Moyes slams Johnson role
The former Crystal Palace marksman looked frustrated in his unfamiliar role
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Friday, 17, Nov 2006 09:35
Everton boss David Moyes has blasted Steve McClaren for playing Andy Johnson out of position in England's friendly with Holland.
The Everton striker failed to impress after being played out on the right wing in the 1-1 draw on Wednesday.
Johnson, who has failed to score in his last seven matches for the Merseysiders, played in a similar role in last year's friendly against the Dutch under McClaren's predecessor Sven Goran Eriksson.
Moyes said he was expecting Johnson to play as a forward alongside Wayne Rooney.
"We all wanted to see Andy play through the middle and that's where he thought he was going to play," he said.
"It's through the middle he causes problems. You can ask him to play wide right and he will do it to the best of his ability, that's all you can ask."
McClaren has defended his decision by insisting Johnson's pace makes him a dangerous wide player.
Buy Moyes said Johnson's best position is as a forward where he has bagged six goals this season.
"Had he been given the chance to take passes slipped through to him from Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney or Frank Lampard, Andy would have done better than he did," he said.
"We would rather see him coming from the middle and running wide. It's very difficult to run anywhere when you're already out on the right."
Johnson is set to start in Everton's clash with Bolton on Saturday at Goodison Park with both sides without a win in four matches.