There was a collective frustration among Spurs fans after the game at Old Trafford on Sunday night – not so much with the result, which was admirable considering the depleted squad, but more so with what could have been.
There were plenty of wasted opportunities in the final third with more than one coming from Brennan Johnson. It certainly isn’t fair to blame him, but it has been a regular feature of his game during his time in North London. And given the £47m price tag (Fabrizio Romano), fans are justified in their criticism, but there’s definitely more to consider here.
To begin with, there’s been plenty of positives about his game. Regarding profile, he has all the marks of the perfect Ange Postecoglou winger – athletic and fast, hugs the touchline, can press for ninety minutes, gets behind defences, excellent positioning, really good with both feet, and comfortably slots into the right or the left.
Another distinctive trait is his ability to receive a long ball with great control. We saw that notably in his first game for Spurs when he scored that goal – drawing comparisons to a young Dele Alli – which was promptly disallowed, and multiple times since.
It’s clear that he has the potential to be the perfect player for this system, but it hasn’t always felt that way watching him play. However, we need to remember that he’s just 22 years old – which is really young regardless of what modern football has come to define it as.
And his output of 5 goal contributions so far (TransferMarkt.com) is by no means below par. Let’s not forget that the deal he signed was for six years and there’s still some way to go for his development. Take Postecoglou’s word for it, who was certainly wary of this when he commented on Johnson’s development last month (Tottenham Hotspur).
Brennan Johnson needs more time at Tottenham
The fee Spurs paid Nottingham Forest puts far more pressure on him to succeed than we realise. Tottenham staff realised they weren’t getting a finished product when they splurged on him (Football.London). But expectations from the Spurs faithful have skyrocketed after the first couple of months this season – so much so that a draw to Manchester United away from home didn’t seem good enough.
That is a huge jump for a young Welshman who was playing third-tier football three seasons ago, Championship football two seasons ago, and was involved in a relegation battle in the top division last year. To be catapulted into a potential Premier League title challenge, and have expectations to perform at the level required, is a big ask.
He has been doubted at every level of his career, with people questioning whether he would be ready to make the step up – not unlike a fellow Australian we’ve come to adore. He’s proved himself under scrutiny before, and there’s good reason to believe that our patience will be rewarded.
This is a high-trajectory career that has a similar potential, and we’ll hopefully be singing his name for years to come.
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