Player Watch Player Watch: Brennan Johnson
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Nick-TopSpursMan
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He was excellent tonight. Starting to show much more self belief and drive with the ball.
Ghost Hardware
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More of a general question re Johnson. I’m curious to know what the SC hive mind thinks on this.
For the last few months most of us have been saying we need an upgrade on both wings and that Johnson, whilst talented, should be the rotation option for the time being rather a starter in our strongest line up for next season. Do people still feel the same in that regard or would people be happy to go into next season with him being our starting RW option?
I ask more because obviously that will affect what sort of profile we look at for the wings. I think everyone knows we need at least one if not two wingers, one for each side, but I think being realistic we aren’t going to be buying two top end WF’s. It’s just not going to happen. With that in mind you would think that one would ether be a younger prospect player OR a player who can play in multiple positions. I guess the question is, which side of attack (LW or RW) do we put most of our cash. I know a lot of the options we will be looking at such as Neto and Williams can play ether side but every player tends to have a stronger wing regardless how ambipedal they are. Obviously how we view Johnson in this equation will somewhat answer this question.
For the last few months most of us have been saying we need an upgrade on both wings and that Johnson, whilst talented, should be the rotation option for the time being rather a starter in our strongest line up for next season. Do people still feel the same in that regard or would people be happy to go into next season with him being our starting RW option?
I ask more because obviously that will affect what sort of profile we look at for the wings. I think everyone knows we need at least one if not two wingers, one for each side, but I think being realistic we aren’t going to be buying two top end WF’s. It’s just not going to happen. With that in mind you would think that one would ether be a younger prospect player OR a player who can play in multiple positions. I guess the question is, which side of attack (LW or RW) do we put most of our cash. I know a lot of the options we will be looking at such as Neto and Williams can play ether side but every player tends to have a stronger wing regardless how ambipedal they are. Obviously how we view Johnson in this equation will somewhat answer this question.
Ron Burgundy
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I'm not sure that's anything like a consensus is it? My feeling was that we would need (at least) this season to judge Brennan, and that in terms of incomings, it's likely only one wing we'd be looking at. That's only been reinforced in the last month or so.
One quality winger is key though
npearl4spurs
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- Sep 9, 2014
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Excellent point but just to clarify he doesn't muscle his way in front of defenders - he ghosts right past them. The timing of his runs, his movement, and his burst of pace are exceptional. Reads the game really well and it seems he knows what Ange wants of him inside and out now
joey55
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- May 20, 2005
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That's the key word for me. I thought he played with a real confidence last night, that was lacking previously. He really wanted the ball and when he got it didn't look to pass it off, but drive forward and was looking to make things happen. I guess he just feels like he's now becoming a key member of the team, as opposed to a new, younger player, who was affraid to make mistakes.
Nick-TopSpursMan
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You read my mind, I've been thinking the same thing.
I keep changing my mind on where Johnson is best utilised. Sometimes I see him have an impact out left and think we should go for a RW and then I see him play like last night at RW and think we should go for a LW.
The very fact he is making an impact on both flanks is a huge positive.
If I take a step back and try to look at the squad building rationally I think the next step for us is to sign a top quality LW who has the capability of playing RW if needed. Then in the following Jan or Summer we could look at another RW.
The reason I say this is like you I don't see us signing 2 top class wingers and I'm not sure we will move Deki to midfield even though I think that's what we should do.
Williams and Neto as you mention are 2 players who are genuinely good on either side so they would be the top choices but Neto's injury problems are a massive issue.
I look at the impact Werner playing LW is having (limited player but doing the role relatively well) on our team in a positive way and I then imagine what if we had a better quality player out left, what would that do?!
So I think let's go for a top class LW but also continue to develop Johnson as an all round threat on both sides because in the future we could develop the squad so that we have a top class LW, a top class RW and then Johnson as a top class forward who can play both flanks.
In an ideal world I would sign Nico Williams and Johan Bakayoko, sell Gil and Solomon and bring Werner in as a squad option.
We would have: Williams/Werner and Johnson/Bakayoko as our wide options. Would be a monumental upgrade in terms of quality and depth, able to maintain Ange style of play at all times.
JUSTINSIGNAL
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Who would have thought that it sometimes takes young players a while to settle and show their best form when moving to new team...
My own view is that Johnson is going to develop into a serious player for us, and should be the starting right-sided player, going into next season. If that pans out, then I'd be looking at an emerging talent to cover him, sign Timo (who, while not perfect, gets a lot of goal involvements) as left-sided cover, and then spend a significant chunk of money on a top-rank left-sided forward who will hopefully be the game-changer we've been crying out for. Quite where this leaves Kulu (possibly a Maddison cover), Sonny (not a centre-forward to my mind) and Richy (not quite the level we need) is up for debate.
Ghost Hardware
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Appreciate the response. It’s an interesting one isn’t it. Something I’ve been contemplating the more Johnson has developed in recent weeks. I think I agree with you, a top quality LW should probably be the primary target with Johnson taking the starting spot on the RW.
I really think the Kulu conundrum needs to be addressed over summer, he’s clearly not comfortable on the RW but I’m not sold on him as a 10 ether. If Gio leaves this summer then who takes his spot? If we are looking at MGW then you are probably right that Kulu stays RW. Not ideal but if Johnson continues to improve then Kulu as a back up is manageable but only in the short time I feel. Like you say something that can be addressed the following summer.
It is a shame Neto has such injury issues as he would really be a perfect solution. Idk why but I just struggle to see Williams coming here. There’s no logical reason to it, I guess we had ITK saying he was unlikely and despite him being one of the obvious targets I just don’t see it happening maybe due to having to a pay a release clause. But both are perfect examples of the ideal profile.
If he keeps developing he could be a starter, but I do think we need an elite player on the other wing if Johnson is a starter. We need a player who has that ability to cut in and score whilst also being able to take on his man. I think johnson could be good enough and his pace is a weapon.
I think signing werner for a rotation option is good enough too IMO, then solomun we need to make a call on but there will be injuries and we need options.
For whatever it’s worth, Harry Brooks suggests Hudson-Odoi, Olise, Eze, Grealish, and Desire Doue among others.
Don’t shoot the messenger.
fishhhandaricecake
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Such a great Q, I think a lot of it depends on where Ange sees the future of Richy, Son and Kulu.
Richy : do we keep or sell and if keep is he supposed to be our main starting striker when fit or a squad option
Son : depending on Richy situ and/or other signing plans, will Sonny be our main striker next season or our first choice LW?
Kulu : will he be a back-up RW option or will we sell Lo Celso and Kulu will be rotation with Maddison?
If I was deciding then what I would be being brutally honest would be:
Richy : sell and add a good £50-60mil to our kitty
Son : have him as our 1st choice LW mainly
Kulu : personally I'd play Gio more often and have Kulu as a back-up at RW and n.o10 but I think Ange will sell Gio and move Kulu to a back-up for n.o10, in which case...
ST: sign 1-2x new strikers : 1x top top class one who is our first choice and a 2nd decent back-up option *depending on how Veliz has progressed* Sonny can also cover at ST when needed
LW: Sonny 1st choice, Werner/Johnson 2nd choice
RW: Sign a new top class winger who can equally play LW or RW a la Neto or Williams or Raphinia etc and then we basically rotate 4 top quality players e.g. Sonny, Werner, Johnson and Neto
That would be how I'd look to manage it but who know how it will all transpire.
You?
Ghost Hardware
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Thank you for answering! In my mind I’ve been trying to think about who I would ideally want in summer for our attack and I kept coming back to this question as being quite an important one in regards to who we realistically target. It sort of has a knock on effect imo.
I must say I never thought that Johnson would have developed so quickly and if anything it’s a great problem to have. I thought he would take a few seasons before being in the starter discussion. So credit to him. Obviously we need to see how he does over the rest of the season but the signs are there.
Looking around at the market at the moment there aren’t that many top quality wingers available who are capable of playing comfortably on both wings. Players like Neto and Chiesa for example, both of which can play ether wing comfortably, have injuries issues. Raphinha, who I’m not a massive fan of, is on big wages and I’m skeptical if we pay Nico’s release clause or if he would want to leave Spain. I do think long term we need a quality left footed option on the right alongside Johnson.
From a defensive and stamina point of view, considering his age, im not entirely sure how effective Son will be back on the wing across a season. I think he can play well as a CF in our system just not against teams that park the bus so next season I’d probably move him between the two. I do think we need a good CF option tho and I’m not sure if that option is Richy.
Im with you on Gio, for the money we would realistically get id 100% keep him. Even if we let him run out his contract. Id loan out Donley and Devine again and reassess the position next summer. In the meantime use Maddison, Gio and Kulu there and maybe even give Bergvall some time there although I think he will be better suited to a deeper role. Tbh I actually don’t think the 10 position is that big of a problem I just think we should be giving Gio more game time there. And if we give Kulu some real minutes as AM and CM in pre season then he could pick up the slack from Maddison and Gio’s injury issues.
I guess where I’m at is we need a high calibre winger and if we can’t find one that is equally comfortable on both sides, which there aren’t many, than it might come down to picking a wing. I think I like Johnson as a starter but I don’t like Kulu as a back up. But I’m not convinced Son will be able to hold down the left wing spot for a full season ether. With that in mind I’d probably financially prioritise the LW over the RW but if we could add a young, versatile left footed right winger as well then that would be ideal.
Nick-TopSpursMan
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I'm a big fan of Johan Bakayoko @Ghost Hardware. Not sure what kind of fee he will go for but I think he is someone we should seriously be considering. About to turn 21, played pretty well in the CL and is ready to move to a bigger team in a stronger league. Dynamic, explosive, dribbles both ways (though I'd still want him to do it even more) and has great technical quality too.
Johnson and him competing at RW would be fantastic imo and would give us real quality on that side, with 2 slightly different profiles.
As for LW though, as you say there aren't tons of options. Nico is by far the standout option imo. Seen a few people mention Omar Marmoush but I don't know enough about him.
Johnson and him competing at RW would be fantastic imo and would give us real quality on that side, with 2 slightly different profiles.
As for LW though, as you say there aren't tons of options. Nico is by far the standout option imo. Seen a few people mention Omar Marmoush but I don't know enough about him.
fishhhandaricecake
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I pretty much completely entirely agree with all of this mate!!!
Will be very interesting to see how Ange and Lange try to work out the puzzle this summer.
I was watching City last night and I know we will never have their riches but if they are the yardstick of where we want to get to one day then 1,000% our attacking options need to improve.
The reason they could completely strangle the game was because of 4 players:
1) Rodri - world class best DM in the world incredible passing and reading of the game, his diagonal switches were outrageous
2) Foden - he picks up the pockets, makes 3man runs and links play and is a real goal threat (basically a better version of Maddison)
3) Doku - absolutely terrorised their LB (a better version of Johnson)
4) Grealish - his touch and short passing and dribbling are such high quality, whilst he might not have the pace of a Doku or the guile and goalscoring of a Foden, his ability to move the ball into and around the box and keep possession so well is so important, compare that to Werner and Kulu who both give the ball away quite often, these are the next levels of player who we need to get/upgrade in our attacking areas in we want to really start to go to the next level.
So back to our discussion I think Johnson is developing really really well and will be a starter or very close to a starter regularly next season but the winger quality and depth beyond that on both sides seriously needs addressing and then the puzzle also depends on what we do with Richy. I’m with you on Sonny that against non low blocks he’s great up top, against low blocks then put him back to LW so a rotation across both positions next season for Sonny would be good.
mil1lion
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Personally I think our wide options are very good with room to develop further. I think centre forward is the main issue to knit it all together. Next season I would be looking for a new 9 with Son on the left again. I would have loved a front 3 of Son, Kane and Johnson. A bit like Dele, Son and Kane with Maddison more central rather than Eriksen in off the wing and Dele central. If we can get a young prospect as the long term Son replacement to develop that would be the perfect balance. Someone low cost and preferably who can become homegrown with us. Werner bridges the gap between him and Son.
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