While Brennan Johnson did score an excellent goal in Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-0 win against Tamworth, his performance was worryingly unimpressive.
Ange Postecoglou has no choice but to admit that Spurs found it a real challenge as a whole to trouble the National League side too much for much of the game.
Ahead of the North London Derby on Wednesday night, if the Lilywhites do not buck up their ideas, Arsenal could put them to the sword.
Johnson’s game has been criticised at Nottingham Forest as he is able produce moments of magic but often, his all-round displays have underwhelmed. Such was the case against Tamworth, as the statistics showcase.
Johnson was compared to Raheem Sterling at Manchester City after he went on a goalscoring run earlier this season but aside from his output, the £47.5 million (ESPN) man’s latest outing exposed that aside from having an eye for goal, his game lacks plenty of other attributes a top winger needs.
The Tottenham wideman would have been relieved to get on the scoresheet during extra time.
Brennan Johnson’s goal can’t mask poor performance in Tottenham vs Tamworth
The Welshman seemingly found it impossible to take on Callum Cockerill-Mollett and resorted to playing aimless crosses constantly.
The former Nottingham Forest winger’s delivery was disappointing and considering Timo Werner was leading the line, it was a surprise to see him target the aerial route as a mode of chance creation constantly.
Johnson has been deemed “frustrating” at Tottenham and it was a shock to witness how out of ideas he looked against a National League side.
However, the 23-year-old often suffers with similar issues in the Premier League and largely, his goal contributions have dried up in recent weeks.
If Johnson was incredibly productive, perhaps Ange Postecoglou would have no choice but to start him regularly.
But that has not been the case recently and ultimately, Johnson lacks the productivity of elite wingers like Mohamed Salah and Vinicius Jr to demand starting despite putting in such consistently frustrating displays.
As the Spurs speedster has shown recently, once he stops scoring goals, there is not much he offers in terms of his all-round game such as creating chances, taking on defenders and driving with the ball.
Son-Heung min was spotted speaking to Tyler Dibling after Spurs’ 6-0 thrashing of Southampton this season and in fairness, it is understandable why Tottenham are looking to bolster their wide areas.
Ange Postecoglou requires his wide forwards to impact games consistently until the end of the season if Tottenham are to salvage their ongoing campaign, which is why Johnson’s showing should concern him as he was playing a National League side at the end of the day.
Naturally, the versatile attacker has suffered the same issues of finding it difficult to emerge as a threatening creator and dribbler in the Premier League as well.
Dejan Kulusevski should take Brennan Johnson’s place after Tottenham vs Tamworth
An alternative for Johnson for Postecoglou could be playing Kulusevski on the right-wing, who came off the bench and scored a decisive second goal for the visitors.
Kulusevski has been Tottenham’s best player this season as a number 10.
As a result, it would be unwise to play the Swede as a touchline winger.
Much like how Pep Guardiola pushed Josko Gvardiol as a de-factor wing-back, allowing a natural midfielder like Phil Foden to play centrally last season despite starting on the left-wing, Ange Postecoglou could take a leaf out of the Manchester City boss’ tactical playbook.
Foden set the world alight in such a role and Kulusevski, who Postecoglou raved about earlier this campaign could be given the license to similarly drift in centrally, with Pedro Porro holding the width on the right-hand side as Son could keep his place on the left flank.
James Maddison could start as Spurs’ attacking midfielder as a part of the midfield three alongside Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma. Alongside Maddison, Kulusevski could form an attacking midfield duo despite being deployed as a right-winger on paper.
In such a setup, Tottenham will remain solid in midfield while also being a threat going forward.
Ange Postecoglou should certainly explore such tactical ideas as Johnson is showing game after game that aside from scoring goals, his game is rather incomplete and his productivity remains rather unreliable in any case.