Player Watch Player Watch: Dejan Kulusevski

[Gilzean at the near post]

Composed. Calm. Clever. Another C word…

Class

 

[jonnyrotten]

Simply has to start

 

[SonicSarr]

Simply has to start

Against City certainly.

 

[Japhet]

Changed the game tonight. Has to start v City.

 

[muppetman]

He's the real deal, isn't he?

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I think people are slightly over doing the praise - I think the game was there for the taking, and he played well, but I wouldn’t over do it.

That said, he should start on the weekend. No doubt the guy has serious potential

 

[WeGotLedley]

I think people are slightly over doing the praise - I think the game was there for the taking, and he played well, but I wouldn’t over do it.

That said, he should start on the weekend

Disagree. The moment he came on he went for it, looked to take players on in a way that nobody else was. And at that stage their antics were starting to real get to a nervy atmos. Cant underestimate how impt putting some players on back foot was, moved their entire team 5m back, which was huge.

 

[DiamondLites]

Changed the game when he came on, he is always progressive and positive, and 99 times out of 100 he makes the right decision and execution

 

[rossdapep]

He's our lock picker

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Composed. Calm. Clever. Another C word…

Our C word?

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Changed the game tonight. Has to start v City.

Or, bring him on late against Citeh, and watch him change the game again? It's hard to see why a good performance as a sub means that the same player should start the next game.

 

[Aphex]

Or, bring him on late against Citeh, and watch him change the game again? It's hard to see why a good performance as a sub means that the same player should start the next game.

BY that logic why should a poor performance as a starter mean you start the next game? No way based on this season should Son start over Richie and Kulu on Saturday. Kulu has been on the bench the last few games, he deserves another start.

 

[JCRD]

Disagree. The moment he came on he went for it, looked to take players on in a way that nobody else was. And at that stage their antics were starting to real get to a nervy atmos. Cant underestimate how impt putting some players on back foot was, moved their entire team 5m back, which was huge.

I don't think it was kulu coming on that changed the game, ofcourse he contributed but we decided to play 30 yards higher up when he came on... Kulu was great and he did take players on but its not down to kulu coming on. That changed the game.

Let's not forget, we have played the same as we did in the first half today, against wolves and kulu was on.

I'd start him v man City though because he is so effective. He did do well when he came on today, like he had been rested.

 

[Hotspur88]

Have to agree, he was brilliant when he came on. I was praying that Richi started yesterday but was hoping it was at the expense of Son who deserves to be dropped. Kulu is possibly my favourite player alongside Romero so I want to see him start every week. Really hope he starts Saturday but I just think Son's performances against City will mean he is resigned to the bench unfortunately.

 

[Japhet]

Have to agree, he was brilliant when he came on. I was praying that Richi started yesterday but was hoping it was at the expense of Son who deserves to be dropped. Kulu is possibly my favourite player alongside Romero so I want to see him start every week. Really hope he starts Saturday but I just think Son's performances against City will mean he is resigned to the bench unfortunately.

I'd say we'd be much more balanced with Richy, Kane and Kulu up front. Sonny is way off it and playing him would mean putting Richarlison on the right when he's much better on the left. I'd like to see Conte go for in form players in their best positions v City.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I'd say we'd be much more balanced with Richy, Kane and Kulu up front. Sonny is way off it and playing him would mean putting Richarlison on the right when he's much better on the left. I'd like to see Conte go for in form players in their best positions v City.

I'm with you. My guess is the best balance of the side comes with one of Richi or Son, not both.

We need the creativity that Deki and Kane bring, and then it's one of Richi or Son. Clearly Son, Kane and Richi can play together, but against the best sides, I think we'd likely need more guile elsewhere to make it work. i.e. more creativity in CM, or more attacking wing backs.

For instance, Emerson, good defender though he is, alongside the three strikers (which is what Richi, Son and Kane are really) doesn't quite work for me - not against the best, most compact sides anyway

 

[Japhet]

I'm with you. My guess is the best balance of the side comes with one of Richi or Son, not both.

We need the creativity that Deki and Kane bring, and then it's one of Richi or Son. Clearly Son, Kane and Richi can play together, but against the best sides, I think we'd likely need more guile elsewhere to make it work. i.e. more creativity in CM, or more attacking wing backs.

For instance, Emerson, good defender though he is, alongside the three strikers (which is what Richi, Son and Kane are really) doesn't quite work for me - not against the best, most compact sides anyway

One of the most impressive things about Deki is that he doesn't go to ground, but instead physically dominates contact situations and frequently bullies opponents. Would be fantastic if Richarlison took a leaf out of his book too because he could be such a force if he tried to stay on his feet a bit more. I'd like to see Sonny come off the bench with something to prove too, because starting every game isn't working right now.

 

[Timberwolf]

I'm with you. My guess is the best balance of the side comes with one of Richi or Son, not both.

We need the creativity that Deki and Kane bring, and then it's one of Richi or Son. Clearly Son, Kane and Richi can play together, but against the best sides, I think we'd likely need more guile elsewhere to make it work. i.e. more creativity in CM, or more attacking wing backs.

For instance, Emerson, good defender though he is, alongside the three strikers (which is what Richi, Son and Kane are really) doesn't quite work for me - not against the best, most compact sides anyway

Yeah I think Richarlison and Son are both too inconsistent in possession to play them both at the same time. We can get away with it against teams like Fulham but Marseille were much tighter and, while Rich's flicks were better than Son's usually are, both of them gave the ball away too often.

Kulu's strength and creativity give us another much more reliable outball and a foothold in the midfield. Think we need him on the pitch against decent teams that press us high.

 

[spursfan77]

I think people are slightly over doing the praise - I think the game was there for the taking, and he played well, but I wouldn’t over do it.

That said, he should start on the weekend. No doubt the guy has serious potential

The game was screaming out for him from the start. A mistake not to begin with him.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Yeah I think Richarlison and Son are both too inconsistent in possession to play them both at the same time

I agree with much of what you said, but I'd pick up on this as a point I disagree with. I've been really impressed with Richi's hold up play and what he offers around the pitch - I'd argue (and not just down to current form) he's a more consistent, constructive presence in attack than Son. What I don't think is he'll be as much of a threat behind, or score as many as Son at his best.

But I think positionally, Son, Kane and Richi are, in reality, all strikers. You can play two, but not three. I'd make the same point about Moura as well actually. Deki is really the only first team ready (because you could put Gil in this category) creative forward we have.

I can, with this dynamic in mind, see exactly why we were after Zaniolo, or someone similar to him