Brennan Johnson

[Mouse]

I don’t understand the confidence that because he gets into good positions he’ll suddenly start scoring. I know there’ll be extenuating circumstances but, he hasn’t scored in the Prem since last August and has contributed 1 assist in his last 37 Prem appearances for Spurs, Palace and us. That’s pretty crap by any standards.

I hope he finds some sort of form but, in the meantime, I’d rather see Dibling getting the starts and Johnson coming on later. I think there’s a much, much better player in Dibling than there’ll ever be in Johnson.

[AjaxAndy]

I don’t understand the confidence that because he gets into good positions he’ll suddenly start scoring. I know there’ll be extenuating circumstances but, he hasn’t scored in the Prem since last August and has contributed 1 assist in his last 37 Prem appearances for Spurs, Palace and us. That’s pretty crap by any standards.

I hope he finds some sort of form but, in the meantime, I’d rather see Dibling getting the starts and Johnson coming on later. I think there’s a much, much better player in Dibling than there’ll ever be in Johnson.

Mainly because he got 11 goals in 33 games (+4 assists) in 24/25. How many players do we have in this squad who've ever hit double figures in a premier league season?

I don't think we can just ignore the fact he scores goals at a high rate when on form. The issue post then is his form fell off a cliff, largely due to how palace played being unsuited to him.

There's no guarantees he'll find form and revert back to a 1 in 3 scorer, but personally I would 100% allow him the game time to find that confidence. He's already getting in to the right positions so, to me at least, it seems a high probability goals will start going in... and if they do the confidence will soar and likely we'll see many more as a result.

[Mouse]

Mainly because he got 11 goals in 33 games (+4 assists) in 24/25. How many players do we have in this squad who've ever hit double figures in a premier league season?

I don't think we can just ignore the fact he scores goals at a high rate when on form. The issue post then is his form fell off a cliff, largely due to how palace played being unsuited to him.

There's no guarantees he'll find form and revert back to a 1 in 3 scorer, but personally I would 100% allow him the game time to find that confidence. He's already getting in to the right positions so, to me at least, it seems a high probability goals will start going in... and if they do the confidence will soar and likely we'll see many more as a result.

14 months and 37 games is a long time to be out of form. Does he deserve a game time more than Dibling?

[NomadskiEFC]

I missed whatever it was you were seeing. All I saw was every time we had the ball on the right he was either closer to Barry than the touchline or at least 10 yards in side (and often behind) Maitland-Niles.

Dibling came on and gave us much more width. He needs to be the starter with Johnson off the bench if needed.

There were plenty of opportunities I saw Brennan down in loads of space on turnovers but we were so bloody slow in moving the ball around his space disappeared.

Opportunities to feed Barry also but everyone in midfield preferred to step on the ball or turn and pass side and back.

Brennan gives a quick attack an outlet but unless we quicken when getting the ball back we nullify it.

[NomadskiEFC]

I don’t understand the confidence that because he gets into good positions he’ll suddenly start scoring. I know there’ll be extenuating circumstances but, he hasn’t scored in the Prem since last August and has contributed 1 assist in his last 37 Prem appearances for Spurs, Palace and us. That’s pretty crap by any standards.

I hope he finds some sort of form but, in the meantime, I’d rather see Dibling getting the starts and Johnson coming on later. I think there’s a much, much better player in Dibling than there’ll ever be in Johnson.

Players form can return. Look at DCL.

No point writing him off just because. His dragback in the early moments on Saturday shows his quickness of mind is there, just needs to finish better. Like Armstrong, KDH, Barry, Myko, Grealish and everyone else at the club.

When he lost the ball he got back 60 yards to tackle and regain possession so no issues with effort either.

[AjaxAndy]

14 months and 37 games is a long time to be out of form. Does he deserve a game time more than Dibling?

It depends what you want from the team, he's probably our biggest goal threat in a team that doesn't score many goals. I want Dibling to play more, but he's another technician without explosive pace, so doesn't offer the same thing as Johnson.

Agree he's been out of form for a prolonged period, but the upside if we get his form back is massive to a team that lacks goals.

[AjaxAndy]

Players form can return. Look at DCL.

No point writing him off just because. His dragback in the early moments on Saturday shows his quickness of mind is there, just needs to finish better. Like Armstrong, KDH, Barry, Myko, Grealish and everyone else at the club.

When he lost the ball he got back 60 yards to tackle and regain possession so no issues with effort either.

His movement to initially be in that position is massive too. It's a shame he didn't score because it would have been seen as a fantastic goal.

I don't think we have another player in the squad who has the same movement as Johnson.

[Mouse]

Players form can return. Look at DCL.

No point writing him off just because. His dragback in the early moments on Saturday shows his quickness of mind is there, just needs to finish better. Like Armstrong, KDH, Barry, Myko, Grealish and everyone else at the club.

When he lost the ball he got back 60 yards to tackle and regain possession so no issues with effort either.

I hope he does return to form. My point is I’m not sure hope is enough reason to start him ahead of Dibling.

[Mouse]

There were plenty of opportunities I saw Brennan down in loads of space on turnovers but we were so bloody slow in moving the ball around his space disappeared.

Opportunities to feed Barry also but everyone in midfield preferred to step on the ball or turn and pass side and back.

Brennan gives a quick attack an outlet but unless we quicken when getting the ball back we nullify it.

Maybe so, just everyone around me in the North Stand spent most of the first half screaming at him to go wide, to stretch them, to give Maitland-Niles support, etc.

I will agree we are turgid when we have the opportunity to break. We always seem to take an extra touch when none is needed.

[bigmanbob]

He's had a few games now hasn't done brilliantly, ok but not brilliant. Dibbling is a different player but he's starting to come into form and this shouldn't be discouraged by keeping him on the bench. Give him a few back to back games

[Bumble]

He'll soon become a boo boy with this current mismanagement of him.

He's a last 20 min player, doesn't have the attributes to be anything else.

Moyes is hanging him out to dry and damaging the progression of Dibling and George at the same time with this nonsense at the moment.

[AjaxAndy]

Quite a telling stat when they compared Johnson's touches to Madueke at half time.

Johnson had touched the ball 5 times, and Madueke something like 26.

I thought George was also crap yesterday though, spent the entire time cutting inside and their defenders just blocked him off every time.

[Raptor]

I think Johnson typifies Moyes approach to games. There is zero interest in having the ball or controlling the game, it's just about defensive shape.
You could see when Dibling came on how much more comfortable he is with the ball, his decision making and his ability to bring others into the game.
Johnson holds his shape better and has the pace to try to catch up a 90 yard punt - it's that simplistic

[777Kidnappings]

Johnson has been absolutely terrible. Haven't seen the cup games (where in fairness he did contribute) but in the league hes done zero every game. We haven't even seen his pace

Mcneil is a million miles better than what johnson has shown. Least he sprinkled his shite with good moments

[kramer]

His style suits being an impact 30 minute sub who can run in behind a tired defense so it makes perfect sense that Moyes is flogging him to death as a starter.