Player Watch Player Watch: Dejan Kulusevski

[Stamford]

We were supposed to have a training camp somewhere hot and sunny whilst the others were at the WC but I forget now why that didn't happen; probably lack of planning or something IIRC

Conte asked for it. It didnt happen. Our rivals were all away. Was a joke of a decision then

 

[Yid121]

levy really fucked up there

Paratici needs some credit on this one. All well and good getting those financials but paratici picked out a player worth that

 

[fridgemagnet]

Conte asked for it. It didnt happen. Our rivals were all away. Was a joke of a decision then

Yeah I definitely recall it going from happening to us staying at home, I just couldn't recall why?

 

[gibbospurs]

Conte asked for it. It didnt happen. Our rivals were all away. Was a joke of a decision then

No offence meant. But how do you know conte asked for it? And it was refused? Thanks.

 

[Stamford]

No offence meant. But how do you know conte asked for it? And it was refused? Thanks.

Because there were quotes at the time of him saying he wanted it and he was annoyed it didnt happen.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

In an attack minded team I think we'll see him really kick on, especially if Porro is overlapping and taking defenders away, he was at his best when Emerson and doc where creating that half years of space for him

I get he's not quick, but...

 

[TimNiceButDim]

Because there were quotes at the time of him saying he wanted it and he was annoyed it didnt happen.

I could be wrong on this but I’m fairly sure the ITK reports at the time were that Conte didn’t want a warm weather training camp at first but then changed his mind, by which point it was all too late to organise.

 

[Stamford]

I could be wrong on this but I’m fairly sure the ITK reports at the time were that Conte didn’t want a warm weather training camp at first but then changed his mind, by which point it was all too late to organise.

you may be right. I didn't read that ITK sadly

 

[danielneeds]

Hopefully he gets his confidence and sharpness back next season. The easiest improvement to his game would be him getting to that back post more for headers and tap-ins. He could get 5 more goals a season at least if he sharpened this up, and with his natural talent for assists it would make him such a productive player.

 

[HildoSpur]

I want to see him play in the centre and become our De Bruyne. I genuinely think he would be fantastic in that position.

 

[Guntz]

I want to see him play in the centre and become our De Bruyne. I genuinely think he would be fantastic in that position.

He's nowhere near good enough with his passing/technical ability.

Needs to improve that if he wants to be more like De Bruyne.

His ball-carrying is elite though, more likely to be more of a Dembele type for us. Which definitely isn't a bad thing.

 

[HildoSpur]

He's nowhere near good enough with his passing/technical ability.

Needs to improve that if he wants to be more like De Bruyne.

His ball-carrying is elite though, more likely to be more of a Dembele type for us. Which definitely isn't a bad thing.

I think he is better in passing and technical ability than you are suggesting and he will get to show those abilities more in a central position. Out wide really his job is to progress the ball forwards and then get the ball into the attackers in the box. He is very good at that but I believe there is a lot more to come from him.

 

[Gilzeanking]

I really hope he regains form, but most of a season is a long break from it. Possibly defenders have worked him out or his less than spectacular speed is a problem idk.

Thing is that the Kane/Son/Kulu forward line wasn't working very well for a long time. Added to this that Ange's MO is energetic high pressing forwards. I'm more worried than most here about Kane/son/Kulu forward line which is clearly not that...and with Kane gone its worse obvs.

I understand the logic of seeing the goals conceded stat and saying we need new defenders, but we played without that first line of defence, the forwards. Oppo could comfortably advance with the ball into our half, so of course the defence was under pressure.

Our opponents also scored numerous goals against our defence by having a proper press so we have no excuse for not knowing the power and effectiveness of energetic pressing by forwards.

 

[thelak]

I could be wrong on this but I’m fairly sure the ITK reports at the time were that Conte didn’t want a warm weather training camp at first but then changed his mind, by which point it was all too late to organise.

Travel agent at the Thomas Cook levy was getting the Benidorm package from said flights had gone up 10% I believe

 

[Freddie]

I really hope he regains form, but most of a season is a long break from it. Possibly defenders have worked him out or his less than spectacular speed is a problem idk.

I'm convinced Levy told him to do that to drive the price down. WE WIN AGAIN

 

[PrettyColors]

Not to sound the alarm bells… but are we sure he’s good enough to be our starting RW? We’ve just paid €30m for him mind.

135 minutes in Ange’s system and for the life of me I can’t remember a single good moment.

 

[fecka]

Not to sound the alarm bells… but are we sure he’s good enough to be our starting RW? We’ve just paid €30m for him mind.

135 minutes in Ange’s system and for the life of me I can’t remember a single good moment.

I'm way more worried about Son tbh.

 

[PrettyColors]

I'm way more worried about Son tbh.

Both have been poor for basically 6 months now, under both Conte and Mason and Stellini and now Ange.

 

[fecka]

Both have been poor for basically 6 months now, under both Conte and Mason and Stellini and now Ange.

Don't think Deki's been that poor. Just hasn't been as sensational as he was during the first 6 months under Conte. Think he's looking a lot more at home in this system and not far off from what I assume Ange wants from him.

 

[PrettyColors]

Don't think Deki's been that poor. Just hasn't been as sensational as he was during the first 6 months under Conte. Think he's looking a lot more at home in this system and not far off from what I assume Ange wants from him.

He was clearly missing something after his injury in spring 2023. He started almost all of our matches post World Cup and did very little.