Ange Postecoglou must make the difficult decision to drop Brennan Johnson for Tottenham’s upcoming Premier League clash with Fulham, despite the forward scoring against Roma in the UEFA Europa League.
Tottenham entered the week with high spirits after their impressive 4-0 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on November 23. The win would have boosted their confidence ahead of their European encounter with Roma at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium just days later on November 28. However, despite the positive atmosphere, Spurs could only manage a 2-2 draw against Roma, with Mats Hummels scoring a late equaliser for the visitors in injury time.
In truth, Tottenham was fortunate to escape with a point after an underwhelming second-half performance. Their overall display, especially after the break, left much to be desired, and Postecoglou must now make some adjustments for the team’s next fixture. The match against Fulham at home on Sunday, December 1, presents an opportunity for changes to be made, and one key alteration should be the exclusion of Johnson from the starting lineup, despite his goal against Roma.
Brennan Johnson may have found the net in the Europa League match, but his individual performance throughout the game was disappointing. Statistics from Sofascore reveal that the 23-year-old struggled to make an impact, missing a big chance and touching the ball just 25 times during the match. He failed to attempt a single dribble, and none of his crosses into the box were accurate. His passing accuracy was also poor, completing just 67% of his passes, with no key passes and seven turnovers. While he did win all his duels and made a tackle, these efforts were not enough to justify his place in the starting XI.
In contrast, James Maddison, who had been left out of the starting lineup against Roma, made a major impact in the City match. The attacking midfielder was not only involved in two goals but also demonstrated excellent technical ability, completing 100% of his dribbles and 89% of his passes. With Maddison in midfield and Dejan Kulusevski, who had a solid outing against City, starting on the right, Spurs produced their best performance of the season against the reigning Premier League champions.
The combination of Maddison and Kulusevski had a clear positive effect, and Johnson, who was positioned on the right wing against Roma, must now be dropped to the bench for the Fulham match. While Johnson did score during his cameo appearance at the Etihad, his overall contributions this season have not been consistent enough to warrant a starting place. It is clear that, for the time being, he should be used as an impact substitute, coming off the bench when needed to add fresh energy to the game.
Given the intensity of the Premier League season and Tottenham’s push for a top finish, Postecoglou will need to ensure his side remains sharp and effective in every match. Dropping Johnson in favor of a more balanced and cohesive attacking setup with Maddison, Kulusevski, and others could provide the team with the best chance of securing all three points against Fulham.