Player Watch Player Watch: Dejan Kulusevski

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

Playing Deki on the left won’t help at all.

He hasn’t got the pace to get past his man from a standing start and he’s not exactly Beckham with his crossing.

We’d actually be better off playing him in CM, pushing Johnson to RW and playing Santiago LW imo. He at least fits the profile of Ange winger, its worth a go until we can strengthen the wings in January.

 

[Typical Spurs]

Some our build up is really good. The problem is Kulu is really poor 1 v 1 in my opinion. We do a good job of getting our wide men 1 v 1, but when he's in that position he doesn't have the acceleration, the top speed or the skill to go by his man.

This makes him so bloody predictable....chop back onto left foot and 9 times out of 10 play it inside, back, or put a ball into the box - and the problem with that is his delivery isn't great either.

I think we can upgrade in that LWF position if I'm completely honest. I'm also not sure about Johnson on the other side either but thats for another thread. If our wide forwards were real quality we'd be blowing teams away.

However, at least with Kulu he does look better centrally. More comfortable operating there than 1 v 1 out wide.

 

[Guntz]

Would like him to move centrally and then buy a more direct and pacy winger.

He’s become too predictable on the right.

 

[THOWIG]

People were singing his praises on Sunday.
4 days later….

 

[Fitchspur]

Some our build up is really good. The problem is Kulu is really poor 1 v 1 in my opinion. We do a good job of getting our wide men 1 v 1, but when he's in that position he doesn't have the acceleration, the top speed or the skill to go by his man.

This makes him so bloody predictable....chop back onto left foot and 9 times out of 10 play it inside, back, or put a ball into the box - and the problem with that is his delivery isn't great either.

I think we can upgrade in that LWF position if I'm completely honest. I'm also not sure about Johnson on the other side either but thats for another thread. If our wide forwards were real quality we'd be blowing teams away.

However, at least with Kulu he does look better centrally. More comfortable operating there than 1 v 1 out wide.

This drove me crazy last night (it annoys me in a lot of games, but seemed worse last night). On both wings, whoever ended up there just ended up playing the ball back or to the edge of the area. It wasn't until the last part of the game that Porro started putting crosses in. I'm assuming its because Richarlison was on but look at what happened in the Liverpool game and Palace game to an extent... put a low hard cross in every now and again and it causes chaos and anything can happen.


I don't know if its instructions from Ange but Deki and Johnson seem to reluctant to put any balls in.

 

[McFlash]

Some our build up is really good. The problem is Kulu is really poor 1 v 1 in my opinion. We do a good job of getting our wide men 1 v 1, but when he's in that position he doesn't have the acceleration, the top speed or the skill to go by his man.

This makes him so bloody predictable....chop back onto left foot and 9 times out of 10 play it inside, back, or put a ball into the box - and the problem with that is his delivery isn't great either.

I think we can upgrade in that LWF position if I'm completely honest. I'm also not sure about Johnson on the other side either but thats for another thread. If our wide forwards were real quality we'd be blowing teams away.

However, at least with Kulu he does look better centrally. More comfortable operating there than 1 v 1 out wide.

Deki is good 1 v 1 out wide and about two thirds up the pitch, maybe on the break but when he has to play on the edge of the box, he lacks a little.
He doesn't quite have that yard of pace to break free, although he does have the skill and strength do make space, he can't quite get away over a short distance.
He struggles out wide when teams drop deep but that's also because he rarely has any options in the box to aim for.

There's not much point in whipping a cross into the box when Son is the striker because he cannot head the ball.

 

[whenstevewentup]

People were singing his praises on Sunday.
4 days later….

He played centrally

 

[Tottenhamboy85]

He played centrally

Only for 45 mins.

 

[McFlash]

He played centrally

Only far a half and it could be argued that his better performance was in the second half, out wide

 

[chas vs dave]

Only far a half and it could be argued that his better performance was in the second half, out wide

He's good when he has space to tun into. Struggles when there isn't.

 

[McFlash]

He's good when he has space to tun into. Struggles when there isn't.

Agree and the same could be said of Johnson so far.
We really could do with a quick and tricky wide player who can create his own space in those tight situations.
Close control, quick feet and an explosive burst.
Maybe Solomon can be that man but we've not seen enough of him to tell.

 

[fortworthspur]

holds the ball way way too long. just fucking whip in the cross if nothing else is on.

 

[joey55]

Generally Deki has been one of those players where the majority of our fans prefer to focus on his positives. But there is no getting away from the fact he simply doesn't have the pace to be a wing forward. I was encouraged by his performances in the centre and have grown to really appreciate his work rate. But can anyone really see him scoring 15+ goals in future seasons as a wing forward? Those are the kind of numbers we'd need from him. If Johnson realises his potential (which is unlikley, as is the case with all young players,) then he has the attributes to score Sane/Son like numbers, but realisitcally I just can't see how Deki can do it without the blistering pace or a rocket of a shot. He cuts in just like Bale, but he just doesn't have that devastating finishing. I think he has a future with us, as he's far from poor and can be great cover on the right and has real potential in the middle. But to really challenge, he need someone who can get well into double figure as our RWF imo.

 

[theShiznit]

If he was to work hard on his right foot it would make him a lot less predictable.
Being so reliant on his left foot and one paced is not a great mix. Luckily his close control is elite, but he's finding it harder and harder to sell defenders a dummy as for the most part they just stand him up now.

 

[Tucker]

He was superb through the middle again tonight.

 

[Haddock]

Majestic tonight.

Far too many are wrongfully concerned about his lack of pace. He’ll never blaze past his opponent, he’ll never be a meta card in FIFA but look at all the chances he’s creating. He’s an elite player.

 

[McFlash]

What have I missed? Why was he wearing a mask today?

Another good performance though, especially for someone who "wasn't good enough" a couple of days ago.

 

[mil1lion]

What have I missed? Why was he wearing a mask today?

Another good performance though, especially for someone who "wasn't good enough" a couple of days ago.

He broke his nose when he got wacked with a flailing arm against west ham, you know the one where the ref gave a foul against him

 

[HildoSpur]

The guy is a total baller and deserves more respect.

 

[McFlash]

He broke his nose when he got wacked with a flailing arm against west ham, you know the one where the ref gave a foul against him

Cheers mate, hadn't realised that...and I watched that game FFS!