Player Watch Player Watch: Brennan Johnson

[Ron Burgundy]

Solanke can’t find the the time and space top draw strikers will do. He’s always crowded out and rushed.

Not sure this has occurred to me before - I think hi j hai movements quite good personally.

Will have a look, but instinctively, him not scoring more is (1) he’s not an elite level clinical finisher (though he’s definitely good) and (2) his service is bang average

 

[Shanks]

Is this a huge long thread fueled by some people misunderstanding there is a difference between a wide forward (which Johnson is) and a winger (which he isn't)?.

No not really, although from some pockets maybe.

It's more to do with basics, co trolling, movement, decision making (or lack of those) and those half arsed attempts at going for thr ball (desire to win).

Then yoy get the 'he scores enough', and then the ' he doesn't do enough'... rinse repeat depending on how well the team have performed as he is limited on what he does well really.

 

[bubble07]

My dad is starting to brainwash me that he is so so bad. And it's working

 

[greaves]

Not sure this has occurred to me before - I think hi j hai movements quite good personally.

Will have a look, but instinctively, him not scoring more is (1) he’s not an elite level clinical finisher (though he’s definitely good) and (2) his service is bang average

Poor waiter service I tend to think…

 

[Finchyid]

A lot of people who complain abput him doing f all were desperate for us to sign an even less productive Pedro Neto.

9 goal involvements to 3 and checkout the defensive stats. I know they don’t tell the full story but based on them alone I know which player of the two players looks more like £50m player

 

[purplemonkey]

Everyone knows he’s a solid goalscorer, but the timing of those goals is interesting:

17% scored in mins 1-5
17% in 45-49
26% in 86-90+

So in total 60% of his goals are scored in literally the opening or closing mins and either side of half time.

It’s also apparent that the majority of his goals this season have come in clusters when the team has been performing well: 6 goals in 6 games (5 wins and the capitulation at Brighton) followed by 4 goals in 5 the following month (which featured the two big victories vs Villa and City, and just the one defeat).

I’m choosing to be positive so my take away is that he’s a useful player when the team is going well and has the wind in their sails. Maybe he’s also more effective in those periods within games where the opposition is more tired, stretched, distracted or unsettled. He’s never going to be the kind of player to take charge or bail you out in a barren run, but on the other hand, he has that rare killer instinct and the ability to score goals in clutch moments. If we can get over the hump, add depth to the squad and learn how to use him situationally and selectively, he can be an incredibly impactful player.

 

[Buster18]

Is this a huge long thread fueled by some people misunderstanding there is a difference between a wide forward (which Johnson is) and a winger (which he isn't)?.

You need to explain what the difference is and it would also be handy to give an example of another well known ‘wide forward’.

 

[thekneaf]

You need to explain what the difference is and it would also be handy to give an example of another well known ‘wide forward’.

Marcus Rashford in his pomp is a wide forward, not a winger.

A wide forward is essentially a striker who is more effective moving into central positions from wide to score. Son is a wide forward.

Saka is a winger, I think. Wingers primary job is to create. Wide forward primary job is to score.

 

[Buster18]

Marcus Rashford in his pomp is a wide forward, not a winger.

A wide forward is essentially a striker who is more effective moving into central positions from wide to score. Son is a wide forward.

Saka is a winger, I think. Wingers primary job is to create. Wide forward primary job is to score.

Sorry but that’s just utter waffle. A winger/wide forward is the same thing and their job is to create and score.

 

[thekneaf]

Sorry but that’s just utter waffle. A winger/wide forward is the same thing and their job is to create and score.

They're aren't the same thing, they're different roles that start in similar positions. Wingers are up and down the pitch. Wide forwards tend to stay higher and come central earlier

 

[spursfan77]

My dad is starting to brainwash me that he is so so bad. And it's working

You don’t even need to listen to your dad, just watch the games and you’ll see it yourself!

 

[bubble07]

You don’t even need to listen to your dad, just watch the games and you’ll see it yourself!

But I have those spurs tinted glasses on

 

[Drink!Drink!]

just feel he would "do a job" with a mid table team who are compact, tight and are looking to sneak goals on the break or from second balls in set pieces.
He is never going to be good enough for a top 4 team. Especially one that expects high technical ability from its key players

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

They're aren't the same thing, they're different roles that start in similar positions. Wingers are up and down the pitch. Wide forwards tend to stay higher and come central earlier

I agree with your analysis but you’re wrong in saying wing forwards primary job isn’t to create imo. The best ones still create and score, just in slightly different areas to wingers.

 

[Silky Skills]

Mitoma who is a true winger is 13 goals and 11 assists in 72 Premiership appearances against Brennan’s 20 goals and 15 assists in 93 for Spurs and Forest. So yes, Brennan can and should work harder and be braver but he is on par with Mitoma for output and I really don’t think he deserves this amount of grief

 

[brasil_spur]

Everyone knows he’s a solid goalscorer, but the timing of those goals is interesting:

17% scored in mins 1-5
17% in 45-49
26% in 86-90+

So in total 60% of his goals are scored in literally the opening or closing mins and either side of half time.

It’s also apparent that the majority of his goals this season have come in clusters when the team has been performing well: 6 goals in 6 games (5 wins and the capitulation at Brighton) followed by 4 goals in 5 the following month (which featured the two big victories vs Villa and City, and just the one defeat).

I’m choosing to be positive so my take away is that he’s a useful player when the team is going well and has the wind in their sails. Maybe he’s also more effective in those periods within games where the opposition is more tired, stretched, distracted or unsettled. He’s never going to be the kind of player to take charge or bail you out in a barren run, but on the other hand, he has that rare killer instinct and the ability to score goals in clutch moments. If we can get over the hump, add depth to the squad and learn how to use him situationally and selectively, he can be an incredibly impactful player.

This is a great summary.

He has a place in the squad for sure, but there's games where he just doesn't work as a starting player.

 

[Gassin's finest]

He's very good at making those fast, direct runs into the near post for a tap in. Like how Pep used Sterling at City. But that's about it.

His all round game and application just doesn't seem enough imo.

 

[thekneaf]

When we're playing to his strengths he's great, we just need to stop expecting players to magically be able to play in ways that they can't.

He worked really hard defensively v Liverpool. So if that keeps up, and he still finds ways to score and assist, I'll just expect other players to create.

Much of the issue is that if Johnson plays, then the left wing forward needs to create, as does the player on the right of the midfield three. Sarr and Johnson is too much running and not enough magic on the ball.

 

[Buster18]

For those saying he’s better Werner. Johnson could only dream of a highlights real like this

 

[faze_coys]

just feel he would "do a job" with a mid table team who are compact, tight and are looking to sneak goals on the break or from second balls in set pieces.
He is never going to be good enough for a top 4 team. Especially one that expects high technical ability from its key players

He got pretty lucky that he’s now a starter for team sitting in 13th rather than warming Forests bench.