Player Watch Player Watch: Brennan Johnson

[THFCSPURS19]

We’ve already got promising but unproven wingers in Solomon and Gil — we don’t need more squad players at the winger position. We certainly don’t need to spend the fourth highest transfer fee in the history of the club on such a player.

What we need is a starting-quality addition to the attack who will create competition for places light a fire under the current front three. Johnson doesn’t even regularly start for Forest.

If we can’t get a player of the requisite quality, we’d be far better off keeping our powder dry and giving chances to the players we already have in place.

Johnson started 33/38 PL games last season for Forest and all 3 of their games this season.

 

[JayB]

Johnson started 33/38 PL games last season for Forest and all 3 of their games this season.

Fine, I’ll retract that point. And the rest of the argument?

 

[Locotoro]

Three things for me here.

1)Brennan Johnson? I just don't see the fuss. I really don't see why he's in such demand. He doesn't pass the eye test and he's nothing special statistically.

2) Not my money but £50m is a hell of a lot for someone who in my book is completely unproven and not an upgrade on our attacking players.

3) Brennan was the player that cleared out Richy when he decided to "showboat" with keepie uppies.

 

[wrd]

I don't have a clue whether Johnson will be a great player or not for us, as always depends on how a manager decides to use them at this level. However I feel like this is a typical spurs signing and not in a good way. I just feel like he's non-threatening really, like Aaron Lennon with a library card, a nice lad who lacks that bit of bite. I don't think teams are going to be seeing this signing and dreading having to face the Spurs front 3 now. I don't think this is a signing that moves the needle anywhere to where I think anything different of what's achievable this season.

As I say, it depends how the manager uses him, right now though I don't suddenly think, right United and Liverpool look vulnerable, Johnson is going to be what gets us over the line. When Liverpool signed Mane, it was something that felt like a shift in their trajectory, he had that aggression to start turning around Liverpool's fortunes. Johnson seems like a nice lad, with reasonable technical and good work rate but it just lacks the necessary adding of tenacity on the wings we need to win some battles we may not have previously that I feel the team lacks. This signing is more what I'd expect if we were say in Arsenals position where Saka and Martinelli are in those roles and they added Trossard. I can see the benefit of Johnson, I don't think it's what I was hoping for right now.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Fine, I’ll retract that point. And the rest of the argument?

I don't think it is guaranteed Johnson would be a guaranteed benchwarmer. I think there's genuine potential for players like him and Solomon (and even Perisic) to start in this team.

 

[LukaKranjcar]

If Postecoglou wants him then who cares what 'we' pay to get him?

Im all for backing Ange certainly and i completely understand not being particularly fussed by what we spend in doing so, but for me there are far better ways to invest that level of money in the squad. I'd be going for Gift Orban for example way before Brennan Johnson.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

If he performs than I’m sure it will be framed by the fanbase as good scouting and and excellent pick by Ange.

If he doesn’t live up to expectations then it will be put down to another ‘Levy buy’ foisted on a subservient manager.

The narrative is already being formed here.

 

[spursfan77]

If he performs than I’m sure it will be framed by the fanbase as good scouting and and excellent pick by Ange.

If he doesn’t live up to expectations then it will be put down to another ‘Levy buy’ foisted on a subservient manager.

The narrative is already being formed here.

I think he’s a paratici target and Ange is on board. Can we do a deal with Forest in time is the question now.

 

[dovahkiin]

im all for a pacy right winger

 

[spursn17]

as long as Ange, Gabbanini and Levy agree, thats all that matters..

 

[Nine while nine]

im all for a pacy right winger

 

[JayB]

I don't think it is guaranteed Johnson would be a guaranteed benchwarmer. I think there's genuine potential for players like him and Solomon (and even Perisic) to start in this team.

Of course it isn’t guaranteed that he couldn’t break into the team, but the point is that we’re already stocked with such players. We’ve got three wingers in Solomon, Perisic, and Gil who could feasibly challenge for starting places already. We don’t need to go splashing £50m on yet another.

Alan Nixon is now linking us with PSV winger Yohan Bakayoko. He’d probably come for half, or less, of the prices being quoted for Johnson. If Ange is content to bring in promising-yet-unproven players, their prices should reflect their station.

 

[wrd]

If he performs than I’m sure it will be framed by the fanbase as good scouting and and excellent pick by Ange.

If he doesn’t live up to expectations then it will be put down to another ‘Levy buy’ foisted on a subservient manager.

The narrative is already being formed here.

Mate, I'm trying to rack my brain to word this kindly but you stick out like a sore thumb in terms of the ratio of your posts that seem to be fixated on either defending Levy or accusing posters of having an agenda. In doing so, it's you who comes across as having an agenda.

If he does well and people start claiming what a choice by Ange then call it out then, there's plenty of evidence for when that time comes but it hasn't happened and you're bringing it up when currently it's nothing more than an imagined slight.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I don't mind the idea of Johnson at all, but I don't like any idea of him playing through the middle. My only concern is whether he'd be the only attacking reinforcement. Yesterday didn't tell me anything I didn't already know regarding Richarlison really and despite knowing that he has better in him, I've never seen him as potentially being our number one striker.

Bring a striker in as well as Johnson and I'd be a lot happier with the transfer.

I just don’t see it being Johnson + a striker coming in. We’re stacked in those attacking positions if Johnson joins.

Solomon
Perisic
Kulu
Richy
Gil
Son
Johnson

7 for 3 positions is more than enough with no Europe. Also considering we had ITK that Ange potentially sees Kulu as a striker option.

 

[wadewill]

Juve fans didn’t rate Bentancur

 

[snakehipsspurs]

Juve fans didn’t rate Bentancur

Yep, we need to remember the age old rule that 99% of football fans are fucking idiots.

If our scouting department and Ange believe he is the solution, I’m very comfortable with it.

 

[goughie1966]

Juve fans didn’t rate Bentancur

Do they rate Johnson?

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Mate, I'm trying to rack my brain to word this kindly but you stick out like a sore thumb in terms of the ratio of your posts that seem to be fixated on either defending Levy or accusing posters of having an agenda. In doing so, it's you who comes across as having an agenda.

If he does well and people start claiming what a choice by Ange then call it out then, there's plenty of evidence for when that time comes but it hasn't happened and you're bringing it up when currently it's nothing more than an imagined slight.

Why has it triggered you? I’m just making an observation.

Surely it’s better to make that observation now than seem all negative Nigel if he does perform?

 

[CanadaSpurs]

Sanchez as the potential makeweight is a bit concerning since we don’t have anyone else after the starters to play CB for Ange.

 

[ajspurs]

I just don’t see it being Johnson + a striker coming in. We’re stacked in those attacking positions if Johnson joins.

Solomon
Perisic
Kulu
Richy
Gil
Son
Johnson

7 for 3 positions is more than enough with no Europe. Also considering we had ITK that Ange potentially sees Kulu as a striker option.

Yeah I see that as the problem really. I think we'd be relying an awful lot on a struggling striker, coupled with the fact that he's had multiple injury problems too. It would be a risk to take Kulusevski possibly filling in into account in our decision making and I'd even say the same with Son. They are more so options to 'get by' as opposed to an option that may elevate us.

I agree in that it would leave us with a lot of attacking players, but as much as I'd like a pacey winger and even that winger being Johnson, I feel we may need a striker more.