Brennan Johnson’s role at Nottingham Forest: A ball-carrier in need of support | Football News

Brennan Johnson’s importance to Nottingham Forest is easy to measure. He has five goals and two assists in his last 10 games – meaning he has been directly involved in 11 of Forest’s 12 Premier League points in that period.

The goal that started the run, scored by Taiwo Awoniyi in a 1-0 win at Southampton, showed Johnson at his best. He intercepted the ball to win back possession, sprinting from the halfway line before setting up his teammates to score from close range.

Johnson’s unique quality is illustrated by data that shows his average carry distance this season is more than 23 yards. He tops this metric in the Premier League this season, ahead of Marcus Rashford among players with more than 100.

Put that Forest boss Steve Cooper, said Sky Sports: “He’s always good, carries the ball. We have to look at that stat in a positive way because it shows that he’s productive in the area and up the pitch. That’s one of those qualities.”

The tactical importance to Forest should not be underestimated, as Johnson’s former manager Michael Appleton explained. Appleton went on loan at Lincoln City, speeding up his development by using him in four different positions.

Then, as now, it was pace that set him apart.

Johnson has one of the highest average top speeds in the Premier League this season. “He can deal with the back to the goal, but he runs behind it. He causes a lot of problems for the opponent,” Appleton said. Sky Sports.

Given the scale of the challenge facing Forest this season, maintaining that threat on the counter-attack has become crucial. “It was huge for him,” Appleton said. “There are certain players that managers look for to help balance the team and he’s one of those players who can get you up the pitch when you’re in the cosh. It takes the pressure off.

“Because of the quality of the teams in the Premier League, Forest will find themselves defending for some time in low blocks and going deeper.

“Having players who can play in transition and take you 40 or 50 yards up the field on their own instead of needing smart combinations with others.

“He has the ability to take the ball in the corner of his own box and in a few seconds leave the opposition defending to live in the half.”

As a result, it affects the approach of the enemy.

“If you’re dominating the ball in the opposition half and enjoying it, Brennan’s threat will keep your attention. He’s not the type of player you can leave one-on-one with 50 yards behind you. He tends to occupy two players.

“It just gives you an opportunity to get out even if you don’t use him. That’s the biggest compliment. Even though Brennan is not an outlet, because he has two players, he can go up the field in other areas.”

That part has been tougher for Forest this season. The speed of Johnson’s breakaways, and his solitary nature, had consequences – he could find himself isolated when they were over. Interestingly, that is also shown by the data.

With the help of the tracking data, we can now see the total number of passing options available to the player when making a pass. Associates are considered a graduate option if the expected completion rate is at least 80 percent.

This data tells us that Johnson has the fewest average options available to receive passes when he has Premier League players.

Cooper accepts this is something he hopes to change.

“This is the evolution that we want to do as a team. There are things that we are trying to build and we have to accept that we have to do it in a certain way. Over time, I want us to improve this aspect.

“That’s what we’re trying to do with Brennan and Morgan [Gibbs-White] and all players must use their assets to be productive on the field, i.e. goals, assists, chances created.

In the meantime, Johnson’s mentality will help. He will continue to walk.

“He’s a really good kid, it’s not going to bother him,” Appleton added.

“That’s why he’s so important to Forest. I’ve worked with forwards who can be disinterested and disappointed if they don’t have the right service but Brennan has a great attitude to the game. He’s always a willing runner.”

It’s that attitude that encourages Cooper to believe Johnson is still on an “upward curve” — and Appleton wants to see how far he can go.

“The number of scouts, heads of recruiting and directors of football who want to get references,” he said. “For him to make progress like he has since Lincoln, I’m obviously happy for him because he deserves it.

“Last season was huge for him. To be part of that success from the first day there is a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. He has taken on more responsibility this season and now he is showing everyone that he can do it in the Premier League. “