Former Nottingham Forest player Brennan Johnson has been the victim of vitriol with his new club Tottenham Hotspur this week.
Brennan Johnson, a former Nottingham Forest favourite, has recently experienced a tornado of extraordinary highs and lows. From social media criticism to a match-winning goal, and even calls to return to the City Ground, he has seen it all.
£47.5 million is a hefty transfer fee for someone who was only 22 years old at the time, as if Premier League footballers weren’t already under enough pressure to perform. Strong doubters may have even commented that it was a move motivated by Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) rather than the individual’s talent, despite the fact that his 10 goals and three assists as a member of a relegation-threatened side the previous season proved otherwise.
Regardless, his move was secured and a debut campaign in white resulted in a further five goals and 10 assists – steady progression for a youthful, new recruit. But now in the early weeks of the new term the former Forest talent has been a lightning rod for criticism in an underperforming Spurs side.
Sunday’s North London derby proved to be the tipping point. Hooked after 68 minutes, with no contributions in front of goal since domestic football’s return, a flood of internet hate ensued. Johnson deactivated his Instagram account to avoid the noise.
“You’re talking about a young guy who probably lacks confidence right now. 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, he’s trying so hard to become the player he wants to be, it’s hurting him a lot,” said his new manager, Ange Postecoglou, rallying behind his player.
“It’s not like he’s out on the town, doesn’t care, and shows up late. So, what is his crime? His crime is that he is not performing to the standards that others expect of him. As a professional footballer, you should expect to receive criticism for this; it is part of your development. He’s still a young player, and I believe there is so much more of Brennan that we can get out of him.
“It’s unfortunate for me that we’ve normalised that behavior. That receiving abuse, most of which is personal, is ‘oh well, that’s part of the territory’. “I do not see that.”
The next step was to not let the abusers’ actions decrease the Welshman’s importance in the group. When his team needed it most, facing an early exit from the Carabao Cup at Championship Coventry City, Johnson scored to complete an injury-time turnaround and send his side through to the next round.
“It was quite nice. It’s a fantastic feeling to score, especially so late. Getting into the next round is critical, and penalties are a coin flip, so my goal was extremely useful,” he told Sky Sports later.\
Postecoglou would later express his support for his player, adding, “Hopefully [it will mean] a great deal. He’s a lovely young man and an excellent player. I have plenty of time for him because he works so hard every day. He took his goal nicely tonight and had a positive impact.
Those still at Forest who had the opportunity to play alongside Johnson can attest, especially countryman Neco Williams. He piled in with further support for his national teammate with the help of social media:
Though Forest supporters, perhaps hopeful more than anything, saw a different light on the situation unfolding in the Carabao Cup last night. “He looks so sad. They don’t deserve him at all,” said one supporter on X, witnessing the 23-year-old’s muted celebration in front of Spurs’ travelling fans following his heroics.
An entire discussion was prompted as a result. “Would bring him back, he’d fit our fast counter style,” said one responder, whilst another pleaded: “Come home Brennan.” These were common sentiments from the fanbase that witnessed the man in question develop from a boy in the Championship to a fully-fledged Premier League talent, yet there were those also adamant that chapter is finished.
Another reply read: “I hope it works out for him and they see the player we watched at Forest,” whilst another posed the question: “I would say bring him back but would he get into the team if he did?”
