Jamie O’Hara has accused Gabby Agbonlahor of ‘bottling it’ by apologising to Brennan Johnson for disparaging comments he made about him.
It seemed a surprising transfer after the Eagles made Johnson their club-record £35million signing just six months ago; however, his brief stint in south London drew heavy criticism after he failed to score in 26 appearances.
On Tuesday, Agbonlahor questioned the deal on talkSPORT, pointing out that neither winger had scored a Premier League goal last term.
O’Hara replied: “It’s like, ‘We’ll give you crap, you give us crap back. Call it quits, no charge’.”
A clip of their discussion quickly went viral, prompting Johnson to defend himself on social media. The Wales international commented under the post: ‘Won more than both of these put together.’
Agbonlahor and O’Hara on Johnson
Agbonlahor said: “When I saw it, I was like ‘I get it’. Certain managers and certain players suit one another. Maybe David Moyes is looking at it and wants more pace in the side, wanting to use him in that way.
“Also, with Dwight McNeil, there was talk he was leaving in January, and the new [Palace] manager has clearly seen enough of him already and wants to bring him in.”
O’Hara replied: “Brennan Johnson has been a myth for a few seasons. He didn’t do it at Spurs. In one of our seasons he got top scorer, but he hides in big games.”
Agbonlahor pointed out: “You look at both of them and their output last season – 16 Premier League appearances for Spurs, two goals, zero assists. Then at Palace, zero goals and one assist.
“But then Dwight McNeil last season: 22 appearances in the Premier League, zero goals, one assist, so he’s not doing enough either.”
O’Hara replied: “It’s like ‘We’ll give you crap, you give us crap back. Call it quits, no charge’.
“I like McNeil. If I were to pick which player would I rather have, I’d take Dwight McNeil. He’s going to work hard, with a lovely left foot. He gives you something.
“Brennan Johnson is just so frustrating because he’s got all the attributes.”
He added: “Maybe it’s a confidence thing, maybe David Moyes might be the right manager for him. He’s got the right attributes, he showed it at Nottingham Forest.”
Agbonlahor backtracks on air
On Wednesday morning, Agbonlahor issued an apology live on air: “What did I do wrong? It was Jamie who said it. I want to say sorry to Brennan Johnson, I should not have laughed.
“When someone laughs, it’s natural to start laughing. However, I think Jamie O’Hara was out of order and I think he needs to apologise on the 4pm Drive show.
“I think he has to, he can’t say ‘crap for crap.'”
This prompted O’Hara to take to X to clarify his stance: “This the prob when you only listen to a clip and not full story.
“We were talking about Brennan and McNeil stats from last season which were CRAP not that they were bad players.
“I’m a fan of McNeill and also said Brennan has all the attributes but he would admit his season was crap.”
Additionally, he followed up his original post, saying: “Gabby bottling it as usual it’s not that deep guys stats are stats and they ain’t great viewing I hope Brennan gets 20 goals this season.”
‘Stats are stats’
Johnson publicly called out the punditry duo, pointing out that his list of career honours is far greater than O’Hara and Agbonlahor’s combined.
The new Everton forward has won two major European trophies, including the Conference League with Palace last season.
Additionally, Johnson wrote his name into Tottenham history by scoring the winning goal in the Europa League final against Manchester United in 2025.
Like O’Hara, Johnson spent time at Spurs, scoring 27 goals across three seasons in north London.
The 25-year-old finished as the club’s top goalscorer in the 2024/25 campaign, accumulating 18 goals in all competitions.
Agbonlahor also added: “I’m not a petty guy, but if I wanted to respond to Brennan Johnson he said he didn’t do it at Spurs. Then he said he got top goalscorer. Make your mind up, Jamie.
“But if I wanted to be petty, I would read out some stats, I’m going to be petty. Brennan Johnson, 140 Premier League appearances, 26 goals, 20 assists.
“He’s not really Brennan Ronaldo is he?”
By comparison, talkSPORT host O’Hara netted seven times across six seasons as a defender with the Lilywhites and won the League Cup in 2008.
Agbonlahor, meanwhile, enjoyed a long career at boyhood club Aston Villa, scoring 87 goals across 13 seasons in the Midlands.
However, as Johnson pointed out, the former striker finished his career without a single piece of silverware.
While the 25-year-old winger endured a difficult 2025/26 campaign, he will now aim to silence his critics as he embarks on a new chapter on Merseyside.
O’Hara doubles down
In contrast to Agbonlahor, O’Hara made no apologies for his remarks, doing quite the opposite in fact.
He said: “Being a footballer, you’re going to take criticism. He obviously didn’t like the fact that we said it was crap for crap.
“It was only a bit of a laugh, but I get it. You get the hump with things. I’ve been called crap plenty of times. I get called crap every single day of the week.
“Don’t take it personally. It is what it is, he has been crap.
“I’m not saying he’s a bad player. Anyone who plays Premier League football. Anyone who does what he’s done, fair play. Brilliant.
“But last season, Brennan Johnson was crap. He would be the first to admit it. Hopefully he goes to Everton and does all right.
“There’s no apology needed. I know Gabby bottled it. Like he always does… he tried to throw me under the bus. Not the first time, won’t be the last.
“But I’ll stand by it. I think with Brennan Johnson he’s got all the attributes to be a decent player. But he was crap [last season].”
