Mikey Johnston M West Brom b.1999

**samhaydenjr** · 05/07/2025, 8:02 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Great opportunity for him, but not ideal for Ireland in terms of the amount of travel he'll have to take on during international breaks.

Irish players transferring to Ferencvaros and Flamengo this week, a change from the likes of Fleetwood and Forest Green anyway.

Shouldn't be too much of an issue - South American internationals fly back from Europe all the time.

Originally Posted by liamoo11

Del8ghted for him. He feels like the closest to our childhood memories of a Brazilian footballer that we have had since mcgesdy and duff. Also pleasantly surprised that the money he can get is been reported as significantly more than he is getting at West Brom as I would have thought a top 10 championship club would be paying better than a top brazilian club. Im delighted for the romance of football that isn't the case. We should still absolutely pick him

Yeah, we don't think about the finances in South American leagues that much, with all the focus on the big European leagues, and with the top South American players playing in Europe. But average team revenue in the Brazilian Serie A is nearly double that of an EFL Championship team. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ues_by_revenue

**texidub** · 05/07/2025, 10:41 PM

What a legendary club to be going to. Very exotic.. taps into childhood romance of football. I know nothing about the way Flamengo plays - is there lots of squad rotation? Is he likely to play many games? Are they patient with new players?

**Eirambler** · 06/07/2025, 7:23 AM

Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

Shouldn't be too much of an issue - South American internationals fly back from Europe all the time.

That's more of a level playing field for all the teams involved though. In the context of European international games he's going to be taking on a fair amount of additional travel that the vast majority of Irish and opposition players won't be subject to. Also any games we play in March will take place in pre-season for him. It's not ideal.

**liamoo11** · 06/07/2025, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

That's more of a level playing field for all the teams involved though. In the context of European international games he's going to be taking on a fair amount of additional travel that the vast majority of Irish and opposition players won't be subject to. Also any games we play in March will take place in pre-season for him. It's not ideal.

For the world Cup he will maybe be more acclimatised and familiar with the America s in general coukd help us get past a quarter final for first time

**Buckett** · 06/07/2025, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by liamoo11

For the world Cup he will maybe be more acclimatised and familiar with the America s in general coukd help us get past a quarter final for first time

We would do well to even qualify for WC26. Reaching a semi-final? That's an impressive level of optimism

**tetsujin1979** · 07/07/2025, 8:46 AM

After all that, the transfer might not happen

**pineapple stu** · 07/07/2025, 9:43 AM

Jaysus, that'll be good for the aul confidence! Chased out of a club he never even played for.

**Diggs246** · 07/07/2025, 1:30 PM

I think we are better off with him somewhere in Europe. The travel would have effected things surely. He's a lovely little player and Holland might be a good home for him. Look at Troy he hadn't looked back

**Eirambler** · 07/07/2025, 1:38 PM

Did his nationality contribute to the supporter backlash I wonder? Would the same thing have happened if he was a national of one of the more successful European nations?

**pineapple stu** · 07/07/2025, 2:00 PM

I think it's quite a jump to assume there's racism at play here.

This is a club that's just earned $27m at the World Club Cup; I can imagine their fans being nonplussed at signing a 26-year-old winger who didn't really make it at Celtic and who didn't even light up the Portuguese league if we're honest. Heck, even last season he was in and out of the WBA side more than we'd have liked.

(I think there's also a suggestion some think he's a forward, in which case his goalscoring record would be pretty sketchy)

**tetsujin1979** · 07/07/2025, 2:24 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Did his nationality contribute to the supporter backlash I wonder? Would the same thing have happened if he was a national of one of the more successful European nations?

Looks like it was more that the fans were not impressed with his record last season, nothing to do with his nationality

**mark12345** · 08/07/2025, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I think it's quite a jump to assume there's racism at play here.

This is a club that's just earned $27m at the World Club Cup; I can imagine their fans being nonplussed at signing a 26-year-old winger who didn't really make it at Celtic and who didn't even light up the Portuguese league if we're honest. Heck, even last season he was in and out of the WBA side more than we'd have liked.

(I think there's also a suggestion some think he's a forward, in which case his goalscoring record would be pretty sketchy)

All legitimate points. However I still think Mikey Johnson has bags of ability. He showed it at times for Celtic and West Brom and for Ireland in the brief cameos he had. He reminds me of McGeady in that respect and like McGeady (should have been in his time) I feel Johnson should be used by HH as a free role midfielder, given our lack of creativity.

**pineapple stu** · 08/07/2025, 11:32 AM

Yep - to be clear, I'm not saying the fan reaction is right, if it is the case they've scuppered the deal. Just that it is a bit of an unusual signing for a side with Club Cup money