Think I read a quote somewhere very recently from a player (might have been Connor) who credited Johnstone for what he has brought to the team starting games.

Houghton has been a great player for us during his time but he can’t do the 80mins like he’s done over years. Think we do actually get a lot more out him from the bench. I think the criticism of Houghtons performances over the past couple of seasons prior to AL taking over have been valid. Even he himself when interviewed earlier this year said he’d fallen out of love of the game. So maybe now the closeness to the previous Head Coach has gone plus the period of lock down has helped Danny refocus and this along with changes AL has made plus genuine competition for his place maybe why his performances have been more like him.

You can't have a club captain that prefers the vice captain to speak to the press, Houghton is not a leader, and he isn't the player he used to be, from the bench as a threat he has a place, had Toronto not collapsed he would have been gone.

And you know this how? Both he and Shaul have been in contract discussions and I’m positive Danny would have re signed for his beloved FC. Just conjecture on your part.

He’s been flogged to death over the last three years.
Hopefully getting spelled will be just what him, and the team, need.

Wonder if there's any significance that there hasn't been an announcement of a contract extension.

I thought he and Shaul had?

Not sure but apologies if I'm wrong.

I'd prefer Houghton to close a game out and have the option to reintroduce Johnson as a LF if we need to later in the game. Two different players who offer two different styles, which compliment each other as well as keeping our options open depending on how the game is going.

Don't see any advantage to changing things back to Houghton starting.

I dont know for certain, just thought they had, but it might have just been on here rather than anything official.

Houghtons role off the bench has been a massive eye opener as to how much better he Stoll is than Johnstone. We've looked better on the field with Houghton on for a good while now. Johnstone is young and has improvement in him.
Another comment about better distribution is way off too..Fariamo try off the raved about Connor kick other week came off another wayward pass

Personally in play off type game like we'll face this week I'd be very tempted to start Cator at 9 and switch him to 13 when Houghton comes on allowing another big man to start
Saves a sub as Cator 80man. Johnstone did 1st stint only I think. That could be another forward

I think Houghton has the advantage though that he teams up with Satae and Sao who completely change our go forward. But we also see more from Houghton as he is not tackling for 80 minutes, he makes so many tackles because teams run at him to nullify his threat. Which means he ends up losing alot of wrestles which gives teams more space out wide due to quick PTB. Wire struggled with this change we had big time. Cator has taken on that workload as dies Fash who comes on later in games.

Indeed, other than for injuries there is no need to change a team with 5 from 6.

Great player and FC legend but he's never a captain. Sneyd should have that job all day long.

Agree Sneyd was marshalling us round the pitch the other day he should be next captain for me

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