Player Watch Player Watch: Brennan Johnson

[spurs-r-us]

Off the bench against heavy legs only, for me. Kulusevski's form is an issue, but at least he commands the ball. Johnson just doesn't want it.

 

[spurs-r-us]

You simply can’t control games when you’ve got 2 wide players who are so limited on the ball.

Not sure this is fair on Werner. His hold up play has been good, insofar as he always looks to take on his man. As for end product, well...we knew that when we took him on.

 

[Joely]

Couple of moments today where Porro and Maddison were clearly frustrated when they played the ball for Johnson to run onto but didn't seem as though he anticipated it and was caught on his heels.

Early days and maybe a lack of confidence comes into play but does feel as through there's a fair bit of work to be done with him in order for him to get him where he needs to be.

 

[mmidgers]

Couple of moments today where Porro and Maddison were clearly frustrated when they played the ball for Johnson to run onto but didn't seem as though he anticipated it and was caught on his heals.

Early days and maybe a lack of confidence comes into play but does feel as through there's a fair bit of work to be done with him in order for him to get him where he needs to be.

Yeah, noticed that too. He was caught on his heels and ball watching a bit. He's young and playing a new system. Hopefully it clicks for him soon. He has some really good qualities

 

[spurs mental]

As for end product, well...we knew that when we took him on.

Harsh on Timo, 2 assists in 3 games isn't a bad start to his time here in terms of end product.

 

[spurs mental]

Yeah, noticed that too. He was caught on his heels and ball watching a bit. He's young and playing a new system. Hopefully it clicks for him soon. He has some really good qualities

Would love to see him learn a bit of the movement Lennon had in his prime. He'd come short and then put the burners on and dart behind the defender. Johnson has the speed, and we've got players who can pass the ball in tight spaces but find team mates.

 

[ohtottenham!]

Yeah, noticed that too. He was caught on his heels and ball watching a bit. He's young and playing a new system. Hopefully it clicks for him soon. He has some really good qualities

In terms of his development and learning arc, I'm reminded a little of Emerson's early struggles with his lack of confidence and conviction, issues with link-up play etc., He became a far better player than he showed initially, but it took a while.

 

[spurs-r-us]

Harsh on Timo, 2 assists in 3 games isn't a bad start to his time here in terms of end product.

Yes agree, I should have specified finishing.

 

[Whazam]

Treats the ball like a hot potato too much currently.

Was on his heels constantly and the few times he did receive the ball he tried an instant flick and gave it away, instead of absorbing pressure, taking touches, drawing his fullback on to him etc. He just wants to run in behind and away from the ball.

You simply can’t control games when you’ve got 2 wide players who are so limited on the ball.

This. If he can just snap out of this, he has all the tools to become great.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

Not sure this is fair on Werner. His hold up play has been good, insofar as he always looks to take on his man. As for end product, well...we knew that when we took him on.

He didn’t really take on his man though? He’s certainly not very good at it anyway. I’ll check the full stats tomorrow when they update but Whoscored.com has him down as 0 completed dribbles today.

And he isn’t comfortable in build up play for me as he lacks technique and control. He did a nice bit of play for the 1st goal but then he disappeared.

Like I said he is yet another wide player we have who is better at running away from the ball and isn’t great on it.

 

[dagraham]

Would love to see him learn a bit of the movement Lennon had in his prime. He'd come short and then put the burners on and dart behind the defender. Johnson has the speed, and we've got players who can pass the ball in tight spaces but find team mates.

Lennon though wasn’t just fast, he was brilliant with the ball at his feet and blessed with a superb first touch. Not sure that can be learnt.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

Lennon though wasn’t just fast, he was brilliant with the ball at his feet and blessed with a superb first touch. Not sure that can be learnt.

And just as importantly Lennon was a natural dribbler. He didn’t need to think about doing it, he just did it and was aggressive taking people on even as a 17/18 year old.

Same with Bale, he was taking people on and running at them when he was a 16 year old left back.

You can’t really teach someone to be a dribbler.

 

[agrdavidsfan]

Not good enough today needs to do be stronger

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Yeah, noticed that too. He was caught on his heels and ball watching a bit. He's young and playing a new system. Hopefully it clicks for him soon. He has some really good qualities

Agree.

Was interesting in his post match interview after Brentford he said “it’s fair to say I’ve not been at my best recently so I’m glad I could come on and help the team today”.

For me I doubt Ange will have specifically called him out saying he’s off form or can do much better etc so that to me says that Johnson himself has felt he’s been a bit off form (which he has) but it also shows to me a young man who has come to a huge club playing in a new system, having moved house to a new area with his family or on his own / with a partner and he’s still finding his feet and confidence.

He needs to be a bit more physical and I’d like to see him toughern up mentally and physically a bit, if you put Kulu’s physicality and mentality on Johnson’s body with his pace and delivery you’d have a world class winger

 

[dagraham]

And just as importantly Lennon was a natural dribbler. He didn’t need to think about doing it, he just did it and was aggressive taking people on even as a 17/18 year old.

Same with Bale, he was taking people on and running at them when he was a 16 year old left back.

You can’t really teach someone to be a dribbler.

Absolutely, and exactly what I meant when I said he was brilliant with the ball at his feet .

Don’t think that can be coached, nor can an innate ability to find the back of the net….. which is something else we don’t have enough of throughout our front players.

It’s something that going to cost money though and history tells us that we’ll be reluctant to pay it.

Still, we live in hope.

 

[allatsea]

I have a suspicion he just isn't quite good enough. He clearly has talent but does he have what Jol use to call "Top Mentality " ? I fear he doesn't but he is young and it is early days for him at Spurs. I presume it wasn't intended he would be stating so many matches this season when we bought him. He was going to be eased into the team but so many injuries meant he had to start so many games.

 

[joey55]

He touched the ball 20 times today and gave it away 9 times. He's just not ready yet.

He's got pace, can finish (based on YT videos) and is still young, so there is something to work with. His pace means he can be a good sub, as there is nothing worse for tired defenders than fast attackers coming off the bench. But he shouldn't be starting for us as this stage in his career.

To put these stats in perspecitve, Neto gave the ball away twice today from 36 touches, playing away at Chelsea, for a Wolves team that only had 36% of the possession. As I said above, Johnson has some potential to work with, but there is such a big difference between players ready to challenge at the very top of the league and those who might have tools to do so, if given the time and guidance to develop. But it's so hard to get out of that top 4 challenging/Europa League level and start challenging for the title when you regularly start players who are so clearly still in a development stage of their career. And let's cut the shit, I don't think any of us are waiting for a Gareth Bale like metamorphosis here.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

To put these stats in perspecitve, Neto gave the ball away twice today from 36 touches, playing away at Chelsea, for a Wolves team that only had 36% of the possession. As I said above, Johnson has some potential to work with, but there is such a big difference between players ready to challenge at the very top of the league and those who might have tools to do so, if given the time and guidance to develop. But it's so hard to get out of that top 4 challenging/Europa League level and start challenging for the title when you regularly start players who are so clearly still in a development stage of their career. And let's cut the shit, I don't think any of us are waiting for a Gareth Bale like metamorphosis here.

Watching Neto today vs what we see from our wingers was really stark. Neto wasn’t perfect, but he was a constant danger - he put them on the back foot and, provided a threat and kept the ball at his feet

Frankly none of ours do that. I even thought Palmer was interesting- slower, but a classy footballer.

We’ve done brilliantly in the transfer market recently, and misses will always occur - the team have earned a few - but our lack of wide options who can, at present, carry their share of attacking responsibility, is an issue

 

[Misfit]

Solomon is the only winger we seem to have who likes to take a player on and he's been injured most of the season.

If he does come back soon, Werner on the right and him on the left might give us more joy in running at and behind defences and causing problems.

 

[mil1lion]

Solomon is the only winger we seem to have who likes to take a player on and he's been injured most of the season.

If he does come back soon, Werner on the right and him on the left might give us more joy in running at and behind defences and causing problems.

Perisic was too before his injury. Always running at the fullback. I thought Son did it well against Newcastle as well, skinned Trippier a number of times. Hopefully Werner can be a bit more direct more especially if he plays on the right.