Player Watch Player Watch: Brennan Johnson

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Worth noting that this puts him in the first percentile in FBRef’s metric measuring clinical finishing (non-penalty goals minus non-penalty xG).

In other words he was among the very worst finishers in all of Europe this season from a purely statistical perspective.

If he can sort this out and become even an average finisher he’ll be unbelievable.

Again - his 22yo season.

He is very likely to improve on what was already a good statistical showing.

 

[McFlash]

I think he's had a good first season, as a young player, after a big step up and I reckon he'll only get better.
Yeah he needs to sharpen up a few areas but there's a lot to work with.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Worth noting that this puts him in the first percentile in FBRef’s metric measuring clinical finishing (non-penalty goals minus non-penalty xG).

In other words he was among the very worst finishers in all of Europe this season from a purely statistical perspective.

If he can sort this out and become even an average finisher he’ll be unbelievable.

Agreed. But his finishing, at present, it seriously poor.

Something to work on in the summer

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Sorry if this has been posted already (from The Athletic):

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5 more goals gets us champs league I reckon - shows the importance

 

[ItsBoris]

People are blind or have very short memories if they're harsh on Johnson. Bale was very raw for years before he took off. Kane too. There's so much to like about how Johnson plays. All the instincts are there, he just lacks that eye-of-the-tiger killer instinct at the clinical moment. But still pulls up decent numbers. I reckon he's got an incredibly high ceiling. He's not going to be just a squad option for us. Once the penny drops, he'll take off.

To be honest I don't really see it but I could be wrong. When I compare to some other players in the league around his age, in similar positions (Saka, Palmer, Anthony Gordon, Olise, Doku, Madueke), I see a level of talent that I don't see in Johnson. Really hope I'm wrong and he becomes a world-beater, but I also think it's important to try to be as objective as possible and see things with as little bias as possible. I don't think Johnson will be anything more than a decent midtable winger. I think we need someone a lot better if we hope to compete at the top table.

 

[punkisback]

Again - his 22yo season.

He is very likely to improve on what was already a good statistical showing.

Probality wise you would think so but I just think he lacks proper technique and that’s elite level footballing brain to take him for the next level of wing play. His peak to me would probably be Walcott level. He doesn’t have anything that say a sterling , Bale, Mane has let alone the potentials to be as good as someone like Saka or Martinelli

 

[überghost]

A good season in terms of contributions, could, and probably should have had more goal points.

But I think this is the sort of player we would regret not signing if we didn't. It's the type of player who would have gone to another top six/four club and been successful there, with all of SC having a fit over us not signing him when we could.

I think he will be instrumental for us going forward and progressing next season.

 

[The Apprentice]

All summer should be spent practicing finishing from 5 yards.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

To be honest I don't really see it but I could be wrong. When I compare to some other players in the league around his age, in similar positions (Saka, Palmer, Anthony Gordon, Olise, Doku, Madueke), I see a level of talent that I don't see in Johnson. Really hope I'm wrong and he becomes a world-beater, but I also think it's important to try to be as objective as possible and see things with as little bias as possible. I don't think Johnson will be anything more than a decent midtable winger. I think we need someone a lot better if we hope to compete at the top table.

This is how I see it. We all want him to come good, but signs so far suggest he’ll be a good, rather than great player

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

All summer should be spent practicing finishing from 5 yards.

He also needs to become a nasty bastard.

 

[newbie]

How on earth are these G/A stats worthy of a 6 out of 10 rating?

1st - Son 17 goals 10 assists
2nd - Johnson 5 goals 10 assists
Joint 2nd - Richarlison 11 goals 4 assists
3rd - Maddison 4 goals 9 assists

Johnson had an incredible debut season

currently I stand by his had a 6 out of 10 season.

do you really think his been a 7?

his young, and def he has more in his locker, i Feel a Lot of games his lacked fight and aggression, not tracked back, not taken people on, not gone fir balls he could have easily got to.

his had some good moment, and patches, i Don’t think his ever going to be much more than a squad player in the long run. I would say where I sit most fans think he doesn’t give \ offer enough.

i would add when he gets fired up and pissed off he looks a better player.

 

[McFlash]

He doesn’t have anything that say a sterling , Bale, Mane has let alone the potentials to be as good as someone like Saka or Martinelli

This is where opinions differ in football because I've never really rated Sterling but you're putting him in the same bracket as Bale, and are rating Saka and Martinelli above Bale?!

Bale was head and shoulders above any of those you mention and young Brennan doesn't have to reach his insane level to still be a very good and effective player.

 

[DannyNZ]

One thing that Johnson does almost religiously is to attack the far post, this is a big part of his role and he does it instinctively. Contrast that to Werner and Kulu who will both have had the same instructions and will have trained it repeatedly, but neither does it consistently or naturally.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I think he's had a good first season, as a young player, after a big step up and I reckon he'll only get better.
Yeah he needs to sharpen up a few areas but there's a lot to work with.

this, perfectly decent first season considering his age and adapting to a new style and team and also having played likely more than planned due to injuries.

 

[punkisback]

This is where opinions differ in football because I've never really rated Sterling but you're putting him in the same bracket as Bale, and are rating Saka and Martinelli above Bale?!

Bale was head and shoulders above any of those you mention and young Brennan doesn't have to reach his insane level to still be a very good and effective player.

I mean thats not what I had intended to say and I’m sure you understand that. I meant the opposite never reach the level of Saka let alone bale.

 

[thebenjamin]

Sorry if this has been posted already (from The Athletic):

View attachment 140999

Pretty concerning but at least he's getting chances I suppose

 

[TheChosenOne]

All summer should be spent practicing finishing from 5 yards.

This /\. Brennan always seems to shoot high - He has looped the ball over the bar a lot. Some if the goals he has scored have thankfully gone in under the bar but leaving his boot they looked to me as if they might not be going in.

 

[Insomnia]

My 18 year old Son loves him & my 16 year old Son thinks he's gash & a waste of money.
I think that sums him up for me, he's very marmite. I'm in my 18 year olds camp if you're interested.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

My 18 year old Son loves him & my 16 year old Son thinks he's gash & a waste of money.
I think that sums him up for me, he's very marmite. I'm in my 18 year olds camp if you're interested.

I’m with your 16 year old

 

[hughy]

I think he's a better finisher than what he shows on the pitch, I'm wondering whether a lot his problems are psychological.

Despite him being quite good at winning the ball back in high areas of the pitch, for the last season I've noticed how much he shirks challenges when he thinks there's a chance he could get hurt. I wonder whether this is on his mind when he's arriving at the back post to finish a chance too. A good example is the chance in the second half against Burnley recently, where he is completely alone at the back-post but doesn't fully commit himself as he's only a few yards away from clattering the post. This results him only getting the slightest touch on the ball and putting it wide.

I think the sooner he understands that more often than not he'll come out of these situations unscathed the better his goal return will be.