Player Watch Player Watch: Brennan Johnson

[NEVILLEB]

I guess we have to trust big Ange but things like awareness and work rate should be fundamental basics.

Happy to give him a pass this season but next season he’s got to deliver on those things.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Next season will be big for him. Needs to take it up a notch. Even now though he’s shown he’s worth having on the bench to run at tired legs towards the end of a match and potentially make a game changing action.

His price tag is on the face of it, very high. But you have to also factor in that he is homegrown and he’ll be on lower wages than other big money signings and accordingly less of a financial risk (lower long term outlay and also easier to shift if needs be). In other words, he’s a signing the club is prepared for to not work out (unlike say, Ndombele).

It’s frustrating as fans to see figures like £50m being spent on players who we don’t think reflect the price tag, but it’s really not that simple these days. You can’t just go out and buy a ‘£50m player’ because you have £50m burning a hole in your pocket. You identify a player you want, you negotiate for him, and you strike a deal that works for all three parties if possible. This deal worked for all three parties so it got done. It’s not like you go browsing in the market and see Pedro Neto with a nice £50m price tag hanging round his neck…

 

[bigfrooj]

Next season will be big for him. Needs to take it up a notch. Even now though he’s shown he’s worth having on the bench to run at tired legs towards the end of a match and potentially make a game changing action.

His price tag is on the face of it, very high. But you have to also factor in that he is homegrown and he’ll be on lower wages than other big money signings and accordingly less of a financial risk (lower long term outlay and also easier to shift if needs be). In other words, he’s a signing the club is prepared for to not work out (unlike say, Ndombele). It’s frustrating as fans to see figures like £50m being spent on players who we don’t think reflect the price tag, but it’s really not that simple these days.

Sonny was such a waste of money at £22m.
Why worry about the price? I can see why £50m would worry the club and put pressure on the player but why would it bother a fan? Imagine if you were a Chelsea fan who worried about how much players cost - you’d explode.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Sonny was such a waste of money at £22m.
Why worry about the price? I can see why £50m would worry the club and put pressure on the player but why would it bother a fan? Imagine if you were a Chelsea fan who worried about how much players cost - you’d explode.

Prices are important whether we like it or not…especially in an era of FFP. Hence the more in depth discussion about wages, saleability etc. Everything factors in. If we as fans only commented on things we had direct influence on then we would have very little to discuss.

It’s true though that a transfer fee can only be truly assessed after years have passed. You rightly mention Son. On the other side of the coin, Dele Alli was deal of the century for £5m…who would’ve thought we’d end up selling him at loss age 26?

 

[allatsea]

Sonny was such a waste of money at £22m.
Why worry about the price? I can see why £50m would worry the club and put pressure on the player but why would it bother a fan? Imagine if you were a Chelsea fan who worried about how much players cost - you’d explode.

You should be worried as a Chelsea fan they have spent so much that they are in danger of failing FFP and getting a serious points deduction.. Plus what have they spent it on ? Not exactly spent well have they.

 

[easley91]

You should be worried as a Chelsea fan they have spent so much that they are in danger of failing FFP and getting a serious points deduction.. Plus what have they spent it on ? Not exactly spent well have they.

With Levy I doubt we will be in danger of failing FFP or PSR or whatever it is. We may over pay on players. but we wouldn't be the only club to do so in the history of football.

 

[Japhet]

Productive in what way? Fair enough goals and assists (Deki), but I think they will come. He is top class in many ways. Off the ball movement, work rate. On the ball passing and holdup play.

Johnson has a long way to go, but yesterday was a great example of what Deki brings. When he left the pitch for Johnson, Mitoma suddenly burst to life for Brighton and going forward (apart from the late goal) we were totally null down the right and fortunate to get the result.

Deki Johnson by a long way imo

Not bashing Johnson because he needs time to settle in, but what Deki gives us in spades is ability to receive the ball under pressure and hold onto it. Johnson, at the moment, is the polar opposite in that the only time he is a threat is when the ball is played into space for him (much the same as Sonny).

 

[bigfrooj]

Prices are important whether we like it or not…especially in an era of FFP. Hence the more in depth discussion about wages, saleability etc. Everything factors in. If we as fans only commented on things we had direct influence on then we would have very little to discuss.

It’s true though that a transfer fee can only be truly assessed after years have passed. You rightly mention Son. On the other side of the coin, Dele Alli was deal of the century for £5m…who would’ve thought we’d end up selling him at loss age 26?

You said you got frustrated by it - don’t let it worry you and discuss it as much as you like and everyone wants to hear your opinion, it’s a forum.

I meant that everyone thought Sonny was a waste of money in his first season and he has now paid back the outlay a thousand times over.

 

[bigfrooj]

You should be worried as a Chelsea fan they have spent so much that they are in danger of failing FFP and getting a serious points deduction.. Plus what have they spent it on ? Not exactly spent well have they.

Exactly, you get it.

 

[Styopa]

Next season will be big for him. Needs to take it up a notch. Even now though he’s shown he’s worth having on the bench to run at tired legs towards the end of a match and potentially make a game changing action.

His price tag is on the face of it, very high. But you have to also factor in that he is homegrown and he’ll be on lower wages than other big money signings and accordingly less of a financial risk (lower long term outlay and also easier to shift if needs be). In other words, he’s a signing the club is prepared for to not work out (unlike say, Ndombele).

It’s frustrating as fans to see figures like £50m being spent on players who we don’t think reflect the price tag, but it’s really not that simple these days. You can’t just go out and buy a ‘£50m player’ because you have £50m burning a hole in your pocket. You identify a player you want, you negotiate for him, and you strike a deal that works for all three parties if possible. This deal worked for all three parties so it got done. It’s not like you go browsing in the market and see Pedro Neto with a nice £50m price tag hanging round his neck…

Good point about the salary, where often a bulk of the money goes these days.

So for example while Perisic was brought here on a free, his contract reportedly works out at something near £20m over two years. Johnson’s salary in the same period is reportedly around £7m, so £13m less. And obviously there is a chance of recouping some of the transfer fee in the case of Johnson.

Or for example, Kulusevski who joined for £25m (so about half the fee of Johnson) but is reportedly on nearly £15m a year, double Johnson’s salary.

 

[rossdapep]

He must score and assist more than he does. I'm a swede and I like Deki, but his output is not good enough. Yes, he does the things you mention, but we need more from him.

I'm happy to have both Deki and Johnson. Very different players, which is not a bad thing.

Highest number of chances created in PL.

Stop looking at basic stats and see the whole picture.

The work Deki does is crucial.

Goals will come.

 

[Fergus]

Not bashing Johnson because he needs time to settle in, but what Deki gives us in spades is ability to receive the ball under pressure and hold onto it. Johnson, at the moment, is the polar opposite in that the only time he is a threat is when the ball is played into space for him (much the same as Sonny).

Agreed, but when the ball is played into space for Son, he has a lot more options in his toolbox, including taking defenders on 1v1, often successfully. This is a part of his game Johnson needs to develop.

 

[keithtighe93]

Why is it wrong to criticise a player despite him scoring the winner? He was abysmal today and barely did a thing right, the worst of which was almost costing us a goal by leaving Porro to deal with a 1v2 (watch who Porro and Romero have a word with after Fati just puts his shot wide).

Kulusevski was great whilst on today and as others have noted we lost a lot of control when he went off. Not only did he retain possession whenever we got it out to him, but he also rolled Estupinan multiple times and provided the assist for Sarr. Johnson came on and we lost that pressure release on that flank.

I'm happy he's getting the goals and assists but I don't think Johnson could've offered us all that Deki did in that first hour. I also don't think Deki has the legs to make that run and put the ball in at the end of the game. Both players give us something different and I think I prefer seeing Johnson as an impact player where his pace can really make a difference against tired legs.

1st paragraph. Nail on head

 

[KirstyG]

Sonny was such a waste of money at £22m.
Why worry about the price? I can see why £50m would worry the club and put pressure on the player but why would it bother a fan? Imagine if you were a Chelsea fan who worried about how much players cost - you’d explode.

They equate expensive with good and get all ahead of themselves in preseason when their club spraying it like a lottery winner in a strip club.

 

[Styopa]

Highest number of chances created in PL.

Stop looking at basic stats and see the whole picture.

The work Deki does is crucial.

Goals will come.

Even using basic stats Deki has directly contributed to 7 goals this season and Johnson has also directly contributed to 7 goals. That’s about 28% of our total league goals and we are among the highest goal scorers in the league.

I think both players can and will improve but reading some of the posts in here you would think they are hardly making any measurable contributions.

 

[only1waddle]

Good point about the salary, where often a bulk of the money goes these days.

So for example while Perisic was brought here on a free, his contract reportedly works out at something near £20m over two years. Johnson’s salary in the same period is reportedly around £7m, so £13m less. And obviously there is a chance of recouping some of the transfer fee in the case of Johnson.

Or for example, Kulusevski who joined for £25m (so about half the fee of Johnson) but is reportedly on nearly £15m a year, double Johnson’s salary.

£15m a year is £289k pw, pretty confident that he's nowhere near that sort of money.

 

[Styopa]

£15m a year is £289k pw, pretty confident that he's nowhere near that sort of money.

Sorry, I meant £7m a year! But maybe closer to £6m depending on which report you believe. With Johnson on about £3.5m.

 

[KirstyG]

1st paragraph. Nail on head

Can definitely criticise but when you get them being bullied off social media because of abuse and told they are a waste of space etc it goes beyond being reasonable. I think many as well don't give credit where it is due. He needs to imporve but then i'd also say that about a lot of our other players at the moment. Lordy, NDombele got chance after chance after chance and still has ppl that love him, despite not putting in an ounce of effort and showing love like Johnson has tried to.

Like everything is praise or ridicule goes too far then that's where problem is, not just in the the day to day.

 

[Col_M]

The irony of course is that he is part of a front six that has scored in every premiership game we've played, and the problem lies in the leaking of goals by a back 5 that is loved by everyone. Now I know it's fluid, and ha has defensive duties etc, but shouldn't we focus on the real problem?

 

[Styopa]

The irony of course is that he is part of a front six that has scored in every premiership game we've played, and the problem lies in the leaking of goals by a back 5 that is loved by everyone. Now I know it's fluid, and ha has defensive duties etc, but shouldn't we focus on the real problem?

Well there would be an argument that Johnson doesn’t track back enough etc. But I do know where you are coming from.

It’s always been the way on SC that there are the favourites who can do no wrong whereas there are other players whose performances are regularly picked apart.

Vicario, Udogie, van de Ven and Bentancur have all made individual errors in recent matches leading to goals but are generally given the benefit of the doubt.