Player Watch: Dejan Kulusevski

[BedfordshireSpud]

I don't actually think he played as an 8 against Everton, it seemed to be more of Biss being the defensive midfielder and effectively playing Maddison and Kulu as two 10's. I was keeping an eager eye on him a fair bit when we were out of possession and he wasn't in any hurry to track back like Sarr our Bentancur would as the 8 which makes me think that it was more instruction to do that, because he isn't lazy and doesn't mind getting back usually and doing some dirty work.

Infact alot of the time Maddison dropped deeper to receive the ball and Kulu was the furthest forward of the 3 midfielders.

I think alot of that though was due to the fact we were at home against a side we knew would sit very deep and try to frustrate us. I can see us using to 10's and 1 defensive mid more often at home this season against similar opponents.

He offers so much more though when he can come inside and still have an option on the right.

Kulu with Odobert on his right would make an effective partnership.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

oh so he hasn't already done it against City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and Villa, has he? I must have imagined that over the last two or three years then, sorry

He tends to go missing more in the bigger games, yes he’s turned up and performed well occasionally in those games, I remember him playing well away at man.city for example but I’d like to see him do that a bit more often to take his game to the next level.

 

[matty74]

He tends to go missing more in the bigger games, yes he’s turned up and performed well occasionally in those games, I remember him playing well away at man.city for example but I’d like to see him do that a bit more often to take his game to the next level.

That was when he was genuinely played wide right . Playing more central across the midfield with licence to get forward might be his role this season . He definitely has more goal threat playing inside

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

That was when he was genuinely played wide right . Playing more central across the midfield with licence to get forward might be his role this season . He definitely has more goal threat playing inside

Yep agree

 

[Rosco1984]

hoping he stays in cm this week his energy and strength can match joelinton and he’s much better on the ball. Genuinely think he could be the new dembele if we stick with him in the middle.

 

[EQP]

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

I have a weird feeling that Kulusevski will become an absoloute star. He just has that way about him which is purely individual. Very rare in someone so young.

To hear a 24yo speak like that is so refreshing, no stock answers just this is who I am, that's it.

 

[midoshairband]

find him a bit 'meh' to be honest.

 

[mark87]

 

[bubble07]

Was decent enough

 

[14/04/91]

Was decent enough

Thought he was poor personally. And lacked urgency which we desperately needed.
I’d like to have seen Bergvall get half hour in that position.

 

[bubble07]

Thought he was poor personally. And lacked urgency which we desperately needed.
I’d like to have seen Bergvall get half hour in that position.

Would love your thoughts on maddisons urgency in comparison

 

[14/04/91]

Would love your thoughts on maddisons urgency in comparison

Just as bad. I thought they were both poor

 

[Whazam]

Was decent enough

I agree. The only times we looked remotely dangerous around the box was when he got the ball there, but we didn't give it to him nearly enough.

 

[sparx100]

I agree. The only times we looked remotely dangerous around the box was when he got the ball there, but we didn't give it to him nearly enough.

I think he had enough of the ball, I just think our players seem to play with head down and no awareness. He probably was the best in the attacking sense but sometimes our play is just so lethargic and convoluted.

 

[faze_coys]

He’s really starting to annoy me tbh. He does all the hard parts of the game pretty well, getting in to good positions, holding on to the ball, protecting possession… then once he's done that he makes awful decisions or is too slow to make a decision.

we saw some great bits of play when he just acts and doesn’t think pre-season, but I don’t think we’ll ever see that consistently from him which is a massive shame

 

[DannyNZ]

Decent but decent really isn’t good enough, a few times in the first half he butchered simple passes and that just happens too often. Great shot late in the second half and need more of this, the combo with Madds looks ponderous.

 

[rossdapep]

I'm actually hoping we see Deki and Bergvall together with Bissouma behind them at some point.

I think they'd compliment each other better.

Out of all our wingers (bar Son) Deki is the only one who has shown genuine quality.

I think he's been unfortunate in that
1. Conte's second season was a joke and he kept binning Deki when Son was doing much worse.

2. He didn't suit playing in the right in Anges system as he needs an overlap.

If Maddison is not showing a better level I'd be intrigued to try that combo.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Decent but decent really isn’t good enough, a few times in the first half he butchered simple passes and that just happens too often. Great shot late in the second half and need more of this, the combo with Madds looks ponderous.

Yea let’s be real here and I’ve said this for absolutely ages, he’s not good enough for the level we and Ange would like us to be.

Just like Richarlison and Johnson aren’t, Solanke likely isn’, etc etc, it’s just a whole bunch of vastly overpriced players who are not the requisite quality. In Kulu’s case his fee wasn’t huge but he’s not good enough, end of.

We are not Stoke or Burnley, players just working hard alone doesn’t cut it, they need quality and he has very little.

 

[Tottenhamboy85]

Yea let’s be real here and I’ve said this for absolutely ages, he’s not good enough for the level we and Ange would like us to be.

Just like Richarlison and Johnson aren’t, Solanke likely isn’, etc etc, it’s just a whole bunch of vastly overpriced players who are not the requisite quality. In Kulu’s case his fee wasn’t huge but he’s not good enough, end of.

We are not Stoke or Burnley, players just working hard alone doesn’t cut it, they need quality and he has very little.

There is not one attacker that’s good enough for where we want to be.