‘I just want to be known and remembered for my time at West Ham for having played with a smile on my face and having really enjoyed my football. That’s really important to me.’ So says Ben Johnson, a player associated with West Ham for – astonishingly – seventeen years, having joined the club as a seven-year-old schoolboy back in 2007.
Without getting too political about it, it’s crazy to think that a player of Johnson’s age, 24, has been through seven Prime Ministers. At the end of last season, though, it was announced that that was to be Johnson’s last playing in the famous claret and blue. Given the length of time Johnson was at the club, it’s hard not to have felt a little sad at his departure.
He always gave his all, which I certainly appreciated as a West Ham fan, and he was one of a vanishingly small number of players who offered versatility at the back. Not to mention, he was part of the squad that won the Conference League, something that obviously meant a lot to him:
‘I would say the most special memory I have is winning the UEFA Europa Conference League,’ he said. ‘To be involved in a European trophy win doesn’t come around frequently, so to be around and be part of it, and to be able to achieve that with West Ham was incredible. My dreams were exceeded by what happened two seasons ago and I’m just so, so pleased I did it as a West Ham player. I’ll never forget that night.’
So yes, sadness at his departure, a player who considers that his best performance for us came in a 1-0 defeat against Sevilla, in the first leg of the 20/21 Europa League round of 16 – the one we turned around in the second leg on that memorable night in the London Stadium. It was partly because of his performance in the first leg that we even had a chance in the return leg, and that’s something I won’t forget.
Sadness that another Academy player has joined the list of those that have fled the nest, too. And yet, somehow, this feels a bit different to some of our more painful losses. To me at least, this has always been coming; it felt like a rerun of the end of David Moyes. Bear with me.
Everyone knew that Moyes was always likely to be off in the summer: whether you backed him or wanted him gone, it always felt that it was becoming a bit untenable. For me, you could say the same for Johnson: he’s helped us along the way, been a great servant, and was part of a team that finally won a trophy.
However, despite his hard work and versatility, his performances have at times been inconsistent, particularly last season, when our defence struggled to keep clean sheets. This is tough to say, but if we aspire to get back into Europe, we need defensive stability, and although Johnson’s contributions were valuable, they didn’t always meet the high standard that us fans crave.
His occasional lapses in positioning and decision-making were exposed, which undoubtedly contributed to our defensive issues. Being behind Coufal in the pecking order will not have helped him, and you might also say that his very versatility counts against him, as he’s played in different positions without getting himself a starting berth in his position, which would be Coufal’s slot at right back.
Put all this together and you’re looking at a player who is a great option from the bench. You’re also looking at a player who, if he wants first team football, is probably more suited to a club like Ipswich Town, where he could really offer Premier League knowhow and experience in their battle to stay up.
Well, you’d think anyway. I’m writing this in the aftermath of our 4-1 win over the Tractor Boys, and noticed a new thread appear on one of their online forums: ‘Ben Johnson isn’t at the level I thought he’d be’ (actually, it was a bit harsher than that originally, but one of their moderators changed the title for the family audience).
The move to Ipswich certainly doesn’t appear to have been smooth, with some fan reactions reflecting disappointment with his performances. Comments like: ‘He’s looked poor every time I’ve seen him for us’ certainly highlight the slow start. It is worth remembering though, that adjusting to a new team and style of play can take time, especially for a player who’s spent his entire career at one club.
Perhaps, he just needs a bit of time to adapt – something that we could also do with remembering as we reflect on our own slow start to the new season. With time, Johnson’s versatility, allied with his Premier League experience, could become a real asset for Ipswich.
So, yes, I’m sad that he’s gone, but onwards and hopefully upwards for us, and I feel some pride in watching a player, who’s worn our colours for so long, start a new chapter. To Ben Johnson, thank you for your efforts over seventeen years. We’ve had some lows, but also some unforgettable highs, and I’m certain that you’ll find your feet at Ipswich and make your mark there, just as you did with us. Good luck with the next chapter of your career.
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