18 Aug 2014 18:39:26
I am 38 and my memory usually serves me well. What I remember from some posts sent by fans are questions regarding the reported clause in Johnson's contract (he has to play when fit). I also remember the answers by Eds. Ed1 once said that he believes there was such a close but he thinks that it has been removed when he has signed a new contract and that he would find out more. Ed2 seemed to ridicule those questions. What I don't remember, however, is the straight and clear answer to those questions: yes, no or I don't know. Look, BR has rotated all of our players at some point, maybe apart from Steve G, he seems to be untouchable when fit. I just don't get it why BR would ALWAYS stick to Johnson, if there was no such a clause. He is a clever manager, he sees things and surely would have dropped him at some point in the past. Conspiracy theory? No, just pure logic. Unless memory fails me, hence the questions to you Eds and fellow Reds:

1) Do such clauses exist in football, if so are there rare or common?
2) Do you remember Johnson being ever dropped when fit?
3) Do you remember him being rested (due to the squad rotation) when fit?
4) Do you remember any Liverpool player that played every game when fit regardless the form, apart from the obvious ones - Suarez, Torres maybe? Steve G?


Just want to add how grateful I am for the Eds for their work and I never believe in stories and rumours unless they are confirmed by them. But it seems that they dodge that question a little bit where a clear answer would be much appreciated: yes, no or I don't know.

{Ed001's Note - yes, no, no, no. I do think the clause must have been left in and he only signed a contract extension, not a fresh contract like I had assumed. No manager would keep picking him if they didn't have to!}