Player Watch Player Watch: Dejan Kulusevski

[Tucker]

Just shows how desperate we are to sign a striker.

I like the player but it’s not his position. I thought we’d moved on from square pegs in round holes.

I think people are getting a little ahead of themselves based off a few halves of football against inferior opposition.

He can do the job in a pinch and will offer something different, but he’s not a striker. It’ll only be a matter of time before people are slating the guy based on over inflated expectations.

I think we’ll more likely see him deployed as a ten more often than a nine.

 

[mil1lion]

We do, but we have Johnson.

Not enough for a European season. I just think we have more players who are comfortable on the left than the right. Johnson is inconsistent as well. If he gets injured or isn't doing well Kulusevski would end up on the right again.

 

[Mr Pink]

Not enough for a European season. I just think we have more players who are comfortable on the left than the right. Johnson is inconsistent as well. If he gets injured or isn't doing well Kulusevski would end up on the right again.

Yeah im saying we do, just sounded like you had forgotten about Johnson because you didnt even mention him

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

We do, but we have Johnson.

I think he meant we need to sign a RW to compete with Johnson. Last season that was Kulusevski, but if he moves centrally, signing another RW is crucial.

 

[Mr Pink]

I think he meant we need to sign a RW to compete with Johnson. Last season that was Kulusevski, but if he moves centrally, signing another RW is crucial.

Yes lol

 

[THOWIG]

Think he looks great in the middle.

 

[spursfan77]

I think people are getting a little ahead of themselves based off a few halves of football against inferior opposition.

He can do the job in a pinch and will offer something different, but he’s not a striker. It’ll only be a matter of time before people are slating the guy based on over inflated expectations.

I think we’ll more likely see him deployed as a ten more often than a nine.

It happens every preseason. I’m not getting carried away. Same with Spence not being sold and Donely being our back up left back.

I think there’s not to come from kulusevski for sure but he’s a clever enough player to be able to do what the manager asks of him wherever he plays. A 10 is probably his spot though. He just needs games there.

 

[keithtighe93]

Can anyone think of any similar positional transitions?

It feels like it could be a masterstroke.

Even if he only gets 10/12 goals, you feel his ability to hold it up and bring others into play with clever passes would be pretty good.

As a couple of posters said, very inferior opponents so far so gotta stay grounded.

But there is something I like about this!

 

[Grim54]

Can anyone think of any similar positional transitions?

It feels like it could be a masterstroke.

Even if he only gets 10/12 goals, you feel his ability to hold it up and bring others into play with clever passes would be pretty good.

As a couple of posters said, very inferior opponents so far so gotta stay grounded.

But there is something I like about this!

Woolwich fans might refer you to a former winger of theirs that became a CF of some note.

 

[RobinLeonard]

Can anyone think of any similar positional transitions?

It feels like it could be a masterstroke.

Even if he only gets 10/12 goals, you feel his ability to hold it up and bring others into play with clever passes would be pretty good.

As a couple of posters said, very inferior opponents so far so gotta stay grounded.

But there is something I like about this!

Not saying this is what’s happening, but it’s what Sarri did with Dries Mertens at Napoli after they lost Higauin and Milik got injured.

 

[bceej]

I think people are getting a little ahead of themselves based off a few halves of football against inferior opposition.

He can do the job in a pinch and will offer something different, but he’s not a striker. It’ll only be a matter of time before people are slating the guy based on over inflated expectations.

I think we’ll more likely see him deployed as a ten more often than a nine.

Hopefully it'll be a tactical choice to play him in that position to alleviate he pressure on the players around him rather than something we're forced into and use him as a typical Ange striker, which is he is not.

 

[punkisback]

In a world where no9’s are getting worse and somehow more expensive, having someone like Deki who can play the role as a creator and physical presence whilst also pressing intensively and smartly, we may have fallen into something very good.

Van persie was a winger/am with good technique and decent presence who made the transition to striker. I see the same thing happening with Deki. Strikers with the ability of a 10.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

I think people are getting a little ahead of themselves based off a few halves of football against inferior opposition.

He can do the job in a pinch and will offer something different, but he’s not a striker. It’ll only be a matter of time before people are slating the guy based on over inflated expectations.

I think we’ll more likely see him deployed as a ten more often than a nine.

Some truth here - but I think its also important to note that Ange's system does not really rely on traditional #9 skills.

A lot of the tactics stem from the wingers getting crosses or cutback into the box - where a "striker" or CM, or inverted FB, or opposing wing, are waiting for an "easy" shot.

The striker is less involved with being able to dribble, or create long-range shots, or even really being that clinical - the last goal by Lankshear a great example of just crashing in and getting a foot on the ball.

Some of what Kulusevski can do - hold the ball, work the give-and-gos in tight spaces, being more of a poacher , etc. - play well into what Ange needs from that position. And, particularly against teams that sit deep and don't provide a lot of space to attacking players.

 

[mil1lion]

I just think it's more about how the game has evolved now. The traditional 9 is a lot rarer at the top level. More of the top teams have versatile forwards rather than a straight forward 9.

 

[McFlash]

Ok, I’ll replace Bergval, Gray and Moore with Maddison, Johnson and Dragusin.

Back to the original post though there’s plenty including Bentancur that could be successfully argued to stay rather than Kulu. As I said I like him and don’t want him sold but he’s definitely not one I’d keep over most other of our players.

I do agree on the whole although I'd probably put Bents above him on the sell list, purely because we're pretty stocked in midfield and Kulu's showing in pre-season through the middle has been very impressive.

I've said in other threads that there are only a few unsellable players in the squad, if the money is right.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I think people are getting a little ahead of themselves based off a few halves of football against inferior opposition.

He can do the job in a pinch and will offer something different, but he’s not a striker. It’ll only be a matter of time before people are slating the guy based on over inflated expectations.

I think we’ll more likely see him deployed as a ten more often than a nine.

A few halves of football against inferior opposition, with CMs (Skipp & Gray) playing out of position at CB, in addition to Kulusevski playing out of position as a false 9. If anyone thinks this proves Ange intends to routinely utilise Kulusevski as a false 9 in the PL next season, they must also be expecting to see CMs routinely playing at CB.

 

[Little-B]

A few halves of football against inferior opposition, with CMs (Skipp & Gray) playing out of position at CB, in addition to Kulusevski playing out of position as a false 9. If anyone thinks this proves Ange intends to routinely utilise Kulusevski as a false 9 in the PL next season, they must also be expecting to see CMs routinely playing at CB.

Due to a lack of options at CB we didn't really have a choice tbh, i guess you could say the same up top but i think Ange is looking for a position for Kulusevski other than RW which he was very predictable in.

 

[Guntz]

Not like Spurs fans to get massively carried away after beating a few lesser teams in pre-season - the Firmino comparisons are crazy to me.

Kulusevski has done well in the last few games. But let's wait and see how we get on against better opposition before hailing him as the solution to our striker issues.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

God forbid, we can take some positives out of pre-season.

Our senior striker options are Son (who the majority of fans want on the left) and Richy (who has had issues with injuries and inconsistency).

We are probably not going to sign a striker this summer, which means that having Kulu as an option is a big bonus in a season where we'll play 50-60 games.

 

[Bonqerz]

What if Ange thinks hes a striker in his system? He's big, has touch and vision, and can slot shots?