- Brennan Johnson enduring a difficult start at Crystal Palace
- Welsh attacker’s struggles evident
- Needs to bounce back next season
Crystal Palace attacker Brennan Johnson has struggled this season after his record-breaking transfer from North to South London in January. Despite being part of the European trophy-winning squad, Johnson has not impressed fans with his performances.
The club-record transfer of £35 million, before Jorgen Strand-Larsen, should have excited Palace fans with a hint of performances to come. However, Johnson has struggled to break into the team, with his confidence clearly lacking.
A difficult end to his time at Spurs and an inability to convert chances into goals have led to the attacker facing criticism from Palace fans. Since joining, the 25-year-old has made 26 appearances with 2 assists but has been unable to find the net on numerous occasions.
Oliver Glasner’s rotation as Palace progressed in the Conference League saw Johnson given more starting minutes and opportunities to impress, which were not successful.
Statistics reveal Johnson’s struggle
In a post shared on X by DataMB Johnson ranks as the lowest midfielder on both % pass completion and forward passes completed per 90. The midfielder sits with around 2 forward passes completed per 90 with around 66% pass competition.
Palace’s Yeremy Pino is also further down the graph, while Adam Wharton and Will Hughes sit around the average passes completed and competition rate.
The Welsh International has previously spoken out about the struggle he had experienced making the move, although he said he has enjoyed his time at Palace so far. Club legend Clinton Morrison has acknowledged the club needs to take notice of his lack of confidence.
What’s next for Johnson
With a club record broken to sign Johnson, it is unlikely that the 25-year-old will be making a move out of South London in the summer. Johnson is in clear need of a confidence boost and an opportunity to have more minutes to find his feet in Palace’s playing style.
A new manager with a different understanding of the team and tactics could see Johnson thrive. Glasner preferred to keep a smaller squad with minimal rotation unless forced by the demands of European competition, but other managers could be more flexible in their squad selection, especially when balancing multiple competitions next season.
