Interesting to see that Andrew Johnson (not Andy) has signed a new five-year contract at Everton.
Had Blues and Crystal Palace not been on such bad terms, then AJ could have been penning that deal now at St Andrew's.
After Palace were relegated (and keep this hush-hush now) I was asked to discreetly find out if AJ would be prepared to return to Blues.
Blues were ready to splash out the money required to bring him back, and AJ had no qualms about playing again under Steve Bruce - the man who part-exchanged him for Clinton Morrison - as long as he was going to be first choice, which he would have been.
Unfortunately, Palace chairman Simon Jordan wouldn't have any of it and rounded on Blues after news leaked (from elsewhere) that there was a serious interest.
Johnson stayed at Selhurst Park for another season in the Championship, scoring 17 times, before Everton paid £8.6 million for him.
Although a Bedford boy and from a family of Arsenal fans, he has always kept an affinity for Blues.
He earned plenty of respect when refusing to celebrate his goal for Palace that sank Blues at home in October 2004.
Although you shouldn't really look back and wonder what might have been, but AJ paired with Emile Heskey up front for Blues in that season (which ended in relegation) could have been a fantastic combination.
Comments (1)
AJ and Heskey could have been ideal for any club, let alone Blues. Their styles compliment each other and the power, pace and movement would have given Blues in any Premiership season the cutting edge Steve Bruce is constantly striving for.
We can only look forward now and hopefully in January Steve Bruce will be allowed to bring in at least one striker of proven pedigree
Posted by BlueandProud | November 7, 2007 4:29 PM
Posted on November 7, 2007 16:29