Player Watch Player Watch: Dejan Kulusevski

[$hoguN]

He is a good player, clearly we need to get him involved centrally as he just can’t offer what Ange’s system needs outwide all too often.

with his age and ability I think we can all have confidence he will do what he needs to

 

[Dannyspur]

Was there anyone on for that ball? I seem to recall both Son and Werner were outside the box which is why he cuts the ball back albeit behind Son, Werner was alongside Son so there was no ball into the box

From where I was sitting, it looked that he had created the perfect position to shoot but then tried to increase the number of touches in the opponent’s penalty box. Which seems to be high on our priority list this season. Too many times we try to walk the ball into the goal instead of having a shot. Stupid little one-twos in the middle of 10 defenders just doesn’t work.

 

[parj]

If Kulu is going central, then who is he replacing? Is he better than Maddison or GLC?

 

[DannyNZ]

This is irritating me and did so yesterday too in the match thread.

People blaming Kulu for their goal, yes it was a bad pass but there was bits of play far worse than that that followed.

- Son lost the ball softly and fell over.

- Bissouma jogged towards Townsend and then made the laziest shitty challenge on him , and then jogged after him as Townsend ran into the box.

- No defender engaged Barkley when he received the ball in 5 yards of space in our own box.

You missed the bit where Sarr chased back but Kulu who was standing right next to Sarr when Son lost the ball made no effort to get back.

son never lost the ball softly, the pass was behind him and put him in trouble.

Like it or not in my view Kulu had a big part to play in their goal.

 

[Guntz]

If Kulu is going central, then who is he replacing? Is he better than Maddison or GLC?

No-one.

Should be on the bench for now.

 

[mil1lion]

If Kulu is going central, then who is he replacing? Is he better than Maddison or GLC?

I would be looking to have Kulusevski and Sarr right central with Maddison and Lo Celso left central each competing. Get Bentancur in the central 6 role competing with Bissouma. However we need to improve the wide attacking options next season. For now Kulusevski is fine competing for wide and central positions. I think Maddison is struggling central where it gets congested so a little tweek to the system where we play a 3 in midfield with him or Lo Celso left side of the 3 would work well.

 

[spurs mental]

You missed the bit where Sarr chased back but Kulu who was standing right next to Sarr when Son lost the ball made no effort to get back.

son never lost the ball softly, the pass was behind him and put him in trouble.

Like it or not in my view Kulu had a big part to play in their goal.

So you don't think Bissouma making a soft as butter tackle on Townsend or the defence not engaging Barkley had more to do with the goal than Kulu?

 

[mil1lion]

From where I was sitting, it looked that he had created the perfect position to shoot but then tried to increase the number of touches in the opponent’s penalty box. Which seems to be high on our priority list this season. Too many times we try to walk the ball into the goal instead of having a shot. Stupid little one-twos in the middle of 10 defenders just doesn’t work.

I think he was still too far out for a shot which is why he looked for a pass. The issue was he was still some way from goal and doesn't have the pace or right foot to go outside. Its more natural for Johnson on that side go outside and get a cross in. He always wants to come infield and he just miscued the pass to Son. We do need to take some more shots from outside the box though, just ideally more from central areas.

 

[Locotoro]

The real question is why didnt he just cross the ball like Brennan does across the face of the goal. Seems strange that seems too be a big part of our tactical plan and that was a very clear moment to do it

Because I don't think there was anyone attacking the six yard box. They were mostly behind him so cutting it back was the only option

 

[DannyNZ]

Because I don't think there was anyone attacking the six yard box. They were mostly behind him so cutting it back was the only option

Udogie and Werner were ahead, Sarr and Son were behind these two. Kulu had the choice of playing it in behind the defence or squaring it.

 

[cliff jones]

This is irritating me and did so yesterday too in the match thread.

People blaming Kulu for their goal, yes it was a bad pass but there was bits of play far worse than that that followed.

- Son lost the ball softly and fell over.

- Bissouma jogged towards Townsend and then made the laziest shitty challenge on him , and then jogged after him as Townsend ran into the box.

- No defender engaged Barkley when he received the ball in 5 yards of space in our own box.

all good and fair points, except singling Son out who he wrong-footed, but the rot started with him.

We all have our faves, he’s obviously one of yours, but there’s no evidence he can play box to box which is what some are calling for- is there?

I think he can play second striker or false nine, but not deeper

 

[Japhet]

I mean it was a loose pass in their third, it happens. The goal wasn't his fault at all. It was so poorly defended.

It was a poor pass and he could got caught dithering. It's particularly dangerous for us to lose the ball so cheaply because we pour forwards and leave the back line exposed. FBs are nowhere to be seen and Bissouma has to take on Udogie's duties. His effort was equally poor. We're still trying to regroup when Barkley gets the ball and nobody gets an effective challenge in which leads directly to the goal. It's a rather common theme that coughing up possession weakly and unnecessarily puts us under immense pressure at the back but it's part of how we play. Sure, it wasn't Kulusevski's fault, but if he looks after the ball better or Sonny makes his tackle, they don't score.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

It was a poor pass and he could got caught dithering. It's particularly dangerous for us to lose the ball so cheaply because we pour forwards and leave the back line exposed. FBs are nowhere to be seen and Bissouma has to take on Udogie's duties. His effort was equally poor. We're still trying to regroup when Barkley gets the ball and nobody gets an effective challenge in which leads directly to the goal. It's a rather common theme that coughing up possession weakly and unnecessarily puts us under immense pressure at the back but it's part of how we play. Sure, it wasn't Kulusevski's fault, but if he looks after the ball better or Sonny makes his tackle, they don't score.

It was a poor pass, but more than that it was the wrong pass, and it's a typical issue for the team these days. Although he had cut inside onto his left foot, he insisted on playing a pass across the pitch, which Son could only ever receive if he had stood still. Deki was well placed to play a pass into the area, for someone to run onto. We play far too many sideways passes to players who are already standing still or have to stop to receive, which invites the press and stops our momentum, and it's not just Deki who is guilty.

 

[Montalbano]

He’d struggle in the 10 role too; he’s an 8 in this system. And would be brilliant there.

 

[Dannyspur]

I think he was still too far out for a shot which is why he looked for a pass. The issue was he was still some way from goal and doesn't have the pace or right foot to go outside. Its more natural for Johnson on that side go outside and get a cross in. He always wants to come infield and he just miscued the pass to Son. We do need to take some more shots from outside the box though, just ideally more from central areas.

the two players on the edge of the box are in better positions, but I wouldn’t say he’s too far out to shoot.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

It was a poor pass and he could got caught dithering. It's particularly dangerous for us to lose the ball so cheaply because we pour forwards and leave the back line exposed. FBs are nowhere to be seen and Bissouma has to take on Udogie's duties. His effort was equally poor. We're still trying to regroup when Barkley gets the ball and nobody gets an effective challenge in which leads directly to the goal. It's a rather common theme that coughing up possession weakly and unnecessarily puts us under immense pressure at the back but it's part of how we play. Sure, it wasn't Kulusevski's fault, but if he looks after the ball better or Sonny makes his tackle, they don't score.

This is an excellent point and something I’ve mentioned too. Our attack make too many poor decisions and give the ball away too cheaply which allows teams to counter us more frequently.

If we retained possession better and were more ruthless in attack we’d actually make ourselves stronger defensively at the same time.

 

[Japhet]

This is an excellent point and something I’ve mentioned too. Our attack make too many poor decisions and give the ball away too cheaply which allows teams to counter us more frequently.

If we retained possession better and were more ruthless in attack we’d actually make ourselves stronger defensively at the same time.

It's what Man City do so well. They're passing is much more controlled and they're also very patient, especially in the final third. We're OK 40 yards from goal but can't string the passes together in the danger zone. But it's early days for us.

 

[Gilzeanking]

doesn't have the pace or right foot to go outside. I

This is the maddest bit of the whole shebang....he does have a right foot. He smashed in a glorious top corner goal rightfooted to win a match a few months back (forget which), he's also assisted with right foot passes.

Kulu's an enigma wrapped in an er... another enigma or something .

 

[spurs mental]

all good and fair points, except singling Son out who he wrong-footed, but the rot started with him.

We all have our faves, he’s obviously one of yours, but there’s no evidence he can play box to box which is what some are calling for- is there?

I think he can play second striker or false nine, but not deeper

I haven't singled Son out, I've mentioned it as he lost possession, softly. He had the ball and the Luton player got it from him easily

Kulu is a player I like and enjoy watching, I'm not defending his performances recently, but singling him out for the goal Luton scored when there were at least 2 or 3 more instances where others did far worse things is OTT.

 

[bubble07]

That pass that lead to the luton counter for their goal was shockingly bad. Was 90% his fault and 10% son for for not keeping possession