Player Watch Player Watch: Brennan Johnson

[biscuit]

You all are far too reactionary.

He's not good enough to be a starter for us long term. His technical ability is just not good enough. He doesn't strike a ball well. He can't beat players 1v1 consistently. The comparison(s) to Bale is absolutely ridiculous - Bale was a one of a kind phenom who had incredible strength, pace, and could strike a football unlike just about anyone else in the world. Johnson is a winger with a bit of pace who happened to have found his shooting boots and the ball at his feet more often in the past few weeks than the year before that.

I'm very happy for him to be having a little purple patch here and that he is able to showcase his worth considering some of the absolutely unwarranted vitriol he was getting. You could tell his mental health was in a bad place, so this is the best way he could have responded.

But he has not changed as a player in the last month or so. He's just not good enough as a footballer to be anything more than a squad option.

I fully expect to be downvoted for this post, but we can quote it a couple months from now whenever we hit our next patch of bad form and he gets back to being a scapegoat.

That’s the spirit!

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Kid is on fire.

Incredible how much of a difference confidence and time makes in this game isn’t it.

Fantastic job Brennan.

 

[Impspur1]

He’s making more and more of you look like massive todgers every week, and I’m living for it.

I do think a lesson has to be leaned here and that is for some to stop jumping on new players when they don’t start like prime Messi, especially younger players whose confidence could be fragile.

 

[Impspur1]

You all are far too reactionary.

He's not good enough to be a starter for us long term. His technical ability is just not good enough. He doesn't strike a ball well. He can't beat players 1v1 consistently. The comparison(s) to Bale is absolutely ridiculous - Bale was a one of a kind phenom who had incredible strength, pace, and could strike a football unlike just about anyone else in the world. Johnson is a winger with a bit of pace who happened to have found his shooting boots and the ball at his feet more often in the past few weeks than the year before that.

I'm very happy for him to be having a little purple patch here and that he is able to showcase his worth considering some of the absolutely unwarranted vitriol he was getting. You could tell his mental health was in a bad place, so this is the best way he could have responded.

But he has not changed as a player in the last month or so. He's just not good enough as a footballer to be anything more than a squad option.

I fully expect to be downvoted for this post, but we can quote it a couple months from now whenever we hit our next patch of bad form and he gets back to being a scapegoat.

Couldn’t disagree more, the technique for that volley that hit the crossbar was superb, as was the delicate stroke into the corner for the goal. His technique isn’t in question, just his confidence which seems fragile… but you’re here to help with that!

ref his shooting boots, I saw him first hand on loan at my local club and there is nothing wrong with that part of his game

 

[C1w8]

I think it works both ways though. Some people said they didn't think he was good enough and had a limited skillset for what he cost, and generally they were fair views to hold based on what we'd seen. To say they were all wrong after he's done quite well for 4 games is almost just as reactionary. He's shown us what his strengths are (and we saw this at times last season too) but he still seems timid and frustrating on the ball which will be an issue against most opponents. Maybe a super confident Brennan will be more effective in these situations but at the moment we don't know.

Also there seems a lot of people intent on 'calling out' his doubters. That seems a bit ironic given what Johnson himself went through. We're just football fans with views on our footballers. There's no need for this point-scoring crap. Not necessarily aimed at you but the last few pages.

To a certain degree youre right, but by nature we should be quick to jump on the momentum of a player and talk him up and sing his name. It should take us a lot longer to get on a players back than it does, its not supposed to be the exactly the same both ways.

So yes lets shout about a player when hes doing well, and lets not pile on so quickly when things are going the other way. Thats how it should be.

 

[NEVILLEB]

Who’s Brendan ?

Guilty

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

Johnson's on Fire, your defence is terrified. Johnson's on Fire, your defence is terrified. Johnson's on Fire, your defence is terrified. Johnson's on Fire...
La la la la la la la, la la la la la, la la la la la la la la la la

 

[Aleks]

You all are far too reactionary.

He's not good enough to be a starter for us long term. His technical ability is just not good enough. He doesn't strike a ball well. He can't beat players 1v1 consistently. The comparison(s) to Bale is absolutely ridiculous - Bale was a one of a kind phenom who had incredible strength, pace, and could strike a football unlike just about anyone else in the world. Johnson is a winger with a bit of pace who happened to have found his shooting boots and the ball at his feet more often in the past few weeks than the year before that.

I'm very happy for him to be having a little purple patch here and that he is able to showcase his worth considering some of the absolutely unwarranted vitriol he was getting. You could tell his mental health was in a bad place, so this is the best way he could have responded.

But he has not changed as a player in the last month or so. He's just not good enough as a footballer to be anything more than a squad option.

I fully expect to be downvoted for this post, but we can quote it a couple months from now whenever we hit our next patch of bad form and he gets back to being a scapegoat.

boooooo booooooo

 

[Col_M]

that sounds like Donald Trump

 

[Reece_Spurs]

Brennan is very much a confidence player, really hope he's coached to not worry about dips in form when they come and continue to try and do what he does best, because when he believes in himself he can be very effective.

Shades of early Bale recently the way he either takes a touch and fires a low shot into the far corner or lets the ball roll across his and takes it first time like the one he hit the crossbar with today.

The far and near post goals will be his normal bread and butter as he makes very intelligent runs, but the goals into the far corners recently is where he can excel into a even better player. Just needs to continue what he's doing and keep that belief in himself even if he misses a few. What we don't want is him going back into his shell like he was 4 or 5 games ago when he'd take a few extra touchs and lose the opportunity. 1 touch and strike that far corner could quickly become his speciality.

 

[Nerine]

Five goals in five games and people are giving the lad shit.

Fuck off, really.

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

You all are far too reactionary.

He's not good enough to be a starter for us long term. His technical ability is just not good enough. He doesn't strike a ball well. He can't beat players 1v1 consistently. The comparison(s) to Bale is absolutely ridiculous - Bale was a one of a kind phenom who had incredible strength, pace, and could strike a football unlike just about anyone else in the world. Johnson is a winger with a bit of pace who happened to have found his shooting boots and the ball at his feet more often in the past few weeks than the year before that.

I'm very happy for him to be having a little purple patch here and that he is able to showcase his worth considering some of the absolutely unwarranted vitriol he was getting. You could tell his mental health was in a bad place, so this is the best way he could have responded.

But he has not changed as a player in the last month or so. He's just not good enough as a footballer to be anything more than a squad option.

I fully expect to be downvoted for this post, but we can quote it a couple months from now whenever we hit our next patch of bad form and he gets back to being a scapegoat.

Idiot comment. Eat your words!
Squad player my arse!

Imo....

 

[ikky]

Credit to the lad as he’s turned it around and is in great form. However I maintain that criticism of him ( on a football forum ) previously was valid but abuse in the ground and on his social media was absolutely not. I’m one of those who had written him off as he was so timid, his first touch was poor and he wouldn’t take on the opposing fb on. But fair play he’s stepped up his game. Now we just need Werner to close down his social media also.

 

[DiscoD1882]

Moussa Dembele says hi

 

[Reece_Spurs]

You all are far too reactionary.

He's not good enough to be a starter for us long term. His technical ability is just not good enough. He doesn't strike a ball well. He can't beat players 1v1 consistently. The comparison(s) to Bale is absolutely ridiculous - Bale was a one of a kind phenom who had incredible strength, pace, and could strike a football unlike just about anyone else in the world. Johnson is a winger with a bit of pace who happened to have found his shooting boots and the ball at his feet more often in the past few weeks than the year before that.

I'm very happy for him to be having a little purple patch here and that he is able to showcase his worth considering some of the absolutely unwarranted vitriol he was getting. You could tell his mental health was in a bad place, so this is the best way he could have responded.

But he has not changed as a player in the last month or so. He's just not good enough as a footballer to be anything more than a squad option.

I fully expect to be downvoted for this post, but we can quote it a couple months from now whenever we hit our next patch of bad form and he gets back to being a scapegoat.

If you can't see that he has many raw attributes to be a top class player then you don't really know what you're talking about.

He has issues with confidence and is too timid physically and avoids getting stuck in. But those two things can be worked on - he's still young.

He's technically more than good enough and is great athletically.

You're calling people reactionary then in the next sentence straight up say he's not good enough. He's not long turned 23, let him try and develop before spouting he's not never going to be good enough.

 

[spurs9]

Totally different players but this is a renaissance comparable to another young Welsh winger, Bale-esque. Well done Brennan, keep going lad.

I highly doubt he will reach Bale levels, but Bale was the same age Brennan is this season in his last and by far most unplayable/most productive season with us.

After the fist 6 PL games of that season, Bale had 2 goals, after the first EFL game he had 1 goal and after the first 2 EL games, he had 0 goals, so Johnson has had a similar but slightly more productive start to the season than Bale had in that infamous season.

The strange thing is, Bale looked unplayable at times prior to that last season, but until that last season, he had never been as productive per 90 as Johnson did last season, yet Johnson never looks unplayable.

 

[spurs9]

You all are far too reactionary.

He's not good enough to be a starter for us long term. His technical ability is just not good enough. He doesn't strike a ball well. He can't beat players 1v1 consistently. The comparison(s) to Bale is absolutely ridiculous - Bale was a one of a kind phenom who had incredible strength, pace, and could strike a football unlike just about anyone else in the world. Johnson is a winger with a bit of pace who happened to have found his shooting boots and the ball at his feet more often in the past few weeks than the year before that.

I'm very happy for him to be having a little purple patch here and that he is able to showcase his worth considering some of the absolutely unwarranted vitriol he was getting. You could tell his mental health was in a bad place, so this is the best way he could have responded.

But he has not changed as a player in the last month or so. He's just not good enough as a footballer to be anything more than a squad option.

I fully expect to be downvoted for this post, but we can quote it a couple months from now whenever we hit our next patch of bad form and he gets back to being a scapegoat.

Can we compare him to Son then, who people were saying the same thing about when he was 23? He has had an alright career with us.

 

[Snarfalicious]

I think Moore - Solanke - Johnson could be our best front 3 right now, even when everyone is healthy.

 

[tooey]

Football fans are just fickle, myself included. I think it's fair to call out when a player isn't performing, it's also fair to voice your opinion if you don't think he'll ever be good enough - if that's what you think. The same applies if a player hits some form and their performances exceeds your initial expectation.

It's perfectly fine for a football fan to change their mind if there's evidence that their initial opinion might be wrong. Only idiots refuse to change their minds.

Nobody is saying that he's turned into Messi overnight or that he'll never have a bad game again. All I see is people saying that he's played really well as of late and are hopeful he kicks on. None of which is "reactionary" when he's scored in 5 consecutive matches and has looked much more confident.

Also, whats this "he does strike the ball well" guff? Do you expect him to spray 70 yard bullet diagonals playing as a right winger? Does every player need to be able to knuckleball it in the top corner from 35 yards? He can strike the ball absolutely fine and wouldn't have made it to the very top level at a forward if he couldn't.

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

Everyone with half a brain who actually watched Brennan at Forest saw the potential. How can you not, it was fucking obvious. He has electric pace, excellent finishing and always has his head up, his technique as well was excellent (at pace as well).

Those attributes are so hard to find, in the PL alone I'm not sure I can name that many.... Garnacho is the only one off the top of my head.

This is of course no guarantee, firstly new players take time to adapt, then young players also have ups and downs, it's called form.

But no, even after a season of adapting And still contributing goals and assists it took the mensa fans on here 4 games in to the season (four fucking games) and they were writing him off and then some.

Maybe not personal insults, but fucking stupid stuff all the same.

He was not and never was shit, he wasn't in form, but take a step back.

Stat of the day, Johnson has scored 5 in 5. Pedro (supposed world class) Neto managed 3 goals in the entire of last season and his top tally for a season..... 5 goals. Yes I know Neto is better at beating a man, but give me someone who knows where the net is every day of the week.

And people were falling over themselves for him during the window. People don't realise what a talent we have, I've said it before and I'll say it again, this lad has the potential to be world class.

He is not however you're traditional winger, he's similar to Son. Infact when I watched him at Forest the immediate comparison that sprang to mind was Michael Owen, but he's still adapting to this position, so if he has a bad few games, it's OK.