Player Watch Player Watch: Dejan Kulusevski

[Jenko]

He's a physically strong player. Bodø struggle against these players. That's why Ange will play them. Kulu will start for sure if Madders is out.

 

[Oh Teddy Teddy]

He's a physically strong player. Bodø struggle against these players. That's why Ange will play them. Kulu will start for sure if Madders is out.

I do like this approach.. None of this silky smooth passing bollocks – if we try and play them at their own game, we'll get beat – just beat the shit out of them and their pitch.

 

[Silky Skills]

Romero is a on a yellow; it would be so us / Ange if we get to the final and none of his "three" captains are available.

Fingers crossed that Kulu finds his form but either way he is a more physical presence than Maddison and adds more defensively

 

[Lord Commander]

Romero is a on a yellow; it would be so us / Ange if we get to the final and none of his "three" captains are available.

Fingers crossed that Kulu finds his form but either way he is a more physical presence than Maddison and adds more defensively

He won't be suspended if he gets another yellow. Only a straight red card will lead to that.

 

[Silky Skills]

He wont be suspended if he gets another yellow, only a straight red card will lead to that.

I did not realize that (sorry I know this is the Kulu thread)

 

[spursfan77]

We must not start a midfield trio of Biss/Bent/Sarr under any circumstances. Somebody with some guile has to be in, and as things are now it has to be Kulusevski.

None of them keep the ball particularly well though do they. He will start Kulu because he will want the first goal and I dont blame him for that. Knowing us we will be bound to go one nil down early doors but having him on the pitch is key.

 

[muppetman]

Nowhere near his best, but if he he can play his way back into form in the next 2 weeks then I'd feel a lot more optimistic in the final.

 

[brasil_spur]

Nowhere near his best, but if he he can play his way back into form in the next 2 weeks then I'd feel a lot more optimistic in the final.

Yeh he was pretty poor last night, compared to what he can do. BUT he did enough of a job for us to keep things solid in midfield. But he got 90mins under his belt and now it's about building himself back up to his best over the next couple of weeks.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Nowhere near his best, but if he he can play his way back into form in the next 2 weeks then I'd feel a lot more optimistic in the final.

Agree with that. We’ll need him to.

We only have a few actually creative, threatening AMs/wingers:
- Deki
- Son
- Maddison

….and they’re either out or unfit. Not ideal.

Others like
- Odobert
- Tel
- Moore

…you’d question as to whether they’re ready. But we should use the last few games to find out. Otherwise the lack of creative threat is an issue

 

[Cornpattbuck]

Yeh he was pretty poor last night, compared to what he can do. BUT he did enough of a job for us to keep things solid in midfield. But he got 90mins under his belt and now it's about building himself back up to his best over the next couple of weeks.

He seemed to be playing well within himself and just focusing on positioning for a lot of the game - almost like he was protecting an injury or easing through things. But then he started opening up later in the game and looked closer to his normal self. Hopefully it's just a case of ironing out the creaks and niggles...

 

[Nerine]

He was man-marking one of their players for most of the game. He was given a job to do and did it.

 

[Kingellesar]

Yeah he seemed to be given the task of keeping Berg quiet and did that. But then the whole team just seemed so organised and switched on. I would play him in the league to try and get his match sharpness back

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Yeah he seemed to be given the task of keeping Berg quiet and did that. But then the whole team just seemed so organised and switched on. I would play him in the league to try and get his match sharpness back

Could he do the same job against Fernandes, I wonder?

 

[Danny1]

Play the guy in every game to the final. Let him play himself back into full form. Someone else said it but I think he is like Kane in that he needs game to get back into it.

Like Kane, he isn’t a natural athlete and has a big bulky body so I think it just takes time. If we can play him tomorrow and Friday then hopefully he will be ready for the final. A fully fit and firing Kulu could take the game away from United easily, just as he did earlier in the season.

 

[1882andallthat]

Play the guy in every game to the final. Let him play himself back into full form. Someone else said it but I think he is like Kane in that he needs game to get back into it.

Like Kane, he isn’t a natural athlete and has a big bulky body so I think it just takes time. If we can play him tomorrow and Friday then hopefully he will be ready for the final. A fully fit and firing Kulu could take the game away from United easily, just as he did earlier in the season.

It’s a fine balancing act. He’s played the last 2 games full 90 mins in both, I get that he needs to get game time but by playing the next 2 therin lies the risk of picking up injuries. We already have two key players in the midfield out for the season, we can ill afford to lose more key players.

A real dilemma with how much time we give the following next two games to the likes of Solanke, Kulu, VDV, Romero, Udogie and Porro, Bentancur and Bissouma, don’t want them to be too ring rusty for the final but equally don’t want them to be exposed to too much risk in the next two games against Palace and Villa.

Palace will be a bit of a bubble wrap derby with both sets of teams keen to avoid picking up injuries before their respective finals.

The Villa one - I’d avoid putting in anyone we’re going to need to start and avoid playing them at all costs, because Villa will be going at us full pelt at home and needing the points and let’s not forget they have a couple of nasty hatchet type of players in Matty Cash and McGinn who will be going into 50/50 balls to clean out the ball and everything else in their way.

 

[Tucker]

Any news?

 

[tubbygold]

Didn't watch the game, just checked livescore. Was it bad?

 

[thebenjamin]

It's his knee. Can only presume he'll be given a few days to live

 

[tubbygold]

It's his knee. Can only presume he'll be given a few days to live

So both our 10s out with knee injury. Lovely.

 

[werty]

Didn't watch the game, just checked livescore. Was it bad?

He took a heavy knock to the knee. After a bit of treatment he tried to jog on the sideline but clearly wasn't happy and looked in discomfort so he was taken off. Hopefully just an impact injury and nothing more.