Brennan Johnson

[Muttley]

I think Sonny and Spurs needs to accept their fate with our captain now in his thirties. There's hope for Johnson though.

Firstly, Sonny has never worked hard enough to make the defensive breakthroughs in his game from every manager from Poch to Ange. He's cost us goals again this season with his lackadaisical tracking back and very poor positioning in his own half. Let's be honest, he's not going to make that breakthrough now. He used to be decent at pressing high though. That ability is also diminishing with age.

Secondly, Sonny just hasn't got the fitness anymore to play 2 games a week. He's been so unlucky this season not to have the bodies of Richi, Odobert and Moore sharing the workload, whilst Werner has had his own nightmare. Moving forward, we need to only play him when fresh and not be afraid to put him on the bench. We definitely shouldn't be concerned about bringing him on as a right forward either. He has played very well there when put there. Sonny is a very good sub.

As for Johnson, he actually works way harder than Son at defending. Like Moura, there seems to be a bit of headless chicken about him when it comes to defending. He seems to have a bit of the Kane/Son scaredy cat nonsense about him as well. Kane didn't start like that, but ended up pulling out of most physical exchanges. Son has always been a coward. I'm still hopeful that we can get more out of Johnson defensively than we ever did with Son and Moura. Our system needs it.

 

[Raziel]

Son and Johnson are very similar in that they're both moments players imo. Can deliver the most important things in football (goals and assists), but often don't contribute that much outside of that in terms of overall attacking play.

Son is and has been creative if your definition of creativity is end product, creating chances. As Johnson has been when set up in the right situation.

That's not the only possible definition of creativity though. If people are talking about creatively combining with others to make or exploit space, or turning average possession under pressure into great possession through skill and dribbling I don't think Son is particularly creative.

Set Son up in the situations he thrives in and he's fantastic at what he does. But he needs that space to run into, space to get on the front foot and run at people or of course a chance to use his ball striking for a shot or cross.

But he's not "creative", he's fairly predictable in what kind of situations he's good in and what he'll do. He's just so good at it that even though people know what's coming he'll still succeed (or used to anyway). He's a creator, but he's not "creative" (by that definition of creativity). Stats for creating chances doesn't change that impression because that's not what all people mean by creative.

Moments players are great, if they're good enough at what they do, but too many moments players leaves a team unbalanced.

They are similar in that they like the ball played in front of them with space to run into.

Son at his prime was a WC class/elite player, capable of taking his man on, capable of scoring from distance, best two footed player in the league, extremely intelligent in his movement.

Johnson is a limited player that has learnt how to get to the back post as this system demands

 

[Bedfordspurs]

They are similar in that they like the ball played in front of them with space to run into.

Son at his prime was a WC class/elite player, capable of taking his man on, capable of scoring from distance, best two footed player in the league, extremely intelligent in his movement.

Johnson is a limited player that has learnt how to get to the back post as this system demands

Sons two footedness was a such a thing
Now he can barely control a ball unless it’s directly in front of him
I get his legs not working as well for pace but I don’t get why his technical skills have disappeared

 

[Raziel]

Sons two footedness was a such a thing
Now he can barely control a ball unless it’s directly in front of him
I get his legs not working as well for pace but I don’t get why his technical skills have disappeared

I think he's fatigued and probably carrying a knock, he's also put way too much mileage with travel for national team.

Son is a high energy player, when the energy drops, he doesn't look the same, it's one of the oddities that he tends to look much better when he comes back from injury.

He needs to be managed, but to manage him, we need to have depth to rotate.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I think he's fatigued and probably carrying a knock, he's also put way too much mileage with travel for national team.

Son is a high energy player, when the energy drops, he doesn't look the same, it's one of the oddities that he tends to look much better when he comes back from injury.

He needs to be managed, but to manage him, we need to have depth to rotate.

Yep
I do hope your right

 

[Bishop]

What is wrong with tap ins? Tap ins arent simple especially at PL level, if you are consistently getting taps ins in the PL then your movement is damn good. And if tap ins were such a simple thing, why isn't Son getting such tap ins? Johnson's problem is that he plays it safe when the ball is at his feet, but he is at least stepping up with important goals and unlike Son doesn't take penalties. Son is such a painful watch 90% of the time now, it really is sad to see.......

The problem with players who thrive only on tapins is that they are reliant on other players performing well to be effective. They have very little agency of their own to actually impact a game. So yes scoring a tapin is not worth a y less than any other goal but if that's all they are doing they need to be scoring a hell of a lot of them to get away with basically otherwise being a passenger. This team of ours isn't good enough overall to carry anyone.

 

[harr1984]

The problem with players who thrive only on tapins is that they are reliant on other players performing well to be effective. They have very little agency of their own to actually impact a game. So yes scoring a tapin is not worth a y less than any other goal but if that's all they are doing they need to be scoring a hell of a lot of them to get away with basically otherwise being a passenger. This team of ours isn't good enough overall to carry anyone.

Wouldn't argue with that at all. But he is only 23, to already be producing solid figures in terms of goals/assists rather than just look 'pretty' which is no mean feat. And I will say I think your point will be less relevant as Odobert and Moore plus potentially others get more and more involved over time. I think Johnson will flourish and still room to improve in other areas. I certainly wouldn't be looking to get rid of him (not saying you are suggesting we do).....

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Wouldn't argue with that at all. But he is only 23, to already be producing solid figures in terms of goals/assists rather than just look 'pretty' which is no mean feat. And I will say I think your point will be less relevant as Odobert and Moore plus potentially others get more and more involved over time. I think Johnson will flourish and still room to improve in other areas. I certainly wouldn't be looking to get rid of him (not saying you are suggesting we do).....

I think that’s the age we signed son at

 

[Bishop]

Wouldn't argue with that at all. But he is only 23, to already be producing solid figures in terms of goals/assists rather than just look 'pretty' which is no mean feat. And I will say I think your point will be less relevant as Odobert and Moore plus potentially others get more and more involved over time. I think Johnson will flourish and still room to improve in other areas. I certainly wouldn't be looking to get rid of him (not saying you are suggesting we do).....

If he becomes the bench option, the guy we look to when we need something different then I'm happy to have him but as far as starting goes even at 23 years old I don't see his game improving to the level we actually need. Players just don't really add abilities in their 20s, you tend to have that technique and game style by your teens and then refine and finesse as you grow.

I've been fairly repetitive about his limitations for so long because for me they are just really glaringly obvious, but if the squad improves and he becomes an option rather than a starting figure then I'd have fewer complaints.

 

[Jurgen the German]

What is wrong with tap ins? Tap ins arent simple especially at PL level, if you are consistently getting taps ins in the PL then your movement is damn good. And if tap ins were such a simple thing, why isn't Son getting such tap ins? Johnson's problem is that he plays it safe when the ball is at his feet, but he is at least stepping up with important goals and unlike Son doesn't take penalties. Son is such a painful watch 90% of the time now, it really is sad to see.......

Son is 32 right? Johnson is 22 or 23? If you’re happy with his contributions that’s fine and there’s nothing wrong with tap ins but that’s pretty much all he gives us.

 

[Jurgen the German]

Son thrives or did thrive in counter attacking
He has never thrived in possession football because all his weaknesses are highlighted
Same can be said of Johnson but I’d argue Johnson is still impacting games even against low blocks … possibly because he has better creative outlets on the right.
But what bothers me with sonny, massively is the illusion he offers something defensively. He never ever does. He can’t run or seems unable too now and that’s a real worry. It’s why he always seems to be in the wrong place now
Strangely it’s the opposite for Johnson who does seem to be in the right place attack wise at least to get his goals
The below photo is one I took to show a mate something I noticed at the Saudi Sportswashing Machine game. This was when Brennan and Reggie decided to pass crosses to each other rather than shoot

look where son is…were chasing the game and he is nowhere near the ball or the goal. Worse was Maddison who again got plaudits for changing things in the last 30… not even there
10… TEN Saudi Sportswashing Machine players in their area and our two highest paid attacking talents are nowhere
That doesnt excuse Johnson and Reggie not burying it

Johnson does next to nothing when he doesn’t score. He rarely impacts the game at all. What I dont understand is how you consistently say Son doesn’t do anything but score but you don’t see it when it comes to Johnson. I can’t reconcile the hypocrisy of it.

 

[DubSpur]

Sons two footedness was a such a thing
Now he can barely control a ball unless it’s directly in front of him
I get his legs not working as well for pace but I don’t get why his technical skills have disappeared

Son was never good technically. His first touch has always been poor, it's just becoming more and more of a problem as he is slower to react to the poor touch. What he used to provide to make up for it is sadly disappearing.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Johnson does next to nothing when he doesn’t score. He rarely impacts the game at all. What I dont understand is how you consistently say Son doesn’t do anything but score but you don’t see it when it comes to Johnson. I can’t reconcile the hypocrisy of it.

Because I see Johnson score even when doing nothing
I don’t see son do that
I see him just wander wander like a ghost
He doesn’t keeper defenders form doing anything
Johnson does because they know he can run
It’s that’s simple
My mate, who is very much in our camp that son is still good… saw the pool game with me and I highlighted how son was always in the wrong place and he couldn’t believe it
He also couldn’t believe how Werner in his first run pinned back Trent so easily
That’s why
We can go round and round the houses all day on this

 

[Raziel]

Son was never good technically. His first touch has always been poor, it's just becoming more and more of a problem as he is slower to react to the poor touch. What he used to provide to make up for it is sadly disappearing.

It's how he plays, it's one of the reasons he's ideally suited to the ball played in front of him with space to run into, he can take a poor first touch into the space in front. Not sure I'd say he isn't good technically, his use of both feet, his passing range, his finishing was elite

If he becomes the bench option, the guy we look to when we need something different then I'm happy to have him but as far as starting goes even at 23 years old I don't see his game improving to the level we actually need. Players just don't really add abilities in their 20s, you tend to have that technique and game style by your teens and then refine and finesse as you grow.

I've been fairly repetitive about his limitations for so long because for me they are just really glaringly obvious, but if the squad improves and he becomes an option rather than a starting figure then I'd have fewer complaints.

I think Johnson coming off the bench against tired legs is a very different proposition than Johnson starting, and that's what would be interesting to understand in the squad planning.

 

[Muttley]

Because I see Johnson score even when doing nothing
I don’t see son do that
I see him just wander wander like a ghost
He doesn’t keeper defenders form doing anything
Johnson does because they know he can run
It’s that’s simple
My mate, who is very much in our camp that son is still good… saw the pool game with me and I highlighted how son was always in the wrong place and he couldn’t believe it
He also couldn’t believe how Werner in his first run pinned back Trent so easily
That’s why
We can go round and round the houses all day on this

I'd like to see Johnson's running stats. As you know, I don't go to many games at all, but I have the feeling I'd see him doing more work off camera than we get to see from our armchairs.

Whilst I think some of the criticism of Johnson is fair game, I do think Johnson is frustrated that Ange won't play to his strengths. That kid is really pacy if we can give him space to run into. He also has false 9 capabilities and can easily ghost into dangerous areas. Lastly, he can thread a ball in central areas and feed others. It should not just be about wide play for him. He is more suited as the right sided player in a 4-2-3-1 in my opinion.

For some reason, we're not getting the Forest version of Johnson. You also have to look towards the manager and ask why.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I'd like to see Johnson's running stats. As you know, I don't go to many games at all, but I have the feeling I'd see him doing more work off camera than we get to see from our armchairs.

Whilst I think some of the criticism of Johnson is fair game, I do think Johnson is frustrated that Ange won't play to his strengths. That kid is really pacy if we can give him space to run into. He also has false 9 capabilities and can easily ghost into dangerous areas. Lastly, he can thread a ball in central areas and feed others. It should not just be about wide play for him. He is more suited as the right sided player in a 4-2-3-1 in my opinion.

For some reason, we're not getting the Forest version of Johnson. You also have to look towards the manager and ask why.

No idea

But I do know that he comes back with the full back which is what’s asked. I believe that’s exacting what Ange wants otherwise he wouldn’t play him

I do think we have an issue when it’s him and son wide because neither is gonna do tricks to beat a man. And again low blocks that’s an issue. Johnson does gamble and get into the right place . Sonny hasn’t done that in ages so again we because easier to defend against

 

[markysimmo]

I wouldn't mind Johnson coming on as an impact sub
We need somebody who offers more as a starter on the right side
I would rather Spence was RB and Porro RW in some games

 

[Bedfordspurs]

It's how he plays, it's one of the reasons he's ideally suited to the ball played in front of him with space to run into, he can take a poor first touch into the space in front. Not sure I'd say he isn't good technically, his use of both feet, his passing range, his finishing was elite



I think Johnson coming off the bench against tired legs is a very different proposition than Johnson starting, and that's what would be interesting to understand in the squad planning.

Or maybe just the team passing better
We know our best passers are actually Romero and Porro, the latter who is broken
I may be completely wrong but has Johnson drop in goals scored coincided worth Romero being out. Would be odd because I can’t think of a direct pass form Romero to him…

But to play a man in behind you have to pad quickly and smartly
Maddison rarely passes quickly and only in one direction most of the time. Sarr isn’t a great passer. Bergvall will help there I’m sure because he really does pass firmly and quickly

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I wouldn't mind Johnson coming on as an impact sub
We need somebody who offers more as a starter on the right side
I would rather Spence was RB and Porro RW in some games

Porro who has lost the ball more times than any player in the division because he does the exact opposite of Johnson. He gambles with his passing…. A lot

 

[Jurgen the German]

Because I see Johnson score even when doing nothing
I don’t see son do that
I see him just wander wander like a ghost
He doesn’t keeper defenders form doing anything
Johnson does because they know he can run
It’s that’s simple
My mate, who is very much in our camp that son is still good… saw the pool game with me and I highlighted how son was always in the wrong place and he couldn’t believe it
He also couldn’t believe how Werner in his first run pinned back Trent so easily
That’s why
We can go round and round the houses all day on this

Son did that last season and you said he was the root cause of our problems in an attacking sense. Johnson is even worse than Son in terms of overall play. And you make excuses for him by saying we don’t have anyone decent on the left side. Why does that affect Johnson? Why can’t he improve his game without the help of someone from the other side of the pitch? If Son is the ghost then Johnson is the poltergeist.