Player Watch: Dejan Kulusevski

[Nanky_1988]

It would have to be a hell of an offer from a top club for him to want to move imo.

IMO if we signed Neto he might think his game time is limited and as a result he might be more inclined to want to leave. He’s not being forced out but it’s almost saying Neto and Johnson are ahead of you on the left and we’re stacked in Midfield when are you gonna play. That’s just my opinion though who knows what’s really going on.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

We created three big chances in the first half and Kulusevski was behind two of them.

Briliiantly set up Son on his blind side, who missed a great opportunity.

For the first goal, Maddison and Johnson executed brilliantly, but it was Kulusevski creative spark that made the opening.

 

[superted4]

His flick into Maddison for the first was sublime. He needs to be more of this. Be brave Deki be brave!

 

[degoose]

His flick into Maddison for the first was sublime. He needs to be more of this. Be brave Deki be brave!

Yeah that flick caught so many out but Madders read it and did so well. It's great to see when a move like that works

 

[npearl4spurs]

I posted in the match thread but I'm one of those behind him starting for Richarlison as a false 9 instead of Son at central striker.

 

[jpascavitz]

On paper against some opposition you'd think that we would be able to have maddison operate in the left attacking CAM channels and him on the right. Although some of the moves didn't come off last night there was a lot of movement and creativity and would love to see it develop into the season.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

We created three big chances in the first half and Kulusevski was behind two of them.

Briliiantly set up Son on his blind side, who missed a great opportunity.

For the first goal, Maddison and Johnson executed brilliantly, but it was Kulusevski creative spark that made the opening.

View attachment 143220

That’s easily the best angle I’ve seen of this move. We score that goal against any team on the planet…

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

I really like Kulu and think he has a lot of quality but understand that he probably isn't Ange's idea of a winger.

If Neto and Eze come in I can be at peace with letting him go. Though i'd certainly hope that Gil and maybe Solomon on loan would be the preferred outgoings from our attacking players.

 

[kitchen]

I posted in the match thread but I'm one of those behind him starting for Richarlison as a false 9 instead of Son at central striker.

He definitely has the hold up ability to play as a false 9. The rest of it, I'm not so sure, and his ball striking is not up to the levels of Son for sure. It would be an interesting experiment though...

 

[yido_number1]

Have to start looking at him as a 10 or an 8 in this system. He's too predictable off the right and too limited off the left. Neville raved about him when he played central and that's where we should take it. Maddison might have more games out or continue the drop in form this year. We need options and he needs to be dropped at times for us to progress

 

[DJS]

IMO if we signed Neto he might think his game time is limited and as a result he might be more inclined to want to leave. He’s not being forced out but it’s almost saying Neto and Johnson are ahead of you on the left and we’re stacked in Midfield when are you gonna play. That’s just my opinion though who knows what’s really going on.

Neto would play on the right, which is also where Kulusevski plays, not on the left?

Johnson can play either side, not sure now which his best side tbh as though it was on right as well, although he’s right footed and they all seem to want to be inverted nowadays.

 

[Led Revolver]

I completely agree with the argument that Deki doesn’t fit playing in Ange’s system on the right, but I think it’s worth considering that he was probably one of our players of the season in the run up to Christmas. It all went down hill after his wife gave birth..

If we could reinvest in players better suited to the system then it makes sense to cash in now. I just think the arrival of his new baby might have something to do with his drop in form.

 

[theShiznit]

He can still be effective in a number of positions for us.
He is fine on the right if he have pace outside him or good movement off him, when he is a bit shown up is against low block teams where he is one on one with little space and players around him well marked.

Having said that i don't see him as a starter for us this season (but would hope Johnson and Werner are also not starters in our first XI come the start of the season)

His lack of pace is just a bit of a killer and fullbacks know just to stand him up now and muscle him out, that's why third man running is vital to him. Someone like Spence outside him would help.

 

[Whazam]

We created three big chances in the first half and Kulusevski was behind two of them.

Briliiantly set up Son on his blind side, who missed a great opportunity.

How many times didn't we see this happen last season (players failing to score from clear chances set up by Kulusevski, not Son missing)?

I get that he isn't the perfect fit for us, but if only a few more of those chances ended up in the net, I'm sure the conversation around him would sound very different.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

His lack of pace is just a bit of a killer and fullbacks know just to stand him up now and muscle him out, that's why third man running is vital to him. Someone like Spence outside him would help.

First , he’s not slow, just needs a few yards to get moving. Second, there aren’t many FBs that can out muscle him, they gang up on him. That’s why the runners are so important to his performance. There should be space if he’s doubled up on, but if his teammates don’t take advantage, then that’s not his fault.

 

[theShiznit]

First , he’s not slow, just needs a few yards to get moving. Second, there aren’t many FBs that can out muscle him, they gang up on him. That’s why the runners are so important to his performance. There should be space if he’s doubled up on, but if his teammates don’t take advantage, then that’s not his fault.

Sorry but for a WF he is slow.

You so often see him with a head start ahead of defenders running onto a ball and not even trying to get on it as he knows he won't get there first.
His initial skill was drawing defenders in and keeping close control, waiting for them to dive in and going past them. Now they stand him up and just get body contact on him. And although he is not weak he very rarely beats a man that doesn't dive in on him.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Sorry but for a WF he is slow.

You so often see him with a head start ahead of defenders running onto a ball and not even trying to get on it as he knows he won't get there

No I don’t; who told you that?

 

[Cinemattis]

It will take some work to find a player with a more inspired (and better!) song from the fans …

Gimme, gimme, gimme a ginger from Sweden is easily the best one since Dele.

 

[DenverSpur]

Have to start looking at him as a 10 or an 8 in this system. He's too predictable off the right and too limited off the left. Neville raved about him when he played central and that's where we should take it. Maddison might have more games out or continue the drop in form this year. We need options and he needs to be dropped at times for us to progress

Out of interest where does he play for Swedish National team and where do their fans think his best position is.

 

[Fergus]

I completely agree with the argument that Deki doesn’t fit playing in Ange’s system on the right, but I think it’s worth considering that he was probably one of our players of the season in the run up to Christmas. It all went down hill after his wife gave birth..

If we could reinvest in players better suited to the system then it makes sense to cash in now. I just think the arrival of his new baby might have something to do with his drop in form.

A quid or two for foam earplugs might sort him, as teething will kick in around September. I can understand him wanting to be a hyper-involved Scandinavian dad but spending some of his fat wages (by my standards, anyway) on a live-in nanny might also help.