In essence, not crazy thing. But there is a big question mark over how we used him. Was it not under Jose he played quite a lot? I could be mistaken. The fact is for what money we get for him (not much) I think he has value. Yesterday he shouid of replaced Maddison for last 25 minutes
Not necessarily - I see Kulu as being most effective in that number 10 position and is probably Maddison's first rotation option there with Gio being second. Kulu has done much more in a Spurs shirt that Gio has so I was totally fine with him coming on. I'd have been fine with Gio coming on and playing there as well but I don't get the big call for Gio over Kulu other than possibly Kulu being in a bit of a poor form patch.
Based upon what though? What has kulu done in a spurs shirt at 10.
He was excellent in that position while Maddison was out I thought.
I’d say it’s because this season he has been excellent when he’s featured. I mean even from a stats perspective he is right up with the top performers in his position in the league per 90. He is 100% deserving of more game time. When looking at his performances which are backed up by the stats I’m not really sure what one can say against him aside from his susceptibility to injury.
That's all well and good however he has only had 4 matches this season where he has been able to play over 60 mins. 4!! This guy is not the answer.
That was hardly his choice was it tho. He still featured in 15 pl games and an unused sub for a further 6 showing that he was fit enough to play more of a role and in the games he’s featured he’s clearly delivered as the stats show. You can hardly blame Gio for not getting more minutes when he has been on the bench and performing to a very high standard when given the chance. If he was out injured then I would agree with you but he’s only missed 1 more game then VDV this season and 2 more then Maddison.
His average minutes over those 15 appearances is 29.5. He had a spell of 3 matches in November/early December when he played on average 77 mins and he played the match against Bournemouth at the end of December when he played 82 mins. If you are really going to push the 'featured in 15 PL games' thing then let's be honest - he had 4 games when he played most of the match and then his 11 other appearances had an average of 9 mins 45 seconds.
I wonder if there's some reluctance to use him more because Ange knows he's off in the Summer? It's the same with PEH. When he's come in he's done well enough to warrant more minutes imo.
Good point
Again you suggesting that it’s his choice he had so few minutes off the bench. I’m sure if you asked him he would have happily started a good chunk of those games. If he wasn’t fit enough to play he wouldn’t have been in the match day squad but he was, on 21 occasions this season. It’s quite possible some of those he wasn’t 100% fit but one would just be guessing at that point as to the degree. I think it’s unlikely to be all or even half of then tho. The only thing you are really highlighting with those numbers is Ange favouring Maddison and his reluctance to use Gio not if he was fit enough to play or not. I mean we’ve played a number of players half crocked this season so he wouldn’t be alone even if that was the case. Even now he’s hardly getting much game time yet then played two very good 70+ mins games for Argentina in quick succession, that to me implies he’s more then capable of playing more mins if Ange wanted him to. I can only think of one or possibly two instances this season when Ange said they were managing his minutes and I’m fairly sure he wasn’t even on the bench at that point. As I pointed out he has only missed 13 games this season through injury thus far and been in the squad in all cups 23 times. When he’s featured he’s been excellent. Regardless if he goes in the summer, which is unfortunately likely, he should be getting more mins whilst he’s fit as when he’s played he has been consistently excellent as the stats show.
I agree that’s probably the case but I’d also say PEH has featured a lot this season because he is a useful player. Gio has proved that he is also a useful player in this system yet hasn’t been getting the same minutes even when he has been available and could very easily have helped the squad at certain points in game. Yesterday being a clear example. I mean PEH came on before Gio.
As Trix has suggested I suspect he is looking to let Gio go in the summer (rightly imo) and would rather give players that will be in the squad next season and beyond more experience playing in his system.
Probably because there is less strength in depth in the position that PEH is covering than where Lo Celso plays but also because he trusts PEH to come on and help see a match out which is more suited to his position and style as well.
IF the decision has been made that he is off in the summer I can see the reasoning why but he has played well in parts this season and offered some cameos that have been important too.
I don't disagree with any of that, I'm just trying to make sense of it and that's all I can come up with.
