Parker: Pompey have lost one of the best
For many, he's the greatest Pompey right-back of the modern age. For Paul Parker, Glen Johnson is potentially the best in the world.
Johnson has agreed to make his inevitable switch to Liverpool, reputedly worth 17.5m.
Although a departure entirely expected among the Fratton faithful, nonetheless it doesn't make it any easier to bare.
Nor should it be when some believe he possesses the talent to be the best there is in world football.
Ex-Manchester United man Parker earned 19 caps during his England career. Now a seasoned spectator, he is gushing in his admiration for Johnson.
The 24-year-old this season wowed Pompey fans with 15 end-of-season honours, while fellow pros named him in their PFA Team of the Year.
Now Parker has joined in the adulation for a player he is convinced has the talent to be the best there is.
He said: 'Glen Johnson is not only the best right back for England – he's also the best in the league.
'In fact, I'd go so far as to say he could be the best in the world. I really think that.
'Some people rave about Ashley Cole being one of the best in the world but Johnson on the other side has all the attributes to be even better than him.
'People also go on about European and South American full backs, but Glen beats them all for me.
'As a former right-back, I watch him and I can tell you he is one of the very, very best there is and the lad can only keep on improving.
'Full-backs tend to be great going forward or a very, very good defender.
'The mix rarely works and you get found wanting – but Glen can definitely carry it off.
'He gets past people as a winger, in fact in his last England game against Andorra he was nurse-maiding Theo Walcott. Walcott could not get forward against a poor team and a poor full back – but Johnson did.
'In the end Walcott didn't deliver nearly as many crosses nor with the same quality and to me that says it all.
'I know it was against a side which couldn't get into the top half of the Blue Square Premier, but I thought Glen did very, very well.
'That's what he can do in world football and I think it's a case of just watching him go.'
On the domestic front, there is no doubt in Parker's mind who rules the roost.
The Premier League is viewed as the most exciting league in the world featuring the finest talent money can buy.
And it is Johnson who is unquestionably the best right-back among them.
He added: 'I'm trying to think of a Premier League right-back who comes close.
'Sir Alex Ferguson raves about Rafael De Silva but he is nothing more than a prospect at the moment.
'Then there's Joe Bosingwa, who is an excellent player but not the same standard as Glen.
'As for English rivals, I thought Micah Richards was going to go on but he's really gone off the boil.
'Then there's Wes Brown, but he is not going to give you enough going forwards and is always a better centre half.
'For me, Glen is comfortably ahead of all of them.'
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Friday 10 February 2012
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