Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara has criticised Brennan Johnson’s performance for the club in yesterday’s match at Old Trafford.
Johnson was named on the right-hand side of a three-man attack by Ange Postecoglou in Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Manchester United, with the Australian deciding to hand Timo Werner his Spurs debut on the left with Richarlison playing through the middle.
With Dejan Kulusevski ruled out through illness, Postecoglou’s attack-minded options were limited, and only had Bryan Gil and the inexperienced academy product Yago Santiago to call upon from the bench.
Johnson, a £47.5million arrival from Nottingham Forest on deadline day last summer (Sky Sports) was particularly wasteful with the ball when in possession against United with his final-ball delivery often having been overhit and out of reach of his team-mates.
Does Brennan Johnson need to improve?
O’Hara took to the social networking platform X to say: Is it just me or is Brennan Johnson finally [sic] ball always really poor, got so much potential but needs to be better.”
Is it just me or is Brennan Johnson finally ball always really poor, got so much potential but needs to be better #Spurs
— Jamie Ohara (@Mrjamieohara1) January 14, 2024
Johnson has one goal and four assists from sixteen appearances in all competitions for Tottenham so far this season (transfermarkt).
SpursWeb Opinion
Every player needs to be given time to settle into a new club, however, Johnson’s sizeable transfer fee means that he needs to get the basis right. Overhitting crosses beyond the penalty area time and time again yesterday is not up to standard.
With Timo Werner lacking in match fitness, Postecoglou brought off the German in place of Bryan Gil in the second half and should Kulusevski had been fit, it would have been a surprise if Johnson had not been replaced instead.
Johnson needs to step up and start having more impact in matches on a regular basis, or could find himself as a bit-part player when everyone returns to full fitness.