The 2-0 loss to Newcastle United didn't exactly teach Tottenham Hotspur supporters any earth-shattering lessons that they didn't already know or at least highly suspect, but a defeat like that, even when the team isn't particularly abhorrent, can often serve the important purpose of reenforcing key lessons that must stick with the organization for the rest of the season.
In the case of certain players who dropped absolute duds in this League Cup elimination matchup, their fates should be sealed soon - and not in a positive way. There's been enough criticism of Richarlison to go around, and while the striker was a major liability in the loss to Newcastle, he wasn't even Tottenham's worst player.
That cruel distinction is earned by Brennan Johnson, who was practically invisible in that starting lineup across 64 minutes on the right wing. Look, manager Thomas Frank actually did the right thing here by resting Mohammed Kudus before the massive Premier League fixture this weekend against top rivals Chelsea, but it's just so hard to justify resting Kudus in any game when the backup player is Johnson.
He's almost an automatic loss in the XI, because time after time again, he's royally stunk. Johnson was the hero in Bilbao with his goal to drag Spurs to the finish line over Manchester United in the Europa League Final, and Spurs supporters will forever be grateful for that historic bit of poaching.
Dejan Kulusevski is the perfect cover guy
But goodness gracious is he dreadful at just about everything else. Maybe Johnson could be competent if he were to take his defenders on more often, but it's a sight so rarely seen that you just wonder if it's because Johnson is not all there as an athlete or technically. He just doesn't play like a winger.
Johnson's issues and the lack of real right wing cover in terms of out-and-out progression and creativity may be rendered obsolete relatively soon, pending the return of Dejan Kulusevski. Though Kulu earned some critics with a few uneven performances in the 2024/25 season, he is a much, much better winger than Johnson, especially in terms of his progressive and defensive output.
Kulusevski is a guy who tracks back, makes things happen on the ball, eats up blades of grass, and sets his teammates up in good positions. He may not have the superstar quality of a starting right winger for a team like Tottenham that wants to push for Premier League titles, but that's why Spurs signed Kudus. In a backup role, Kulu is absolutely perfect behind Kudus, and he's certainly a superior option to Johnson every day of the week. Johnson's days are numbered, no question.