an MLS or European academy as a teenager, you’re into your mid-20s before you can play at a decent level.

I would hope we’d target someone a bit more exciting but there’s late bloomer potential here. At the very least, it speaks to his character that he’s managed to grind his way to the precipice of a move to the PL

[Raptor]

Again, way too much Johnston slander in this thread.

He has always played up to whatever level he or the game is being played at. Consistently done better than people have expected of him in his career. An incredibly determined player who, like many Canadian players, has had to fight his way through a challenging path to even get to the professional level.

Again, I dont know if he's who I would sign but people saying he is worse than what we've endured the last 4 or 5 seasons are wrong, Im sure of that.

I think it's fine to question his capability to take the next step up considering his age and the level he's currently playing at, but beyond that, you can't just discount the fact he missed the entire season last year with hamstring injuries.
Now he might get over these, but you cannot argue that the physical exertions of being a defender for Everton is going to be massive under Moyes, so take that into account, plus the initial question marks and it had red flags all over it.

He could be the dogs bollocks, but it's a pretty high risk transfer imo, and let's not just discount it cause he's relatively cheap, we need someone thats competent, but thats also available as it's a crucial role for us.

[Lazarou II]

Well I actually did see Plan B at V, in 2007.

I also saw Kanye that year, which tells you more about me than it does about how good Alistair Johnston is.

Kanye is more of a right winger than right back.

[Trowel]

Who was there, and what did they see?

[blueToffee]

I only saw the first half, and you probably have to add an * that both teams looked like they were in their preseason a bit with how wayward the passing was at times. That said, there were some positives in terms of his desire to get forward and move the ball pretty quickly.

I do think the North American market isn't a bad fit for the PL as while players generally speaking may not be technically as good at times they do tend to be pretty decent in terms of pace/work rate and generally being physically competitive. So I think from that perspective he'd do ok.

[bigmanbob]

We are North American scum

[sam of the south]

I’d much rather take a punt on Norton-Cuffy, and I think most of the transfer committee would too

[Bornblue88]

I watched the Dundee match tonight and can’t say it was very illuminating compared to his YouTube highlights. He got very far forward a lot and looked comfortable but wasn’t really tested all game. My guess is he’ll be ok and maybe that’s enough for now until we can sneak into Europe and attract better players.

[Efcforlife]

Good signing if it happens. He’s a proper right back,understands and plays the position well. Hes an experienced pro but not old and enough time to prove himself at another level.

The money is peanuts in today’s markets…I imagine he trains well, will be a grafter and will have the mentality for Moyes and will hopefully have a positive effect in the dressing room.

Im happy to get behind him and i think he will be a success.the key is him being an actual right back though.It will make a massive difference to the balance of the side.

We are running out of time and need a right back over the line and hes safe bet for the next few years

[Paddockoldie]

I can't remember many of us thinking, this Coleman kid from Ireland is what we need at RB.