Player Dejan Kulusevski

[KaneDomBadBoy]

He's the 2nd top scorer in the entire league & regular pulls off excellent passes for us. He executes it.

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Every one of Kane's goals this season could have been scored by any decent forward in the PL. There is nothing special about those goals at all. Swap Richarlison for Kane and he scores every one of those 7 goals. And you could argue that every player on our forward line and MF (including PEH) has pulled off excellent passes this season.

Kulu on the other hand, does things no one else on the team can. The only thing he can't do is score the types of worldies Son does and maybe execute long passes like Kane otherwise he does everything well or even better than those two (this season).

 

[KaneDomBadBoy]

I think right now he's the only forward we have that can control the ball under pressure and get us up the pitch and we are missing him. All round game he is the best attacker we have imo.

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Agree. But you have to realize that a premium is placed on his strengths (ie. holding up and bringing the ball up) because that's what we lack on our team. If we had other players that could do that, then players like Kane and Son would be the stand out players because of their ability to score 2-3 goals in any given game.

 

[Deuterz]

Every one of Kane's goals this season could have been scored by any decent forward in the PL. There is nothing special about those goals at all. Swap Richarlison for Kane and he scores every one of those 7 goals. And you could argue that every player on our forward line and MF (including PEH) has pulled off excellent passes this season.

Kulu on the other hand, does things no one else on the team can. The only thing he can't do is score the types of worldies Son does and maybe execute long passes like Kane otherwise he does everything well or even better than those two (this season).

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Not how football works as any half decent striker will tell you that finding the space to score 'easy' goals is an art form. 90% of Haaland's goals this season have been tap in's. Richarlison wouldn't have been in those positions to score.

Meh. He's had one good game all season. Being massively overhyped because Son & Kane are out of form so he's become the messiah. Just like he was being overhyped on here when he was so much better than Foden or Saka. Good young RW, nothing more or less.

 

[KaneDomBadBoy]

90% of Haaland's goals this season have been tap in's.

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Haaland makes goals look like tap ins because of his pace, size/strength, athleticism and freakish limbs. Most of those 'tap ins' look like 'tap ins' b/c it's Haaland.

And there are other goals he scores that are just worldies, full stop.

Richarlison wouldn't have been in those positions to score.

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Richarlison scores all the time for Brazil and his goals aren't just open headers and tap ins. Watch some recent Brazil games - he's very dynamic and direct at the same time as a CF.


I'm not saying Kulu is a better player than Kane and/or Son but he's been a better all around and more well rounded player than both.

Kulu simply does not have a weakness other than a weak right foot AND he has the pace/mobility/energy to create for himself and break down defenses out of nothing.

We could go all day about this but I think there's a meaningful percentage of fans that sees it this way during the short time he's played for us. Whether it lasts is another story.

 

[Deuterz]

Haaland makes goals look like tap ins because of his pace, size/strength, athleticism and freakish limbs. Most of those 'tap ins' look like 'tap ins' b/c it's Haaland.

And there are other goals he scores that are just worldies, full stop.

Richarlison scores all the time for Brazil and his goals aren't just open headers and tap ins. Watch some recent Brazil games - he's very dynamic and direct at the same time as a CF.


I'm not saying Kulu is a better player than Kane and/or Son but he's been a better all around and more well rounded player than both.

Kulu simply does not have a weakness other than a weak right foot AND he has the pace/mobility/energy to create for himself and break down defenses out of nothing.

We could go all day about this but I think there's a meaningful percentage of fans that sees it this way during the short time he's played for us. Whether it lasts is another story.

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Kane scores lots of tap in's because of persistence & smarts. So many back post headers where he works the space and escapes a defender to get a key touch. He's ahead on his xG this season btw despite missing a penalty. Richarlison is below on his.

Last season he was. This season Kulu has been underwhelming when actually on the pitch. He had one amazing game vs Southampton & otherwise has lived off a) last season and now b) being injured. Otherwise he's had a few nice crosses/moments but lots of games have passed him by. Hence why Conte rightfully dropped him.

He just escapes the same level of criticism Kane & Son attract. Fans don't pay attention to him as much because he's not superstar level, it's as simple as that.

 

[KaneDomBadBoy]

Kane scores lots of tap in's because of persistence & smarts. So many back post headers where he works the space and escapes a defender to get a key touch. He's ahead on his xG this season btw despite missing a penalty. Richarlison is below on his.

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RIcharlison plays as a deep lying winger/AM, that's positioned more like a DM than a forward. He's playing out of position. I think he's better suited as a CF than where Conte has got him playing right now.

The only player on our team that can effectively play that deep lying winger/AM position is Kulu.

 

[Deuterz]

RIcharlison plays as a deep lying winger/AM, that's positioned more like a DM than a forward. He's playing out of position. I think he's better suited as a CF than where Conte has got him playing right now.

The only player on our team that can effectively play that deep lying winger/AM position is Kulu.

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Yeah the main benefit of Kulusevski in the lineup currently is the balance, tbh. Son & Richarlison isn't really working very well so far.

We miss his crossing a lot too. He's got a fantastic delivery on him.

 

[daveyboy88]

The game is becoming more and more a physical game where premium is placed on pace/athleticism.

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the very best teams always place priority on technique and intelligence. the great barca team wasnt a physical beast, neither was the madrid side recently or the city side now, granted they have haaland and walker but thats two players, they are a monster because of the footballers they have in the side.

football is about the xavi, messi's, iniesta and modric of the world. not the adama traore's.

 

[bonaspur23]

Yeah the main benefit of Kulusevski in the lineup currently is the balance, tbh. Son & Richarlison isn't really working very well so far.

We miss his crossing a lot too. He's got a fantastic delivery on him.

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It’s almost like he has a valuable skill that’s hard to come by and that makes him good or something.

 

[Deuterz]

It’s almost like he has a valuable skill that’s hard to come by and that makes him good or something.

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Ok...?

I didn't say he's not good. Why do you feel the need to try and shift the tone of my opinion? He's a good player who offers us important assets ... but what's the point in saying that? Everyone knows it.

He's not our 'best player' or our 'most important player' though & his return won't signal an immediate renaissance in our form.

 

[bonaspur23]

Ok...?

I didn't say he's not good. Why do you feel the need to try and shift the tone of my opinion? He's a good player who offers us important assets ... but what's the point in saying that? Everyone knows it.

He's not our 'best player' or our 'most important player' though & his return won't signal an immediate renaissance in our form.

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He’s been far better than son, so no he didn’t deserve to get dropped.

 

[Deuterz]

He’s been far better than son, so no he didn’t deserve to get dropped.

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His top level isn't as high as Son's top level & Conte knows this so persisted with Son more. And then Son nearly matched Kulusevski's productivity for the season with one sub appearance.

And in isolation, he did deserve to be dropped. His own performances were poor & he's not built up the reputation of a Son or Kane, so was the most vulnerable to rotation.

 

[Gilded Lily]

Son and Kulusevski have very different strengths, so it’s hard to make a direct comparison. However, seems a bit unfair to say we know Kulusevski’s level when he’s only 22. Son joined us when he was 23 and got 4 goals in his first season, so you could argue that Deki has the much higher ceiling.

He seems to make a lot more happen too, so I don’t think he’s been poor at all.

 

[VonnegutBusy]

Ok...?

I didn't say he's not good. Why do you feel the need to try and shift the tone of my opinion? He's a good player who offers us important assets ... but what's the point in saying that? Everyone knows it.

He's not our 'best player' or our 'most important player' though & his return won't signal an immediate renaissance in our form.

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We are a better attacking side with him in it because of the balance you mention so yes I would expect his return to improve our form instantly.

Son needs to be dropped again.

Kulu cutting in and crossing to the back stick for Kane/Rich will be a goalfest.

 

[bonaspur23]

His top level isn't as high as Son's top level & Conte knows this so persisted with Son more. And then Son nearly matched Kulusevski's productivity for the season with one sub appearance.

And in isolation, he did deserve to be dropped. His own performances were poor & he's not built up the reputation of a Son or Kane, so was the most vulnerable to rotation.

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This is a silly way to look at it.

Kulusevski’s contribution goes far beyond goals and assists. Son scoring 2 extra goals in a thrashing when the result is known is not anywhere near equaling Kulusevski.

Not to mention son contributes very little in build up which is why he is taking so much slack.

 

[Young Berbatov]

Really hope our incompetent medical team don’t do a Skipp on him

We need him back asap

 

[Deuterz]

We are a better attacking side with him in it because of the balance you mention so yes I would expect his return to improve our form instantly.

Son needs to be dropped again.

Kulu cutting in and crossing to the back stick for Kane/Rich will be a goalfest.

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Meh. He started the Leicester game where we were pretty meh till late on when Son came on. He started games like West Ham & Chelsea where we did nothing offensively. Our struggles going forward are far more complex than missing Kulu.

I don't think any of our forwards are 'on form' & that includes him pre-injury. He will help balance wise but I don't expect it to be as dramatic as others do.

 

[Deuterz]

This is a silly way to look at it.

Kulusevski’s contribution goes far beyond goals and assists. Son scoring 2 extra goals in a thrashing when the result is known is not anywhere near equaling Kulusevski.

Not to mention son contributes very little in build up which is why he is taking so much slack.

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It's just a factual statement. I didn't say that Son nearly matching his productivity = he's been as good for the season.

Kulu has played better than Son this season. So has essentially everyone else. But Kulusevski hasn't torn up any trees at any point other than on opening day.

 

[TheSpurEst]

Do we have any idea when Kulu could be back?

Right now I feel that Kane is fully nailed down to start and finish every game, but with Son and Richie we have two more wide-forwards that are bit too similar AND should be more in the end of a chance rather than creating chances on their own.

So I would really like to have him back. Specially if he could combine with Doherty who has sweet delivery on him.

 

[Airfixx]

Do we have any idea when Kulu could be back?

Right now I feel that Kane is fully nailed down to start and finish every game, but with Son and Richie we have two more wide-forwards that are bit too similar AND should be more in the end of a chance rather than creating chances on their own.

So I would really like to have him back. Specially if he could combine with Doherty who has sweet delivery on him.

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Until we get to have a crack at Son / Rich / Kulu in a suitable fixture; Kane's getting no rest sadly......

(I don't suspect Kulu would work at the front of a 352.)