Brennan Johnson is enduring a difficult few years in his career, and it's up to Everton to get the best out of him.
Yes, it was a dull affair but we had a lot of positives in there, but unfortunately it came with another question mark over another of our players. Brennan Johnson. Johnson ‘bought’ in the summer in a straight swap for Dwight McNeil. I thought we had got the better of the deal, as did many Evertonians.
The cynic in me was asking the question; what do they know that we don’t? The Palace fans were actively wanting to drive the Welsh International themselves to the Hill Dickinson stadium.
Getting the best out of Johnson
I am not one to write off players within two (and a bit) games, but there are a lot of questions to ask. Johnson has been known for his pace and finishing, which made him a sought-after player during his Nottingham Forest days.
If you look at his goals, he made a habit of arriving at the back post, pace-driven and burying them in the bottom corner. David Moyes has clearly seen something as he has started the last two Premier League games ahead of cult hero Jack Grealish.
His cameo vs Preston brought a goal and an assist. Job done. Let’s not forget, this is a Championship team, Preston and one who are struggling already this season.
His two starts in the Premier League have not set the world alight. Against Manchester United, Johnson looked completely devoid of any ideas and even more surprisingly, he looked nervous and unable to make the correct (or any) decision when it came to passing or even shooting. His first-half performance was not one of the best I have seen for someone who scored a winner in a major European cup final.
Against Spurs, he was surprisingly picked to start again. More of the same decision-making and passes going awry. Playing a club who has sold you, you would think that would put fire in the stomach of Johnson, it didn’t.
He actually squandered Everton’s best opportunity, and let’s be frank, didn’t hit the target when he should have, at least. Moyes clearly sees Johnson as the hard worker and will track back, and he does.
One positive for Johnson, his work and movement off the ball show he has the intelligence to be part of a good attacking force. We need more of this; we need Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest and the start of his Tottenham career.
With the Wolves game coming up, I would assume he would get another start. It could build confidence if he were to get a goal or an assist, or even just boss the game.
With the squad threadbare, Everton need to play to the strengths of the bodies they have. My personal opinion is that Johnson is an impact player who could give opposition problems with 20/25 mins left when they are tiring, and he can run them. We need all the goals we can get and we play Johnson right; he can grab a few. Maybe a stint up front when Thierno Barry is inevitably tired could emphasise this.
There is 100% a player there, and it is early days but Everton need to manage their small squad to the best they can.
