Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of climbing the Premier League table took another hit as they suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Ange Postecoglou’s side, already struggling for consistency, remain in 13th place, now five points adrift of 12th-placed Crystal Palace.
A frustrating evening for Spurs saw them squander key opportunities before second-half goals from Rodrigo Muniz and former Tottenham player Ryan Sessegnon sealed all three points for Fulham. The defeat further exposed Spurs’ struggles in attack and midfield, with several key players failing to step up when it mattered most.
Missed Opportunities and Costly Mistakes
Despite the final scoreline, Tottenham had their chances to take control of the match. Dominic Solanke, the club’s £55 million summer signing from Bournemouth, had two golden opportunities to put Spurs ahead but failed to convert either of them. His inability to capitalize on those moments left the door open for Fulham, who took full advantage in the second half.
While Solanke’s missed chances were a major setback, he was far from the only underwhelming performer in Postecoglou’s squad. The midfield lacked control, and the team struggled in both possession and defensive transitions. One of the biggest disappointments was Yves Bissouma, whose ineffective display saw him substituted at halftime.
Bissouma’s Struggles in Midfield
Postecoglou opted for a midfield trio of Bissouma, Archie Gray, and Rodrigo Bentancur, but the decision did not pay off. The Malian international was sluggish in possession, failed to create any meaningful opportunities, and struggled defensively.
In the first half, Bissouma managed just an 82% pass completion rate despite attempting only short passes, indicating his inability to dictate play or influence the game positively. He did not register a single key pass or long ball and was largely ineffective in progressing the ball forward.
His defensive struggles were just as concerning. He lost five of his seven physical duels and committed more fouls than successful tackles and interceptions combined, making him more of a liability than an asset. With such a poor performance at both ends of the pitch, it was no surprise that Postecoglou decided to withdraw him at halftime, replacing him with Lucas Bergvall.
However, as disappointing as Bissouma’s performance was, he was not the only player who struggled in the opening 45 minutes. Brennan Johnson endured an even worse evening and was also hauled off at halftime.
Brennan Johnson’s Ineffective Display
Johnson started on the right wing, alongside Solanke through the middle and Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel on the left. However, he failed to make any impact in the first half, leading to his early substitution for club captain Heung-min Son.
The Welsh international struggled with his decision-making in possession and was completely ineffective as an attacking threat. He finished the first half without attempting a single shot, completing zero crosses, and failing to create a single chance for his teammates. His passing was sloppy, and he did not complete a single long ball, which only made Fulham’s defensive task easier.
Defensively, Johnson also found it difficult to handle the physicality of Fulham’s backline, losing four of his six duels. His poor overall display earned him a dismal 3/10 player rating from Football.London, reinforcing how ineffective he was on the night.
Why Spurs Must Drop Johnson
Given Johnson’s current form, Postecoglou may need to consider dropping him from the starting lineup, especially with an important clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge coming up after the international break.
The 23-year-old has been struggling for form in recent weeks, scoring just two goals and providing zero assists in his last ten appearances across the Premier League and Europa League. Worryingly, both of those goals came in a 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town, a newly promoted side from League One, meaning he has gone scoreless in nine of his last ten outings against stronger opposition.
While Johnson’s biggest strength lies in his ability to position himself in high-quality goalscoring areas, he offers little outside of his finishing. His creativity has been lacking, registering just two assists from an expected assists (xA) value of 1.43 in 26 league appearances. This suggests that he does not contribute much in terms of playmaking or progressing the ball forward.
When he isn’t getting into goal-scoring positions, Johnson’s impact on the team diminishes significantly. He ranks poorly among Premier League wingers in terms of chance creation and passing progression, making him a liability when he isn’t finishing off moves.
With his current struggles in front of goal and inability to influence the game in other areas, it may be time for Postecoglou to bench him in favor of Son or Wilson Odobert, both of whom could provide more dynamism and creativity in attack.
Looking Ahead
Spurs’ defeat to Fulham further highlights their ongoing struggles under Postecoglou, particularly in midfield and attack. If they are to turn their season around, they will need more consistency from key players like Solanke and Johnson, as well as greater stability in midfield.
The upcoming fixture against Chelsea provides a crucial opportunity for Tottenham to respond, but changes in the starting lineup may be necessary. Dropping Johnson and making adjustments in midfield could be the first steps toward revitalizing the team’s form and climbing back up the Premier League table.
Imagine being Worse than Bissouma, Ange told he must bin 3/10 Spurs dud who lost the ball every 2 touches
