Agree, said that very early on under Ange that Kulu doesn’t suit Ange's style of football as a wide player.Not a wide player in this system. The lack of pace/direct running coupled with him more often than not looking to shift the ball onto his left foot is making him predictable and manageable.
I think what’s most telling is his recent interview where he talks about how he used to play as a mezzala and how he sees his role in the future is central. This I feel where a lot of the issues come from. He never was a WF and you can tell. Playing him there now very clearly does us and him no favours. It worked to some degree when he was an IF cutting in with an overlapping FB as that would hide some of his technical limitations for the role but in our current system it exposes his weaknesses. It’s just not a comfortable fit for him.Completely agree his future is clearly in the middle of the park in this system. His instincts just don’t match up with what Ange is looking for out wide.
However, I really think he has a future playing alongside Maddison as the 8, rather than rotating with him as a 10. His workrate is phenomenal, he’s got the physique to play the role and crucially it would naturally get him into the half space he tries to find from the wing straight away.
Agree. Think we have some crucial decisions to make this summer when it comes to our forwards.Think it’s best if we move him to being Maddison’s back-up/rotation for the n.o8/10 role and sign another 2 top class attacking players.
He doesn't have the pace to go past a man which would be vital if he was to play on the left. He gets away with it on the right because he can cut inside and play a cross. On the left he would need to make space for himself by running into the space or going around his opponent on the left side at pace and whipping balls in. That means having decent pace which isn't his strength.Plenty of people pointing out he keeps cutting in onto his left foot and some concluding he should therefore be brought inside more central.
So not one single solitary person seems to wonder if perhaps he ought to be tried ON THE LEFT WING!
Just putting it out there.