Player Watch Player Watch: Brennan Johnson

[Caco]

He didn't have a good game today, surprised that Timo came off instead of him. He just seems to lack the confidence to take the player on and his crossing is very hit and miss. Not sure I can remember him having a great game at all for us, but he is young with a hefty price tag on his shoulders. I never felt the £50m was justified when we bought him and he hasn't done enough yet to change that.

 

[bubble07]

Needs to do much much more

 

[Blake Griffin]

50m a on a player not getting in forest's team at the back end of last season was always a bit of a weird one and seems at odds with all the other players we've signed recently. i'm sure he'll improve but to what degree i don't know.

 

[nedley]

He didn't have a good game today, surprised that Timo came off instead of him. He just seems to lack the confidence to take the player on and his crossing is very hit and miss. Not sure I can remember him having a great game at all for us, but he is young with a hefty price tag on his shoulders. I never felt the £50m was justified when we bought him and he hasn't done enough yet to change that.

Timo came off purely down to fitness.

He was spent. At the very least Johnson was still gonna run.

 

[Trees]

Needs a goal

 

[yido-1989]

He’s been poor but it wasn’t so long ago Richarlison was looking similar. Like everyone has said, when all our squad is fit he won’t start but could build his confidence & game from the bench.

 

[ukdy]

• Do I think Johnson could do better, Yes.
• Has he had the large immediate impact that some players have had upon joining, No.
• Does he have a future for us, Yes.
• Has he shown qualities the manager wants, and can the manager trust him, Yes

1 goal and 4 assists, (in 15 PL games) at a new club, in a new system, in a team in transition, with a new manager in the first half of a season is great imo, but he does have headroom to improve.

Get behind the lad, it's all too easy to bash him as club expectations are increasing again.

 

[legend2]

He’s been poor but it wasn’t so long ago Richarlison was looking similar. Like everyone has said, when all our squad is fit he won’t start but could build his confidence & game from the bench.

The issues for me is that unlike other players that have turned it around for us (Royal, Richy, Porro), I don't see that drive in Johnson. Good days or bad days, the others were battlers.

 

[Verloc]

Makes Sess look like Roy Keane.

 

[JoaoPereira]

but I thought he linked up well at times, took up some good positions and showed well for the ball.

surely we saw a different game.

inclined to make a compilation of every time he was asked to make a play on the ball just to count how many times he was late to make the read. and this would exclude all other times he was caught napping by the sideline not providing any outlet when his colleagues were desperate to have one on the wing. Werner was much better in this regard by the way.

 

[fecka]

He has the physical attributes to do well but I struggle to appreciate a player who's this timid and second to every ball despite being one of the fastest players in the league. His timing, reading of the game, and general decision-making are so poor.

He can of course improve, and Bale, Son & Porro should have taught us by now that some players require patience.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

He hasn't been great, but I remember Son was very poor in his first season and he was a year older.

Fingers crossed it clicks for him soon.

The big concerning factor for me is more of a mentality thing. I understand the move to Spurs must of been big but if you compare him to Udogie and Sarr who are both younger and came from weaker European leagues, there does seem to be a large gap. Both Udogie and Sarr look far more assured than Johnson, it’s not just their raw ability but how much conviction they have in their play that makes them have the potential to be truly elite. I’ve never seen that in Johnson ether at Spurs or at Forrest.

That doesn’t mean he can’t become a very good player in time and you could well be right in that he just needs time and eventually it will click. Id be lying if I said I didn’t have a few doubts but I think all he needs now is patience and time to develop.

For what it’s worth I think he will actually look really good when he starts playing a bench role.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Needs a goal

I’m not sure it would make a big difference. What he needs is time, patience and a less prominent role.

He’s not quite ready. He doesn’t have that natural grit and hunger that some have, nor the instinct to go for the jugular or the swagger.

He’s for the pace and possibly the talent. And in time he could develop into a good player. But at the moment, playing as a regular starter for us seems like a step he’s not ready for.

1 goal and 4 assists in 15 is not impressive, even when qualified by being young and in a new team.

He needs support and time. We need players so we can integrate him in a more measured way

 

[yido-1989]

The issues for me is that unlike other players that have turned it around for us (Royal, Richy, Porro), I don't see that drive in Johnson. Good days or bad days, the others were battlers.

From what I’ve seen so far I do also have doubts but I’m hoping, like all of us with time he can come good.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

surely we saw a different game.

I think we almost certainly did

 

[ukdy]

The big concerning factor for me is more of a mentality thing. I understand the move to Spurs must of been big but if you compare him to Udogie and Sarr who are both younger and came from weaker European leagues, there does seem to be a large gap. Both Udogie and Sarr look far more assured than Johnson, it’s not just their raw ability but how much conviction they have in their play that makes them have the potential to be truly elite. I’ve never seen that in Johnson ether at Spurs or at Forrest.

Maybe it's playing in England v playing in foreign leagues? Also totally different positions, with different levels of responsibility? - & the physical attributes DU & PS have over BJ?

That doesn’t mean he can’t become a very good player in time and you could well be right in that he just needs time and eventually it will click. Id be lying if I said I didn’t have a few doubts but I think all he needs now is patience and time to develop.

For what it’s worth I think he will actually look really good when he starts playing a bench role.

Agree.

 

[JoaoPereira]

I think we almost certainly did

we have all been culprit of looking the other way when there's something we don't want to see.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

we have all been culprit of looking the other way when there's something we don't want to see.

I think you almost certainly do

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

He’s 22 FFS

 

[14/04/91]

With Werner joining and Son, Kulusevski and Solomon returning, he’ll get a breather soon which I think he needs.

Sod’s Law he’ll have a stunning cameo when he comes on as a sub too.