Player Watch Player Watch: Brennan Johnson

[ohtottenham!]

Starting to really show that aggressive side to his game, great work for the first and third goals putting his foot in without fear. A couple of weeks ago he might have avoided the second challenge for the first goal.

Well done Brennan. Game changing performance again.

He made an instant impact with that run into the box as soon as he came on. He just couldn't connect with that one, but he got into that threatening position and really unsettled the Palace defence from that point onwards. Great to see him growing in confidence and being more aggressive. He was instrumental in getting us the points yesterday.

 

[Cochise]

I said a couple of weeks ago that Deki was the better option to start games with but my goodness he had a stinker yesterday. Johnson was much the better player when deployed out wide.

 

[TOLBINY]

May be mistaken, but cannot recall a period of any game where we've had Deki out left and Johnson on the right. Must be worth a go at some point.

 

[carmeldevil]

 

[rossdapep]

He made an instant impact with that run into the box as soon as he came on. He just couldn't connect with that one, but he got into that threatening position and really unsettled the Palace defence from that point onwards. Great to see him growing in confidence and being more aggressive. He was instrumental in getting us the points yesterday.

I think this is one of the issues with Deki, he isn;t going to aggressively attack the area and wants to do more in the build-up. Essentially easier for low block teams to deal with.

Next season, I think we will need another winger who is very strong at 1v1s but also a direct player that can be thrown on to attack the centre more.

 

[Fergus]

Johnson seems to have addressed the two issues many of us (myself included) were criticising him for; timidity and off the ball workrate. An impressive performance with hopefully more to come.

 

[Khilari]

He was excellent yesterday
Direct and made an impact immediately with runs
Great to see

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

He appears to be a conscientious and intelligent player who I would expect will seriously try to address any weaknesses in his game>

But for a youngster who isn't yet a regular, he is doing incredibly well, making progress and making an impact.

I don't think the criticism of his play was wrong, if a bit harsh, but writing him off definitely was, especially while he is noticeably working on his game and improving to impressive levels.

 

[npearl4spurs]

Who’d have thought that he would start to turn out to be a decent player for us

lol he's been decent the whole time with us

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

lol he's been decent the whole time with us

This is the thing, he has something like 10-11 goal involvements (4 goals + 6 assists) for us already in his first season at a new club, as a 22 year old in only his second season in the premier league. Yes he could have been better but the facts don't lie, he's contributing at a decent rate.

It really feels to me that the negativity around him as been more from people who have misconceptions on what kind of player he is. He has never been a Doku/Mahrez type who is going to face up his full back and continually try tricks and flicks to go by them. His skill is more about arriving on the end of chances - with smart movement and good finishing, or helping the team get up the pitch on a counter. Whatever anyone thinks this is obviously a profile Ange targeted to fit his system so I would say Johnson is doing just fine for a player who has so much more growth and development ahead of him.

 

[E17yid]

He’s been a lot more consistent than I’d thought he’d be. Sure he’s not pulling in 9/10 performances like he did against Newcastle every week but he’s rarely stunk the place out. Making big contributions to the team which is the main thing. I’m optimistic he’ll be an important player for us in the coming years.

 

[dontcallme]

This is the thing, he has something like 10-11 (4 goals + 6 assists) for us already in his first season at a new club, as a 22 year old in only his second season in the premier league. Yes he could have been better but the facts don't lie, he's contributing at a decent rate.

It really feels to me that the negativity around him as been more from people who have misconceptions on what kind of player he is. He has never been a Doku/Mahrez type who is going to face up his full back and continually try tricks and flicks to go by them. His skill is more about arriving on the end of chances - with smart movement and good finishing, or helping the team get up the pitch on a counter. Whatever anyone thinks this is obviously a profile Ange targeted to fit his system so I would say Johnson is doing just fine for a player who has so much more growth and development ahead of him.

Agree.

There’s also an element of criticising a player for what he isn’t.

Johnson is very good at timing his runs into the box and making the right decision to a get a goal or assist.

His playing style isn’t about extreme work rate off the ball but it’s something he gets criticised for.

In the Prem thread yesterday during the Manchester Derby there was criticism about Haaland for not being the complete all round striker. He’s a goal scorer who for 5 years solid has a goalscoring record of just under 1 goal a game. That’s what he should be judged on.

 

[McFlash]

I've said it before but had it not been for this chaotic season, I think the plan was always for him to be mainly used as an impact sub, while getting used to how we play and how the manager wants him to play.
He was thrust into the limelight earlier that expected and as usual in here, that led to a lot of people getting on his back far too soon.

Young player, with a big money move to a big club, it was always going to take him a bit of time to find his feet but he seems like a bright lad and is only going to get better.
Nice to see him showing a bit more courage and fight too.

 

[C1w8]

This is the thing, he has something like 10-11 (4 goals + 6 assists) for us already in his first season at a new club, as a 22 year old in only his second season in the premier league. Yes he could have been better but the facts don't lie, he's contributing at a decent rate.

It really feels to me that the negativity around him as been more from people who have misconceptions on what kind of player he is. He has never been a Doku/Mahrez type who is going to face up his full back and continually try tricks and flicks to go by them. His skill is more about arriving on the end of chances - with smart movement and good finishing, or helping the team get up the pitch on a counter. Whatever anyone thinks this is obviously a profile Ange targeted to fit his system so I would say Johnson is doing just fine for a player who has so much more growth and development ahead of him.

We have this scattered across all the match and attacking player/attacking output discussions, I dont think it's exclusive to Johnson.

The reality is that a football team doesnt get it right on almost every possession they have. I know we want every move to be an incisive one with each player making a great pass/great run ending with a clinical finish and we win 20-0, but it doesnt really work like that.

The team plugs away for 90+mins, and if we're lucky we get it right two or three times to win a game. Sometimes it doesnt even come right once, but we get something lucky/simple like a deflection or set piece to produce goals. Its the same for all teams - taking City as the benchmark they've in recent weeks beaten United (not taking the lead til last 10mins), beat bournemouth and brentford 1-0 and drawn with chelsea. It doesnt mean Haaland/Rodri/Silva etc arent good enough.

Johnson and our other attacking players are doing well, yes each has their quieter games/spells, and sometimes it isnt pretty against low blocks but we have very good attacking output at the moment and everyone is contributing.

 

[T-Bone]

Was at game Sat and got talking a friend of his, was actually saying I'd didn't think he was good enough which is when the guy pointed out he was a friend. He said he has found it tough moving from Nottingham to London, said he is only a kid really and in Nottingham his Mum basically did everything for him and now he is living alone in London and found adjusting hard. Said at Forest basically all the forest lads use to meet is some coffee shop and spend a lot of time together while at Tottenham a lot of the foreign lads have big families here with them so after training they went home and spent time with them. He said he feels more settled now and we will start to see a better version of him, he is obviously biased but said he is going to be a superstar at Spurs! Anyway take with a pinch of salt but what i will say i didn't really take into consideration myself that it was probably tough on him leaving home, still very young. I kind of expect footballers to be fully ready to go and don't treat them the same as i would anyone else that age but if it was me i would have struggled leaving the security of my Family at 21/22 so I'm sure it was tough on him to.

 

[npearl4spurs]

what i will say i didn't really take into consideration myself that it was probably tough on him leaving home, still very young. I kind of expect footballers to be fully ready to go and don't treat them the same as i would anyone else that age but if it was me i would have struggled leaving the security of my Family at 21/22 so I'm sure it was tough on him to.

not remembered ever enough. So young and we put all this weight of expectation on them. I'd have fuckin cracked under the pressure, no one would have trusted me to do anything well at that age

 

[E17yid]

While I think the fact he’s moved away from home and his mum and all that is something to take into account obviously I think the main issue to why he might have struggled a bit (which is arguable he’s been fine generally) is the fact that even Ange himself said he’s probably been thrust into the team a bit earlier than he intended. I think if we didn’t have any injuries and what not and we just used him how Ange had intended (off the bench initially) then his form would’ve been better (which hasn’t even been bad)

That would’ve helped with all the settling in off the pitch as well which is clearly important too.

 

[thelak]

Was at game Sat and got talking a friend of his, was actually saying I'd didn't think he was good enough which is when the guy pointed out he was a friend. He said he has found it tough moving from Nottingham to London, said he is only a kid really and in Nottingham his Mum basically did everything for him and now he is living alone in London and found adjusting hard. Said at Forest basically all the forest lads use to meet is some coffee shop and spend a lot of time together while at Tottenham a lot of the foreign lads have big families here with them so after training they went home and spent time with them. He said he feels more settled now and we will start to see a better version of him, he is obviously biased but said he is going to be a superstar at Spurs! Anyway take with a pinch of salt but what i will say i didn't really take into consideration myself that it was probably tough on him leaving home, still very young. I kind of expect footballers to be fully ready to go and don't treat them the same as i would anyone else that age but if it was me i would have struggled leaving the security of my Family at 21/22 so I'm sure it was tough on him to.

Am imaging the whole Nottingham forest squad huddled around a pot of brew with a plate of Jammy dodgers now at the local coffee shop

 

[ohtottenham!]

While I think the fact he’s moved away from home and his mum and all that is something to take into account obviously I think the main issue to why he might have struggled a bit (which is arguable he’s been fine generally) is the fact that even Ange himself said he’s probably been thrust into the team a bit earlier than he intended. I think if we didn’t have any injuries and what not and we just used him how Ange had intended (off the bench initially) then his form would’ve been better (which hasn’t even been bad)

That would’ve helped with all the settling in off the pitch as well which is clearly important too.

And, being thrust into the fray earlier than intended may turn out to be a good thing as he's already providing goals and assists and consequently growing in confidence. He's also improving other aspects of his game. Builds a player's confidence when they experience adversity and come through it.

 

[E17yid]

And, being thrust into the fray earlier than intended may turn out to be a good thing as he's already providing goals and assists and consequently growing in confidence. He's also improving other aspects of his game. Builds a player's confidence when they experience adversity and come through it.

Completely agree. I was gong to say short term pain for long term gain but the pain has been non existent really. He’s generally dealt with everything very well and as you say we should benefit from this in the long run.