Player Watch Player Watch: Dejan Kulusevski

[ikky]

Had a v good game but that miss pissed me off!

 

[Rosco1984]

Had a v good game but that miss pissed me off!

Have to agree if that went in that early in the game with the momentum we had through the first half we would have been clear by halftime as the pressure would have been off some of the other missed opporyunities.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Kulusevski's verdict on his Spurs display and what Bentancur said on Cash tackle

Dejan Kulusevski has opened up on his performance against Aston Villa and Rodrigo Bentancur coming off early in Tottenham's 2-1 defeat against the Midlands club on Sunday afternoon

www.football.london

Some good quotes in here from Kulu about playing as a 10.

 

[rossdapep]

He was my MOM today. Great performance.

Villa couldn't get near him in the second half. Players just bouncing off him.

It does appear to be coming for him which was a huge positive yesterday.

 

[EQP]

 

[überghost]

Watching the highlights, he could easily have had two goals and three/four assists in that game.

 

[McFlash]

Yeah, that was Deki getting back to his best, skillful and so bloody strong on the ball.
I'd start the same way for the next game, with him central and Gio playing too
Wouldn't at all mind a midfield of Bents, Biss and Gio, with Sonny and Johnson up top and Kulu just behind them.
Kinda similar to how Real Madrid are currently set up.

 

[HildoSpur]

Has to play in the number 10 role until Maddison is back. He was excellent.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I think he definitely has a long term future in those central roles (and can also play wide at times like Silva, De Bruyne etc).

Against City I’d move him to the right though as we will need a midfielder to cover the transitional spaces. We were slightly open against Villa which would have been fine if we had our normal defence but against City we need more protection in transition. Also Gil will get eaten alive by Walker, I’d rather put Johnson out there as he will give Walker a lot more to think about.

Obviously if neither Bentancur or Sarr are fit we have an issue as Hojbjerg isn’t mobile enough to play that transitional role.

 

[djhotspur]

Still do not understand how we lost that game

 

[Yantino]

Some of his performances are world class. Love watching him.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Has to play in the number 10 role until Maddison is back. He was excellent.

Really liked that Bentancur - Gio - Kulu dynamic in the middle of the pitch. Would be very tempted to stick with it if all three remain fit. From an overall squad build it would probably make sense to move Kulu RW and bring in Biss (again assuming Bentancur is fit) but I did love those 3 and would like to see how they develop as a unit. I really think Kulu excelled with a wide player overlapping him.

 

[HildoSpur]

Really liked that Bentancur - Gio - Kulu dynamic in the middle of the pitch. Would be very tempted to stick with it if all three remain fit. From an overall squad build it would probably make sense to move Kulu RW and bring in Biss (again assuming Bentancur is fit) but I did love those 3 and would like to see how they develop as a unit. I really think Kulu excelled with a wide player overlapping him.

I agree however I think it will likely be Gio or Bissouma as the choice and I'd guess Ange will stick with Bissouma (who is the better player in my opinion) however hopefully Gio can push him hard but at least he has proved (only in one game to be fair so i'm still not convinced by him) that he can play that position well. Sarr I think is probably looking as a rotation option rather than a certain starter with Bentancur (hopefully) fit. Bentancur is one of the first names on the team sheet. We really do have superb strength in depth in our midfield.

 

[rossdapep]

Can't believe we lost this game

 

[dude573]

He was both exceptional and frustrating against Villa. However, it is very easy to forget that he is only 23. These topsy turvey performances are to be expected with someone his age and experience.

 

[mil1lion]

If Sarr or Bentancur are back I would play them with Kulusevski wide. We need our strongest 11 possible. I don't think you can drop Lo Celso after his display so he has to resume in midfield and we have Bissouma back. If both Bentancur and Sarr are out play Kulusevski central with Gil and Johnson wide again.

 

[Cochise]

He works very well in the half spaces so it's no surprise that he took to that midfield role with ease. Going forwards he gives us a great option should we make Europe this year.

Really should have done better with that chance in the first half though.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Possibly his best game in a Spurs shirt yet?

Was outstanding.

Just needed that shot to go in instead of hit the post and that wouldve been a 9/10 performance.

He has shades of KDB in his play without the long range passing and lacks a bit in terms of KDB’s shooting technique but let’s stick with this boy as he is only going to get better and better.

Also he has one heck of an engine on him. Suits Ange's style of football so much.

 

[Ribble]

Funny seeing people being unhappy about him missing goals when I'm just glad he's actually taking shooting opportunities again! Just needs to get his eye in a little more and I think we'll see him score plenty.

 

[jurgen]

Ginger Dembele

Can still go up a level which will hopefully involve lots more goals and assists, he has everything there to do that.