It was an iconic moment in modern Tottenham history. Brennan Johnson gets on the end of a Pape Matar Sarr cross and scrambles the ball over the line at San Mames.
It put Spurs 1-0 ahead of Manchester United in the Europa League final and, after a less than iconic next forty-five minutes, it proved to be the winner.
Johnson’s 18th goal of the season claimed Tottenham’s first piece of silverware in 17 years. Additionally, and arguably more importantly, he was named VAVEL’s Tottenham Player of the Season.
Strangely enough, given the calibre of such an individual campaign, it is not a surprise to see that only eight months later he is leaving North London for pastures new, with Crystal Palace paying a club record £35 million for his services.
Johnson has been out of favour under new head coach Thomas Frank and combining that with the desperately required squad depth south of the Thames, such a move looks cut and dry for all parties.
An instinctual winger
Johnson is not a creative forward. His best times at Spurs came during Ange Postecoglou’s tenure, where he fashioned himself out as a clinical wide player, often darting in the box to finish off moves.
Every one of his 18 efforts last season came inside the box and it owed a tremendous amount to his excellent movement and knack for snapshot finishes.
As Frank favoured Mohammed Kudus’ ball carrying abilities on the right-hand side, Johnson has found it difficult to find his way into the eleven.
He has popped up on the left on occasion, though, being right-footed, it is harder work as it forces him to create. Although he has flashes of quality when on the ball, it is not his forte.
Johnson has routinely been made a scapegoat for poor Spurs performances, which is doubly unfortunate when taking his recent comments into account.
"I think I always feel like I have a point to prove. I'm someone who can be quite tough on himself. I just always want to go out and perform my best."
His lack of involvement in build-up play was frustrating at times to Spurs fans. However, this problem was mainly exacerbated by Tottenham failing to be as much of a possession-dominant side as they would like to be.
The recent fuss over Mohamed Salah’s role at Liverpool has called into question players that do not keep themselves busy with touches in midfield or press intensely, but the upside of the potential goal involvements should not be sniffed at.
With Wales, Johnson has been in and out of Craig Bellamy’s side as he struggled to offer the creativity on the wings as well as not making enough of a case to be deployed as a striker when given the chance.
However, his most recent display in a 7-1 win over North Macedonia showcased the very best of Johnson.
He was hungry, performing valiantly without the ball and constantly bright with it as his feet. This was a match the Dragons needed to win to keep any chance of reaching the 2026 World Cup and Johnson met the occasion with flying colours.
During his recent dip in on-pitch activity, it showed that he was still capable of delivering energetic performances out of possession in particular. He will have to up his diligence in delivering consistency in that regard, but playing in a team that regularly asks him to do so will aid that.
Oftentimes with Wales, however, he is tasked with playing far out wide, since Bellamy prefers patient build-up and have his wingers stretch play. As stated, this is not Johnson’s ideal role and so the proposition of being a more narrow lite number 10 under Oliver Glasner is intriguing.
Because while the 24-year-old is not necessarily accomplished at close control dribbling, his positioning enables him to find and exploit space even in cramped quarters.
Glasner could get the best out of him
Maintaining possession is not something he will have to worry about at his new club.
Instead, enjoying the pockets, or half spaces, on the break and near the box is something Glasner will likely treat him to, especially with marauding full-backs taking up the widest spaces.
As Postecoglou attested last season, these are the kinds of scenarios Johnson flourishes in:
"There have been times this season when his form has suffered because of the team more than anything else … Brennan becomes a really important player for us as we're a constant threat, breaking lines, making half-space runs.”
Palace rank 16th for average possession so far this season (43.4%). Furthermore, only Sunderland, West Ham, Brentford and Burnley have fewer total progressive carries than the Eagles.
Therefore, Johnson will not be asked to do something he is not adept at doing, leaving room for playing into his strengths. This could well give Johnson the platform to be a moments player again.
Glasner’s directness feeds into Johnson’s pace and quick decision-making, with a playmaker like Adam Wharton providing from midfield and Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell can setting up the kind of service from out wide.
Nathaniel Clyne has done admirably so far as the right wing-back in place of Munoz, it does mean Johnson will probably be asked to do more defending than if the Colombian was fully fit.
There may be some teething problems in fulfilling this as he gets up to speed, as there was with Ismaïla Sarr.
The Senegalese's success under Glasner could be a model for what Johnson needs to do in red and blue. One built on dogged work rate and making the most of few yet quality chances.
Glasner's track record of fashioning players into his mould means there is ample opportunity to learn and Johnson certainly has the tools to be able to meet expectations.