Player Watch Player Watch: Dejan Kulusevski

[kernowspurscoach1977]

We had this a few months ago - kulu is not
Good enough etc

then he was unplayable and everyone loves him

class is permanent form is temporary

 

[SUIYHA]

Very much looks to be a confidence player. See the end of his time at Juve, the struggles he had last season in the toxic Conte atmosphere, and what he's going through now. When he's on it, he's been brilliant, though he's not been on it for a few months now.

I think we're going to need his hold up play when we have our tough run of fixtures towards the end of the season. Need him back on form ASAP.

 

[Whazam]

First time I actually feel a bit worried about him. Last week he wasn't even close to as bad as some people suggested. But today he looked frightened and reluctant going up the pitch.

Contributed well defensively, though.

 

[spurs mental]

Haven’t he and his partner just had their first baby?

The poor man is probably desperately short of sleep.

He’s a very talented player who’ll find his form soon.

I asked something similar in the match thread, I'm pretty sure they've either just had or are getting ready to welcome a new born into their family at this stage. In a picture from January she looks quite heavily pregnant so I'd assume it's close if not already arrived.

 

[joey55]

We had this a few months ago - kulu is not
Good enough etc

then he was unplayable and everyone loves him

class is permanent form is temporary

When was he unplayable? He played really well when he first arrived and has ridden on that wave ever since. Last season was 5/10 and this season 6/10. He's a good player and I like him, but the idea that his good form is more a true reflection of him than his less impressive form, simply isn't true. He can't keep being judged on a 4 month period 2 years ago. Since then he's had some good times, but by and large he's been under whelming. Even his biggest fans need to start accepting that now. Last season wasn't a blip. He's just not a winger or wing forward in the Prem. Maybe he can play through the middle as he's certainly got lots of talent. 8 goals and 10 assists in his last 60 games just isn't enough for a club looking to challenge for honours.

 

[Montalbano]

He’s not going to work long term as a winger in Ange’s system.

He’ll be an #8 next season. Don’t think he’s creative enough to be the 10 either. Big question for me is whether Ange thinks Bentancur can play the #6 because we’d be stocked with 8s with Sarr, Kulu and Bentancur

 

[KaribYid]

Pretty poor showing from him today but I’m confident he’ll turn it around.

 

[rossdapep]

Yeah he can't adapt to the left side.

That's twice he's been in that situation where he needs to either play someone through or carry the ball toward the defenders and he totally botched it.

The reason for that is because he works at a certain angle and passing from the left on his left isn't what he is used to. He likes to open the angle or play first time on his right. But first time on his left from the left? No.

That limits him to the right but he's struggling a bit there too as he isn't a touchline hugger. Needs to be more central.

Hopefully Ange can find him a role.

 

[Guntz]

He's a great utility/squad player.

In this system I don't think he'll be anything more than that.

Not everyone needs to be a superstar, all successful teams need players like Kulu.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Haven’t he and his partner just had their first baby?

The poor man is probably desperately short of sleep.

He’s a very talented player who’ll find his form soon.

If so that would honestly explain a lot.

Aside from that I do worry a bit for his future with us under Ange tbh, he’s not fast enough for RW and GLC is better as a back-up to Maddison and Ange is ruthless and wants to win so if Kulu doesn’t fit then he could be off sooner than some might think.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Yeah he can't adapt to the left side.

That's twice he's been in that situation where he needs to either play someone through or carry the ball toward the defenders and he totally botched it.

The reason for that is because he works at a certain angle and passing from the left on his left isn't what he is used to. He likes to open the angle or play first time on his right. But first time on his left from the left? No.

That limits him to the right but he's struggling a bit there too as he isn't a touchline hugger. Needs to be more central.

Hopefully Ange can find him a role.

Must be hard to be fair playing on the other side when you’ve played in the middle or right for the majority of your career, completely different angles etc as you say.

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

Kulu has no median. Either completely poor or completely unplayable for opponent. No middle ground.

If he is going to regress further from here, he goes on to the chopping block in summer

It seems a bit harsh as we want to support our players. But at the end of the day we need to ask ourselves if he'd hold down a place at arsenal, City or Liverpool and of course he wouldn't. If a better option comes up in the summer he gets bumped further down.

 

[Styopa]

It’s interesting seeing how quickly things can change. Loads of people were panicking and even furious with Levy when it was reported we were negotiating with Juve about the fee last summer- worried we would lose Kulu over a few pennies.

Now there are a significant number suggesting we should consider selling this summer.

It could be he’s just really unsuitable for Ange’s system, but then why did we buy him last summer? Ange was here then.

Either way it shows a lot can happen to change people’s minds in just a few months.

 

[arunspurs]

It seems a bit harsh as we want to support our players. But at the end of the day we need to ask ourselves if he'd hold down a place at arsenal, City or Liverpool and of course he wouldn't. If a better option comes up in the summer he gets bumped further down.

We have a problem of too many streak players in attacking areas. We have in forward line Werner, Richy, Son, Kulu, Johnson, Solomon. Only Son can be said accomplished & dependable. Rest of them have their form streakish. They go on a run and then have a barren spell. Of this, Kulu is the one who is too one sided and at same time not exactly Ange type winger.

At the moment, Werner is doing more - even when he isnt scoring, he is impacting the play positively.

Kulu & Richy are good players but for both if we get good offer AND if we can find players who are more suited and more dependable in output, I would like us to go for it

 

[Mr Pink]

He's definitely going to be more central next season.

Covering the 8 and 10 positions.

 

[Stamford]

I dont know what to think. He goes from being unplayable to misplacing simple passes. Maybe it's confidence.

 

[npearl4spurs]

His quality will always be there. Really in a rut for form.

 

[FuturistiC123]

Have a look at the list of players who have created the most chances in the EPL, Kulu is still well placed, despite a recent dip in form. In addition he regularly covers more ground than anyone else during a game. The guy has played on both flanks, behind the striker, and once or twice he was pushed up front, during Son's absence and various injuries. I've no doubt that his best spot is behind the striker, he was brilliant in that role at Parma. In addition he often plays centrally for Sweden, just behind Isak. Anyone who watched the Forest game would have seen Sarr and Biss give the ball away for fun, which is why they were replaced at HT. We always have to dig someone out - Emerson, Davies, now Kulu.

Rumours doing the rounds that Napoli are interested. If we let him go someone needs a swift kick up the arse. At 23 he has a huge future. I like GLC, but what has he done on a regular basis? They all need to earn their place. Maddison is talking big, but is he anywhere near his best?

 

[Gilzeanking]

Either way it shows a lot can happen to change people’s minds in just a few months.

If a player stops playing well...that's why people change their minds on him, why is that so hard to understand ?
Complaining about people for expressing what their eyes tell them and then somehow being a bad supporter because of it, is an epidemic on here.

 

[qqq1]

I feel like Kulusevski is suffering from a lack of rotation throughout the season. Everyone else has been injured at some point so he's had to play nearly every game. He's probably knackered.