Johnson on Rosenior vs Carrick: Young Managers Building Belief – Chelsea's Attack Depth a Major Plus

Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson has offered his insight into whether Liam Rosenior can bring success to his former club or if Cesc Fabregas could return to his former club in the summer on the back of his exceptional work with Como .

The ex- England full-back has given his perspective on the struggles of Liam Delap and explains why a move to Manchester United in the summer wouldn't make sense, assesses if Igor Thiago could be next in the door at the club and if selling Palmer could help Estêvão become the club's next Eden Hazard.

Johnson has also spoken on whether Palmer should be in the England World Cup squad and backs Carrick to be given the full-time position at Old Trafford this summer.

Cesc Fabregas

Could Cesc Replace Rosenior?

I think you almost need to give Liam Rosenior the full season. I don't care who's floating around in the background. I think he's done a very good job. He's steadied the club; they've looked better than they have done in recent times.Obviously, he took over a sacked manager's position, which means you're not happy with the performances or the results. So he's picked them up from where they were, got them back challenging.

So I think it would be harsh to second-guess that just because there's another exciting new name coming around. And I know Cesc Fabregas was obviously a fantastic player, for sure. But I just think if you give Liam the whole season, then judge him.

Cesc's Next Move

The managerial seats in the league change so quickly, don't they? Right now, I wouldn't have a clue where Cesc Fabregas could end up. If he keeps doing a good job where he is, his name, as you say, will excite people. But I think it's also difficult to get a job at one of the so-called 'top four' just because he was a great player and has a fantastic name in the game. That's a big seat for a young manager.

So, I don't think we can get too carried away and think, ‘Oh, he must go to United or he must go to Arsenal or whoever.’ I think he still needs to sort of bubble away, keep learning his stripes, learning his stripes, and see what seats become available when he is also available. They are not easy roles, and to be honest, we've seen loads of young managers fail more often than not. So, I think you just need to be patient, not get too excited and get carried away; you've got to be careful what you wish for.

Finding "Own" Fabregas

Chelsea might already have their own Cesc Fabregas in Liam Rosenior , and you can't always keep thinking the grass is greener. He's doing a good job at the moment. You're back competing.

He's only been in the job for what, three months or whatever? So he's steady. They are improving. They've been playing good football. They look like they're enjoying themselves. So I don't think you can be too quick to throw that away and just assume that someone else is going to do a better job.

Liam Delap

"Weird" Delap Move

Liam Delap’s time at Chelsea shows he hasn't blown the league away. So, it would almost be weird for Manchester United to go and get him. I don't know about that. If he was to move, I would prefer him to go to a club where he's going to be the main man, start every week, score 25 goals, and then you've earned the right to do what you like.

But to go to United and potentially be a bit-part player, with a few goals here and there, that's not what the top teams need. The top teams need a striker who can bang in 20 goals a season and become one of the iconic strikers in the league. I haven't seen that in him yet. There's obviously time to go, but I haven't seen that yet.

Delap's Next Best Step

Liam Delap’s next move? I'd probably say any of the teams that are around the middle of the table. They have their objectives, but the pressure is off to a degree. There are eight teams that are happy to finish between eighth and twelfth or something like that. Some of the teams are just happy to be there.

They're expected to lose some games, but then they go and win. Liverpool and Chelsea , for instance, are expected to win every week. So, you need a different mentality of players now. But for a striker to go to a team that doesn't have that pressure, you know, you're not expected to score 25 goals a year. That's when some people can thrive, and that's why some of them don't when they're at big clubs, like huge clubs.

Igor Thiago

I like Igor Thiago as a player for sure, and he certainly knows how to score goals. However, it's easier to do that at Brentford than it is at Chelsea or Liverpool . It's tough for strikers to come in and play a few games and build momentum when they need to score goals: it's quite tough. So with him being the main man at Brentford , playing every week, that's why his goals and performances don't surprise you. But I'd be surprised if he went to Chelsea and started every game, or was the first name on the team sheet.

I'd be surprised if he could make that jump straight away. But at the same time, he's doing what we just said that Liam Delap is not doing at Chelsea at the moment. That step up is a risk, Wilfried Bony is an example, but it's the one the player would like to think they want. We all want to play for the big teams, we all want to win the Premier League , we all want to do that, but there aren't many people who can make that change.

We've seen some great players in the Premier League for a smaller club, then they never get picked for England and stuff like that. So it's one of the things that people can do sometimes when they're the sort of big fish in a smaller pond. And some can't cope when they make the jump. But as a player, if you're not striving for that, then there's something wrong.

Chelsea's Attacking Depth

Can Estevao Emulate Hazard's Impact?

If he was being picky, I'd say sometimes Estevao could be more direct and more aggressive. Sometimes he does it in batches, and what he does is world-class. But there are times when he takes the easy path backwards or sideways, and you think, ‘I'd just love to see you get at him now. Drive at him, be more direct.’ But this is the way he plays.

He takes his time, he waits for the right moments, and that's also intelligence. He'll have the engine to just go one-on-one with everyone for the whole game, but I would just sometimes like him to be a bit more aggressive and get a shot inside someone, rather than doing loads of small little touches and then looking for a little pass, but that is what he's very good at.

Palmer vs Estevao

I'd say Estevao is developing absolutely fine right now. He's still super young, and he looks class. They're the sort of players as well, where some people say that some players can't play with each other. I don't think that's the case with Estevao and Cole Palmer .

I don't think it's one or the other. They both could probably operate on either side. Cole Palmer wanders all over the place, so you want a few of these players in your side, not just one or the other. I think he's developing absolutely fine. He's certainly doing a great job and has always got that reputation where people can't wait to see what he's like in the future.

Cole Palmer

To Sell Or Not To Sell Palmer?

Selling Cole Palmer ? It's a tough one because obviously everyone's got a price. But at the same time, what would you do with that £150million? You could spend it on two players and get it wrong. Obviously, it's a crazy amount of money, but it's not enough for one of the best players in the Premier League right now. So, I think they shouldn't sell him. Unless the offer is crazy, I think they just need to keep him because you can't replace him.

They need to do their best to say no to any offer. He's the sort of player you can't find. They're so hard to find. There were times, say a year ago, when they were only going to win a football match if he was playing. They're a totally different side. And then when he was injured or a bit out of form, the team dipped completely. He was literally winning games on his own.

England Prospects

Cole Palmer for England ? We've got a lot of good players going forward. It would only be if he can learn how to play how the coach wants to play. No one's good enough to win the World Cup on your own. Nobody.

So you need the players that will suit each other and get the most out of each other. And I think if England are relying on one person like that, then we've got no chance anyway.

Michael Carrick

Carrick Is Good Enough!

I guess, ignoring the results, I think they definitely look like a better side under Michael Carrick . Certainly more structured, more organised, and look happier. To be fair, they have been getting the results as well. Like Chelsea , I don't think you need to be too hasty. Give him the full season. If you ignore the actual results, I think they've looked a better side, more structured, happier, and they have been getting the results.

So, yes, at the moment, it could potentially still be the 'new manager bounce'. But again, same as the Chelsea situation, I think he's doing a good enough job to be allowed to start next season. Let's judge halfway through the season.

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