It’s safe to say that Tottenham Hotspur are struggling in the Premier League this season, but their adoption of a half-full mentality could suggest that Thomas Frank’s project, while still in its early stages, could be a success.
But we need to see a more synergistic front line and a sharper overall build-up strategy. Spurs have struggled to maintain consistent home form and creative fluency this season, and that has been at the heart of their struggles.
A number of players have been flattered and deceived, but Johnson’s lackluster performances have perhaps been overshadowed by Frank’s continuing to give the Welshman a second-string role.
Brennan Johnson’s struggles with the Spurs
As with the wider saga at Tottenham, Johnson has had his ups and downs since joining the club from Nottingham Forest in 2023 for around £47.5 million. But after scoring 17 goals in all competitions last year, he will be desperate for a rise in form after a difficult start to his time with Frank.
Johnson may have goal awareness, but the Welshman has started just three of the last 11 Premier League games and Frank clearly does not consider him a regular starting option for the Lilywhites at the moment.
Despite scoring in Tottenham’s opening two league games, he has contributed little in terms of ball-running or creativity, being clinical when given space in dangerous areas but offering little else to a team looking for more dynamism.
See below for how Johnson’s stats match up with Mohamed Kudus’ form in the top flight. Then you can see why Frank is reluctant to give him the starting spot.
Premier League 25/26 – Mohamed Kudus vs Brennan Johnson | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (* per match) | holy | johnson |
Match (start) | 13(13) | 13(6) |
the goal | 2 | 2 |
assist | 5 | 0 |
touch* | 52.4 | 17.8 |
Number of shots (on target)* | 1.5(0.5) | 0.4(0.2) |
Exact path* | 20.9 (87%) | 6.7 (70%) |
Opportunities created* | 1.6 | 0.4 |
Successful. dribble* | 3.1 | 0.2 |
Ball recovery rate* | 5.1 | 0.9 |
Tackle + Interception* | 1.9 | 1.1 |
Win a duel* | 6.5 | 1.8 |
Data via Sofascore | ||
This is not enough. Johnson has a physicality and an electric quality, and he offers so much more. After all, he has been praised in the past by content creator HLTCO for his “frightening” speed and directness on both the right and left flanks.
However, time is definitely running out for him to secure a regular starting spot. He’s unlikely to replace Kudus, and most Lilywhites have left something to be desired this season, but there’s plenty of quality there.
And with the on-loan star certain to be aiming for a place above Johnson in the North London pecking order next season, there will be more to come.
Spurs stars who could replace Johnson
Analyst Ben Mattinson describes Mikey Moore as a promising player with “superstar potential” who made his first steps into Tottenham’s first team last season, scoring his first senior goal in the Europa League and registering two assists in 19 games in all competitions.
Moore is currently sidelined with a muscular injury, almost a month since he last played in the Scottish Premiership, and although he struggled to push himself in the early weeks of the season, Rangers’ misery has made it difficult for the youngster to hit the ground running.
His natural ability in the final third and underlying athleticism suggest he could be the perfect Johnson successor, especially as he is comfortable playing on both flanks.
Spurs writer James Harris even said he could “bring the old Aaron Lennon back to north London”, so dangerous and dynamic when running with the ball.
Lennon played 364 games as a right-winger for Tottenham, with pace and power being the cornerstone of his game. Like Moore, he was an incredibly direct winger. There’s a sense that Moore might share the retired England star’s protean threat, although from a creative standpoint he had much more to offer than, say, Johnson.
It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Moore at the Highlands this season, but it’s fair to say the experience has made him somewhat stronger, which could help him secure a starting spot at Tottenham.
He’s already shown he has more, broader and more threatening skills in his locker than Johnson.
It would help elevate Frank’s project, even at the expense of Johnson. I hope this kid will do great things in the future.
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