Player Watch Player Watch: Brennan Johnson

[Led Revolver]

If we are signing Brennan, then we really need to be trying to move on Bryan. I don't see the point in keeping Solomon, Bryan, Perisic and Johnson in the same squad. It's ridiculous overkill without Europe and not one of those players massively stand out above the rest. I guess that's one of my gripes with Johnson.

That’s very true. It’d suggest that we’re just collecting players again!

For what it’s worth, Gil didn’t get a new photo on the website this season.. together with Hugo, Sessegnon, Perisic and White.

 

[arunspurs]

By the way, found this excerpt from a stats article on dribbling in 2022/23 season

Ofcourse, this is not completion % - this is merely showing Johnson is 5th in PL interms of attempted dribbling per possesson of ball.

Completion as in my other stat says 43%. More often, he gets double marked.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

He seems to be undeniably rapid, looks to work hard and not a bad finisher but haven't seen too much evidence he can beat players for fun?

Already been mentioned he's second fastest player in the EPL

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Our interest goes back two years. Involves couple our players, and at least one player. Ange rates him, but I don’t.

I’m curious to see if Ange sees him more as CF of a WF. Whilst his versatility may be appealing im sure he sees him as one more than the other. Personally I’m a little disappointed as I just think there is better out there in both positions. If we end up spending £40 mil cash we are in the same ballpark as Nico Williams for example who imo has a significantly higher ceiling. Ether way I’m assuming this will be our only attacking addition which after loosing Kane feels a little underwhelming but I guess if this is who Ange wants most then that’s a positive.

Ether way once he’s signed I’m sure everyone will hope he does well and I shall personally hope that my concerns are unfounded.

 

[wrd]

Looks like there's a good chance he would choose to join us

 

[Dunc2610]

View attachment 131087

Looks like there's a good chance he would choose to join us

Is that down to his poor decisions?

 

[Ghost Hardware]

To be fair, if they want £40m and not £50m cash and they'll accept something like £20m plus Spence and Sanchez thrown in, then that's a much more palatable deal. Especially if we can find a move for Bryan. As said I don't think he's a bad player, just not quite at the level and stylistic fit i'd want from a £50m player, HG or not.

Personally I’d like to see what Bryan could do under Ange before we write him off. On paper he should be good in his system. Obv there will remain the physical aspect but seeing as we own him it’s worth giving him a chance like we did Gio before writing him off completely.

 

[SpursSince1980]

View attachment 131087

Looks like there's a good chance he would choose to join us

So his biggest weakness is brain farting?

I can live with that.

 

[spursfan77]

I'd be underwhelmed if all we did was Johnson & Schurrs especially if the Johnson deal has a couple of our players thrown in.

At this point in time I’d be amazed if we did that. Overall looking at the window as a whole, yes I’d be disappointed (mainly because of losing Kane) but to get those two in from now on in and get out 5 or 6 players we want to move on is pretty much the best we can hope for.

 

[talbot64]

So he wants to come

He actually plays right wing

He is rapid and skillful

He is young and can be moulded into the managers style

Forest want to take players that we can’t sell

What’s not to like?

 

[rossdapep]

Is that down to his poor decisions?

Which can almost certainly be worked on.

Doku, Numah all of these players have glaring weaknesses too, yet people fail to bring them up cause they are seen as 'shiny new things'

 

[JayB]

Forest plays with avg possession of 33% and are lowblock. Last week against Arsenal, their possession was 21%

In such a team, Johnson is usually left upfield on corners or in open play. If its a similar strength rival, then their striker also forward. He usually gets marked by 2 opponent defenders given he is the break away threat.

In such conditions, to complete take ons , marked by 2 players is more difficult.

The problem I see with all these analysis, for me , its skewed. Dribbles & Takeons IMO should only based on eye test. Just going by data is skewed.

Below is his stats from last season :
Barnes scored 13 goals for Leicester. Some of us wanted him earlier in window :
View attachment 131084

Johnson
View attachment 131085

Stats are often misleading - we cant take them always on face value IMO

The raw volume of dribbles is certainly affected by a team's tactics, but take-on success rate is not. FBRef had his take-on success rate down as 35.6%, substantially lower than what you've quoted and good for the 11th percentile rather than the 38th percentile. At best, he's still significantly below average in that regard.

I'm not convinced by him as a winger in Ange's setup.

 

[WiganSpur]

I’m curious to see if Ange sees him more as CF of a WF. Whilst his versatility may be appealing im sure he sees him as one more than the other. Personally I’m a little disappointed as I just think there is better out there in both positions. If we end up spending £40 mil cash we are in the same ballpark as Nico Williams for example who imo has a significantly higher ceiling. Ether way I’m assuming this will be our only attacking addition which after loosing Kane feels a little underwhelming but I guess if this is who Ange wants most then that’s a positive.

Ether way once he’s signed I’m sure everyone will hope he does well and I shall personally hope that my concerns are unfounded.

Would be interesting to see him as a CF. I guess none of us really know if he'd be good enough back to goal to play as a striker. I suspect not compared to a player like David, or Lautaro.

Personally I’d like to see what Bryan could do under Ange before we write him off. On paper he should be good in his system. Obv there will remain the physical aspect but seeing as we own him it’s worth giving him a chance like we did Gio before writing him off completely.

I think he'd be decent under Ange to be honest. But we simply cannot stockpile bench level wingers, especially foreign ones. If we're bringing someone in, i'd rather they be really pushing Son, Kulusevski and Richarlison.

 

[Spursberg]

Is this a "homegrown purchase"? Not sure he would be infront of Solomon for the "next in line" spot after Kulu and Son.
Atleast not fro mthe little i have seen of him.

 

[carpediem991]

If we give up Davinson for him we must be sure to have another CB coming in.....

 

[WiganSpur]

Is this a "homegrown purchase"? Not sure he would be infront of Solomon for the "next in line" spot after Kulu and Son.
Atleast not fro mthe little i have seen of him.

Smallish sample size for Solomon but Manor scored one goal every 140 mins in the PL last season, and Johnson one in every 368 mins.

 

[spursfan77]

If we give up Davinson for him we must be sure to have another CB coming in.....

Hope so. We need another anyway.

 

[WiganSpur]

If we give up Davinson for him we must be sure to have another CB coming in.....

I'm sure we will but doubt it will be anyone who'll give van de Ven and Romero sleepless nights imo.

 

[Col_M]

View attachment 131087

Looks like there's a good chance he would choose to join us

i like that I can compare him to 3 other ballers that I don’t know. Very helpful.

 

[matthew.absurdum]

The raw volume of dribbles is certainly affected by a team's tactics, but take-on success rate is not. FBRef had his take-on success rate down as 35.6%, substantially lower than what you've quoted and good for the 11th percentile rather than the 38th percentile. At best, he's still significantly below average in that regard.

I'm not convinced by him as a winger in Ange's setup.

I think Johnson play as a CF or SS for at least half of their matches? I always find difficulty in analyzing Fbref's data when a player play more than one position