Player Watch Player Watch: Dejan Kulusevski

[mil1lion]

Lennon was an old school winger really. Right footed player on the right wing. I was thinking Werner could do a similar type of job on that side, another player who tracks back and uses his pace to help recover like Lennon did. I think the issue was a little bit when Walker would want to occupy the outside as well and of course he was equally quick. I think Lennon would love playing with an inverted full back the way we play now.

Things can get a bit narrow with inverted fullbacks and inside forwards. It's ok maybe on one side but when both are inside there's no width. I think Kulusevski would be best if he had someone overlap on his outside. So often he gets the ball on the corner of the box and wants to cut inside because he doesn't have pace outside. That's where I want to see Porro make the outside run like he did for winner against Liverpool. You can come inside still but in the final third make runs on the outside. If Kulusevski has someone outside in the final third it will either pull a defender away from him or leave someone free on his outside.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

Lennon was an old school winger really. Right footed player on the right wing. I was thinking Werner could do a similar type of job on that side, another player who tracks back and uses his pace to help recover like Lennon did. I think the issue was a little bit when Walker would want to occupy the outside as well and of course he was equally quick. I think Lennon would love playing with an inverted full back the way we play now.

Things can get a bit narrow with inverted fullbacks and inside forwards. It's ok maybe on one side but when both are inside there's no width. I think Kulusevski would be best if he had someone overlap on his outside. So often he gets the ball on the corner of the box and wants to cut inside because he doesn't have pace outside. That's where I want to see Porro make the outside run like he did for winner against Liverpool. You can come inside still but in the final third make runs on the outside. If Kulusevski has someone outside in the final third it will either pull a defender away from him or leave someone free on his outside.

You make a really good point. That is why it is absolutely essential that if we sign an inverted wide player they are capable of going both inside and outside their man. We need someone who regularly drives outside their man to the byline on to their weaker foot even if their delivery is slightly inconsistent. By going outside and mixing it up, they will create more space inside them for one of our number 8's or Porro to exploit with a third man run. They will also make their opposition fullback start questioning themselves and this will provide them with more spaces to then cut inside too, for either a shot, a 1-2 pass combo etc.

All it needs is a wide player who has pace and strong 1v1 ability who mixes it up and goes both inside and outside their fullback. By doing this so much more space and opportunity will be created for the team.

None of our wide players are capable of truly terrifying opponents in 1v1 situations with the ball at their feet. Someone who can do this will automatically destabilise opposition defences and make it much easier for us to create chances as a team.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Speaking to a Liverpool supporting mate, he says that Jota overall is an awful player, he appears to do nothing all game, however this efficiency in front of goal is unbelievable.

Kulusevski is such a different player to Jota, he just doesn't seem to have that striking instinct to hit it early. Jota also plays more as a centre forward from what I've seen so he's closer to goal. I just hope Deki can rediscover his mojo and back himself to shoot more and earlier.

Completely fair analysis that they’re different types of players, that is true, but if your mate thinks Jota is ‘awful’ then I’d question his views D.Jota is most certainly not ‘awful’ he’s a very good player.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

 

[Misfit]

Not bad for a do-nothing fraud.

 

[Cornpattbuck]

I make no secret about how good a player I think he is. I just hope he's putting those extra minutes in on his finishing. I mean, he can 100% finish but he almost seems to be seconding guessing himself at the mo. Needs to take a leaf out of Richy's book on that front and he'll be grand.

 

[thebenjamin]

He's great until he gets in the penalty area.

 

[FuturistiC123]

The club just confirmed that he is the leading chance creator in the league - 46 chances created. He only has 2 assists because the others cant put the ball in the net. Son and Johnson recently wasted 3 in one half alone.

 

[Pistols At Dawn]

Credit where it's due: Kulu's inch-perfect sliderule pass is a thing to behold

 

[TheHodFather]

Credit where it's due: Kulu's inch-perfect sliderule pass is a thing to behold

Good example of why you should take stats with a bit of a pinch of salt- if Pape had finished that first time Deki gets an assist.

 

[rossdapep]

He was getting back into his flow where he initiates contact and powers past players. Even holding 2 off at some points.

He was taking players out the game and being creative.

He should have at least stayed on for another 15.

It was great that it didnt cost us but it allowed Brighton to push onto us again and free up a man.

I Just hope Ange realised he made a mistake (I think he did cause he brought Hojbjerg on minutes later)

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Good example of why you should take stats with a bit of a pinch of salt- if Pape had finished that first time Deki gets an assist.

This. My favourite example of this is Modric. His stats didn’t reflect his true attacking contribution. A goal creating, game opening pass that creates an easy final pass didn’t count towards his ‘direct goal contributions’.

 

[spurs-r-us]

He was getting back into his flow where he initiates contact and powers past players. Even holding 2 off at some points.

He was taking players out the game and being creative.

He should have at least stayed on for another 15.

It was great that it didnt cost us but it allowed Brighton to push onto us again and free up a man.

I Just hope Ange realised he made a mistake (I think he did cause he brought Hojbjerg on minutes later)

At the start of the season, Kulusevski was the man Ange never took off. He would end up up top at 90' just holding the ball up. He's not been at his best, but he's copping heat for essentially being our only fit attacker for about 6 weeks or so. He's not a great goalscorer, he's a creator, he needs players to finish his passes. Today felt like it proved that rule. Johnson is a great prospect and scored a clutch goal, but we missed the hold up play.

Conversely, PEH couldn't get near the pitch back then. He was okay today, but our build up play in midfield just doesn't seem to work properly when he's on. Can see he's making an effort to be more progressive though.

 

[THFC_SWE]

At the start of the season, Kulusevski was the man Ange never took off. He would end up up top at 90' just holding the ball up. He's not been at his best, but he's copping heat for essentially being our only fit attacker for about 6 weeks or so. He's not a great goalscorer, he's a creator, he needs players to finish his passes. Today felt like it proved that rule. Johnson is a great prospect and scored a clutch goal, but we missed the hold up play.

Conversely, PEH couldn't get near the pitch back then. He was okay today, but our build up play in midfield just doesn't seem to work properly when he's on. Can see he's making an effort to be more progressive though.

Kinda funny, if you look at the stats PEH has more progressive passes than Sarr, Bissouma and Bentancur /90 min. Out of our midfielders he has the highest progressive passing distance /90 min. He also has the highest amount of passes into the final third/90 min of all our current players (much higher than any other midfielder in our team). I'm not saying he should start game of the game, I just want to show that him not being progressive in his passing is a myth. He has other problems though.

 

[HodisGawd]

Kinda funny, if you look at the stats PEH has more progressive passes than Sarr, Bissouma and Bentancur /90 min. Out of our midfielders he has the highest progressive passing distance /90 min. He also has the highest amount of passes into the final third/90 min of all our current players (much higher than any other midfielder in our team). I'm not saying he should start game of the game, I just want to show that him not being progressive in his passing is a myth. He has other problems though.

Lies, damned lies, and statistics. I'm not digging out Hojbjerg because he's more progressive than he's given credit for, but there is absolutely no way he is more progressive than those three. Clearly OPTA's definition of what is a "progressive pass" is is somewhat looser than what most fans consider it to be.

 

[talbot64]

Very talented footballer who is the ultimate utility man, who we are lucky to have, can play on the flank, as the 10 or even a CF

As another option, would he be able to play inverted full back. Physically I think he could do it and has more composure in attacking third than Udogie but not sure about defensive skills?

 

[THFC_SWE]

Lies, damned lies, and statistics. I'm not digging out Hojbjerg because he's more progressive than he's given credit for, but there is absolutely no way he is more progressive than those three. Clearly OPTA's definition of what is a "progressive pass" is is somewhat looser than what most fans consider it to be.

He is whether you like it or not. You probably just don't want him to be be. And now you have to make up excuses about what a progressive pass is. Just accept that your perception of something can be wrong.

As I said, PEH got other problems, but progressive passing is not one of them.

 

[BorjeSpurs]

Was our best player in the 2nd half before he went off. Johnson ended up scoring the winning goal that Kulu wouldn't be able to so all good.

He absolutely hated being on the bench at Juve so I think finally having competition for his place will get the best out of him.

 

[wspur]

Was our best player in the 2nd half before he went off. Johnson ended up scoring a winning goal that Kulu wouldn't be able to so all good.

He absolutely hated being on the bench at Juve so I think finally having competition for his place will get the best out of him.

Yep, I really didn't understand his sub. In the end Brennan won us the game but Kulu was dominating the second half before that.

 

[mil1lion]

Thought it was a change that made more sense about 10mins from time rather than 30. Once we brought him and Son on we had only defensive subs left.