Photo by Patrik Lundin/Getty Images
Photo by Patrik Lundin/Getty Images
Everton winger Brennan Johnson has been in action again for Wales this evening – and it was very intriguing to see the role he played for his country in the 2-0 defeat to Denmark.
Johnson featured for Wales against Portugal on Thursday, and had a bit of a mixed bag in terms of his performance.
He played the full game, and showed some good flashes. But he spent a large period on the fringes of the game.
What was interesting to see was how he started on the left, but then moved over to the right after some tactical and personnel changes by manager Craig Bellamy. He finished that game playing close to striker Kieffer Moore.
Tonight, he played a different position – but it’s probably not something David Moyes should be trying to replicate.
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Everton winger Brennan Johnson plays as a number 10 for Wales
For the most part, we have seen Johnson on the right wing for Everton.
That is his natural position, and we have also seen him play through the middle as an alternative to Thierno Barry, although the Frenchman has played the vast majority of Everton’s season so far.
Against Denmark this evening, Wales manager Bellamy sprung a bit of a surprise by using Johnson as a number 10. His role was to play off striker Moore.
We did see him take up positions just off Moore in the late stages of the game against Portugal the other night.
Bellamy clearly saw some potential there. But Johnson struggled in the role tonight from the start.
Johnson couldn’t really get into the game and did not offer much of a threat. Wales had a good free-kick opportunity from the right edge of the penalty box midway through the first-half, but Johnson blazed the ball over.
He did not really link up with Moore all that often.
Funnily enough, his best moment probably came just before half-time, when he made an overlap on the wing. He got right to the byline, dribbled inside and picked out Connor Roberts with a low cross. His effort was blocked.
In the second-half, Johnson did have one exciting moment when he surged through the middle after receiving a rare lay-off from Moore. But Denmark defenders got back in and dispossessed him on the edge of the box.
When he got the ball, he was actually fairly tidy with it. But the main issue was that he lacked influence. After he moved out to the right side for about 10 minutes, he was then replaced in the 82nd minute. He had just 24 touches of the ball in the game, as per Sofascore. Only Dan James and Charlie Savage had fewer out of the players who started for Wales. Johnson also only completed 15 passes.
Everton shouldn’t use Johnson in the 10
Moyes probably hasn’t considered using Johnson as a 10. But if he had, then he will likely be scrapping those plans now.
Everton obviously have Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall playing that position right now. But he has not replicated the levels he showed for two-thirds of last term, and the Toffees could do with having a decent alternative option.
Brennan Johnson for Wales (2020-present)
Caps – 47
Goals – 7
Assists – 5
Johnson – who Leon Osman feels might be getting undeserved minutes over other fringe players – doesn’t look to be that option. He has actually played as an attacking midfielder at times throughout his club career, so tonight was not his first rodeo. But he didn’t look effective enough in the role.
The number 10 position demands that the player is good in tight spaces and shows both technicality and creativity. In many ways, it’s the most important position – and vital that a manager selects the right player to play there.
Johnson is a player with different strengths. He is very quick and thrives when balls are played in behind. Playing as a number 10 doesn’t really throw up such situations. Surely it’s not something we’ll be seeing back at Everton.