Postecoglou backs Johnson with confident claim after Tottenham fans criticism
Tottenham Hotspur are gearing up for their EFL Cup clash against Coventry City, but one player in particular, Brennan Johnson, has had a difficult time following the North London derby defeat.
The past few days have been challenging for Tottenham fans as well, with Sunday’s 1-0 loss to fierce rivals Arsenal marking another setback in what has been a sluggish start to the season.
After four Premier League matches, Spurs have managed just one victory, leaving them in 13th place.
This game against Arsenal was meant to be the one where Tottenham capitalized on their rivals’ weakened lineup, with both Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard absent due to suspension and injury.
However, despite the apparent opportunity, Tottenham’s attack faltered. Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer, pointed out that this lack of a clinical edge in front of goal is becoming an all-too-familiar issue for Spurs.
A key part of Tottenham’s underwhelming attack on Sunday was Brennan Johnson. The Welsh winger struggled to make any meaningful impact against Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber on the right flank, failing to pose a real goal threat in the final third.
This was particularly disappointing given Johnson’s promising performance against Newcastle United before the international break.
Unfortunately, Johnson’s struggles on the pitch have been compounded by online abuse following Sunday’s defeat.
In response to the criticism, Johnson decided to deactivate his Instagram account. This is not how any professional athlete should be treated, and Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has since come to Johnson’s defense, condemning the toxic behavior and expressing his disappointment that such abuse has become normalized in modern football.
Speaking to Football London, Postecoglou shared his frustrations about the growing acceptance of online abuse, highlighting how it has drastically changed the way players receive feedback from fans.
In Johnson’s case, the young winger has been working hard in training, but his lack of confidence is evident. Postecoglou emphasized that Johnson is putting in the effort, asking for feedback, and doing everything he can to improve, yet the criticism continues to weigh heavily on him.
The Tottenham manager expressed his belief in Johnson’s potential, stating that the player doesn’t deserve the harsh treatment he’s received.
Postecoglou said, “I hate how we’ve just normalised all that stuff… You’re talking about a young guy who is probably lacking a bit of confidence at the moment. Things haven’t gone his way, but he comes here every day, he’s working his backside off, he’s asking for feedback, he’s doing everything right.”
Postecoglou’s comments also highlighted a broader issue within football, where players are increasingly expected to tolerate abuse as part of their profession.
He added, “It’s sad for me that we’ve kind of normalised that stuff. That getting abuse, and it is abuse and a lot of it personal, is ‘oh well, that’s part of the territory’. I don’t see that.”
Despite the recent criticism, Johnson still has the potential to become a key player for Tottenham. The club spent a significant amount of money to bring him in, paying £47.5 million to sign him from Nottingham Forest in 2023.
In his first season at Tottenham, Johnson showed promise, scoring five goals and providing 10 assists in the Premier League.
His ability to both attack the byline and get into the six-yard box to score made him a dangerous player in the final third.
However, this season has been more inconsistent for Johnson. While he impressed in the win against Newcastle, his performances in other games have left much to be desired.
So far, Johnson has not registered a goal or an assist this season, and his outing against Arsenal was far from his best in a Spurs shirt.
Yet, at just 23 years old, Johnson is still developing as a player. Tottenham will be looking for him to make progress this season, but it’s important to remember that he is still learning and honing his craft.
Johnson has the raw talent to become a top player for Spurs, but he will need to add more consistency to his performances and improve his end product.
Additionally, adding some physical power to complement his speed could make him even more effective.
Postecoglou clearly sees potential in Johnson and believes he has what it takes to turn things around. With the right guidance and continued hard work, Johnson has the ability to prove his critics wrong and become a key figure in Tottenham’s future.
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Postecoglou now privately speaking to his Tottenham players after 1-0 defeat to Arsenal