Player Watch Player Watch: Dejan Kulusevski

[whenstevewentup]

One of those players that is too predictable, always cutting back on to his left foot and lack of pace makes him too easy to read . Thought he was quite poor last night. I’m sure he will be an ok signing but at this stage ok isn’t the required standard.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

No he wasn't.

we managed 2 shots on target all game, personally I don’t think you can say any of our front line were anything other then poor. If his performance had been by Lo Celso or Ndombele they would have been criticised.

I’m not saying he is a bad player or won’t be good for us, but just because he’s new and young doesn’t mean he should be devoid of criticism when he isn’t. All out attackers were not good and statistically speaking he was certainly no better then Son or Kane and all three even on paper were bad. I just don’t get how watching that game anyone could say our attack was good or even okay. I feel we should have better standards then that if we ever want to challenge for anything. I’m not laying into him or singling him out as worse then the others and as I said I’m sure on Saturday he will be great as he tends to perform better when the game is more open.

 

[Timberwolf]

Those criticising him - I don't know what else he was meant to do last night, really.

He barely got any service, but when he did get the ball he used it well, hardly gave it away well and very nearly scored. As for being predictable, he put in a decent cross with his right so it's not like he can only cut inside (although obviously he's gonna do that a lot).

I thought he was easily one of our best players.

 

[Deleted member 29446]

I think we will see him much more at RWB. And rightfully so..

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I think we will see him much more at RWB. And rightfully so..

Let's hope not. Playing a left footer on the right who lacks pace at wing back is one of the dumbest moves I've seen and makes me question Conte in all honesty.

There are certain basics in shape and team construction that lead to success and natural width is one of them, either from your wingers or your fullbacks.

What we needed last night was proper width and two wide players with pace able to take on their men and get to the byline to cutback and cross. If anything he should have put Bergwijn right wingback as he has pace and a good cross on him. Reguilon should have been brought on, on the left too.

The natural width and threat out wide does two things. Firstly, it gets the ball in to the box more from the optimal crossing position of the byline, whether that's high or low, leading to more direct chances but also to more scrappy chances and second ball opportunities in the penalty box. Secondly, it creates space inside as the opposition fullback is actually occupied and has to shuffle wide to deal with the attacking wide players.

How many times yesterday did Sessegnon, Emerson or Kulusevski beat their man on the outside, drive to the byline and cut the ball back or cross from an actual dangerous position?

Not blaming Kulusevski as this is not his position or where his skills are suited.

Poor management from Conte but also more proof we desperately need fullbacks/wing backs with pace who can dribble and cross.

 

[Martinhotspur]

I thought he did okay yesterday. I would much rather a player that can control a ball played to him at speed rather than Lucas, who's second touch is 20 yards away from him.

 

[chrisd2k]

Let's hope not. Playing a left footer on the right who lacks pace at wing back is one of the dumbest moves I've seen and makes me question Conte in all honesty.

There are certain basics in shape and team construction that lead to success and natural width is one of them, either from your wingers or your fullbacks.

What we needed last night was proper width and two wide players with pace able to take on their men and get to the byline to cutback and cross. If anything he should have put Bergwijn right wingback as he has pace and a good cross on him. Reguilon should have been brought on, on the left too.

The natural width and threat out wide does two things. Firstly, it gets the ball in to the box more from the optimal crossing position of the byline, whether that's high or low, leading to more direct chances but also to more scrappy chances and second ball opportunities in the penalty box. Secondly, it creates space inside as the opposition fullback is actually occupied and has to shuffle wide to deal with the attacking wide players.

How many times yesterday did Sessegnon, Emerson or Kulusevski beat their man on the outside, drive to the byline and cut the ball back or cross from an actual dangerous position?

Not blaming Kulusevski as this is not his position or where his skills are suited.

Poor management from Conte but also more proof we desperately need fullbacks/wing backs with pace who can dribble and cross.

Seems like he's trying to invent inverted wing backs to go with his inverted wing forwards. I need a drink

 

[Hakkz]

I think we will see him much more at RWB. And rightfully so..

I hope not. He should not be made into a RWB.

 

[TOLBINY]

Seems like he's trying to invent inverted wing backs to go with his inverted wing forwards. I need a drink

Liverpool have a right footed RWB and a left footed LWB. At right wing they use a left footer (Salah) and on the left wing a right footer (Mane). I am not a fan of inverted wingers but when you have players of good quality then look what you can achieve.

 

[EQP]

If we got seriously desperate and Conte needed to try a wingback experiment, Dejan at LWB and Lucas or Bergwijn at RWB would be the way to go. Both are significantly better crossers than our other fullbacks/wingbacks and both are comfortable with the ball at their feet. I doubt Conte would consider this but I'd rather he try a new setup and fail instead of giving Emerson, Doherty etc more opportunities and then complaining to the press afterwards about his players.

 

[Deleted member 29446]

I hope not. He should not be made into a RWB.

You rather play Emerson there?

 

[Snarfalicious]

Think you put him at RWB temporarily. He’s got the engine for it and having another outlet to receive the ball on the right will be useful. I’d personally go for Bergwijn on the right in his place (not Moura) since I think overall he has more to his game and his delivery from out wide has generally been decent. Think now’s the time to shake things up a bit.

 

[Hakkz]

You rather play Emerson there?

No I'd rather Lucas play there.

 

[SA_Spurs]

No I'd rather Lucas play there.

why Lucas? so he can make a ton of miserable first touches & concede possession all game? WB's are so important to Conte system & the reason he hasn't put Lucas there is because his first touch is worse than emersons crossing. I love lucas but its 1 great game, 25 piss poor ones

 

[Hakkz]

why Lucas? so he can make a ton of miserable first touches & concede possession all game? WB's are so important to Conte system & the reason he hasn't put Lucas there is because his first touch is worse than emersons crossing. I love lucas but its 1 great game, 25 piss poor ones

Yeah so let's put a left footed player with lack of pace on the RWB position, genius.

 

[SA_Spurs]

Yeah so let's put a left footed player with lack of pace on the RWB position, genius.

by all accounts lets go with Lucas - because he's fast & can run like a headless chicken for 90 mins - even more genius!

 

[delawarespur]

Yeah so let's put a left footed player with lack of pace on the RWB position, genius.

If Conte were ever to not start Emerson or Doherty there, Bergwijn is the one that should, not Lucas. The wingbacks are high and wide and are meant to stretch the defense horizontally. Lucas’ best attribute is ball carrying from deep and infield. Not the skill set needed in that position. I’m not sold on Bergwijn there either but at least he has positional discipline, strength, and delivery that is generally pretty good (better than the two WBs we currently have). Kulusevski is an interesting option there, but I feel the he can produce the most of our wingers up front with Son and Kane, more than Lucas and Bergwijn.

 

[CookieYiddo]

There is a good player in there. I'm sure he will be more effective, over the next 12 months or so, than Stevie or Lucas.

 

[Noryid]

If we got seriously desperate and Conte needed to try a wingback experiment, Dejan at LWB and Lucas or Bergwijn at RWB would be the way to go. Both are significantly better crossers than our other fullbacks/wingbacks and both are comfortable with the ball at their feet. I doubt Conte would consider this but I'd rather he try a new setup and fail instead of giving Emerson, Doherty etc more opportunities and then complaining to the press afterwards about his players.

Yeah, you're right. Sometimes too comfortable.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Na guys those know it all online juve fans were right Kulu is rubbish ??

What a brilliant determined technical goal. ?

Another lesson learned for many on here, don’t trust the views of some silly bitter spoilt juve fans.

Mabye just mabye Conte & Paratici know what the fuck they’re doing!