Tottenham Hotspur supporters have often been blessed with elite-level wingers, many of whom have provided supporters with lasting memories in the final third.
Son Heung-min joined the Lilywhites from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015 and has become a cult hero in North London, making over 400 appearances for the club.
The South Korean international captained the Lilywhites last season, helping lead them to European glory and then ending a nearly 20-year wait for a silver medal.
Gareth Bale also scored countless shots from the right wing and joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, signing a club-record £85 million deal.
The Welshman is perhaps one of the most talented players to ever grace the Premier League, and current manager Thomas Frank will no doubt be keen to have a player of his caliber at his disposal.
However, one of Bale’s compatriots ultimately failed to reach the level many expected, leaving big doubts over his long-term future in north London.
Brennan Johnson’s underperformance with Spurs over the past 12 months
Brennan Johnson has endured something of a roller coaster during his two years at Spurs, but many were surprised by his performances in north London.
The winger originally joined from Nottingham Forest in a £47.5m deal in the summer of 2023, but many supporters raised eyebrows at the nature of the transfer fee.
His spell at the club certainly didn’t get off to the best start in the 2023/24 season, with the 24-year-old making 32 appearances and scoring just five goals in his debut year.
The early stages of 2024/25 have not been much better for the youngster, with his dismal attitude leading to unacceptable abuse from some supporters on social media.
Johnson then deactivated all his accounts so he could focus on his football, then silenced his doubters and finished the year with 18 goals in all competitions.
He also contributed to the Lilywhites’ biggest goal in recent history, scoring the winning goal in May’s Europa League victory over Manchester United.
The arrival of Frank around the same time should have given the winger a great chance to further increase his success, but so far he has endured a significant drop in form, which has taken a toll on his numbers.
Johnson averaged an impressive 2.2 shots per 90 in the Premier League last season, but in the first 11 games of the new season he has averaged just 0.96 shots per 90.
Such a decline is a 56% drop in just a few months and shows that the player is currently suffering from a major lack of confidence in North London.
The number of touches he takes inside the opposition box has also dropped significantly per 90, meaning the Welshman has not been able to consistently find himself in threatening positions.
Last season, the 24-year-old averaged 5.9 total touches per 90 touches in the 18-yard box, but to date he has only recorded 2.6 total touches, a decrease of about 57%.
Spurs star could end Johnson’s Spurs career
After Son left to join LAFC in the summer, Spurs and Franck were severely lacking the depth and quality they needed on the left side of the attack.
In recent weeks, the Danes have sought to utilize a variety of players in such roles to bridge the gap between now and the upcoming January transfer window.
Richarlison played such a role in the 2-2 draw against Manchester United, but the Brazilian struggled to adapt to playing in a somewhat unfamiliar position.
Johnson himself has filled that void in recent months, but like the aforementioned stars, he hasn’t been able to make such a role his own.
His performances in these areas have no doubt contributed to his recent slump in form, with him being removed from the right-wing role following the arrival of Mohamed Kudus.
But the 24-year-old could find a career in north London over the coming months, especially if winger Wilson Odbert can establish a strong starting spot in the first team.
The Frenchman joined the Lilywhites in a £25m deal from Burnley last summer but has often had to bide his time over the past 18 months to make an impact in the first team.
The 20-year-old only made 16 Premier League appearances for the Lilywhites last season, but still managed to score his first top-flight goal against West Ham United.
Odbert, who was described by one Sky Sports analyst as “a combination of Barcola and Aaron Lennon”, also scored twice during the Europa League championship and was able to provide the goods at the request of manager Ange Postecoglou.
However, since Frank joined in the off-season, he has started just three Premier League games and only made seven appearances off the bench.
He has only played a total of 379 minutes in the league so far, but the manager desperately needs to show more faith in the youngster in the coming months.
Franck gave Odbert the chance to shine against United on Saturday and the Frenchman made the most of the chance handed to him by his manager.
He came on as a substitute for compatriot Randal Kolo Muani, who was substituted due to a broken jaw, and recorded an assist for Richarlison.
Wilson Odbert – statistics against Manchester United | |
|---|---|
statistics | tally |
Play time (minutes) | 45 |
touch | twenty five |
pass completed | 100% |
An opportunity has arisen | 3 |
Dribbling completed | 2 |
completed cross | 2 |
won a duel | 100% |
foul drawn | 1 |
Statistics by FotMob | |
Despite playing just 45 minutes, Odbert completed the most dribbles (2) and created the most chances (3) of all players on the pitch.
He also managed to complete 100% of the passes he attempted, showing managers why he should regularly start in north London with cameos like this.
As a result, Johnson is undoubtedly lucky to retain his starting role, with the Welshman very likely to be dropped to the bench for future games.
Given his huge sum, the bosses may now be looking to cash in on his services in the winter to avoid losing the huge £47.5m they spent on his signature.
